𝖏𝖚𝖐𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖒
❝ 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒 ❞
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔

        𝐀𝐙𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐇 smiled with her ice-breaking comment. Still being as overt as what had earned her the nickname "drunk-mouth" a decade ago, she didn't shy away from making this situation even more awkward. As a journalist, her outward confidence worked in her favor majorly. Remaining in Chicago after studying at the state university, she began working closely with podcasters in her hometown to bring change to the Pullman district.

"This is swell," Naomi clasped her hands together with a rigid smile, "the crew is really sitting back where we started, y'all. Aren't y'all excited to see all of us together again?"

Silence ensued, causing Reggie to snort. "Some more than others, clearly." Naomi shushed him.

"Renee, girl, how's abroad treating you? You really ghosted the lot of us." Naomi chuckled, she was trying her hardest for everything to feel normal. She knew that everyone had something going on in their couples; and if anything, her and Reggie were actually the best of the terrible bunch.

Renee grinned, revealing a glowing beam of beauty that frankly had Amari mesmerized. She briefly met his eyes, as she spoke, "Business is great. Yo' girl got flewed out to Europe and was touring like crazy. Never really feel like I sit down, if I'm being for real. What about this scholar?" she nodded to Amari. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Uh, just a lot of work for my class action." he shortly replied. He was shocked, to put it simply, at how sexy her demeanor was. Renee was now invigorating, confident and absolutely gorgeous. His heart was racing, so much that it unleashed the cage of butterflies that fluttered around in his stomach.

"That's dope, I'm routing for you, Mars." she returned, and he lost all of his internal composure, as a wide grin spread across his lips. Despite their uncomfortable interaction upon arrival, a decade didn't seem to affect their old feelings—even then, Amari had been waiting until he could see her again, and tell her that he'd missed her... a lot.

"Shontelle don't still work here, do she?" James spoke up, allowing himself to take a deep breath, as he quickly soaked in every ounce of Azryah across from him.

"I sure hope not," Reggie scoffed, looking over the booth at the bar not too far away.

"I'd have hoped she'd have bigger aspirations than a part-timer." James hummed, causing Azryah to laugh gently.

"Coming from the luck-struck, Championship billionaire." she commented, gaining laughs from the group once James reacted just as dramatically as he used to.

"Luck-struck? You made that word up, Walts. I'll have you know, I worked real hard for my lifestyle." he squinted his eyes at her, as he grinned. "Thirteen years and you still ain't thought about getting the screws in yo' jaw fixed?"

"For what?" she deviously retorted with furrowed brows.

"For that loose ass mouth of yours." The booth was sent into uproar, beginning to feel exactly like their hangouts after school.

Conversations soon broke off into small topics about the weather in everyone's separate living destination to Amari's recent sighting of their former, hobo-looking Physics teacher, Mr. Holmes. Whilst chatting though, he struggled to even bat an eyelid at anything other than Renee. She laughed as James recalled a memory of lessons, squeezing the bridge of her nose like she always did to hide her large smile.

He wondered what she thought about him. After over a decade of no contact, would she even still look at him in the same way she did when they were teenagers? Nonsense, he told himself, considering that so much had changed.

Amari's track of thought was halted when Naomi squealed again, "Yo, Ciara!" she pushed to get out of the booth as 'One, Two Step' began playing. "We can get food later, let's go dance!" Azryah sprung onto her feet and pulled James and Renee onto their feet also. Despite Reggie's reluctance, he slid out of the booth as well.

The ladies led the path to the dancefloor that was separated from the skating rink. The crew joined the crowds swaying to the groove of the beat, as they recited the timeless dance moves.

Separately, Azryah and James had already detached from the group, dancing with one another, with him following her lead as she swung her hips in front of him. The song smoothly transitioned to 'Baby Boy' by Beyoncé, sending Azryah into her own world as she moved with the music. James was hesitant, dancing close but trying not to give the wrong impression, especially since she was seeing someone. Though, she didn't seem too bothered at all.

She spun to face James, giving him a wide smirk in the dim, purple glow, as she threw her arms around his neck. She sang the words to the chorus lowly, as he gently eloped her waist. Their eyes never tore from one another, not once, and James began to wonder if the lyrics conveniently spoke about him.

As they moved in sync, fond memories sprung. Moreau and Walters never really reached an end to their back and forth relationship. Continuing after graduation, James bee-lined straight for an out-of-state community college that offered him a basketball scholarship, while Azryah remained in South Side to attend the state's university.

They kept in contact, though minimal, and stuck as friends. Their history of quarrels over their steady playin', about struggles with commitment to one another and the complete lack thereof with others. It was quite the deterrent, but it didn't stop either of them from wanting to try again. Now, seeing each other again with their bodies close as they danced, the awkwardness upon meeting had left and all that remained were old feelings that were still ignitable.

James leaned close to her ear, his full lips just gently brushing her neck. "We have some catching up to do, Walts." He inhaled her wafting jasmine-scented perfume that laced her neck.

"Oh, really?" she spoke. He pulled back to look at her and gave her a sure nod as he grinned. Her cheekbones rose with her wide smile—her dreads were wrapped into a neat bun atop her head, accentuating her petite face. She nodded her head away from the dancefloor and, without drawing much attention to themselves, quickly shifted away from the rest of the crew.

They wandered over to an unoccupied booth, secluded from the bustling party across the room. James sat first, allowing him the time to gaze over the way Azryah's pastel pink bodycon held her slender but short figure. She pulled a face, once she sat down.

"You're doing a whole lotta staring, Jay."

"Well, you look beautiful, don't you? Gotta allow me to admire you, right?" he smiled shyly, he wasn't even aware of how conspicuous he was being.

They had an appropriate distance between them, but James didn't hesitate to close it as he threw his arm across the back of the booth, just slightly leaning into Azryah, who tilted her head slightly in his direction. "How've things been? I'on even know what you're doing with yourself now,"

"'Cause you always talking 'bout yourself?" her brow rose.

He dramatically gasped, "You best be joking with that, Ry," She giggled, waving a dismissive hand.

"I am. I've been chillin', since I finished my Masters. I got an internship at a local media outlet like twenty minutes from here, then I'm also on a podcast." she shrugged nonchalantly. She never liked to talk about where she was at with her career, all of the rest of the crew seemed so much farther ahead while she was still an intern.

"That's so cool. What's it called? I wanna listen. You know I dig the sound of your voice." he grinned.

She snorted, "After you sayin' that, nah." He rolled his eyes, leaning his head back onto the rim of the booth.

"You so mean. Still, you doing real good, Walts. Naomi told me you got a 2:1, you actually sat through another two years—I ain't even really go to college, just for the scholarship. I'm proud of you, ya' know?" he continued with his grin. Azryah watched James for a beat, the warm hue deepened the shade of his skin but accentuated his strong cheekbones that rose with the corners of his lips. He ain't look like he's changed one bit, she thought.

James's lips parted into a white smile once he'd noticed. "You're doing a whole lotta staring there, Walts, you definitely see somethin' you like." he spoke lowly, which made her heart flutter. She looked away with a scoff, and James quickly retracted, remembering her relationship status.

"What else you got goin' for you? We ain't even talk last time I saw you, at that party in LA."

"Too many eyes, I'on like that. Everything on The Shade Room was proof." she rolled her eyes.

"'Cause of that kid you're talking to?"

"'Kid'? You real funny, James, he's older than you." she scoffed.

"Oh." James pouted, "You like him?"

Azryah nonchalantly lifted her shoulder. "Isaiah's cool, but I haven't really been feeling it, not since that party. What about you, you ain't got girls all on you?" she redirected the conversation, not knowing how to step away from the feeling that she wasn't feeling Isaiah because of James. James laughed at her switch-up.

"As everyone assumes. I'on really talk to anyone, ya' know. I've had my share of relationships. I'm just sorta waiting for the girl I really want now." he hesitated slightly, avoiding her eyes for a moment. Azryah cocked her head to get a better look at his fallen gaze.

"So why haven't you gone for her?" her brow rose. James licked his lips, leaning back and suavely meeting her gaze. He was trying desperately to regain his confidence, he was going to need it.

"Time and place, Ry, time and place." He pulled her closer, as he mentally noted that it was time to start making moves. What better place to get that girl he wanted than the place it all began, a decade ago.

🎆
𝖏𝖚𝖐𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖒
❝ 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐆𝐋𝐃𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞

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