Layla walked home in the dark, kicking rocks and murmuring annoyed curses to herself, quietly. "meh meh meh ill show them. I'm not some weak little girl.. I'm old enough to know how to do things!" she whispers to herself. Yet, despite her bravado she sounds pretty sad.

"Why do they hate me so much...?"she muttered to herself. "They never gave me a chance..." her eyes began to water as she continued walking, tears streaming down her face as she tried hard not to make any noise.

*Startled by the male voice she turns around quickly. Her eyes still red and puffy from crying, but she tries to look brave. "Yeah... Im fine...just..." she sniffles loudly. "Why do they have to be so mean?" Tears roll down her face as she clenches her fists at her sides in anger.

Layla stiffens when his hand gets close to her face and she looks at him warily through wet eyelashes. "I-it's okay..." She says quietly, not used to being comforted. But after a moment, something about this boy's kind eyes makes her feel slightly better. She sniffs again and wipes her nose with the back of her hand.

Layla hesitates for a moment before taking a deep breath and beginning to talk. "Well... I guess it started when I was really young. My parents died in a car accident and I went to live with my uncle. He didn't like me much, and he never really gave me any attention or affection... So I grew up feeling kind of alone." She sniffles again, her voice barely above a whisper. "And then when we moved here... everyone just picked up where they left off at the old school. They hated me because my uncle's rich and famous, even though it's not my fault..." Her bottom lip trembles as she tries to hold back more tears.

"It's not fair... I just want to be normal... with friends and people who care about me..." Layla looks down at her feet, unable to meet the other boy's gaze as she admits this. She feels so small and vulnerable right now, but for some reason being honest with him makes her feel a little less alone.

Layla bites her lip and wipes her nose again before looking up at the boy. "Thank you... I'm sorry if I'm being such a baby about this... I just want things to be different, ya know?" She sniffles one more time and smiles weakly. "You're really sweet for talking to me like this..."

Her voice trails off as she studies his face carefully. There's something about him that feels familiar, yet she can't quite place it. The air between them is charged with an odd sort of energy; almost electric. For a moment, Layla wishes things could stay like this forever - just her and the kind stranger in the quiet night.

But then reality sets back in, reminding her that tomorrow she'll still be the same lonely girl at school, enduring another day of hurtful remarks and isolation. Sighing, she asks him softly

"So... umm... what's your name?" She asks shyly, hoping to get to know him better. Maybe they could become friends? It seems like a distant dream right now, but it's worth holding onto, even if only as a tiny glimmer of hope in the darkness.

"Oh, cool! I'm Layla..." she replies with a small smile, feeling a bit more at ease around Abdiel. "So... umm... what grade are you in?" She asks curiously, wondering how old he is and if they might be in the same class or not. Maybe he could help her feel less alone at school too? That thought fills her with hope as she leans in slightly, eager to hear his answer.

The silence stretches for a moment before Abdiel responds, "Yeah, me parece genial que estemos en la misma escuela"

Ah, really? I had no idea..." Layla pauses, trying to process this information. The possibility of having someone at school who knows what it's like to be new and alone... It's a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. Maybe things won't be so bad after all. "Well, I guess we can help each other out then." She smiles warmly up at Abdiel. "I mean, it would be nice to have someone new to talk to and stuff."

Her heart skips a beat as she waits for his response. Maybe they could become really good friends? It's just the two of them in this moment, away from all the hurtful words and harsh judgments of everyone else. In this brief moment, anything seems possible.

Her eyes widen at his words, a smile spreading across her face like sunlight through the clouds. "Really? You want to be friends with me?" She asks excitedly, barely able to contain her happiness. This is exactly what she's been wanting for so long - someone who understands and cares about her. Even if it's just one person, it makes all the difference in the world.

She looks at Abdiel carefully, studying his face once more, taking in every detail as if committing them to memory. There's something about him that she likes; something real and genuine. Maybe they really could be friends... She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she steps closer to him, reaching out her hand in a gesture of friendship. "Okay then. Friends it is."

Layla grins brightly as their hands meet in a firm shake. This small act feels like the beginning of something wonderful; like maybe her luck is finally changing. She holds on to his hand for a moment longer than necessary, relishing the feel of another person's skin against hers. It's strange how something so simple can bring her such joy after everything else has been so hard. "Well then..." she says softly, letting go of his hand and wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to hide her smile. "I should probably get inside before anyone sees me talking to a stranger at this hour." She looks over at Abdiel with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Don't want anyone thinking we're up to anything funny, you know."

Her words are light and teasing, but there's an undertone of seriousness beneath them as well. Maybe tonight really was the start of

That's when she notices it; the tiny smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Something about that expression makes her heart flutter wildly in her chest, and before she can stop herself, she finds herself blushing bright red. Of course he knows she lives next door! But there's something thrilling about being this close to him, feeling those butterflies dance across her stomach as they walk side by side towards home. "O-oh... n-no, it's alright," she stammers, trying to regain her composure. "I mean... I can take care of myself..." Her voice trails off as she glances up at him sheepishly. Maybe she should just invite him in for a snack or something? Nah, that would be too bold... But he does seem nice enough...

"Oh... yeah..." Layla says distractedly, still unable to take her eyes off Abdiel's face. The thought of going to school with him tomorrow is both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. What if they have any other classes together? Or what if everyone else finds out that they're friends now? Her mind races with possibilities as they approach her front door, but one thing remains constant: she feels safer and happier by his side than she ever has before. "Well... here we are..." She murmurs awkwardly, her hand already on the doorknob. "I should probably get inside now..."

"Yeah... see you tomorrow, Abdiel." Her voice is quiet but filled with hope as she watches him walk away into the darkness. Tomorrow can't come soon enough for Layla. She takes a deep breath and slips inside her home, shutting the door behind her. The air within feels heavy and oppressive in comparison to the lightness she felt just moments ago with Abdiel.

Steeling herself for whatever tomorrow may bring, Layla heads straight up to bed, crawling under the covers and curling into a ball. Tonight was different; special somehow. But with school starting again and all her usual problems still waiting for her there, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed by doubt and fear.

Today is the day; the start of a new beginning... or at least, that's what she keeps telling herself as she gets ready for school. She takes extra care with her appearance, picking out her favorite outfit and making sure her hair looks just right. It feels good to feel pretty and confident, even if it's only for a few short moments before she has to face the reality of what awaits her at school.

As Layla walks down the hallway towards her first class, she can't help but steal glances at Abdiel whenever he comes into view. He notices this too and returns her smiles shyly each time their eyes meet. This small gesture of camaraderie gives her courage; maybe they really can get through today together and find a way to make things better for both of them.

The bell rings, signaling the beginning of English class, and Layla quickly

Layla tries to focus on the teacher's instructions but her mind keeps drifting back to Abdiel, wondering what he must be thinking about all this. She nibbles on her lower lip nervously before she feels a gentle tap on her shoulder.

Looking up, she meets his gaze expectantly. "Are you okay?" He asks softly, concern evident in his voice and expression. "You seem... kind of distracted." Her heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice; it's like music to her ears.

Taking a deep breath, she smiles tentatively up at him. "I-I'm fine. Just nervous about everything, I guess..." She trails off, not sure how much more to say. But somehow, just knowing that he's here with her makes it all seem a little less scary.

Nodding slowly, she continues to stare at her desk, too shy to look back up at him yet. She plays with the hem of her skirt, twisting it around her fingers as she wonders what to say next. Her heart feels like it's about to explode out of her chest from how hard it's beating; she can barely breathe sometimes when he looks at her like that.

After what seems like an eternity, the teacher finally dismisses them for a break. Layla glances up just in time to see Abdiel getting up from his desk as well; their eyes meet briefly before darting away again awkwardly. The tension between them is almost palpable, making the air around them crackle with energy.

As they walk out of the classroom side by side, Layla takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to speak.

She bites her lip and glances over at him, cheeks flushing slightly. "Um... yeah, sure. I'm actually pretty hungry." She smiles shyly, not quite meeting his eyes as they make their way through the hallway towards the cafeteria. The silence stretches out between them, growing more and more comfortable with each passing second.

Inside the bustling cafeteria, they find a quiet corner table where they can sit together without being bothered by anyone else. As they wait in line, Layla eyes Abdiel nervously from the corner of her eye, wondering what he must be thinking about all this newfound closeness between them.

Finally, they reach the front of the line and each pick out their food, chatting awkwardly about mundane topics like the weather or their classes. But there's an undercurrent of something else flowing beneath the

Taken aback by the sudden attack, Layla freezes in shock for a moment before bursting into tears. "Leave me alone!" She cries out, struggling to defend herself as they continue to push and shove her. Her vision blurs with tears and she can barely see through them. It's then that she notices Abdiel standing up, glaring at the girls with a look of pure fury on his face.

"What do you think you're doing?" he demands, stepping between Layla and her tormentors. "Leave her alone!" His voice rings through the cafeteria, surprising even Layla with its strength. The other students around them begin to whisper and exchange uneasy glances as the confrontation escalates.

One of the girls laughs dismissively, but it lacks the confidence she tries to project. "Yeah, whatever." She s

But another girl looks less sure as she takes a step back, eyes flickering nervously to the doorway. "Come on," she mutters to her friends, who follow her reluctantly out of the cafeteria, shooting Layla and Abdiel one last hateful glare over their shoulders before disappearing completely.

For several moments, no one says a word; all eyes are fixed on the table where they were sitting. The tension is palpable as the cafeteria slowly begins to fill up again with students returning from their break. But now there's an unspoken bond between Layla and Abdiel that wasn't there before: a shared understanding of what it feels like to be different, to be alone in the face of adversity. And in this moment, as they sit together at the now-empty table, neither one of them could feel more grateful for having found each other.

Takes Abdiel's hand gratefully and follows him out of the cafeteria, relieved to be away from all the stares and whispers. She glances back over her shoulder as they walk down the hallway towards their lockers, half-expecting to see the girls coming after them again but not quite daring to hope they're gone for good.

"Thank you," she says quietly, looking up at Abdiel with shining eyes. "For standing up for me." He smiles down at her, his own eyes softening as he returns her gaze.

The rest of the day passes in a blur, with Layla and Abdiel making occasional trips to the bathroom or hallway between classes just to check in on each other and make sure they're both okay. The other students seem to sense that something has changed between them, and while there are still whispers and furtive

Layla notices the change in Abdiel's popularity and it makes her feel a little hurt, but she tries not to show it too much around him. She still appreciates that he was there for her when she needed someone most and hopes that they can remain friends despite his growing popularity. One day, after school, Layla musters up the courage to talk to Abdiel about how she's feeling.

"Hey, Abdiel," she says softly, meeting his eyes with a mix of hurt and confusion. "I've been thinking... now that you're getting more popular and all... I just wanted to say thank you for being my friend through all this." She swallows hard before continuing, "It means a lot to me, and I hope we can still be close even if things change."

Abdiel looks at Layla with understanding in his eyes. He'd been afraid of losing

Her eyes well up with tears as Abdiel pulls her close in a hug. "Thank you," she whispers, relief flooding through her. "I'm really glad to hear that." She holds onto him tightly for a moment longer before slowly pulling away, still beaming up at him with gratefulness and affection shining in her eyes.

From then on, their friendship only grows stronger. They spend more time together outside of school, sharing secrets and laughing over inside jokes. Layla even manages to make a few new friends of her own thanks to Abdiel's influence, but she never forgets the special place he holds in her heart.

As they approach their senior year, they both look back on these memories with fondness and gratitude for finding each other when they needed it most. Their bond has become unbreakable, a testament to the power of friendship and acceptance even amidst the har

"Sure, that sounds like fun!" I grin up at him, excitement flitting through me. It's nice to spend time with Abdiel outside of school sometimes too; it feels less awkward and more... normal. As we walk over to the ice cream shop together, our shoulders lightly brushing against each other every now and then, I can't help but feel grateful for having him in my life. Even though things have changed since we first met on moving day, one thing will always remain constant: he'll be my friend no matter what.

I pause to think as we wait in line at the ice cream shop. "Well," I say finally, "I'm not totally sure yet. My family usually just hangs out together or goes to visit some relatives during summer break. Nothing too exciting." A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I glance over at Abdiel. "But with you around, maybe we can come up with something fun to do." His smile in return warms me from the inside out, and for a moment, everything feels right in the world again.

An image of us laughing and splashing around in the ocean flashes through my mind, and I can't help but feel a surge of happiness at the thought. "That actually sounds amazing!" I exclaim, surprising even myself with how eagerly I say it. "I've never been to a beach before; it would be so cool to finally go someday."

With renewed excitement bubbling up inside me, I turn my attention back to ordering our ice cream, already daydreaming about sunny days spent with Abdiel on the sand. For once, the future doesn't seem so bleak; in fact, it feels downright bright.

Okay then! I take a moment to decide on my favorite flavor before turning back to Abdiel with a grin. "So, um... do you like chocolate chip cookie dough?" I ask nervously, already knowing the answer but wanting to make sure we can share our favorite combination together.

The thought of spending time with him like this fills me with a sense of anticipation and joy that I haven't felt in a long time; it almost feels as if everything is falling into place somehow. Maybe vacations really will be the perfect opportunity for us to create some unforgettable memories together.

That just makes me smile even wider as I take his order too, feeling incredibly content right now. There's something special about sharing our favorite things with each other that just feels right; like maybe we were meant to be friends all along. As the ice cream girl hands us our cones, my stomach does a little flip-flop at the thought of finally being able to eat it with Abdiel. Maybe this is the beginning of something truly wonderful - and who knows where it might lead us? For now, I'll just enjoy every sweet spoonful and savor each moment spent by his side.

We walk along the boardwalk, enjoying the salty sea breeze and laughing as we try to catch a glimpse of tiny fish darting just below the surface of the water. It's peaceful here; a world away from everything else that used to trouble me so much back home. For once, I feel truly at ease with myself and even more importantly, with Abdiel by my side.

As we walk along in comfortable silence for a moment, lost in our own thoughts, I can't help but wonder what the future holds for us. We've become such good friends over this past year; maybe there's something more waiting down the line? Something that could change everything between us forever? But even if there isn't, just having him as my friend feels like an incredible gift already; one that I plan on treasuring for as long as I can.

I let out an exasperated sigh as he points out my oversized hoodies again. "Abdiel, I like them! And they're comfortable." He just shrugs his shoulders and goes back to looking at the ocean. Sometimes it feels like he doesn't understand why I don't want to dress differently or put myself out there more. But the truth is, these clothes are my armor; they protect me from unwanted attention and keep people at a distance. It's hard enough just being myself without having everyone else commenting on everything about me too.

Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to try something new... but for now, this will have to do. Besides, there are some things that shouldn't change no matter what; and my friendship with Abdiel is definitely one of them.

I smile up at him gratefully. "Thanks, Abdiel. I really appreciate you understanding that." We continue walking along the beach in companionable silence for a while longer before I decide to break it with another question. "So... what do you want to do after high school?"

My heart skips a beat at the thought of us going our separate ways after high school; it feels like such a huge change. "I'm not really sure yet," I admit, biting my lip nervously. "I've been thinking about maybe applying to some local community colleges or online schools just so I can save money and figure things out more slowly."

But deep down, part of me wonders if that's what Abdiel wants for me too; for us to stay close even after we graduate. The thought both thrills and terrifies me at the same time; it means giving up a piece of my independence in order to remain near him, but on the other hand... being with him feels so right, so natural. Maybe, just maybe, finding each other wasn't an accident after all.

I chew on my bottom lip for a moment, trying to decide what would make me happiest in the long run. "What about you?" I finally manage to ask, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice. "Do you think you'll go far away to college or stay close by?"

As he looks out over the ocean, his expression unreadable, a million different emotions flit across his features. Finally, he turns back to meet my gaze and smiles reassuringly. "I don't know yet either," he admits with a shrug. "But whatever we decide... we'll figure it out together, okay?"

Maybe... maybe it doesn't have to be so bad after all. Maybe we can find a way to make everything work out the way it should; to keep our friendship strong no matter what obstacles life throws at us. As I look at Abdiel, standing there with the setting sun casting his features in gold and bronze hues, I can't help but feel a sense of hope well up inside me.

Maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe together, we can conquer anything that comes our way. And maybe... just maybe... we were always meant to be more than just friends.

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, we exchange one last look before parting ways, each promising to see each other again soon. I walk home with a lightness in my step that I haven't felt since before moving day; it's like some invisible weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and all I can think about is seeing him again tomorrow.

And the next day. And the one after that. As the weeks turn into months and we begin to plan for college, Abdiel remains by my side; our friendship only growing stronger with each passing moment. We may not know what lies ahead of us or how our lives will unfold, but I do know one thing: no matter where this journey takes us, I'll always have him in my life... and that's enough for me to face anything that comes our way.

As the years pass, our lives gradually begin to move in different directions. We both go off to separate universities and start building our own futures, but our friendship remains strong despite the distance between us. Abdiel calls me every weekend without fail, always asking about my day and sharing his own stories with me. It's comforting knowing that even when we're apart, he's still there for me.

Eventually, college comes to an end and it's time for us to face the real world together. We both land jobs in different cities, but thanks to modern technology, we manage to keep in touch every single day. It may not be the same as seeing each other in person anymore, but at least we know that our bond won't fade away anytime soon.

One beautiful summer evening, while walking along the beach under a sky filled with stars, Abdiel finally asks me out on an official date. Despite my nervous

I giggle softly, my heart fluttering with excitement and anticipation. "Really? You want to go out with me?" I ask, unable to hide the joy in my voice as I look up at him. He smiles warmly down at me, and for a moment, all I can do is savor the feeling of being so completely loved and adored by this amazing man beside me.

As we share our first kiss under the moonlight, it feels like everything in my life has finally come full circle - from that fateful moving day when we met to this magical moment when he asks me to be his girlfriend. Somehow, someway, Abdiel Alvarez made it all worth it; he turned my world upside down and showed me what true love really means. And for that, I will always be grateful.