Leaving Laila

6

A week had passed since I had arrived in New York and I had no doubt that this was where I needed to be. Being away from Seattle in a city where practically no one knew you or knew about your past was just what I needed. A fresh start. Today was Saturday and I had no plans. I had finished all my assignments so there was nothing to do so I was sitting on my bed watching a YouTube tutorial on French braiding.

My phone rings and distracts me from the braid I was trying to perfect. I grabbed the phone with my free hand answering it and placing it in the crook of my neck. I didn't want the braid I had spent the last half hour on to start unravelleing.

"Hello." I said without looking at the caller id.

"Caye. Its Brandon. What are you doing right now?" Brandon was my neighbor and the only friend I had in New York.

"Nothing at all. I am bored." I say with a lengthy and exaggerated sigh.

"Good. Get ready. We are going to Times Square." He says.

"Oh my god yes!" I jump off the bed and grab a elastic band wrapping it around the end of my braid, while trying to make sure the phone didn't fall.

"Okay I will meet you downstairs in 15 minutes." He said before hanging up. I look at my phone and saw that the time was 3:42 pm. I had a quick shower and put on a casual jean shorts with a white cropped tee and my white vans. A small silver locket hung around my neck. I grabbed my small Louis Vuitton backpack and dumped all the content of my purse into it. Grabbing my phone and my key-card I also shove them into the bag and hurriedly close the zip.

Jonathan was sitting on the couch watching football , his tall legs propped up on the chaise when I stepped into the living room. He looked me up and down before rolling his eyes and turning his attention back to the television. I did the most unladylike thing ever and hissed my teeth before slamming the door shut.

Ever since our last encounter when Red was here, we had made it a point to avoid each other. More so than usual. I pressed the elevator button and waited for it to arrive before I stepped inside. It was empty.

30 seconds later I stepped into the lobby, I saw Brandon seated on one of the couches. As soon as he spotted me, he rose.

"Caye hey." He says giving me a hug. "Hey." I said returning the hug.

"Are you ready?" He asks draping one arm around my shoulder. I grin.

"As ready as I can ever be."

We walked out of the lobby and I waved to Frank the door man as I passed him. We stood on the curb waiting for a taxi to pass by. I was sure it would be soon because you didn't wait for taxi's very long in the city.

"Did you know that Times Square is only like 35 minutes away walk from here?" Brandon asks poking my cheek. I swat his hand away and he sticks his tongue out at me like a child.

"Are you serious?" I ask looking up at him. "Yup." He nodded.

I grab his hand. " Well then what are we waiting for? Lets go."

He uses his free hand to scratch the back of his head. " Um I sort of hate long walks. Can't we just take a taxi?"

"Oh no you lazy ass. We are walking. Come on." He groans.

"Caye we wouldn't even know which directions to take." I stopped.

"Yea you're right." I say sheepishly. A minute later, we got a taxi. We spent the entire time peeking through the window and admiring the scenes. Fifteen minutes later we were in Times Square. We paid the taxi driver and got out.