𝖏𝖚𝖐𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖒
❝ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐈𝐈 ❞
𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕

𝐓𝐇𝐄 capacity of people that Rollacity could hold was always challenged during the weekends, no wonder it was so difficult for Azryah Walters to be able to locate James in the crowd. She defeatedly walked over to the bar, where Shontelle was wiping down the surfaces. She glanced up at the sight of her approaching.

"Why you frownin'? You gon' mess up yo' pretty lil' face?" she commented, leaning forward on the table. "You good?"

"Have you seen James?" Azryah heaved, her eyes scouring the crowded area of dancing bodies. "He stormed off somewhere," she mumbled.

"What's going on? He didn't look very happy." Shontelle pried. Azryah noticed the parental look on her face, similar to the one her father gave her when she'd been caught out on a lie, she averted her gaze.

"Do you know where he is?" she asked again. Shontelle sighed and pointed to one of the secluded booths away from the bustling party. Once Walters looked in that direction, she noticed Moreau slouched in his seat, fiddling with one of the menus in the warm hue of the dim lights. "Thanks." she muttered, trudging over.

She waited until he acknowledged her, before she spoke up. He folded the menu's soft board material back and forth, pressing down against the crease, folding it over and repeating the same on the opposite side. Azryah finally heaved and sat across from him when he managed to ignore her long enough.

"What's wrong?" Azryah asked. "What is wrong with me talking to another nigga, 'cause obviously it bothers you." James didn't answer, his eyes successfully remained focused on the menu. "Bruh," she smacked her lips, leaning in, "you being so damn childish right now, Jay."

He clenched his jaw and continued folding. She scoffed wryly, moving along the seat and sitting beside him. She ripped the menu from his hands and chucked it across the red, glossy table. He sighed and stared at his long fingers laying flat on the table.

"Can you answer me? You ain't got no right to be mad, when you talk to other girls yourself," she exasperated, nudging his shoulder. "If you got a problem, state that shit here and now, bruh, 'cause I'm tired of this back-and-forth shit."

"I ain't talkin' to no one right now, while you chatting up college niggas," he finally spoke up, his gaze remaining averted from hers.

"So? You actin' like we gotta be in relationships at the same time, like bitches that be syncing they motherfuckin' period," she tutted, "you single, what does that gotta do with me? I'm talkin' to someone, what the fuck does that gotta do wit' you?"

The more Azryah spoke, the harsher her words sounded, and the harder they were hitting James. She finally caught herself, falling silent and anticipating his reaction, in which he didn't have one. She sharply exhaled, squeezing the bridge of her nose, "I'm sorry."

Silence ensued... until, "You like him?" he muttered. He couldn't bear to look at her, it would just make the anger in her words all the more real.

"...Yeah, I do." she said confidently.

James bit his lip, gently nodding his head. He inhaled deeply, as he leaned further into his seat, finally raising his eyes to Azryah who tried her hardest to conceal her emotions. "So, you just gon' forget about us?" he questioned.

"There ain't an 'us', Jay,"

"Yes, there is, there always has been. It's pretty obvious we want to be with each other." he stated firmly.

"Obvious?" she scoffed at what she thought was a hilarious joke; to him, it wasn't.

"Yeah, it's obvious. Somehow we always end up back to tryin' to make it work. I'on wanna sound corny but it's pretty fuckin' obvious that we're supposed to work out—whether it's now or when we too crippled to crip walk," Azryah broke into a smile at his incredible ability to still make a joke out of it all. James relaxed at the sight of it, sitting up attentively to her small gestures.

"James," she exhaled. "You can't say all that when this front disappears as soon as a new chick's in the picture."

"Well, you got a new nigga too," he retorted.

"That's my point. I'on wanna keep going round in circles, getting mad at each other and then making up the next week, that shit is draining, bruh," she sighed, he took her hands in his, delicately stroking her knuckles.

"I'm being for real this time, Ry, I'm feenin' for you. You know how I been feelin' 'bout you, and I know you feel the same. I wanna be wit' you and nobody else." James hesitated, taking a breath and leaning into her lips; and she didn't seem to pull away. The two fell submissive to their intimate touch, drawing closer to one another for more.

James and Azryah's history was a ginormous, unnecessary rollercoaster. Never seeming to get it right after the hundreds of times they'd tried again, and again, and again, it had to be a waste of time, hadn't it?

James didn't want to let her go. Being friends since middle school, it was enough for them to become best friends—amongst other things—within their friendship group. He knew at times that she was very well liked by others, as was he, but they ultimately always ended up fighting for each other. He admired everything about her and aside from his passion for basketball, she was one thing he cared about a lot.

Azryah, however, knew how to go with the flow; if something wasn't meant to be, she knew when to let it go. It was ingrained throughout her childhood with separated parents after the birth of her younger sister. Living with her father primarily, he had terrible luck with new love, seeming to meet and ditch worthy candidates more often than a child needed to see. It instilled a mindset of "some things just aren't there, so there's no need to force it" into Azryah, which greatly fueled her carefree social life.

But, she didn't like to think that way when it came to James, because if it were better to stop trying, she'd push herself to make them work. Though, her perseverance was running thin and she didn't enjoy the bondage it had over her—and to get rid of that, was to distance from him.

With their plans for college being on opposite side of the spectrum, it was an additional factor that was leading Walters to simply start anew. Senior Year was coming to a close and Moreau was already set on jetting to California with a scholarship, while Azryah to remain in the comfort of Illinois.

Pulling away, Azryah gently shook her head, as though she was ashamed of herself. His left hand gently brushed her right cheek, she leaned into it as she hesitated against her restraint. She pulled his hand down and drew back, "Jay, I can't,"

She lifted her gaze, where she found him staring at her with an innocent expression of hope. "I can't do this. I'on want to get hurt,"

"Ry—"

"I'on want you to get hurt either. Ya' know, maybe we should just let it go, for now, and if it's really meant to be, we finna work out, if not now then when we crippled like you said. You gon' be off to California soon and we can't even keep shit in check when we together, long distance ain't gonna work. We both gotta focus too—I'on want you all worried about me. Plus, I like Nathaniel, he's at Northeastern and... freedom might be good for us, ya' feel me?" Azryah continued to talk, wanting to get everything out before James had the chance to say something that would reel her right back in.

"Azryah," he sulked. The heavy words sat on the tip of his tongue, ready to cascade with his overwhelming love for her. But he held back, knowing she was right.

"Quit making yo' face like that, bruh. If we meant to be, then I'ma see you again, aight? Maybe even at this same table." she lightly chuckled, looking away. His stare was becoming overbearing and was beginning to make her feel like she'd completely ruined his image of her.

He pressed his plump lips together, accepting reality. After years of messing with each other, steady playin' every opportunity they had, he'd finally lost her now that he was ready to really commit. He was eighteen and mature, and he'd made his mind up. He loved her.

They had a shit tonne left to experience in life, Azryah saw it that way. She was eighteen and confused beyond comprehension. But they'd see each other like this again, she was sure of it.

"Friends?" he confirmed. She tilted her head and gently punched him in the arm.

"Boy, of course, what sort of question is that?" she smacked her lips jokingly.

He sadly smiled, finally parting his eye contact, "Aight," he lowly replied, his hands instantaneously retreating back to folding the menu back and forth.

Azryah could sense how upset he was, but she knew it was for the best. She exhaled a shaky breath and shuffled out of the booth, "I'm gonna get some fresh air," she informed him. James simply nodded his head silently, as a whirlwind of thoughts swarmed his head.

Meanwhile, outside the Skating Rink, Naomi wandered in a small circle, as Reggie nonchalantly lit up one of his joints and leaned back against the wall. Naomi shot round at the flick of the lighter. "Are you serious?" she scoffed.

"What?" he questioned past the tip sitting between his lips. He cradled the flame until the end of the rolled paper was set alight, "You stallin' so I thought I might as well, ya' know. But I'm listening, baby, what's up?"

"Um, okay," she clapped her hands together and took a sharp breath, Reggie calmly watched her nerves get the better of her. "it's about New York, and college, and shit." she started.

"Okay," he coaxed, reeling her in with his left hand, as he tapped the ash off of his blunt with his dominant one.

"I've been thinkin' about opportunities for me in hair and I've spoken to a few people and they think—and I think—that it might be best if I stayed in Chicago." she eased out, watching his facial expressions in the late-setting sunlight; it was completely illegible.

"But I thought we were talkin' about you going to do a Vocational, there's a lot of those in NYC, Nae." he responded. His voice was flat and he really wasn't giving any hints on what he was thinking, he took a draw and exhaled, as she replied.

"Yeah, but you know how I'm grindin' with my auntie at her salon. It's getting me the cash and the experience I need—I got quite a few clients that only come for me, so I'on really wanna lose that loyalty," she explained, she fidgeted again, dropping her eyes from his deep, compassionate stare.

"So you're stayin', is that what you sayin'?" She nodded.

"You mad?" she timidly quizzed.

"Mad? Why would I be mad? If that's what you want, I'm cool wit' it." he shrugged, leaving Beaumont a little shocked. She wasn't sure what she was expecting from her boyfriend that bakes in clouds of insouciance, but she certainly wasn't expecting the fact that Coleman was so fine with it. It relieved her overthinking thoughts almost. "What about long distance, you seemed worried about that last time we spoke?"

"We been together almost three years, I trust you. Unless you gon' give me a reason for me to doubt that?" she remarked, he grinned with his chuckle and drew another hit. "That wasn't rhetorical, nigga, do I gotta have a reason?" she expectantly tilted her head.

He laughed, "Nah, you good, baby, it'll only ever be you." She firmly nodded to herself at the reassurance. "So what they got here? Azzie and Mars are staying in town, are y'all gonna be close?"

"It's an NVQ degree in Cosmetology and I'm looking at some internships aside my auntie's salon. Azzie might be a little far at Northeastern Uni but Amari's a short drive away at UIC. It's the college in Palos Hills, so travel ain't really a problem." Naomi shrugged as she explained. Reggie watched her with a small smile.

"Ew, what?" she furrowed her brows.

"Nothin'. I'm glad you're happy." he muttered, pulling her up towards him; he enveloped her waist, letting his palm run along her figure.

"You seriously ain't mad?" she pulled an uneasy face.

"You talkin' like you don't know me, why the hell would I be mad? If that's what you think is best for you, then I got you. If you need any help, just let me know. I've been saving a lil' more to help you out a bit when you get going."

"You for real?" she quizzed and he nodded.

She grinned widely, "Thank you, baby," He gave her a squeeze before pressing a smokey kiss into her lips.

At an instant, Azryah burst through the entrance doors and took a deep breath of the cool, Chicago breeze. She tilted her head back for another breath, before turning her head and noticing the couple.

"Reg, is that a blunt? Let me get a hit." she darted in their direction and snatched it from his hand before he could protest. She took a long draw and exhaled heavily.

"What's up? You okay?" Naomi asked with slight concern at her jittery demeanor.

"I just cut it off completely with James." she replied flatly.

"Wait, seriously? Are you good, is he good?" Naomi bombarded her with questions as Reggie listened in silence, and all Azryah did was take another long draw.

"I'm cool. It's for the best, anyway, I'on really wanna think about it no more." she muttered apathetically. Her focus remained on the cars driving down 87th street. It hadn't even been ten minutes and Walters was already feeling the weight that should've been lifted get a few pounds heavier—but she huffed sharply, she had to live with her decision.

Once the blunt was exhausted, the three of the crew re-entered Rollacity. Upon approaching the booth, they'd noticed that James still hadn't returned—he was sat at the bar and getting consolation from Shontelle, who reassured him that he would very much survive without Azryah's undivided attention. Though, Renee was nowhere to be found, Amari sat at the glossy, purple table alone with his head in his hands.

"Uh, dude," Naomi started, Amari didn't respond.

"Bro," Reggie spoke up also, lightly slapping the nape of his neck. He lifted his head slowly, looking up at the three of them who'd shuffled into the booth across from him.

For being absent for only about fifteen minutes, Amari looked as though he hadn't blinked throughout the entire time. His eyes were red and swollen, and his fair, black skin was dotted with a warm, rosy tint along the highest points of his cheekbones and the ball of his nose. He looked as though he'd been crying?

"You good, Mars? We were only gone for a few minutes, you look like you got slapped in the face with an onion." Reggie commented unnecessarily, causing Naomi to roll his eyes at the comparison.

"And where's Renee?" Azryah added.

Amari only shrugged, fiddling for the folded notes by his elbow. He lazily chucked it across the table, "She left. That's hers, one of y'all get that back to her and tell her that I'on need her help." he muttered raspily.

🎆
𝖏𝖚𝖐𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖒
❝ 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐆𝐋𝐃𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆! 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁.

𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘇𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶. 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻.
𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆?

𝗶'𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶'𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝗼 𝗶 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!
𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀. 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆, 𝗶 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆.
𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀!

𝗲𝘅𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀!
𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 & 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀!
~𝐠𝐥𝐝𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬.