"I don't understand why Fulton is so into me."

"Who says you have to understand? I mean, you're pretty, he's the jealous type, what's the problem?"

"You two would be perfect together."

"Don't say perfect, Connie. There is no such thing as the perfect couple. They can only be wiser than most."

"I'm not even close to wise, Kaylah."

"Neither am I. Just have common sense and you'll be fine. That's what I've got. Cause that's what Dad has been drilling in my head for these past four years."

"Lucky you."

"I know right? Better than being told stupidity everyday."

The school day was almost over and Kaylah was anxious to go home and get ready to work on the book report.

She had to call her dad to let him know where she was going.

"Dad. I'm going over to a friend's house to work on a book report."

"Who is the friend?"

"Adam Banks."

"A boy?"

"Yes."

"How are you getting there?"

"His mother is picking us both up."

"Okay. Be home at seven on the dot."

"I will."

"Kaylah. You ready?"

"Yes."

"You must be Kaylah. Nice to meet you."

"Glad to meet you, Mrs. Banks."

"What is your book report about?"

"The U.S.S. Indianapolis."

"Was that a submarine?"

"A cruiser. It carried the Hiroshima bomb to Tinian Island and on the way back home, it was sunk by a Japanese submarine. It was the worst naval disaster in U.S history. The mission was top secret so no one knew about it till they were rescued. The remaining crew spent two weeks in the water. They suffered shark attacks, hunger, dehydration. No one remembered it until it was mentioned in the movie Jaws."

"Worst naval disaster in U.S history?"

"Yes. The survivors hold a reunion every year in Indianapolis. And there's a monument along the Canal Walk in Indy."

"It sounds like it hits home for you."

"I'm from Indiana. And my great great uncle was in the Navy during WWII on the U.S.S North Carolina."

"I thought your accent sounded distinct."

"Well, Adam. Are you ready for this book report?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Okay, kids. I've got a poster board for you and plenty of art utensils, and Adam, you can use your dad's printer if necessary."

"Thank you, Mrs. Banks."

"No problem."

"Well. Your mom is real sweet. You're lucky."

"Why you say that?"

"I don't have the luxury of a mother. It's just been Dad and me for the past five years. But I'd rather be with my Dad than my mother."

"Did she leave you guys or what?"

"More like I left her. Dad got custody of me cause, to sum it up, my mother is careless and neglective. More than that actually I just don't want to go into detail. Let's work on this."

"Okay first we should probably print of pictures of the ship and maybe the book cover."

"And pictures of the survivor's reunion and the monument."

"That should cover it."

"And don't worry about describing the photos. I'll do that."

"Okay. I'll just print them out and glue them on."

"Better than nothin'."

"So what sports do you play?"

"Baseball, basketball, archery, marksmanship, boxing and now hockey."

"How long have you been into hockey?"

"About a month now."

He didn't like the Ducks anymore than the other Hawks. But he liked her. He wanted to focus on her. Not the other Ducks.

"You guys have come a long way."

"You're on the Hawks, right?"

"Yeah."

"You have the same jersey number my coach did when he was on the Hawks."

"Your coach was on the Hawks?"

"Yeah. That's why there's a rivalry between your coach and mine."

As they talked, Larson and McGill came to his house. When they seen her there, they immediately began to ridicule her.

"Can I help you boys?"

"What are you doing here Hoosier Girl?"

"If you mean that in a bad term, it sucks cause Hoosier Girl is a compliment. And if you want to know why I'm here, Adam invited me over so we could work on our book report."

"You partnered up with her? You're crazy?"

"There's nothing wrong with her."

"But she's a Duck."

"So? That doesn't bother me. Her hockey team does not define her."

"No. But my home state does. Go Hoosiers. Speaking of Hoosiers, I gotta check their score right now?"

"What score?"

"Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball. This is November. The NCAA tournament is in March. Ugh. Won four games, lost three. We'll never be like '76 again at this rate."

"What happened in '76?"

"That season was the last time any NCAA basketball team went undefeated. And that was the Hoosiers."

"Sounds like they got something to look up to."

"Yup."

"Well, Adam. Are you coming to practice?"

"No. We gotta work on this book report. I'll see you guys later."

"Bye Adam. See you, Kaylah."

"Oh wow. Y'alls actually used my name."

"Okay let's print out pictures. We can use dad's computer and printer."

"Adam."

"Hey, Caleb."

"Adam. Caleb. I love biblical names."

"What are you doing in dad's office?"

"Mom said we can use his computer and printer for our book report."

"And who is this?"

"My name is Kaylah Bedwell. I'm partnered up with Adam on this book report."

"You don't sound like you're from Minneapolis."

"That's cause I'm not. I'm from Indiana. Now will you let us work on this book report?"

"Yes. Have fun, Adam."

"Well that was interesting."

"Sorry about him."

"Don't apologize for someone else's behavior."

"You're right."

"Okay. I think we should also find pictures of the wreck. The wreck was found I know that. And a picture of the survivor's reunion and the monument."

"Are the pictures easy to find?"

"Should be. Here. Let's go to the Indy Star website."

"What's Indy Star?"

"Biggest newspaper in Indiana. The newspaper of Indy. It's only fitting those reporters cover the story."

"Well. Let's print these pics out."