Friends

Lola

With pulsing feet and aching shoulders, Lola pushed the door to the inn open and the chiming of the bell above the door, which she had become used to, sounded as usual. The door closed noiselessly behind Lola and she looked around the inn as it bustled with people. A few heads swung in her direction when she came in. She fixed a tired smile on her face and in less than a few seconds, everyone returned to their deeds.

"Lolaita!" the voice of a young boy shrieked from behind the counter. For a minute, all the tiredness evaporated from Lola's bones. The bundle of a boy bounded towards her with his smile looking like it could tear his face in two. Lola braced herself for the impact she knew would come the moment Ale came close. And just on cue, the ten-year-old barreled into her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Lola's heart swelled at the unconditional love she received from him. It's been years since she lost her actual family, but the one she gained within the inn was enough to keep her going. Even though it was weekend, Mrs Piper was here working late into the night and Ale's mother let him out just so he could help. Not that he did much, buy his presence was always of comfort.

Mrs Piper raised her head from wiping down the counters and gave Lola a warming smile. Lola let Ale put his hand on the crock of her elbow as they walked towards the old woman.

"How did your classes go?" Mrs Piper asked. Lola sighed and kicked off her shoes. Ale dragged a chair close to her, and she plumped down into the seat, allowing herself to take a breather for the first time since the day began.

"Oh well, same as always. Sitting with a bunch of kids who have nothing to worry about."

"You're a child yourself, Lolalita." Agnes chided. Lola smiled, and she noticed Ale's shoulders quaking with silent laughter. Lola tapped the screen of her phone and it came alive. The time read fourth seven minutes to eight pm. She narrowed her eyes at Ale.

"Shouldn't you be home, young man? It's way past your bedtime."

"I don't have a bedtime." Ale scowled. "Mama said I'm a protector. As long as I don't in trouble." He replied.

"I'm pretty sure that's not what your mama meant." Lola answered and stood up. "Come on. Let's get you home so your mom doesn't worry." She turned towards Mrs Piper. "I'll be right back."

Ale's home was just around the corner. The little boy skipped happily beside her while she was content to watch him as they passed beneath the neon lights on the streets of Spain. Lola's mind drifted. She had never been away from home. Her whole life had been built on the soil beneath her feet. She wondered what life was like outside the little cocoon she had made for herself. And even though her curiosity ran deep, it always amounted to nothing. If there was one thing Lola was sure of in life, it was that she would never abandon her roots. And unlike the rest of her family, she was going to make sure her father's legacy was restored. Everything that was belonged to her family that was taken away, it had become her life's mission to return them.

"What are you thinking of?" Ale's voice pulled her from her subconscious and brought her back to reality. She looked down at the little boy to find him staring up at her. It was as though his peaceful eyes implored her to forget her heartaches and move on. But Lola couldn't do that. She had to redeem herself. She pulled his cheek and smiled at him fondly.

"Nothing, champ." They walked a few blocks and turned down the corner into Ale's street. The neighborhood wasn't very fascinating. To most people, they would consider it a run down, but to Lola, it was livelihood.

"We're here." Ale announced. Lola could hear the disappointment in his voice. She what in front of him, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Early to bed, my boy, would make you the greatest protector the world's ever known. I'll come to you tomorrow. I promise."

Ale threw his arms around her neck, giving her a warm hug. Lola breathed in his clean scent before letting him go. Ale bounded up the stairs in front of his front door and waved at Lola, imploring her to go before he went in. Lola chuckled under her breath at his antics. She wasn't having any of it. And until she was sure Ale was safely tucked away within the confines of his home, she went back to the inn.

The walk back to the inn was a lot shorter than to Ale's home. The familiar chiming of the bell above the door rang out again just as she walked in. The people within the inn had reduced. There were just a few customers left. Agnes came out from the store room already dressed to go home. Her shift was over.

Lola couldn't afford to employ more hands besides Agnes and Mrs Piper, so she always made herself available before Agnes clocks out in order to cover the shift for the rest of the night, no matter how tired she might be. And on Agnes' day offs, she worked her ass off in her place. She put in her everything to make sure the inn doesn't fold over. She had grand plans for this place and nothing was going to stand in her.

The girl walked up to Lola with a tight smile. Lola couldn't blame her. She did the work meant for three girls. Anyone in her shoes would feel the same way. Plus, she was a teenager. Teenage girls resent people who keep them from having fun. But Agnes needed the money, so she was really in no position to complain.

"I'll be on my way now." She announced to Lola and Mrs Piper.

"Of course, Agnes." Lola replied, all smiles. "Thank you for today." The girl shouldered her bag and dashed out of the inn. It was Friday night, which meant there would be no rush in the inn, as the folks in town were likely to be at a party. Everyone loved throwing parties on Friday night. It was the weekend, after all. Lola could only hope that wherever Agnes was rushing off to, she would have the decency to not stay out so late so she could get some rest.

The customers in the inn dwindled. Lola chatted happily with the ones remaining while she served them with care. Soon, the last one of them trickled out, and it was just a few minutes past ten. Mrs Piper was ready to go, too. She came out from the store room where she stashed her cleaning tools.

Lola had taken over from where she stopped, wiping down the counters and making sure the mugs were home and dry.

"Don't stay up too late." Mrs Piper called out as she left the inn.

"Don't let the frostbites bite." Lola retorted. It had become like a running joke between them. Every night, they said the same words to each other as they ended their day. It was one thing Lola looked forward to each day. Her own mother wouldn't bother with tucking her in at nights, let alone wishing her a good sleep. This inn was her biggest happiness.

Lola walked over to door and locked it. She flipped the sign to read closed. It was finally over. With the lady of strength in her, she shut off the windows and turned off the lights. Then she dragged herself upstairs to her living quarters. One perk of being he in owner was the apartment that came with it. She lived there comfortably, and until yesterday, when she got the deeds of her family house back, this was the only home she had known for the past five years.

The apartment was nice but bare. Besides the bed and the cushion and her kitchen utensils, there was nothing else. She loved it that way. It reminded her of the life she once had and the things she lost. And they drove her to be a better person and to be a fighter.

Lola didn't have the strength to run herself a bath. Left for her, she would plummet into the bed and let herself fall into the hands of sleep until her muscles ached no longer. But she couldn't have that. She reeked of sweat and tea and coffee and everything one could contact from being outside, and there was no way for her to have a peaceful sleep if she didn't clean up.

For the first time since she lost everything, Lola wished she could go back to those days when she had everything done for her. Tears sprang to her eyes as she seeped out of her dirty clothes and into the bathroom. She stood beneath the shower and turned the shower knob. Cold water sprouted out of the shower head and cascaded down her skin. Lola sucked in a deep breath as the icy water chilled her blood. Her teeth struck together as she prevented herself from chattering and imagined her blood turning blue.

Putting the gruesome thought out of her head, she soaped up her loofah. She scrubbed herself slowly and with the last bit of strength she could Garner. Soon, she was clean enough to go to bed. Lola didn't bother with food. Her Saturday classes started by one on, and she had to wake up early enough to cover the morning shift at the inn before handing over to Agnes for the rest of the afternoon. She really needed to get some sleep. She toweled off her body and slipped beneath the duvet and the covers on her bed.

The cell phone on the night stand lit up with an incoming message. Lola picked it up. It was an update on the course for tomorrow's classes. Lola groaned and pulled up the calendar app, counting down the days until the semester would finally be over. She just had to hold on till then.

Lola closed her eyes and wished upon the stars like she did every night since she found herself alone. She wished for the same thing she had always wished for. She wished that tomorrow would be better than today.

Her tiredness took the best of her. Lola closed her eyes once more and let herself fall asleep.