Leila

Chapter 10: Refuge

The bus slowly fills up with passengers heading out to the next town. The driver, Mr Hughes, looked through his log and didn't see Leila standing at the door with a tray of hot beverages and two paper sacks of bagels. 'Good morning!' she beamed. A smile spread across the bus driver's face; he didn't have to look up to know who it was and what she had in her hands. Leila has been taking this couch since her Nonna moved into the nursing home. Five years ago, Leila entered and handed the bus driver a cup of coffee and a paper bag of bagels. The driver shook his head, ' Maam, we don't accept food in place of a bus ticket'. But Leila kept her hand outstretched. Finally, the driver gave in and took the items. She reached into her pocket and presented her passport, ' It's going to be a long ride; I just thought you might need some snacks. The bus driver had to fight back a tear, in his 10 years as a bus driver and no one had ever shown him a kind gesture. The passengers are often agitated and the rest just ignore him. But not this young lady and every Saturday morning she rides the bus, the same route, going to see her Nonna. Leila climbed up the two steps 'Delivery for our hardworking busdriver', she announced while handing over the tray and paper bag, and hopped into the seat directly behind the driver's seat.

He adjusted the rear-view mirror and smirked at Leila. What a pleasant and beautiful young lady.

Engrossed in her bagel, Leila felt Mr Hughes looking at her. 'Ok, what have I done wrong this time? She asked, without looking up.

Seatbelt! Smiling, Leila put on her seatbelt and sank into the then-blue- a now-brown seat that had seen better days. Touched her bag to be sure she had Nonan's favourite sugar palm cake with her. She cannot wait to see the only family she had growing up. An hour into the ride, Leila started to drowse off when she heard Mr Hughes give a long low whistle. What was that about? She sat up just in time to see the rear of the black Maybach in the distance.

The bus slowly came to a stop, nudging Leila out of her sleep. She grabbed her bag and asked Mr Hughes if he wanted someone to drink. " No, thanks dear". Leila headed first towards the toilet. Fortunately, only a few buses and trucks were pulling in at this time of the year. In summer, the toilet queues snaked across the tarmac, people lining up under the blistering sun waiting for their turn. Leaving the ladies' room, she headed towards the restaurant and sat down in a booth by the door. She didn't notice the 3 men at the back of the diner despite them sticking out like a sore thumb. A group of young college men entered, clearly heading home for spring break. One of them noticed Leilani and shuffled over and sat in the booth, blocking her in. Two more men joined them while their friends started laughing and urging them on.

'Hey beautiful, what's your name ?'

Leilani looked up to see two young men looking at her with stupid grins. The blonde is not so bad looking. Before she could respond, a man pushed over and told the boys to leave. Turning around, her heart sank: The same three men from the other day. What do they want now?