Concrete Rose

“Laylaaaaaaaaa!” shouted Sherene from the hallway. It was the annual homecoming week beach party and the entire campus was heading to the beach to live it up. Mid-semesters had finally ended and the weekend was filled with non-stop partying of college students. “I’m cominggggg!” Layla shouted right back at Sherene. She hurriedly stepped out her room, locked the door behind her and placed her keys and phone in her wrist wallet. “Damn girl, you look fire,” Sherene said admiring Layla’s outfit. She was dressed in a coral mini skirt and a white halter top that showed off her new spine tattoo.  Layla was your typical shy beauty, with shoulder length curly hair that framed her round face. Her mocha colored skin accentuated her color choice of clothing perfectly. She had your typical “model” body; slim built with a little curves in the right places.  Her friends envied her ability to eat whatever she wanted, when she wanted and not gain a single pound. The strappy white sandals she wore completed her look. Layla was not a hard partier but she looked forward to homecoming week every year. It was her final year of undergrad and she was set on living it up before she had to return home when it was all over. “Pshh, you look damn fire yourself Sherene,” she laughed. Sherene and Layla were the best of friends. After a not so friendly introduction during orientation week, they quickly bonded during their first semester as they took several introductory classes together. Layla was a psychology major, while Sherene studied sociology. Sherene also was dressed up for the occasion, her high-waist booty tropical print shorts and matching crop top accentuated her curvy figure. She always wore a strappy sandals similar to Layla’s. Her color choice for her locs this month was red. Sherene was the more adventurous friend of the two and always encouraged Layla to step out of her comfort zone every once in a while for some fun. “Alright, let’s go!” Layla squealed as they headed out the door. The campus were providing shuttles to the party as the beach where the event was being kept was an hour and a half away. The beach was owned by the university. They walked arm in arm to the waiting area where other students were also standing and chatting until they were ready to load up on the bus.  At 9pm, the students were given the green light to start loading up on the shuttle. Before entering, everyone was given an arm band to identify themselves and gave them access to return to school on the shuttle. Layla and Sherene made their way to the line, entered the shuttle and grabbed seats near the front. The shuttle was jammed with students; it was so full, that some students had to stand in the aisle but nobody seemed to mind, they were all in a joyous mood and ready to get the party started.  There were some students already jamming to the music that was blasting from the speakers, Sherene included. “Loosen up girl, it’s a pardaaayyyy!” Sherene shouted at me over the speakers and she joined in with her. The night was off to a great start and she couldn’t wait to see what the night had in store for them. The shuttle arrived at the beach and everyone filed out. Two other shuttles had left the campus at the same time, so more students were also filing out and make their way to the entrance. Sherene and Layla made their way to the line and waited to enter and began partying the night away.   “Oh my gosh! That was the bestttt beach party in all our years at college!” Sherene exclaimed as they exited the party. The night was spent gyrating on the sands and throwing back mixed drinks. It was definitely what the doctor ordered after the last week filled with back to back exams. It was now two in the morning and they were trying to locate a shuttle to head back to campus. They spotted one and decided to make a run for it hoping it wouldn’t already be packed as they could really use a seat to rest their aching feet from dancing all night. As soon as they stepped on the shuttle, they realized all the seats were occupied. Layla inwardly groaned and made her way to the back to stand with Sherene. Five minutes later, a few more students entered and the driver pulled away making his way back to campus. Sherene and Layla were in the middle of a conversation about the party when a freshman threw up in her seat. “Ughhhh!” The students said in unison, while those sitting in the vicinity of the girl rushed out of their seats. The aisle was now full of students crammed together. Layla was in the midst of a text on her phone when she felt someone’s hair tickling her nose. She absent mindedly brushed it away and went back on the phone, when she felt it again. Feeling frustrated, she looked up from her phone and tapped the person on their shoulder. “Umm, excuse me?” she said in annoyed tone, when the person turned around she felt like the air got knocked out of her. “Yeah?” he responded. Layla seemed to have forgotten why she tapped the guy’s shoulder in the first place, until her brain seemed to magically start working again. “Y-your h-hair…it was uh, in my face.” She stuttered. A slow smile crept upon his handsome face. He was 6”3 with olive skin and of Indian descent. He had deep set eyes, a straight nose and the most gorgeous pair of lips Layla had ever seen. It was then she took notice of his jet black hair that was straight and held in a low ponytail that reached the middle of his back. “My bad,” he chuckled. She didn’t even respond as she kept staring at his face. “I’m Antonio, by the way,” he continued. She swallowed and replied, “Layla”. She looked around for Sherene who was now in the middle of a conversation with a guy who was also standing in the aisle. Layla and Antonio stroke up a conversation the entire ride back to campus. “I had a really nice time chatting with you, is it okay if I got your number?” Layla was usually turned off by random guys asking for her number and usually always gave out fake digits but something about Antonio felt different. She took his phone and saved her number before he stepped off at his stop. Sherene then came to stand beside her as she asked, “Who was that cutie?” and wiggled her eyebrows. Layla laughed and rolled her eyes and replied, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”