"How do you know where I live?" she asks.

I spot the girl who she called Ashley lingering along the wall. She gawks at us, but Layla seems oblivious to everyone, even me. Her head is down as she walks, and I want to reach out and take her hand. She should walk with her head held high. She’s worth a thousand Ashleys. I bury my hands in my jacket pockets as we walk toward the school. I open the door and let Layla go in first. "I know lots of things."

She doesn’t ...