How Laila killed me

I grab my keys, some money, and a red hoodie. The same as every afternoon, I walk down to Lincoln Park to meet Laila and Tamara. They are my best friends.

I walk slowly down the road so that I can people-watch. I like that. I’m not exactly sure why. It has something to do with all the things you can learn about each person just by looking at them. If you observe how they act, the way they talk, their body language and use it to try and guess at what that person's life is like, you can create the funniest stories or, the most morbid ones.

When I cross the street, I glance at the little playground. I remember I used to love that place when I was like five or six. Tamara and I used to play there all the time.

After I pass the playground, I get to Lincoln Park. And, not surprisingly, Laila and Tammy are already sitting on an old bench.

“Hey, Lucas,” Laila says when she sees me.

Tammy just smiles sweetly at me and waves.

“Hi, girls,” I say as I sit between them, “what’s up?”

“Not much,” said Laila, “just hanging."

Laila looks so pretty today. Well, to be fair, she always looks pretty. She has big green eyes, short brown hair, and a smile that can light up a whole city. Don’t get me wrong; Tammy is pretty too, but Laila…

I’ve had a huge crush on her since the day we met. It was a long time ago, in fact, almost six years ago, on the first day of grade four. I still remember looking at her and thinking she was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. Tamara and I have been friends since before we were even born. I guess that doesn’t make sense, but our mothers were best friends in college, so it was only natural to have us play together since we are the same age. As a result, we are almost like cousins or siblings. When Tammy introduced me to Laila six years ago, we immediately became the three best friends we are now, but I also immediately fell in love with the new girl.

We talk about random things, and when we get hungry, we go get coffee and some snacks. The afternoon is just like every other afternoon with my two best friends, but, still, it is the best time of my life just because I get to be with Laila.

The next day I grab my keys, some money, and a black hoodie. I cross the street, walk past the little playground, and, finally, reach my destination. Tammy is not there, but Laila is, sitting on the branch of a big, old tree. She is reading a book, whose cover is hidden by her knees. The sun kisses her head, making her light brown hair shine.

I climb the tree and, gently, touch Laila’s arm because I thought she didn’t see me sitting by her side.

“Just a second…” she says, concentrated in her reading.

After finishing the page, she closes the book, and she smiles at me. Her smile is beautiful. Every day I can’t help falling for her a little bit more.

“Where’s Tammy?” I ask while she sips her coffee

“She broke a tooth playing basketball. I thought you already knew.”

“No, she did not tell me.”

“Well, now you know.”

She continues sipping her coffee. Laila is kind of addicted to that stuff, but not the super sweet coffees every girl –in fact, every person –orders in Starbucks. No, she likes strong coffee. Every time we go for one, Tammy and I have a caramel something, or cappuccino, or something like that. Laila always orders a double espresso. I hate it.

“Want some?” she said, offering me some of her coffee.

“No, thanks,” I grab the book she had been reading. “What are you reading?”

“Emmm,” she hesitates. “It is called El Libro de Arena.”

“The what!?” I say trying to understand the word in the cover.

Laila’s parents are Spanish so she speaks English and Spanish fluidly. I think she also speaks French or something like that.

“El Libro de Arena,” she repeats, enunciating each word carefully.

“Mhmm, sure.”

She laughs. Then, there is silence. I glance her way, she is still smiling. The wind starts to blow, getting colder every second. I notice Laila is shivering, so I take my black hoodie off and gently place it on her shoulders. She smiles at me.

“Thanks, Lucas.”

“You’re welcome,” I say, smiling back.

 “But, aren’t you freezing?” She asks, concerned.

“No, it’s ok. I’m fine.”

The truth is I am so cold I literally feel like my fingers are about to fall off my hands. But it's  okay; I’d do anything for this girl. Even freeze to death because she forgot to wear a sweater.

After a couple minutes, she lays her head in my shoulder. I hug her so she won’t  be cold.

“Lucas,” she said almost whispering. “I really like being with you.”

I’m so nervous I just sit there in silence. I feel really stupid. My face starts to blush as I struggle to say something, anything. Laila looks at me, her eyes smiling. I am, really, really starting to get nervous; I mean I am holding the girl of my dreams in my arms, she just told me she likes being with me, and I can't find a thing to say back.

When i look at her, she is just there looking pretty and staring into my eyes. I can’t resist any longer. I lean in and kiss her. I thought she was going to pull back, but she doesn’t. It starts to rain, but I just pull her closer to me. It is perfect, the most perfect moment of my entire life. I have never felt so happy.

It is raining too much, so we climb off the tree and walk home holding hands.

“Thank you, Lucas,” she says smiling, “for everything.”

She stands on her toes to kiss me goodbye. I hug her. Then, I head home feeling like the happiest guy alive.

The next morning I wake up smiling. As I walk down to Lincoln Park, I grab my phone to text Laila, but find that she had already texted me.

I smile and open her text while crossing the street. My smile fades as I read her text. It says: “Lucas, I’m sorry. I can’t do this. Tamara will be so hurt if she finds out. I think we should only be friends. Sorry…” Just then, as my heart is shattering in millions of little pieces, a horn sounds. I look over just in time to see a huge truck coming my way.

-A