The pounding of blood to my heart reached my ears over the bombs. I ran as quickly as I could towards the shelter my family shared with the Pevensie's. My mother was there beckoning to me to hurry as she and Helen, the mother of my four best friends, hurried my brother and her family into the shelter.
"Wait, Dad!" I heard someone cry. I turned my head to see Edmund, the youngest Pevensie boy, run back into the house.
"Ed! I'll catch him" Peter cried.
"Edmund, Peter NO!" Helen screamed.
"Layla! Hurry!" My mother called frantically.
I ignored her as I ran after Edmund. Peter shortly behind me. I dashed after Edmund as he ran towards his room to retrieve a picture of his father. My blood grew cold as I heard the faint whistling of a bomb come closer.
"Layla! Edmund! Get down." Peter yelled as I grabbed Edmund and pulled him to the floor, a window busting over us. I felt a hand around my wrist as Peter grabbed Edmund and I and shoved us out of the house.
"Come on!" I ran as fast as I could, trying to keep up with Peter as he ran towards the shelter. He pushed Edmund in first, letting him fall to the floor in front of our mothers. He pulled me in behind him letting go of my wrist as he and his mother closed and latched the door.
"Why can't you ever think about anyone but yourself! You're so selfish! You could have got us killed! Why can't you just do as you are told? And Layla! Why did you follow him are you CRAZY!?!" Peter screamed at us.
"Stop it!!" Our mothers yelled in unison. I glared at Peter as the word crazy, registered in my ear. Many people, since my father died, called me crazy for not speaking. Truth was, I couldn't bring myself to care about what they were talking about. I had never been like the other girls Peter knew. I didn't care about my looks, or my hair, or even reading as many books as I could, like Susan. Because I knew there where more important things than that. Like risking my life for the people I love, just like my father.
Peter's face softened as my brother, Ryan, crawled into my lap. "I'm scared Sissy. Why is there so much noise?" he cried into my chest. I immediately wrapped my arms around him as Helen and my mother tended to Edmund. I looked at my mother, wondering if she had heard. She gave me a sad look, as tears welled up in her eyes. But she quickly blinked them away while clearing her throat and going back to tending Edmund. I felt the sting in my nose begin as I thought of my father. I squeezed my brother tighter and buried my face in his hair, as Lucy, the youngest child, reach over and hugged me and my brother. I smiled a watery smile at her as I felt the tears spill down my cheeks.
Later that night as my brother and mother slept in a bed. I leaned against a wall and hugged my knees. The words Peter had said still replaying in my head. I was so caught up in my thoughts; I didn't notice Peter sit next to me.
"Layla." My name drew from my fog. My face went angry as I glared at the wall on the far side of the room slightly. He sighed and reached out to touch my hand. I moved away from his touch but his hand followed me. He gripped my small petite hand in his and squeezed it gently, silently asking me to look at him. I hesitated for a moment, and then turned my head slightly, lifting an eyebrow. He leaned into my ear.
"Lalya, I never meant for that word to come out of my mouth. You know if I could take them back, I would in a heartbeat. Please do not be angry with me. I am so very sorry." He whispered into my ear. His thumb grazed my knuckles, as he kept my hand in his grasp.
I sat there and let his words sink in. Peter and I have been friends ever since we were born. Our mothers were the best of friends.
I looked him dead in the eye and nodded showing him a genuine smile, as my acceptance.
He smiled his handsome smile and wrapped me into a hug. I smiled against his shoulder.
"Thank you Layla. You are my best friend. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you." My smile faltered as his words pierced my heart.
A friend Layla. That's all he sees you as. He will never know how much you care.
Never…