layla breathed in the cool winters air as she walked out her front door, then down her front steps and eventually to a coffee shop.
layla ordered herself hot chocolate, having to wait a few minutes until she finally heard her name get called out.
she decided to find a park bench by the park and drink her hot chocolate by the embrace of children's laughter.
layla watched as a group of kids played together happily, running around and playing tag.
she missed those days...
she missed the people she once considered her closet friends.
josh, jake, sammy and danny.
they were her best friends, her family.
they did everything together.
from playing tag, to riding their bikes together to school, to watching the stars in the backyard, to going on road trips and to doing band practices together.
to say that layla was devastated to hear that the boys were leaving was an understatement.
she was heart broken, torn to pieces, completely destroyed, all because she couldn't go with them.
she was stuck in this little town, desperately wanting to get out and explore the world with the boys, tour with them and watch as they performed in-front of thousands.
though she never got to do any of that.
layla instead took on the family business and has now been running the store for a year.
layla has gotten the occasional message or two from danny and jake, checking up on her and asking how things are, though she doesn't get a single message or call from sammy — the one person she wants to hear from most.
which leads on to how josh has always messaged layla everyday, and even called her whenever he got the chance, always asking what's new despite her telling him constantly that nothing has changed for a few months now.
layla misses the boys, she truly does, but she knows that they are out there doing great things, making her proud.
suddenly layla's phone pinged, and she smiled as she read over josh's name.
josh
gooooood morning beautiful!
layla
hello handsome ;)
layla and josh always joked together, calling each other cute names and always bringing each other up and making them feel wanted.
josh
what's new this fine morning?
layla
nothing new at all.
it's getting kind of boring here josh!
i neeeeeed company, please visit!
or i'll be ditching you as my
best friend and your mom
will take your place.
josh
you just gotta be wait
two weeks until christmas,
and we'll all be home to
smother you in kisses,
hugs and presents.
layla
awwweeee x
josh
how's momma and papa kiszka doin'?
layla
they're good,
but they miss their boys terribly.
and i miss you guys too :(
josh
you're encouraging me to
just come home right now.
layla
please do,
i haven't seen you since...
layla didn't continue the sentence, not wanting to say his name, say what happened.
josh
yeah, i know.
i wish i could've stayed longer,
i hope you realise how badly
i felt for leaving you so soon.
i'm sorry :(
layla
josh,
you put up with me for a month.
a whole month!!
if anything i should be the one
apologising because you made
out that you were sick to the fans and
that's why the shows were cancelled,
but really you were just comforting me.
i know you felt terrible for lying,
and i'm sorry you had to stay for so long.
josh
layla,
i didn't mind being by
your side for a month.
if anything it was a bonus
cause i got to spend heaps
of time snuggling you :)
layla
ur cute.
josh
you're cuter.
layla smiled down at her phone as she put her hot chocolate in the bin beside her, before standing up and beginning to walk down the road.
layla
so,
when you said that everyone
was coming for christmas...
did you mean everyone?
josh
he misses you just as must as
much as the rest of us do.
layla
well apparently not because he hasn't
messaged or called me since he left...
and it's been almost four years.
josh
he just doesn't know
what to say,
layla.
layla
maybe a "hello?"
a "how are you?"
a "i'm sorry for leaving you in the dust"
josh
he hasn't had it easy either.
layla
well i definitely didn't
have it easy when he left,
remember what happened?
josh
i remember.
but you could
have atleast told him?
layla
and then hold him back,
and then overall ruin what
you guys have as a band?
josh
it wouldn't have been like that,
you guys would have made it work.
layla
whatever, josh.
i have to go to work,
i love you and miss you.
josh
bye layla,
i'll call you when
your shift ends.
and with that layla turns her phone off and walks into her store's door, flicking on the lights and walking up to the counter.
she smiled as she were comforted by hundreds of records stacked around the shop, each album telling its own story, each song having its own meaning.
layla hated to brag but she knew that her record shop — cleary records — was the best one in frankenmuth, perhaps even michigan.
everyone in the town either a tourist or a local would come to layla's store, because it always had every record anyone wanted.
"hi, i was wondering if you had-"
layla cuts the man off.
"yes, we have it." layla said, continuing to stare down at her magazine.
layla assumed that by the silence, whoever asked the question had gone to find their record in the store.
a minute later and a record was dropped on the counter, causing layla to put her magazine down and scan the record, not looking up at the customer once.
"blue, joni mitchell." layla stated as she scanned the record, "good taste." she added.
"yeah, well it's my favourite record, only makes sense to get several." the man said.
"one of my old friends always stated that anyone who hadn't listened to the album, was an idiot." layla said, smiling as she remiscided on a past memory.
"wise man." he stated simply.
layla suddenly recognised that voice.
she hesitated to look up, but when she did, she was met with the face of someone she hadn't seen in so long.
layla wished she could say that she regretted looking up, hoping that she had gotten the mans cash and handed him his receipt without looking at him once.
but as much as she hated to admit it, she missed the familiar feeling of looking up to him because of their height difference.
layla then gazed at the man before her, not being able to bring herself to look away from his eyes.
stunned, she finally spoke up, saying one simple word that meant every and nothing.
"samuel."