Saturday Morning
718 Words
Saturday mornings were usually quiet in Lila’s house.
She woke up a little after eight and stretched before reaching for the photo on her bedside table. It was the same picture she looked at every morning—her dad smiling with one arm around her when she was ten years old.
“Good morning, Dad,” she whispered.
She placed the picture back and got dressed.
The smell of pancakes filled the house as she walked downstairs.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” her mother said, placing another pancake on a plate.
“I’ve been awake for five minutes.”
“Exactly. Sleepyhead.”
Lila laughed as she sat down.
They ate breakfast together, talking about the new neighborhood and school.
“So,” her mother asked, “have you made any friends yet?”
Lila smiled.
“I have.”
Her mother looked relieved.
“Really?”
“Her name is Emma. She’s really nice.”
“What about everyone else?”
Lila hesitated.
“Most people are okay.”
Her mother noticed the pause but didn’t ask any more questions.
“I’m just happy you’re smiling again.”
Lila looked down at her plate.
She hadn’t realized she’d been smiling more lately.
After breakfast, she decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. The weather was warm, and a cool breeze moved the leaves on the trees. Children rode their bikes along the sidewalks while families worked in their gardens.
It was peaceful.
As she passed a small café, she heard someone call her name.
“Lila!”
She turned around.
Noah was standing outside with two cups in his hands.
She blinked.
“What are you doing here?”
He laughed.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I was just walking.”
“My mom sent me to buy coffee.”
He held up one of the cups.
“And hot chocolate.”
“You drink hot chocolate?”
“Every Saturday.”
Lila smiled.
“I didn’t know that.”
“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”
She looked away, trying to hide her smile.
“Do you want to walk?” Noah asked.
Lila thought for a moment.
“Sure.”
They began walking slowly down the street.
At first, neither of them said much.
Then Noah broke the silence.
“Emma told me you love reading.”
Lila looked at him.
“She tells you everything?”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s a little scary.”
He laughed.
“What’s your favorite book?”
Lila thought for a moment before answering.
“I like stories that make me feel something.”
“That’s not a book.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“I guess I don’t really have a favorite.”
“What about you?”
“I like mystery novels.”
“You? Really?”
“What? You thought I only read football magazines?”
She giggled.
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll prove it.”
He pulled a book from the paper bag he was carrying.
“I just borrowed this from the library yesterday.”
Lila looked at the cover.
“I’ve heard of this one.”
“It’s really good.”
She carefully flipped through the pages before handing it back.
“I might borrow it when you’re done.”
“You can borrow it now.”
“No, it’s yours.”
“I’ll finish it later.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t mind?”
“No.”
She accepted the book with a grateful smile.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
As they continued walking, they passed a small park. Children were running around while parents sat on nearby benches.
Noah pointed toward an empty swing.
“Race you.”
“What?”
Before she could answer, he ran toward it.
Lila laughed.
“That’s not fair!”
She chased after him, laughing louder than she had in months.
For a little while, she forgot about the move, the whispers at school, and everything that had made her feel alone.
She was simply a sixteen-year-old girl enjoying a Saturday morning with a friend.
Neither of them noticed someone watching from across the street.
Vanessa had seen everything.
And she wasn’t smiling.
- Writer
