We walked into his house hand in hand. We've been dating almost a month and it still seems crazy when he holds my hand and does everything in his power to make me smile.

"Mom, I'm home and Cora's here too" he called out.

"Come in the living room" she called back.

Will and I walked to the living room. There was an old lady, who I assumed was Will's grandma from the other side of the family.

"Hi Nona, I didn't know you were in town." Will smiled.

The lady stood up and reached out her arms to hug Will. Will let go of my hand and leaned over to hug her. It seemed hard for him considering he had to be at least a foot taller than her. It was honestly kind of cute and funny to see him bend down to hug his grandma.

Karla cleared her throat and nodded her head over to me.

"Nona," Will started and grabbed my hand to bring me closer to them. "This is my girlfriend, Cora. Cora, this is my other grandma Nona."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am" I smiled and went to shake her hand. She pulled me in for a hug instead.

"I've heard a lot about you, Cora. It's nice to finally meet you" She held me at her arms length and smiled at me.

I smiled at her.

"I trust Will has been treating you right?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

I laughed lightly. "Yes ma'am. He's been amazing, honestly." I assured her.

"He better. He's been raised to know better" she looked at him. "I approve of her" she told Will before going back to sit with Karla.

"Let's go up to my room." He took me by the hand once more. He kissed Karla and his Nona on the cheek and we went upstairs.

He hopped on his bed and laid down.

"I like her" I admitted as I crawled up on his bed and laid my head on his chest.

He wrapped his arms around my torso and pulled me on top of him. I kept my head on his chest and absentmindedly played with the ends of his hair. He gently rubbed my back.

"Good, because I think she likes you too" His voice vibrated through his chest.

"Are you excited for the baby?" I asked him.

Karla was due anytime now. It could be in two minutes or two weeks. We're all waiting anxiously to see him.

Will took a deep breath. "I don't know, Cor. Don't get me wrong, I'm freaking ecstatic. I know this baby will have every opportunity in life with us and no one will ever give up on him. I'm just scared."

I sat up and looked him in the eye. "Scared? Of what?" I asked.

"I don't know. I'm scared that I'm going to be a terrible big brother. There's almost a nineteen year difference between us. What if I'm nothing like everyone expects me to be? What if he ends up hating me because I'm going to be at college for four years?"

"Babe," I put a hand on his face. He melted into it. "I promise you, you're going to be a great big brother. He will love you, no matter the age gap, no matter how far away you are. You are amazing with Kenz. You are a great big brother and no one expects any more than that" I told him.

He grabbed my hand and pressed a kiss gently on my palm. "Thank you," he whispered. His lips grazed my palm as he spoke before he pressed another kiss to my hand.

"Anytime you need me, I'll be there. I don't care if it's two in the afternoon, or two in the morning." I said and kissed his forehead and laid my back on his chest.

"Thank you snowflake" He whispered and kissed my head.

"Have you talked to Carter recently? I know y'all live together, but he really hasn't been answering me. It's been a while since I've seen him outside of football." Will asked.

I almost visibly winced at the topic. Carter had been a lot to handle recently. He'd been fine most of the summer. Sure he was a pain in the ass, but this was another level.

"I don't know what's wrong with him Will. He stays up in his room all the time. Hardly comes out for dinner. He slams doors and yells. He seems so angry at the world and I don't even know why. He won't talk to anyone. He yelled at Dad this morning. If you know this boy like I do, then you know he doesn't yell at Dad or anyone really. If he's angry, he hides away or talks it out. Him and Dad had a screaming match this morning"

"Maybe he's just going through something and he doesn't want to talk. He's a teenager. We all get a little angry and distant sometimes" Will shrugged.

"Yeah but not our family. Ever since mom left, we talk. We don't leave each other, not even if it's to our rooms"

He kissed my head reassuringly. "I bet he's fine. He'll come to y'all when he's ready"

I sighed "You're right"

"So when do you find out who made the team?" He changed the conversation.

"Wednesday. They're posting it during lunch. I'm kind of nervous. I know we only tried out for fun, but what if one or two of us make it. I'd feel so bad if I made it and and one of them didn't." I worried.

"It'll be fine. I'm sure you all three made it. Besides if one of you didn't, they'd be supportive of you no matter what. I'm proud of you no matter the outcome"

"You always know what to say"

"It's a gift" he smirked.

I laughed and hit him lightly. "Oh so humble about it too" I joked.

I looked up at him and him down at me. "I love you Will" I whispered.

"I love you too Cora" he whispered back and kissed me.

"Hey Will" Karla said and knocked twice before opening his door. "Nona and I are going to the store for dinner. We'll be back soon. Cora, you're more than welcome to stay for dinner if you'd like"

"Thank you Karla. I might just take you up on that offer." I smiled.

She laughed lightly. "You kids have fun. Ken is at Gray's house. She shouldn't be back before I get home but she might. Bye"

"Bye mama" he called as she walked out of his room and shut the door. "Do you want to watch a movie?" He asked me.

"I kind of just want to stay right here" I admitted.

"And that's perfectly fine with me" he kissed my head and continued to rub my back.

***

"I can't believe we find out if we made the cheer team today. I'm so excited" Lena squealed as we walked to first period.

"I know I'm so excited, but really nervous" Remi gushed.

I laughed at the two of them. Honestly I don't care if I made the team or not, but I would be really happy if all four of us got to do it together.

"Guys that's not until lunch. We still have four hours"

They both groaned. "Four dreadfully long hours" Lena said and leaned against Remi.

"Way to be a party pooper" Remi joked with me.

Lena separated into her class and Remi and I went to ours. Mrs. Cook was already in there. She greeted us and we took our normal seats.

This girl I've seen a couple times in the hallway came and sat next to us. "You're Will's girlfriend, right? And Carter Barnes' sister?" She asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah that's me. Can I help you?" I was unsure of what she wanted or why she was talking to me.

"Um so this is kind of awkward, but I was wondering if you could help me. So I kind of have a crush on your brother, Carter that is. I was just wondering if he was single or if you could help me get to know him or something." She rambled.

I could here Remi's breath hitch in her throat from behind me.

"Um well technically he is single, but he has someone else in mind when it comes to that. Sorry, but I really can't help you" I told her.

"Oh well thank you anyway." She said quickly and basically ran off.

Remi rolled her eyes and pretended like she didn't care that someone wanted to date Carter. "Who does he like? Is he talking to someone?" Remi asked.

"Don't like him, huh?" I smirked at my best friend.

"Shut up" she grumbled and kicked my chair. I laughed and shook my head.

The next two periods went by quite slow. I just wanted to see my boyfriend again.

"Hi Mr. Pittman" Summer said as we entered the classroom.

"Hi Summer, how are you today?" He asked her.

"We'll find out after lunch when the cheer team gets posted." She smiled.

"Good luck with that." He said and went back to doing whatever he was doing before.

I sat down in my normal seat next to Will. "Hey" I said.

He looked up for the first time. "Hey" he said softly and turned back to his phone. He was normally really talkative when we get to this class.

"Are you okay? You seem quiet" I asked.

"Mom was just emitted into the hospital for the baby. There were some complications. As far as I've heard, everything's fine. Mom and the baby are fine, but she might have to go into an emergency c-section." He explained.

"What are you doing here? You should be with Karla and Michael."

I was shocked to hear that he wasn't there. His family is everything to him.

"I have to be here for school and football. You're dad said we have to be at the practices all week if we want to play this week. Mom told me not to worry and stay at school."

"Go be with your family. I'll talk to my dad. I promise." I set my hand on his arm.

"Are you sure? I really want to play this week and Mom would be really upset if she found out I skipped and couldn't play." He worried.

"Yes, you need to be with your family, Will. Dad will understand." I kissed his cheek.

He stood up and kissed me before gathering his stuff and whispered a thank you. He explained to Mr. Pittman that he had a family emergency and he was free to go.

Summer looked at me with a confused look. This class we had assigned seating. Luckily, I got seated next to Will, but Summer and Darren got seated on the other side of the room.

"I'll tell you later" I mouthed to her. She nodded and Mr. Pittman started today's lesson.

I tried to text Will for an update during Spanish class but Mrs. Hogan took up my phone. She didn't believe me when I told her I had an emergency that I had to get updated on and she wouldn't give me my phone back. It wasn't like I was missing the lesson. I was paying attention, but I was texting Will for updates.

She was my last class before lunch. I needed my phone. I needed to know what was happening with Karla and the baby.

"Señora Hogan please. I wasn't wasting time on my phone. I was simply checking up with updates for a family emergency. Please, I need to know what's happening." I begged her.

She sighed. I was going on into both of our lunch times and she didn't seem so thrilled. She opened her desk drawer and handed me my phone. "Very well, señorita. If you are ever on your phone in my class again, I will not give it up so willingly. Now get to lunch" she pointed to her door.

The girls met me outside of my class. "What took you so long? They already posted the list" Lena groaned.

"I got my phone taken away." They all looked at me weird. It was kind of out of characteristic for me. "I'll tell you at lunch. Let's go"

We made our way to the cafeteria, which was buzzing with excitement. I saw a few girls with tears in their eyes. I was honestly more nervous own than I had been since the tryout.

We decided to all look at the same time, so no one felt left out or anything.

Cora Barnes

Remiah Burton-Ruiz

Eliza Clark

Selena Coleman

Lucy Cooper

Briana Gates

Isla John

Summer Morris

Holly Newman

Evelyn Stratford

Addison Terrel

Daphne Web

We all squealed with excitement. "We all made it" Lena squealed.

We happily made our way to the table with all of the boys.

"You guys are looking at four of the cheer team members." I said as I sat down in my regular spot.

"You guys made it?" Sam asked and I nodded.

"Congrats guys" Darren said.

"We never doubted you for a second." Cooper smile over at us.

Carter gave him an incredulous look. "Didn't you say just yesterday that you didn't think they would make it?"

Cooper punched him in the arm, but Carter just laughed. "Where's Will? I figured he was with you" he asked.

"Something happened with Karla and the baby. They're fine, but she might need an emergency c-section. He went to be at the hospital with them"

"What about practice? He knows the rules." Cole asked. "We need him for the game."

I shrugged. "Hopefully Dad'll be lenient about this family emergency. Don't worry guys I'll talk to him. How could he say no to this face?" I joked and pointed to my face.