Free A Unique Kind of Love by Jasmine Rose

feel him hesitate, but he reluctantly wrapped his arms around me as well.
     
    We stayed that way for a long time, the seconds ticking by slowly, every moment taking its time to pass.
     
    It was a silent confirmation of our friendship.
     
    “Lena! Is that you, dear?” said a throaty voice. I jumped in the air, but smiled at the sight of Darla, now awake. Her blue eyes, which have the same shade as Liam’s, held that same twinkle I’d seen so often when she was well. I went by her side, and so did Liam.
     
    “Darla! Long time no see, eh?”
     
    She chuckled and coughed at the same time and Liam tensed.
     
    “How’s your life going?” she asked, as if she was just at home, knitting a winter sweater for Liam.
     
    I shrugged. “Nothing special. I sent my college application last night, actually.” I felt Liam’s eyes on me. Darla’s mouth dropped a little and she patted my hand.
     
    “So did Liam, yesterday!” She chuckled softly. I was alarmed and I clutched her hand in fear.
     
    “You okay?”
     
    She waved her hand over her face and nodded. “Never better.”
     
    Liam reached out and held her hand as well, placing it over mine. I tried to ignore the shocks that slightly jolted my body. Darla’s eyes went to our hands and she chuckled, as if sharing an old joke with herself.
     
    “Do you have any new jokes?” I asked.
     
    Her eyes lit up, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to fade from the joy. “What did the green grape say to the purple grape?”
     
    I stayed silent.
     
    “Breathe, idiot. Breathe!” And she broke into laughter. We laughed heartily with her, but remained cautious.
     
    I had to admit though, hearing Liam laugh made me feel somewhat better. And it felt like old times, when Darla would sit on her old, oak rocking chair and tell us jokes, as her face glowed with tranquility.
     
    She blinked several times and her presence was deflated every time she blinked. She finally closed her eyes, and soft snores were heard. She’d fallen asleep again.
     
    I looked down to our hands, which hadn’t left Darla’s. Liam typed something on his phone with his free hand and showed me.
     
    “You came for the coffee, didn’t you?”
     
    I simply replied with, “You promised.”
     
    “The hospital’s cafe has the best coffee around.”
     
    I smiled. “Let’s go then. Mom wants a coffee too; I’ll give her one and then tell her to go home. You’ll drive me home anyways.”
     
    I turned to him, and his eyes were burning into me.
     
    They could say every word his lips and tongue couldn’t. They were the way he expressed himself and I found it bizarre yet normal that I could read them so easily.
     
    Today, there was fear laced with relief.
     
    I nodded. “I’m glad we’re friends again too, idiot.”
     

 
    12
    Love Jitters
     
    “Maybe it’s the way she walked straight into my heart and stole it.”
    ~One Direction~
     
     
     
    Lena Rose Winter
     
    I laid my head against the cold, hard metal of my locker. I felt my eyes close, as I melted into Ed Sheeran's raspy voice in Give Me Love . It felt as if I was in a different world. I felt peaceful, considering that it was lunch time and I still had an hour ahead of me.
     
    I had eaten, then extricated myself from Liam's company with the excuse that I had some "homework" to do. Frankly, I just wanted a little time to myself.
     
    "Oi, why are you sitting in front of your locker being all depressed?" said a voice that could only belong to Victoria. I opened my eyes to see her sitting beside me. Her face softened when she saw my expression. I took off one earphone, to hear her better.
     
    "What's wrong, babe?"
     
    I smiled a little, I always loved it when she called me "babe" and it was cute, unlike the way Jonah used to say it.
     
    “Well…” I trailed off, not knowing exactly how to explain anything.
     
    "Can I guess?"
     
    “Sure,” I shrugged, highly doubting she knew what was on my mind.
     
    "You really want