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Chapter 3 (pt.1)

“Age ain’t nothin but a number”

It’s Monday afternoon.

The hallway is packed as students pour toward the cafeteria for lunch.

Lockers slam. People yell across the hall.

Annie is walking with her backpack hanging from one shoulder when suddenly an arm wraps around her shoulders.

She jumps.

Then looks over. Kevion.

“Sup, girl?”

Annie immediately rolls her eyes.

Kevion busts out laughing. “Don’t be like that.”

“I should hit you.”

“Why?”

Annie stops walking and looks at him.

“Why? You know why.”

Kevion grins. “I ain’t have shit to do with that.”

“You did! You hooked me up with him.”

Kevion laughs harder.

“I ain’t know he was gon’ do no shit like that.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m serious!”

He holds his hand up. “I told him how fucked up he was.”

Annie tries not to smile.

She really likes Kevion.

He’s one of those people who’s impossible to stay mad at.

They’ve been cool for years.

He jokes too much. Talks too much.

Knows everybody.

And somehow always manages to get her laughing.

Just then they walk past Ryan.

He’s standing with his friends.

The second he sees Kevion’s arm around Annie’s shoulders, his face hardens.

He glares. Hard.

Annie notices. Then Kevion notices.

The two look at each other.

And immediately start laughing.

“Oh my God,” Annie says. “He mad as hell.”

Kevion is cracking up. “He over there lookin’ like he wanna fight and shit.”

Annie shakes her head. “Don’t hook me up with nobody else.”

Kevion looks offended. “Why? You don’t trust my judgment now?”

Annie sucks her teeth. “Hell nah.”

Kevion laughs so hard he bends over.

“Damn. It ain’t even gotta be like that.”

“It is exactly like that.”

Still laughing, he gives her shoulders one last squeeze before letting her go.

They make it into the cafeteria and split up.

The lunchroom is loud as always.

Chairs scrape against the floor.

Girls are screaming over something.

The smell of spicy chicken sandwiches and fries fills the air.

Annie spots her friends and sits down.

Immediately, Devin smirks. “Awww.”

Annie already knows. “What?”

“Y’all so cute.”

Annie frowns. “Who?”

“You and Kevion.”

Annie almost chokes. “Ew. No.”

Devin laughs. “You should’ve been with his fine ass instead.”

Annie shakes her head. “No.”

Ebony laughs. “You just be letting all the fine ones get away.”

Rhonda suddenly sits up. “Oh!”

Everybody looks at her.

“Speaking of Annie letting fine niggas get away…”

Annie groans. “No.”

“Yes.”Rhonda grins. “We went to the Landing Saturday.”

The girls immediately lean in.

“And this fine ass nigga—”

Annie covers her face. “Rhonda.”

“I’m serious.”

She looks around the table dramatically.

“I mean this nigga was way more than fine.”

Now she has everybody’s attention.

“He had this green and white Rocawear polo on, baggy jean shorts, fresh white Forces, a Boston fitted, diamond earrings…”

She starts counting on her fingers.

“A Rolex.” “A chain.” “Golds.”

“And money.”

She emphasizes the last part.

“A lot of money.”

Annie starts laughing.

Rhonda isn’t done. “He pulled out this huge wad of cash out his wallet like it wasn’t nothing.”

Devin’s eyes are huge. “Oh my God.”

“No, seriously.”

Rhonda points at Annie. “He was staring at her the whole damn time.”

Annie hides her face again.

“He bought our popcorn at Topsy’s.”

“What?” Ebony says.

“And gave us a ride back out south.”

“What?!” Devin says louder.

“And then…”

Rhonda pauses for effect. “He gave Annie a hundred-dollar bill.”

Everybody freezes.

“A hundred dollars?!” Devin practically screams.

Annie starts laughing. “Yes.”

Rhonda grins. “And his number was on the back.”

The entire table erupts. “WHAT?!”

“Girl!”

“Oh my God!”

Devin is losing her mind. “Annie! Have you called him?!”

Annie shakes her head. “No.”

The whole table goes quiet.

Rhonda blinks. “Why not?”

Annie shrugs. “Cause I’m nervous.”

Devin falls back dramatically. “Yo scary ass.”

Rhonda looks genuinely confused.

“If you don’t call him, it’s gonna be real awkward when you go to work.”

Ebony’s head snaps toward Annie. “Say what?”

Annie nods. “Yeah.”

“You work with him?!”

“Mhmm.”

Ebony’s mouth falls open. “Girl.”

“He’s a cook.”

“Girl!”

Everybody starts laughing.

Rhonda looks at her. “What you nervous for?”

Annie sighs. “Cause he’s older for one.”

“Okay?”

“And I ain’t never had an older man.”

“So? Age ain’t nothing but a number.”

“I ain’t never had a nigga that fine.”

The girls bust out laughing.

“I’m serious!”

She covers her face. “What if I fumble my words? What if my mind goes blank? What if I don’t know what to say?”

Devin shakes her head. “Annie.”

“What?”

“You thinking too much.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

Devin points at her.

“Get out your head. He obviously interested.”

Rhonda nods. “Mhmm.”

“He bought y’all popcorn.”

“Mhmm.”

“He gave you a hundred dollars.”

“Mhmm.”

Devin shakes her head. “You should’ve called that nigga the same day.”

Rhonda agrees. “Immediately.”

She sits up. “Cause that nigga is too fine.”

The table busts out laughing again.

“I would’ve called him as soon as I got home.”

Annie laughs. “I know you would’ve.”

“Absolutely.”

Then Rhonda thinks for a second. “Ooh.”

“What?”

“Why don’t you write him a letter first?”

Annie blinks.“Huh?”

“Start the conversation off that way.”

She shrugs. “Then maybe you can ease into talking to him on the phone.”

Annie’s eyes widen. “That might work.”

“It would.”

Annie immediately looks nervous again.

“But I’m scared to hand it to him.”

Devin jumps in. “He drives, right?”

Annie nods. “Okay.”

Devin shrugs. “Stick it on his windshield.”

Rhonda nods. “That’s actually smart.”

“Or on his driver’s side window,” Devin says.

Annie thinks about it. “I’ll think about it.”

Ebony suddenly shakes her head. “So damn…”

Everyone looks at her.

“So it’s really fuck Ryan then.”

Rhonda turns slowly. “Do you want Ryan or something?”

Ebony starts laughing.

“’Cause you really advocating for him.”

“Shut up, Rhonda.”

“I’m serious.”

“I just loved them together.”

Devin waves her hand. “Fuck Ryan.”

Everybody laughs.

“Anyway…”

She looks at Annie. “What’s the dude’s name?”

Annie smiles a little. “It’s Smoke.”

The entire table erupts.

“No!”

“Ain’t no way!”

“His name Smoke?!”

Devin laughs the hardest. “I like that.”

Annie laughs too. Then she looks at Rhonda.

“Have you talked to his friend yet?”

“Of course.” Rhonda grins. “We tryna meet up soon.”

Devin’s eyes widen. “Wait.” She points. “He had a friend with him?”

Rhonda smiles. “Yes and he fine as hell too.”

Devin sits up straighter. “Oh?”

“Mhmm.” She grins. “Me and Annie gon’ double date.”

“Aye!” Devin points at her. “Ask him if he got any more fine ass friends.”

The whole table busts out laughing.

Rhonda shrugs. “I guess.”

Annie just shakes her head.

Her friends are crazy.

But as they continue talking, her mind drifts. To a pair of brown eyes. A deep voice.

And a hundred dollar bill folded neatly inside her purse.

A smile slowly spreads across her face.

And she doesn’t even realize she’s smiling until Rhonda catches her.

“There she go.”

Annie blinks. “What?”

“You thinking about him.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

The whole table starts laughing.

And Annie can’t stop herself from laughing too.

🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆🌆

Down in the city, Smoke is at home.

He’s standing in front of his bathroom mirror, fastening his watch around his wrist. He just got dressed.

He runs a hand over his beard one last time.

Then he hears knocking. Three quick knocks. He already knows who it is.

Smoke opens the door.

Tobias walks in. “Finally. Damn.”

Smoke steps aside. “You act like I had you waitin’ all day.”

“Nigga you did. I been tryna get out.”

Tobias laughs as he walks into the living room.

Smoke shuts the door behind him.

Then drops onto the couch.

Tobias sits in the recliner.

Then he grins. “So…”

Smoke already knows. “No.”

Tobias starts laughing. “I ain’t even ask shit yet.”

“I know what you about to ask.”

Tobias leans back. “Aight then.” He pauses. “The girl at the mall.”

Smoke sighs. “What about her?”

“There we go.”

“What?”

“You already sound irritated.”

“I’m not irritated.”

“Mhmm.”

Tobias smirks. “What’s her name?”

Smoke looks at the television. “Why?”

“’Cause I asked.”

Smoke sighs. “Annie.”

“Annie.” Tobias nods. “Pretty name.”

Smoke says nothing.

Tobias studies him. “So…”

Smoke cuts his eyes. “So?”

“You called her?”

Smoke gives him a look.

Tobias laughs. “Aight. Did she call you?”

Silence.

Tobias sits up. “Oh.”

Smoke looks away.

“Ohhhhh.”

“Shut up.”

“Nigga, she ain’t called you?”

Smoke sucks his teeth. “Nah.”

“How long it’s been?”

“Since Saturday nigga. I wrote my number on the hundred dollar bill I gave her.”

Tobias laughs “And she still ain’t called?”

Smoke’s jaw flexes. “No.”

Tobias starts grinning. “This shit botherin’ you.”

“It ain’t botherin’ me.”

“It definitely is.”

Smoke huffs. “I don’t care.”

“Then why yo face like that?”

Smoke cuts his eyes at him.

Tobias laughs. “Oh shit” He points at him. “You really like this girl.”

“Man, stop.”

“I’m serious.”

“I don’t even know her.”

“But you want to.”

Smoke goes quiet.

Because…Yeah. He does.

More than he probably should.

Tobias sees the silence and starts grinning again. “Nigga.”

Smoke shakes his head. “I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know?”

Smoke sighs. “I don’t know what her deal is.”

Tobias looks confused. “What you mean?”

“I can’t tell if she scared…” He pauses.

“Or if she just don’t wanna fuck wit me.”

Tobias blinks. “What?”

“I’m serious.” He leans back. “I don’t know.”

Tobias stares at him. “That girl definitely wanna fuck wit you.”

“How you know?”

“Nigga, because I got eyes.”

Smoke says nothing.

“She was lookin’ at you.”

“I know.”

“She was smiling.”

Smoke rubs his jaw. “I know.”

“And she kept looking at you.”

“I know.”

“And she let you hold her hand for about thirty minutes nigga.”

Smoke laughs despite himself. “It wasn’t thirty minutes.”

“It felt like it.”

Smoke shakes his head.

A small smile almost appears.

Then disappears. “I don’t know.”

Tobias is genuinely confused now.

“Nigga, what happened to you?”

“What?”

“You ain’t never overthink women.”

“I ain’t overthinking.”

“Yes you are.”

Tobias points at him. “You done analyzed every smile this girl gave you.”

Smoke starts laughing. “Nah I haven’t”

“You have.”

Smoke shakes his head.

Tobias keeps going. “Usually you already know what it is.”

Because he did. Women had always been easy. Most of the girls from his neighborhood were straightforward. If they liked you…You knew.

They flirted. They called. They pulled up.

Some damn near told you outright.

It had always come easy. Too easy.

He never really had to pursue. Never had to wonder. Never had to question whether a woman wanted him.

Yet here he was. Thinking about one girl.

A girl he’d barely spoken to.

A girl who smiled at him like she liked him.

Looked at him like she liked him.

Got nervous around him. Yet still hadn’t called.

And for some reason…

That shit had him completely thrown off.

“I don’t know what the next move is.”

The words come out before he can stop them.

Tobias just stares. Then busts out laughing.

Smoke frowns. “ Nigga What’s funny?”

“You.”

“How?”

“This nigga said he don’t know the next move.”

Tobias laughs even harder. “I ain’t never heard you say no shit like this.”

“Man, shut the fuck up.”

“Nah.” He wipes his eyes. “You really don’t know what to do.”

Smoke doesn’t answer.

Because…He really doesn’t.

Tobias settles down.

Then shrugs.”Maybe she shy.”

Smoke thinks about it.

The way she’d looked away.

The way she’d gotten flustered.

The way she could barely get a sentence out around him.

“Or maybe she really scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“You.”

Smoke snorts. “Maybe.”

“I’m serious.”

He points at him. “You don’t know what you look like?”

Smoke laughs. “Shut up.”

“Nigga, you wear baggy clothes, got golds in yo mouth, money, jewelry, and you be starin’ at her. You look like a thug ass nigga from the city and she from out south.”

“I don’t be starin”

“You really do.”

Smoke starts laughing.

“You be lookin’ at that girl like she the only person in the room.” He pauses. “I’d be nervous too.”

Smoke goes quiet.

Because…he does stare and maybe he does come off intimidating.

The room gets silent.

Finally Tobias grins. “Give it another day.”

Smoke looks at him. “If she don’t call…”

He shrugs. “Then talk to her at work.”

Smoke thinks about that.

Then slowly nods. Because he’s tired of wondering.

And one thing he knows for sure…

He definitely wants to know Annie.

🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃

Later that night, Annie is stretched across her bed on her stomach.

The overhead light is off.

Only her bedside lamp is on, casting a warm glow across her room.

A soft breeze slips through her cracked window, causing the curtains to sway gently. The house is quiet. Everyone is either asleep or winding down for the night.

Annie twirls a pen between her fingers.

Then taps it against her chin.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her notebook lies open in front of her.

At the top of the page she’s already written:

Dear Elijah,

She smiles. It still feels strange calling him that.

Elijah. Not Smoke.

Her eyes drift to the hundred-dollar bill tucked safely inside her notebook.

She still can’t believe he gave her money. For the second time.

She runs her fingers across the paper. Thinking.

About his style. His sleepy eyes. His voice.

Next time, try the cinnamon.

Her stomach does that little flip again.

Annie flops her head onto her folded arms and groans into her pillow.

Why does he make her so nervous? She doesn’t even know this man.

Barely knows anything about him. But she wants to.

Annie has always loved words. Loved writing.

She writes when she’s happy. Writes when she’s sad.

Writes when she’s confused.

Being on the school newspaper only made her love it more.

One day she wants to go to college for journalism.

Maybe become an editor for a magazine.

Or a newspaper. Something where she can tell stories.

Something where she can write.

And right now… She has a story sitting in her thoughts.

A man with sleepy brown eyes and golds in his mouth.

She taps her pen against her chin again.

Then suddenly smiles.

A poem. That’s what she’ll write.

She sits up a little and begins scribbling.

The words flow easier than she thought they would.

Dear Elijah, 09/18/2004

I’m writing this because I’m intrigued.

Beneath that tough exterior, what’s on the interior?

I always notice how you move with purpose and precision,

So tell me, what you want with me, tell me what’s your vision?

Tell me what moves you.

Tell me what soothes you.

Tell me where you’ve been and how far you want to go.

And tell me if you’re genuine or just putting on a show.

Are you really serious, or do you tend to play games?

And can you tell me the meaning behind your nickname?

What’s your motive? Why do you always stare?

And why do you give me things? Is that your way of showing that you care?

Tell me your age.

Tell me what brings you joy and what sends you into a rage.

And if I asked, would you lay your heart out on a page?

Don’t judge me… you make me feel shy.

I just need to know—

Are you really feeling me?

And if you are…

Why?

Sincerely~ Me

🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇🌇

The next day at work…

Smoke is restless. He knows exactly why.

The first thing he does after clocking in is walk over to the bulletin board to check the schedule.

He tells himself he’s making sure the kitchen is staffed properly.

But he knows better.

His eyes automatically search for one name. Annie. There it is.

She’s working tonight.

A strange mix of relief and anxiety settles in his chest.

He hasn’t seen her since Saturday. She never called.

That bothers him more than he’d like to admit.

He’d replayed that day in his head more times than he cared to count, trying to figure out what he’d done wrong.

Maybe he came on too strong.

Maybe she wasn’t interested after all.

Maybe she lost his number.

Hell… maybe she was avoiding him.

He doesn’t know.

He just knows he needs to figure out what’s going on.

The problem is… He has no idea what he’s going to say.

Outside, Annie pulls up to the bus stop.

She exhales as she gets off the bus.

The folded poem she’d written to Smoke rests in her pocket. She didn’t get a chance to stop home after school. Newspaper staff had stayed late finishing the next issue.

Now she’s rushing straight to work.

Her heart pounds against her ribs as she walks over to Smoke’s truck.

The parking lot is quiet.

She glances around to make sure no one is looking.

Then carefully slides the folded letter beneath his windshield wiper on the driver’s side.

She lingers for just a second. Thinking

I hope you read it.

Then she quickly turns and heads inside before she can lose her nerve.

The kitchen is alive with its usual rhythm.

Knives chopping. Fryers bubbling.

The steady hiss of food hitting the grill.

Servers weaving in and out with trays.

Smoke is plating an order when he feels it.

The atmosphere shifts.

He can’t explain it. He just…Feels her.

His hands pause for half a second.

He slowly looks up.

Annie has just stepped through the back door.

She quietly walks over to the employee hooks and hangs up her jacket.

Smoke’s eyes immediately find her. His chest tightens.

She looks exactly the way she always does. Pretty. Calm. Focused.

Like she belongs wherever she stands.

Annie can feel someone watching her.

She already knows who it is.

The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Her stomach flutters. She slowly turns around.

Their eyes meet. Just for a second.

Smoke immediately looks away and pretends to wipe down the counter.

Annie lowers her eyes too. Neither one of them says a word.

She simply grabs her server book and heads back onto the floor.

Smoke watches her disappear through the swinging doors.

She still ain’t tried talked to me.

Nearly two hours pass. Business is unusually slow.

The few times Annie comes back into the kitchen to grab drinks or pick up food…Their eyes keep finding each other. Quick glances.

Neither one willing to hold eye contact for too long.

It’s almost like they’re daring each other to say something.

But neither of them does.

Out on the floor…Annie’s phone vibrates. Mama. She sighs.

She glances around before slipping into the Cove.

The large banquet room is empty tonight.

Rows of neatly arranged tables sit quietly beneath the dim lights.

The room echoes just enough to make every word feel louder.

She answers. “Hey, Mama.”

Smoke, meanwhile, has no tickets on the line.

He wipes his station down before deciding to step out onto the floor.

He hasn’t seen Annie in a while.

A thought creeps into his head.

She avoiding me?

He checks the dining room. Nothing.

Then he heads toward the Cove.

As he reaches the entrance, he hears Annie’s voice.

He instinctively stops.

She’s facing away from him, too focused on the conversation to notice he’s there.

“I didn’t have time to stop home, Mama. I had newspaper today.”

Smoke hears only Annie’s side.

Her shoulders slowly tense.

“Mama… why can’t Tyree or Mario cook?”

Another pause. “It’s time they learn. They’re twelve and fourteen. They’re old enough. Me and Ed were cooking at eight and ten years old.”

Her voice grows quieter. “I’m not gonna always be around anymore.”

Smoke’s brows slowly knit together.

“I know they’re my siblings…”

She closes her eyes. “…but me and Ed have to have a life too.”

Smoke’s expression changes.

Confusion gives way to concern.

He hears frustration. Exhaustion.

The kind that doesn’t come from one bad day.

Annie sighs heavily. “I really don’t understand why you’re mad at me.”

Another pause.

“They’re your kids, Mama… not mine.”

Smoke’s chest tightens.

“I do enough.”

Her voice cracks just slightly. “I’ve done enough.”

She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I had to come to work.”

Another long silence.

“…Fine.”

She exhales. “I’ll talk to Daddy about it.”

The call ends.

Smoke quietly backs away before she can turn around.

He slips back into the kitchen unnoticed.

As he returns to the line, her words replay in his head. They’re your kids… not mine.

He understands that feeling more than most.

Being forced to grow up too soon.

Feeling responsible for people you didn’t bring into the world.

Having to sacrifice pieces of your own childhood because somebody else couldn’t carry their weight.

He knows that burden. He lived it.

His mind starts putting pieces together.

She mentioned newspaper.

Is she still in high school?

He frowns. She’d have to be.

You had to be eighteen to work at Red Lobster.

Which meant…She was probably a senior.

That surprises him. Not because of her age…

But because of how she carries herself.

She speaks with maturity. Works hard.

Handles herself like someone much older.

Now he’s even more intrigued.

And unexpectedly…Protective.

The swinging kitchen doors burst open.

Annie pushes through harder than she intended.

The frustration from the phone call still clings to her. Her jaw is tight.

Her brows drawn together. She’s trying not to cry.

Smoke looks up immediately.

He’s never seen that expression on her face before. His chest aches.

Without saying a word, Annie walks over to the drink station.

The ice bin rattles open.

She grabs a cup harder than necessary.

The scoop scrapes against the ice.

Crunch. Ice tumbles into the cup.

She reaches for the soda nozzle.

Smoke watches for another second.

Then makes a decision.

He walks around the line and steps into the narrow galley beside her.

The space is small.

Annie smells him before she looks at him.

His clean cologne drifts toward her.

Warm. Woodsy. Comforting.

She instinctively turns her head just a little.

Smoke grabs an empty cup.

The metal scoop digs into the ice.

The sound echoes softly between them.

Neither one says anything at first.

They’re standing so close their shoulders are only inches apart.

Smoke glances sideways.

Annie keeps her eyes on her drink.

Finally…

He breaks the silence. “You okay?”

His voice is low. Gentle.

The sound sends an unexpected chill down Annie’s spine.

She blinks. Looks around.

Surely…He isn’t talking to her.

Smoke chuckles quietly. “Yeah.”

He smiles just a little. “I’m talkin’ to you.”

Annie finally looks up.

Their eyes meet.

She wonders how he knew.

How he saw through the smile she’d been wearing all night.

She forces a small nod. “Mm-hmm.”

A moment passes. “I’m okay.”

Smoke studies her for just a second longer.

He knows she’s lying.

But he also knows she doesn’t know him well enough to tell him the truth.

So he doesn’t press.

Instead, he says softly, “You not.”

Another pause. “And it’s okay.”

His eyes stay on hers.

“Just know this too shall pass.”

Annie freezes.

Nobody has said anything that kind to her in a long time.

Her throat tightens…. “Thank you.”

Smoke nods once.

He fills his cup the rest of the way.

Then quietly steps around her.

He heads back toward the line.

He wanted to ask why she never called.

He wanted to know where they stood.

But after overhearing that phone call…

None of it seemed important anymore.

Right now…She looked like she was carrying enough.

The end of the shift finally rolls around.

Smoke clocks out, says goodbye to a few coworkers, and heads toward the parking lot.

The night air is cool, carrying the scent of rain from somewhere in the distance.

He unlocks his truck and climbs inside.

The engine rumbles to life.

Just as he’s about to pull away, something catches his eye.

His brows knit together.

A folded piece of paper is tucked beneath his driver’s side windshield wiper.

His hand freezes on the gearshift.

“…The hell?”

He cuts the truck back off.

Nobody leaves notes on people’s vehicles. Not unless they wanted to.

He climbs back out, instinctively scanning the parking lot.

A few employees are still walking to their cars.

Others are already pulling away.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Slowly, he reaches beneath the windshield wiper and pulls the paper free. It’s folded neatly.

On the front, written in careful handwriting, are four simple words.

To Smoke…

From Me.

Smoke stares at it.

His mind immediately starts racing.

From me?

Who the hell…He turns the note over in his hands. No other name.

No clue. Just…From Me.

He climbs back into his truck, closes the door, and rests the folded paper on the steering wheel.

For a second, he’s tempted to open it right there.

His fingers even start unfolding the edge.

Then he stops himself. “Nah.”

He folds it back up.

Whatever it is…He wants to read it somewhere quiet.

He tucks it carefully into his center console and pulls out of the parking lot.

The entire drive home… his mind refuses to let it go.

Who wrote it? His first thought is Annie. Then he immediately talks himself out of it.

She got my number.

If she wanted to talk to me…Why wouldn’t she just call?

He drums his fingers against the steering wheel.

Then another possibility crosses his mind.

One of them other girls. He’d noticed the whispers. The lingering stares.

The way a couple of the servers giggled whenever he walked by.

They weren’t exactly subtle. He never entertained it.

Never encouraged it. But he wasn’t blind either.

Maybe one of them worked up enough courage to leave a note instead.

Still…That didn’t feel right.

Those girls weren’t shy. If anything, they were bold.

The type to walk right up to him.

The type to flirt out loud.

Not leave anonymous letters.

His thoughts drift back to Annie.

She was different. Quiet. Reserved.

Almost painfully shy.

The kind of person who looked away whenever their eyes met.

The kind who smiled softly instead of loudly. The kind who seemed like she’d rather write something than say it.

Smoke grips the steering wheel a little tighter. Please let it be her.

The thought catches him off guard.

He lets out a quiet laugh. “Damn…”

He shakes his head.

He ain’t never felt like this before.

He’s never cared enough to actually pursue a woman.

Never sat around hoping somebody wrote him a letter.

Never spent an entire drive home thinking about one person.

Yet here he is…Doing exactly that.

When he finally pulls into the parking lot, the anticipation only grows stronger.

His truck idles for a moment before he shuts it off.

The folded letter is still sitting safely in the console. Waiting.

He grabs it before heading inside. His house is quiet.

He tosses his keys on the counter.

Takes a quick shower.

Changes into a T-shirt and basketball shorts.

But even then…His eyes keep drifting toward the folded paper lying on the kitchen table.

Finally…He sits down.

The house is silent except for the ticking clock on the wall.

He picks up the letter.

His heartbeat quickens.

Slowly…He unfolds it.

The faint scent of perfume rises from the paper.

Smoke pauses.

His eyes close for just a second.

He recognizes it immediately.

The same soft scent he’d caught every time Annie walked past him.

His stomach flips. He starts reading.

The first few lines pull him in immediately.

Then he reaches—why do you just stare?

A slow smile begins forming.

Then…

Why do you give me things? Is that how you show you care?

Smoke chuckles under his breath.

“Yeah…”

Now he knows. Without a doubt.

It’s Annie. She’s the only one he ever catches himself staring at.

The only one he’s bought anything for.

The only woman at that restaurant who’s been occupying his thoughts day and night.

By the time he reaches the end of the letter, the smile on his face is impossible to hide. A real smile. One that almost never appears.

He leans back in his chair. Relief washes over him.

All weekend he’d been driving himself crazy. Wondering why she hadn’t called. Wondering if she’d changed her mind. Wondering if he’d imagined the connection between them.

Now he finally understands.

She hadn’t ignored him. She was just…Shy.

Really shy. Probably the shyest woman he’d ever met.

His eyes drift back to the top of the page.

He reads the first few lines again.

This wasn’t just a note.

She’d written him a whole damn poem.

Smoke smiles and slowly shakes his head.

“That’s cute as hell.”

Of all the ways she could’ve responded…

She sat down and wrote. She actually took her time.

Thought about every question. Made it rhyme.

He runs his thumb lightly across the paper.

He can almost picture her sitting somewhere with her notebook, tapping her pen while she searched for the right words.

The thought makes him smile even wider.

He’d never met a woman like her.

Most women would’ve just picked up the phone and called.

Or flirted across the room.

Annie wrote poetry. And somehow…That fit her perfectly.

It was thoughtful. Intentional. Quiet. Just like her.

“I’m gon’ have to work.” He mumbles

The realization doesn’t discourage him. If anything…It excites him.

She’s worth getting to know.

Worth being patient with. Worth earning.

He looks down at her letter one more time.

Carefully folds it back along the creases. Then stands up.

He walks into his bedroom and rummages through a dresser drawer until he finds a spiral notebook and a pen.

He stares at the blank page.

Shakes his head with a grin. “Damn…” “I ain’t wrote a letter since school.”

And even then…It had been few and far between.

He sits down anyway. Clicks the pen.

Thinks about Annie. Then begins to write.

Pretty Eyes, 09-19-04

Let me start by sayin’, at first I was a lil’ concerned.

But now I see that you the type of woman who likes to be earned.

I ain’t gon’ lie…you had a nigga second guessin’,

But now I see I’m learnin’ a valuable lesson.

That everything happen when it’s supposed to, in due time.

Maybe that’s partially why I can’t get you off my mind.

The reason I stare at you?

‘Cause I damn sure ain’t blind.

Don’t tell me that you don’t even know that you a dime?

Matter fact…

I don’t think you realize just how beautiful you are.

A woman like you don’t come around often. You more like a shootin’ star.

You asked why I give you things.

Truth is… that’s just me.

It’s who I’ve always been,

And who I’m always gon’ be.

You asked if I’m serious.

Shit, Pretty Eyes… you damn right.

Cause you the one who’s been keepin’ me awake at night.

That smile of yours shine extra bright.

And I’d be lyin’ if I said yo shape wasn’t just right.

I gotta admit…

I ain’t never really had to put up a fight.

Usually women make it easy for me, make me wanna take flight.

But you?

You different.

And to be honest…I kinda like this shit.

Got me kinda scared to ask you is this really legit?

Cause this shit all new to me.

And every time you step into my line of sight, You don’t even know what you do to me.

Got a nigga sweatin’. Got me feelin’ real nervous.

Hell…Now you got me sittin’ down tryna write some verses.

You wanted to know my age?

Well shit, I’m twenty two.

And hell yeah…

I’m low key feelin’ you.

What? you can’t tell?

I really think you fly as hell.

I’m tryna get to know you better.

That’s exactly why I took the time

to respond to yo letter.

You asked what moves me.

Truthfully?

A man like me gon’ always chase a dollar.

I grew up knowin’ if you wanted more,

You had to work harder.

What makes me happy?

Standin’ somewhere in a kitchen.

And maybe…If I can get this fine ass shorty named Annie to finally listen.

Now what make me mad?

Disrespect. Fake love. Niggas movin’ funny.

Life too short for all that.

I’d rather stay focused and get this money.

As for the meaning behind my nickname…

I ain’t really ready to share.

But if you quit playin’ wit me…

Maybe one day…We’ll get there.

You wanna know why I’m feeling you?

I’d rather tell you that face to face.

And whenever you ready just name the time and the place.

Now it’s my turn.

I got a few questions too.

Let’s see if you really gon’ answer…

Or is you gon’ act brand new.

You ever talked to a nigga like me…

Or am I the first?

Do you expect me to be better…

Or somehow end up worse?

Tell me yo age. Tell me yo location

Tell me the type of shit that gives you motivation.

Tell me what keeps you goin’ When life become too much.

Tell me if you like words of affirmation better or do you like physical touch?

What you like to do when you ain’t at work?

Tell me…When you look at me like that… Is you tryna flirt?

What’s yo hopes? What’s yo dream?

Do you talk just to talk?

Or do you say what you mean?

What makes you laugh?

What makes you cry?

And tell me somethin’…

Why do I make you so shy?

Are you feelin me too? And If you are..

Why?

I’ll be waitin’ on yo next letter.

—Smoke

The next afternoon, Smoke pulls into Stack’s driveway..

The bass from his truck fades as he cuts the engine.

Before he can even make it to the porch, the front door swings open “There go this nigga.”

Stack smirks, leaning against the doorframe. “Took you long enough.”

Smoke shrugs. “I been movin’.”

“Ain’t you always?”

Smoke chuckles as they dap each other up before heading inside.

Stack tosses Smoke a bottled water before taking a seat on the couch

Stack drops onto the chair, tv on ESPN.

He glances over. “Sup nigga.”

Smoke chuckles. “What’s good?”

“What you been on?”

“Work.”

“That’s it?”

Smoke twists the cap off. “Pretty much.”

Stack studies him for a second.

Then a grin slowly spreads across his face.

“So…”

Smoke already knows what’s coming.

“So what?”

“Who is she?”

Smoke takes a sip of water. “Who?”

“The girl.”

“What girl?”

“The one you been chasing.”

“I ain’t chasing nobody.”

Stack laughs. “Tobias already told me.”

Smoke cuts his eyes at him.Told you what?”

“That you been after some hoe y’all met at the mall.”

Smoke’s mouth twitched at the word hoe. He sighs.

“Tobias talk too damn much.”

“So it’s true.”

Smoke shrugs. “I ain’t say that.”

“You ain’t deny it either.”

Smoke doesn’t answer.

Stack points at him. “There it is.”

“Nigga What?”

“That little smirk.”

“I ain’t smirking.”

“You definitely smirking.”

Smoke shakes his head. “You bored.”

“Nah.”

Stack leans back into the couch.

“I’m just trying to figure out what type of woman got my brother acting all mysterious and shit.”

Smoke stays quiet.

“So what’s her name?”

Silence.

“What she look like?”

Silence.

“You gon’ answer any of these questions?”

Smoke laughs under his breath.

“You askin too many damn questions.”

“Because you don’t never like nobody.”

Smoke doesn’t respond.

That answer alone tells Stack everything he needs to know.

“Oh…” He points at him. “You really feelin’ her.”

Before Smoke can respond, the front door opens. Monica walks inside carrying a shopping bag.

The moment her eyes land on Smoke, her expression changes. “There you are.”

Smoke’s shoulders tense.

Stack notices immediately.

Monica drops her bag by the door.

“We need to talk.”

Smoke exhales quietly.

“Aight.”

Without another word, he follows her toward the kitchen.

The second they disappear around the corner, Stack leans back on the couch laughing to himself.

“Oh… this finna be interesting.”

Monica folds her arms. “So…”

Smoke waits.

“Why you been avoiding me?”

“I ain’t been avoiding you.”

She laughs sarcastically. “Smoke… stop.”

“I been busy.”

“Bullshit.”

He says nothing.

“You don’t answer my calls.”

Silence.

“And every time I ask to see you…”mShe shrugs. “You busy.”

Smoke rubs the back of his neck. “I got a lotta shit going on.”

She studies him. Then slowly shakes her head. “No.”

“What?”

“You lying.”

Smoke exhales. “I’m really not.”

“You are.”

Her voice sharpens. “I know you.”

He looks away.

“You don’t act like this unless something changed.”

Silence. Then it finally clicks.

Her face falls.“…There’s somebody else.”

Smoke doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to.

Monica lets out a short laugh. “I knew it.”

She nods to herself. “Who is she?”

“It don’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

Smoke stays quiet.

She shakes her head. “Out of all the girls you’ve talked to…” She points at him.

“You ain’t never avoided me.”

Her voice gets louder. “You always kept it real wit me.”

Smoke’s jaw tightens.

“But now…”

She laughs bitterly. “You can’t even tell me the truth.”

He says nothing.

Monica studies his face. Then sighs.“Whoever she is…” She nods slowly….”she must be special.”

Smoke finally looks up.

His expression softens for just a split second.

That tells Monica everything.

She throws her hands up. “Wow.”

Her voice rises. “I can’t believe this shit.”

Smoke shuts down. His face goes blank.

He stares at the floor.

She grows even more frustrated.

“Smoke!”

Nothing.

“Say somethin’”

The raised voices carry into the living room.

Stack gets up and walks into the kitchen.

He immediately steps between them.

“Aight, that’s enough.”

Monica points around him.

“He won’t even talk to me!”

Stack glances back at his brother.

Smoke has already grabbed his keys.

“I’m finna head out.” He walks into the living room and Monica follows.

Monica stares at his back. “So that’s it?”

Smoke pauses at the doorway.

Tempted to say something but he doesn’t. He just walks out instead.

The front door closes behind him.

Monica stands there fighting back tears.

Chapter 3(pt.2)

“Age ain’t nothin but a number.”

Annie gets home and immediately heads to the kitchen.

There isn’t much time before she has to leave for work.

She washes her hands, pulls a pack of ground beef from the refrigerator, and starts dinner.

The smell of onions sizzling in the skillet quickly fills the house.

Behind her, the twins race through the living room, laughing and chasing each other.

“Stop runnin’!” Annie calls over her shoulder.

They ignore her. As usual.

A few minutes later, the front door opens.

Her dad walks in with her little sister beside him.

He takes his jacket off as he steps into the kitchen.

Annie turns and smiles. “Hey, Daddy.”

He smiles back. “Hey, sweetheart.”

She stirs the meat for another moment before speaking. “Daddy… we need to talk.”

He looks at her. “About what?”

Annie takes a breath. “Mama getting mad ‘cause I couldn’t feed them yesterday.”

He nods slowly, waiting for her to continue.

“I’m eighteen now.”

She gestures toward the calendar hanging on the wall. “I got school, I work, and I’m on the newspaper.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t keep rushing home every day before work just to cook.”

Her father stays quiet.

Annie continues. “I think it’s time Mario and Tyree start learning.”

She points toward the hallway where her younger brothers are. “I was cooking at their age.”

Her father studies her for a long moment.

His expression softens. “I know.”

He sighs. “But you know we depend on you.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Your mama and I both get home after you.”

“I know.” Annie nods. “I understand that.”

“But I’m not gonna be able to keep doing it every day.”

She lowers the heat on the stove. “I’m trying to build something for myself too.” I’ll be going to college soon.”

Her father is quiet again.

Finally, he lets out a long breath. “Alright.”

Annie looks up hopefully.

A small smile starts to form.

“Then you need to start teaching your brothers how to cook.”

The smile immediately disappears.

Annie blinks. “So… I have to be the one to teach them?”

“Yes.” He answers without hesitation.

“You and your brother.”

“Daddy…” She sighs. “I barely have time now.”

“If you want them to learn…” He shrugs.

“…you have to be the one to teach them.”

Annie looks down at the skillet.

She doesn’t argue anymore.

She already knows how this conversation ends. Somehow…The responsibility always finds its way back to her.

She quietly stirs the meat.

Her father walks over and gently squeezes her shoulder. “Come on.”

He grabs his keys. “Let me get you to work.”

Annie turns the stove off and nods. “Okay.”

She grabs her apron from the counter and follows him out the door, silently wondering when she’d finally get to just be eighteen.

Annie gets to work a little before everyone else.

She hangs her denim jacket on the hook in the back hallway, ties her apron around her waist, grabs her order pad, and gets right to work.

The dinner crowd has already started trickling in.

Servers scurry through the dining room while dishes clatter behind the kitchen doors.

By the time Smoke walks through the front entrance, Annie is already on the floor.

She’s standing with her back to him, taking an order at one of her tables.

His eyes find her instantly. Like they always do.

Her curls are pulled back into a ponytail today, and every time she writes on her order pad, it sways gently against the back of her neck.

She laughs at something her table says.

The sound carries all the way across the restaurant.

Smoke’s stomach flips. Again.

“Damn,” he murmurs under his breath.

He hadn’t even made it inside good before she was already on his mind.

His fingers brush against the folded letter in his pocket.

Now…He just had to figure out how to get it to her. Without looking like a fool.

Smoke heads through the kitchen.

As he’s washing his hands, something catches his eye.

Annie’s jacket. Hanging on the hook.

Nobody else is around.

He glances toward the dining room.

Then toward the line. The kitchen is loud.

Grill sizzling. Fryers hissing.

Cooks yelling times across the line.

Nobody’s paying attention.

He quietly reaches into his pocket.

Pulls out the folded letter.

His heart beats just a little faster than normal.

“This some high school shit,” he mumbles to himself.

A small grin tugs at his mouth.

Then he slips the letter into Annie’s jacket pocket. Deep enough that it won’t fall out.

But easy enough for her to find.

He pats the pocket once.

Then walks away like nothing happened.

A few moments later, Annie pushes through the kitchen doors carrying an empty tray.

Smoke looks up automatically.

Their eyes meet. Neither of them smiles.

Neither of them says a word.

He simply gives her a small nod.

She returns it.

Somehow…That tiny exchange says more than an entire conversation.

Annie keeps walking.

But she can feel his eyes on her until she disappears back onto the floor.

And for reasons she still doesn’t understand…She likes it.

Hours later, the dinner rush is finally slowing down.

The kitchen is still busy, but no longer chaotic.

The ticket machine has finally stopped spitting out endless orders.

Annie walks into the kitchen to grab another basket of biscuits.

Smoke is plating food at the window.

Without thinking…They look up at the exact same time. There it is again. That look.

It lasts only a couple of seconds.

Long enough for Annie’s heart to skip.

Long enough for Smoke to completely forget what he was doing.

Long enough for someone else to notice. Lindsey.

She watches the exchange from the other side of the kitchen.

Her lips press into a thin line.

She’d spent weeks trying to get Smoke’s attention. Flirting.

Laughing too loud, whispering with Melissa while looking at him.

Finding excuses to come into the kitchen back to back even when it was slow.

Still Nothing.

And Smoke can’t seem to stop looking at a particular somebody.

Lindsey’s jaw tightens. “Oh…”

She murmurs under her breath.

“So that’s what this is.”

She immediately walks over to the window.

“Smoke…”

His eyes reluctantly leave Annie.

Then land on Lindsey. “What?”

She bats her eyelashes.

“Can you see if my cheese sticks are ready?”

Smoke doesn’t miss what she’s doing.

Not for one second. His jaw twitches.

She ain’t ask because she needed help.

She asked because she wanted his attention. And because she’d seen where it was a second ago.

He doesn’t have the energy for games tonight.

He nods once. “Aight.”

He walks over to the fryer.

Checks the basket. They’re done.

He plates them quickly.

Then slides the plate through the service window a little harder than necessary.

The plate scrapes loudly against the stainless steel.

Lindsey smiles sweetly. “Thank you, Smoke.”

Smoke barely looks at her.

He simply shakes his head and goes right back to work. Conversation over.

Lindsey’s smile immediately fades.

Across the kitchen, Annie can’t help it.

A small giggle slips out.

She quickly covers her mouth.

Then turns toward the biscuit station before anybody notices.

At least… She thinks nobody noticed.

Lindsey noticed.

She grabs her plate and walks past Annie.

Just as she passes…Her shoulder bumps Annie’s.

Hard enough to make Annie stumble a step.

Annie immediately turns around. “What the…”

She catches herself before finishing the sentence.

Lindsey keeps walking.

Doesn’t apologize. Doesn’t even look back.

Annie stands there for a second. Confused.

Then exhales. “It ain’t even worth it.”

She quietly goes back to grabbing biscuits.

Smoke saw the whole thing. Every second.

His grip tightens around the spatula in his hand. His jaw clenches.

His irritation spikes immediately.

He knew exactly why Lindsey did it.

Petty jealousy.

Over some shit that existed only in her own head.

Smoke shakes his head.

He’d never even gave an inkling that he was interested in her or Melissa.

Never flirted with them

Hell…He barely talked to her unless it had something to do with work.

Yet somehow…Annie was the one catching the attitude.

That pissed him off.

More than it probably should.

Because the last thing he wanted…

Was for Annie to get tired of the drama.

Or start feeling uncomfortable coming to work and then lose out on his chance to get to know her.

He glances toward her again.

She’s standing at the biscuit station, carefully filling another basket like nothing happened.

Still sweet. Still minding her business.

Still trying to do her job.

Smoke shakes his head to himself.

These girls need to leave her the fuck alone.

Because if they kept treating Annie like this… He had a feeling his patience wasn’t going to last much longer.

By the end of the shift, Annie’s feet are aching.

The dinner rush is over.

The dining room has quieted down, and the smell of garlic butter still lingers in the air as the last few guests finish eating.

Annie unties her apron, clocks out, and heads to the back hallway.

She grabs her denim jacket from the hook.

Without thinking, she slips it on.

Completely unaware that there’s something tucked safely inside the pocket.

She walks outside to wait for her dad.

The evening air is cool, a welcome change from the heat of the kitchen.

Cars pull in and out of the parking lot while employees gather near the entrance waiting on rides.

Megan walks out a few seconds later.

She’s getting ready to go find Saul before they leave, but she stops beside Annie first. “I see you eyeing Smoke.”

Annie immediately laughs. “I don’t know what you talking about.”

“Girl, please.”

Megan folds her arms. “I see the way y’all be staring.”

Annie shakes her head. “You seeing stuff.”

“And I see him watching you.”

Annie’s cheeks warm just a little.

Megan lowers her voice. “Just be careful with his mean ass.”

Annie smiles. “He ain’t mean.”

“He don’t talk to nobody in here except the cooks on the line.”

She nods toward the front door.

“Melissa and Lindsey been battling over him for weeks.”

Annie raises an eyebrow. “Battling?”

“Mhmm.”

“They both trying to see who can get him to finally open up.”

Annie laughs softly. “I ain’t battling nobody for no man.”

Megan smirks. “We’ll see.” She starts backing away. “Maybe you can get his mean ass to talk.”

Annie just shakes her head. She doesn’t answer. Because she honestly doesn’t know what to say.

A moment later, Melissa and Lindsey step outside.

They stand a few feet away, talking while they wait for their ride.

Every now and then, one of them glances Annie’s way.

Then…the restaurant door opens again. Smoke.

Conversation around the entrance seems to fade.

At least for Annie.

Smoke steps outside, keys dangling from one finger.

His eyes find her immediately. Like they always do.

He doesn’t even try to hide it anymore.

He starts walking slowly.

Every step bringing him closer.

Annie feels her heartbeat pick up.

She turns her head just enough to watch him approach. He looks so good.

His white T-shirt hugs his shoulders.

His chain catches the streetlight

His hands are tucked casually into his pockets.

When he reaches her…their eyes meet.

Everything around them seems to disappear.

Smoke slows his pace.

His deep voice breaks the silence.

“Have a good night, Annie.”

The sound of him saying her name sends a warmth through her chest.

A smile tugs at her lips before she can stop it. “You too…”

She pauses. Then says it. “Elijah.”

Smoke stops for the briefest second.

A slow smirk spreads across his face.

Nobody called him Elijah.

Not unless they knew him. Or wanted to.

Normally he’d correct them.

Tell them not to call him that.

But hearing it come from Annie…

Soft. Gentle. Almost shy.

It sounded…Good. Real good.

He gives her one last look.

Then continues walking toward his truck.

Behind them—Melissa isn’t giving up. “Goodnight, Smoke!”

Her voice rings across the parking lot.

Smoke never breaks stride.

Doesn’t turn around. Doesn’t wave.

Doesn’t answer. He simply keeps walking.

Lindsey snorts. “Damn, Melissa.”

She laughs under her breath.

“Not he just played you to the left like that.”

Melissa’s face hardens.

Both girls glance toward Annie.

Their expressions sour immediately.

Annie doesn’t even acknowledge them.

She simply slides her hands into her jacket pockets.

Then…her fingers brush against folded paper.

She pauses. Confused.

She frowns and slowly pulls it out.

A neatly folded note.

Her heart immediately begins to race.

On the front, written in pretty handwriting, are four simple words.

To You…

From Me…

Annie’s eyes widen.

A smile instantly spreads across her face.

He wrote back. He actually wrote back.

She turns the letter over in her hands.

Wondering…When did he put this in here?

She doesn’t remember seeing him do it.

She laughs softly to herself.

He really found a way.

For a split second she’s tempted to open it right there.

But Melissa and Lindsey are still standing nearby. Watching.

So instead…She carefully folds it back up.

Slides it into her pocket. And rests her hand over it. As if protecting it.

A few moments later, her father’s car pulls into the parking lot.

Annie climbs inside, but the entire ride home she keeps touching her jacket pocket just to make sure the letter is still there.

The moment she gets home, Annie hurries through the front door.

“Good night, Daddy,” she says as she climbs out. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She barely waits for him to answer before hurrying inside.

She practically skips upstairs to her bedroom.

She closes the door. Kicks off her shoes. And flops onto her bed.

For a second…

She just stares at the folded paper.

Smiling. Then she carefully opens it. Cologne hits her nose.

The first thing she notices…

Is that it’s written as a poem.

A grin immediately breaks across her face.

“Of course…” She whispers.

She’d written him a poem…

And he’d answered her with one.

Somehow that makes her happier than anything else.

As she reads each line, her smile grows.

He answers her questions.

Tells her little pieces about himself.

Asks a few questions of his own.

The words are thoughtful. Honest.

And beneath the confidence she always saw in him…she catches something else.

Curiosity. The same curiosity she’d been feeling.

By the time she reaches the end, Annie presses the paper against her chest.

She lets out a quiet, happy sigh.

“So… you really are feeling me.”

She laughs softly to herself.

The nervousness she’d been carrying around for days eases just a little.

She wasn’t imagining the looks.

Or the smiles. Or the way he’d watched her.

It was real. He was just as interested in getting to know her as she was him.

Annie carefully folds the poem back along the creases. Then opens her bedside drawer and places it inside like a treasured keepsake.

She turns off her lamp and curls onto her side with a smile she can’t seem to wipe away.

For the first time since meeting Smoke…She isn’t wondering anymore.

Now she knows.

Whatever this thing is between them…

They’re both feeling it.

✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️

The next day at lunch, the cafeteria is as loud as ever.

Students crowd every table.

Someone is beating on the lunch table with a fork while someone freestyles. Another group argues over the latest rap album. The smell of pizza, fries, and chicken nuggets hangs in the air.

Annie sits down beside Rhonda, Ebony, and Devin.

She barely gets settled before Rhonda grins. “So…”

Annie already knows where this is going.

“What?”

Rhonda points a fry at her. “Did you talk to Smoke yet?”

Annie smiles to herself. “Not exactly.”

The girls immediately lean in.

“What that mean?” Devin asks.

Instead of answering, Annie reaches into her backpack. She carefully pulls out the folded letter.

Rhonda’s eyes get big. “He wrote you back?”

Annie nods. “He slipped it in my jacket pocket at work.”

“What?!” Ebony says. “Girl!”

“I didn’t even know it was there until I got off.”

Rhonda is practically bouncing in her seat. “Lemme see!”

Annie hesitates. “Don’t laugh.”

“I ain’t gon’ laugh.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

Annie hands her the letter.

Rhonda unfolds it carefully. “Ohhh…”

“He got nice handwriting.”

She clears her throat dramatically.

“Ahem.”

The girls laugh.

“Girl, just read it!”

Rhonda starts reading.

As she reads each line, the girls get quieter.

The teasing disappears.

By the time she reaches the end, every one of them is smiling.

Rhonda slowly folds the paper back up. Then looks at Annie. “Oh… he like you.”

“I told you!” Devin blurts out.

Rhonda grabs Annie’s arm.

“Girl, this is so cute.”

Annie blushes. “You think so?”

“Think so?”

Rhonda shakes her head.

“He didn’t just write you back…” “He wrote you a whole poem.”

“And he answered your questions,” Ebony adds. “He actually read what you wrote.”

Devin nods. “He ain’t just trying to flirt. He really trying to get to know you. He said you beautiful.”

Annie smiles down at the letter. “I liked that part too.”

Rhonda nudges her shoulder. “He matching your energy.”

“He really is,” Ebony says. “And that’s rare.”

“No games. No corny pickup lines.”

“He actually put thought into this.”

Annie carefully smooths the folded paper with her fingertips. “I was so happy when I read it.”

“You better be,” Rhonda says. “So…”

Annie looks up. “So what?”

“You writing him back.”

Annie smiles nervously. “I don’t know what to say.”

Devin laughs. “Girl, yes you do. You been writing since forever.”

“You on the newspaper. You write poetry. If anybody can write a letter back, it’s you.”

Ebony nods. “Tell him about yourself this time.”

Rhonda grins. “And ask him some more questions.”

Devin adds “Keep it going.”

Annie laughs softly. “I guess I could.”

Rhonda points at her. “Not ‘could. You will.”

The girls laugh.

Annie shakes her head. “Okay.” She smiles. “I’ll write him back.”

“There she go!” Rhonda says, clapping her hands once. “I knew you would.”

Annie carefully folds the letter back along the same creases Smoke made and slides it safely into her backpack.

Her fingers linger on it for just a second.

She can’t remember the last time someone made her this excited to write.

And somehow…She has a feeling this won’t be the last letter they exchange.

♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️

That evening, Annie is stretched across her bed with her notebook open in front of her.

The bedside lamp casts a soft golden glow over the room while a gentle breeze drifts through the cracked window. The sounds of her younger siblings arguing downstairs fade into the background.

She stares at the blank page.

Chewing on the end of her gel pen.

Thinking. Erasing. Thinking again.

A knock sounds on her bedroom door.

Before she can answer, Edward pushes it open.

He peeks his head inside. “What you doing?”

Annie quickly throws her hand over the page. “Nothing.”

Edward laughs. “Girl, please.”

He walks over and flops across the foot of her bed. “You only hide stuff when it’s juicy.”

Annie smiles. “It ain’t juicy.”

“Mhmm.”

Edward reaches for the notebook.

Annie snatches it away. “No.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Ooooh.”

He grins. “Who we writing?”

Annie sighs dramatically. “Smoke.”

Edward’s entire face lights up. “My boy!”

Annie throws a pillow at him. “He is not yo boy.”

Edward catches it, laughing. “He wrote you back?”

Annie nods. “He did.”

“And?”

“And…”

She smiles without meaning to. “It was really sweet.”

Edward notices immediately. “There go that smile.”

“What smile?”

“The one you get every time you mention him.”

Annie rolls her eyes. .”I do not.”

“You do.”

She laughs and finally hands him Smoke’s letter. Edward sits up against the headboard and reads quietly.

Every now and then he nods. “Mmm.”

By the time he reaches the end, he’s smiling too. “I like him.”

Annie raises an eyebrow. “You don’t even know him.”

“I know enough.”

He taps the letter. “He paid attention.”

“What you mean?”

“He answered your questions.” Edward looks at her. “He listened.”

Annie smiles softly. “I noticed that too.”

He hands the letter back. “So…”

“You writing him?”

Annie nods. “I’m trying.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Edward laughs. “Since when?”

“I’m serious.”

She taps her pen against the notebook.

“I don’t wanna sound corny.”

“You won’t.”

“I don’t wanna scare him off.”

Edward looks at her for a second.

Then smiles. “Annie.”

“What?”

“Just be you.”

She sighs. “What if that’s not enough?”

Edward reaches over and bumps her shoulder. “If he likes your mind enough to write a poem back to you.” He shrugs. “…then let him get to know you. Answer his questions.”

Annie sits quietly.

Because… That actually makes sense.

Edward nods toward the notebook. “Don’t try to impress him. Talk to him. As if you’re on the phone. The same way you talk to me.”

Annie smiles. “I guess.”

“Nah. I know.”

She laughs. Okay, Mr. Editor.”

Edward grins dramatically.

“Thank you.”

“I accept that title.”

Annie finally puts her pen to the paper.

She writes for a few moments.

Then stops.

“What if I tell him too much?”

Edward shakes his head. “Tell him enough that he wants another letter.”

She looks over.

“Not enough that he knows everything.”

Annie laughs. “So keep him curious?”

Edward points at her. .”Exactly.”

She nods slowly.

“I like that.”

The room grows quiet except for the scratching of Annie’s pen across the paper.

Every so often she reads a sentence out loud.

Edward makes a face.

“Nah.”

She crosses it out.

“What about this?”

He nods. “Better.”

A few more minutes pass.

Annie leans back and smiles at what she’s written.

“I think I got it.”

Edward reaches over and ruffles her hair.

“I knew you would.”

She smiles up at him.

“Thanks, Ed.”

“For what?”

“For always helping me.”

Edward shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“That’s what big brothers do.”

Annie laughs.

“You younger than me fool.”

Edward gasps dramatically. “And? I’m still yo big brother.”

She shakes her head. “You so extra.”

“I know.”

He stands and heads toward the door.

Just before he leaves, he turns back around. “Oh…”

“What?”

“When y’all get married…”

Annie’s eyes get huge. “Edward!”

“…I better be in the wedding.”

She throws another pillow.

He ducks out of the room laughing. “I’M SERIOUS!”

Annie laughs until her stomach hurts.

Then she looks back down at the letter she’s writing.

For the first time since putting pen to paper tonight…The words come easily.

🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞🦀🦞

Wednesday arrives.

Annie gets to work a little early.

The evening air is cool as she steps out of her dad’s car with her purse over one shoulder and the folded letter tucked safely inside. Her stomach flutters the closer she gets to the employee parking lot.

She spots Smoke’s truck immediately.

A smile tugs at her lips.

She glances around to make sure nobody is watching.

The parking lot is quiet except for a few employees making their way inside.

Taking a deep breath, Annie walks over to his truck. Her hands feel clammy.

She carefully slides the folded letter beneath the driver’s side windshield wiper.

She presses it down just enough so the wind won’t carry it away. For a second, she just stands there. Smiling. “Please don’t think it’s corny,” she whispers to herself.

Then she hurries inside before anyone sees her.

The shift flies by. The dinner rush comes and goes. Just like always, Annie and Smoke steal quiet glances whenever their paths cross. Neither of them says much.

They don’t have to. Somehow…The looks have become their own little conversation.

By the end of the night, Smoke grabs his keys and heads toward the parking lot.

He’s halfway to his truck when something white catches his eye beneath the windshield wiper. His steps slow.

Then a grin spreads across his face before he can stop it. Another letter.

From Annie. He shakes his head. “Damn…”

He carefully pulls it free. Just holding it makes him smile.

She wrote back. He slips it safely into his pocket instead of opening it right there.

He wants to take his time with this one.

Later that night, Smoke is sitting on the in his bed. The house is quiet.

The television is on, but muted.

A blunt burns slowly in the ashtray beside him, forgotten.

His attention is somewhere else.

He unfolds Annie’s letter carefully, smoothing out every crease.

Then he begins to read.

Dear Elijah, 09/20/2004

You asked me questions, so here’s my reply,

I hope these words satisfy your curious eye.

I’m eighteen years old from Kansas City’s south side,

Still trying to figure out life and how to ride this ride.

You asked about dreams and what I hope to pursue,

Mine is becoming a writer… but I’ll save the details for you.

Some mysteries are better when they’re uncovered slow,

So you’ll have to keep writing if you really wanna know.

When work isn’t calling or school’s got a hold,

You’ll find me at games when the weather gets cold.

Football on Fridays, basketball too,

I’m loud in the stands when I’m cheering them through.

You asked what makes me laugh.

That’s easy to say.

People with humor who can brighten my day.

Life gets so heavy, so laughter’s a gift,

The right joke at the right time can give me a lift.

You asked what makes me cry.

That answer runs deep.

Sometimes I carry more than I should keep.

Like the weight of the world rests square on my back,

And no matter how hard I push… I feel like I’m losing track.

You asked how I’m loved, what speaks to my heart.

I’d say gentle touches are where feelings start.

Holding my hand, pulling me near,

And words that remind me somebody is here.

A simple “I’m proud,” or “ Are you doing okay,”

Can brighten a dark and overwhelming day.

Now here’s my confession…

And yes, it’s true.

I’ve never met somebody quite like you.

I’ve never really talked to an older man

So please be patient with me if you can.

You make me nervous.

I won’t even lie.

Every time you look at me, I forget how to try.

I wanna flirt back.

I really do.

But then I catch those sleepy brown eyes looking right through.

So if I look away, please don’t think I don’t care.

Truth is…

You’re just so damn fine that I forget how to stare.

I hope you’re different from the one in my past.

His promises faded… they just didn’t last.

He wasn’t good to me, that much is true,

So I guess I’m hoping for something different in you.

Your actions seem to match up with the words that you write.

That alone makes my heart feel a little more light.

So here’s my answer, honest and true.

You asked if I got feelings for you…Hell yeah I do.

Sincerely~

Annie

The room is still oddly quiet

She really answered every question.

Honestly. Without pretending to be somebody she wasn’t.

He smiles at her telling him she’s eighteen and from the south side. He really can’t believe she’s only eighteen. He’s never talked to someone who was still in high school. The thought kind of scares of him. But then again age is a state of mind to Smoke, as long as she was the legal age of consent then Smoke was still interested. She was definitely mature, he liked that most about her.

He smiles even bigger when she tells him she dreams of becoming a writer.

He read that part twice. A dream. She has a dream. Something she’s chasing.

Something bigger than where she is now. He likes that. No…He loves that.

Too many people drift through life with no direction. But Annie? She has purpose.

She just isn’t ready to share all of it yet. And strangely…He likes that too.

It makes him want to earn the rest of her story.

He rereads the letter. She likes Football games. Basketball games. Her love of laughter. He chuckles when she admits she likes people with a sense of humor.

“Good,” he thinks. “I can make you laugh.”

Then he rereads the part about what makes her cry.

His smile slowly fades.

“Sometimes I carry more than I should keep… Like the weight of the world rests square on my back…”

Smoke stops reading.

His eyes stay on those lines for a long moment.

He leans back against the headboard and exhales slowly. “So that’s why…”

Now he understands. There’s something behind those eyes. Behind that sweet smile. He’d noticed it before but couldn’t quite place it. She always looked like she was thinking about something. Like she carried responsibilities most eighteen-year-olds didn’t.

Reading those words…he feels something tighten in his chest.

He hates that she feels that way.

He doesn’t even know everything she’s dealing with.

But somehow…He wishes he could take some of that weight off her shoulders.

He shakes his head. “You don’t even know this girl.”

Maybe not. But every letter makes him feel like he knows her a little more.

And every answer somehow makes him want to open up too. He keeps reading. Then he gets to the part where she calls him fine.

Smoke laughs quietly to himself.

“So that’s why you keep looking away…”

He remembers every time she’d dropped her eyes when he caught her staring.

At one point he’d wondered if she wasn’t interested. Now he really knows better.

He reaches the end.

“You asked if I have feelings for you… hell yeah I do.”

Smoke reads that line twice. Then a third time. He folds the letter carefully and rests it in his lap.

For the first time in a long time…

He isn’t thinking about who he’s going to call. Or where he’s going this weekend.

Or what business needs handling tomorrow.

He’s thinking about a girl who writes poetry. A girl with big beautiful brown eyes. A girl with dreams bigger than the neighborhood she grew up in.

A girl who feels the weight of the world…Yet still finds room to smile.

Smoke looks down at the folded letter and grins to himself.

“I definitely gotta write yo ass back.”

And for the first time since they started exchanging letters…

He isn’t just curious about Annie anymore. He’s becoming invested in her.

✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚✏️📚

Thursday Afternoon…

Gym class is finally winding down.

The squeak of sneakers echoes across the hardwood floor as students finish their laps around the gym. A few boys are still playing basketball while others sit against the wall trying to catch their breath.

Annie and Rhonda collapse onto the bleachers, breathing hard after running.

Annie wipes the sweat from her forehead with the bottom of her T-shirt.

Rhonda fans herself dramatically. “I’m tired as hell.”

Annie laughs. “You always tired.”

“Because Coach be trying to kill us.”

They both laugh.

After catching her breath, Rhonda nudges Annie with her shoulder.

“Aye.”

“What?”

“Let’s go to Skateland tomorrow night.”

Annie looks over but stays silent.

“You off, ain’t you?”

She nods. “Yeah.”

A smile spreads across her face.

She loved Skateland. Ever since she was little, Saturday Gospel Skate had been her favorite. As long as she’d finished her chores, helped cook, and made sure her younger siblings were taken care of, her parents would let her go. Now that she was older, they’d even started letting her go on Friday nights.

R&B Night. Seven to eleven. Her favorite. The whole city showed up.

Good music. Good skating. Good vibes.

Best of all…Hardly any drama.

“I’ll go.”

Rhonda squeals. “Yesssss!”

She claps her hands together.

“We finna have so much fun.”

Then she smirks. “So…”

Annie already knows. “What?”

“Did you give Smoke his letter yet?”

Annie smiles to herself. “Yeah, girl.”

Rhonda immediately bumps her shoulder. “Ooooh. Look at you making progress.”

Annie laughs.

Rhonda keeps smiling. “I can’t wait till y’all start talking on the phone.”

Annie shakes her head. “You more excited than me.”

“I am.”

Rhonda laughs. “I need updates.”

Annie rolls her eyes. “You so damn nosey.”

“I know.”

She grins. “Now make me proud.”

Annie starts laughing.

“What does that even mean?”

“You know exactly what it mean.”

The two look at each other.

Then busts into laughter.

🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃

Down in the city…

Smoke is behind the wheel of his truck.

He’s been making stops all afternoon.

Handling business. Checking in with clients. Running from one side of Kansas City to the other.

His cell phone rings. He glances down. Tobias.

Smoke answers. “Yo.”

“What’s poppin’?”

“Shit.”

Smoke turns onto another street.

“Makin’ a mad dash.”

“I feel you.”

A brief pause. “Aye… Ain’t you off tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Smoke raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Let’s hit Skateland.”

Smoke smiles to himself.

“You ain’t came with me in a minute.”

He thinks about it. It had been a while.

Back then…Friday nights were automatic. Him. Stack. Tobias.

All three of them could skate.

Not just skate…They floated.

Spins. Crossovers. Backwards.

People used to clear the floor just to watch them.

Lately, though…Life had gotten in the way. Work. Business. The hustle.

He hadn’t made time for much else.

Smoke nods to himself.

“Bet. I’m down.”

Tobias laughs. “I knew yo ass wasn’t gon’ say no.”

“Aight.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Smoke hangs up with a small smile.

Maybe it’d be good to get out for once.

🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃🌃

Later that evening…

Annie walks into the living room.

Her mom and dad are stretched out on the couch watching American Idol.

The television is turned up loud enough for everyone in the house to hear.

Simon Cowell is in the middle of critiquing somebody.

“Hey.”

Her mom looks over first. “Hey, baby.”

Her dad keeps his eyes on the television.

“Hello.”

Annie rocks back and forth on her heels. “Daddy…”

“Hmm?”

“Can I go to Skateland tomorrow?”

Before he can answer, her mother speaks. “Me and your daddy got plans tomorrow.”

Annie’s face falls. “But, Mama…”

She walks a little closer. “Mario or Tyree can watch them. They watch them too.”

Her mother sighs. “I know.”

“But I trust you more than them.”

Annie lets out a frustrated breath.

“Mama…” She shakes her head. “I don’t wanna spend my whole life in this house.”

Her mother looks at her. “Don’t do that. We let you go skating a lot.”

“I know. But I ain’t been in a while.”

She folds her arms. “I feel like I’m the one with kids.”

Her mother raises an eyebrow. “Annie.”

“What?”

“Why must you insist on going back and forth with me?”

Annie softens her voice. “But Mama…”

Before she can keep pleading—

Her father speaks. “She can go.”

The room goes quiet.

Her mother turns toward him. “What?”

He finally looks away from the television. “She’s right.”

He nods toward the hallway where the boys’ room is. “Mario and Tyree are old enough. They can watch the twins. It’s their turn.”

Her mother studies him for a second.

Then sighs. “I guess.”

Annie’s entire face lights up. “Really?!”

Her father nods. “Yeah.”

He smiles. “Just take Edward with you.”

“I will!”

Before he can say anything else, Annie leans down and kisses him on the cheek.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

He chuckles.’”You welcome, sweetheart.”

Annie practically skips out of the living room.

The second she’s gone, her mother looks at her husband. “You always give in to her.”

He smiles without looking away from the television. “No.” He shakes his head. “I just think she deserves to be eighteen every once in a while.”

Part 3

Chapter 3(pt.3)

Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number

Friday night is finally here.

Annie and Edward pull into Skateland just as the parking lot is filling up. Music thumps through the walls, and groups of teenagers and young adults crowd the entrance, laughing and talking before heading inside.

The moment they walk through the doors, the familiar smell of pizza, popcorn, nacho cheese, and freshly polished wood fills the air. Colored lights sweep across the rink while T.I.‘s “You Don’t Know Me” blasts through the speakers.

Annie sits on the bench, tightening the laces on her red skates with white wheels and tiny dice decorating the sides.

Just as she finishes, Rhonda walks through the entrance.

Annie’s face lights up.

She hops up and wraps her best friend in a hug. “Hey, girl!”

Rhonda laughs and hugs her back.

“Hey!”

Edward leans over and kisses Rhonda on the cheek.

“Hey, Ed.”

“Hey, sis!” Edward replies with a grin.

The three of them head onto the rink together.

Almost instantly, they’re gliding across the floor.

Meanwhile, Smoke and Tobias are just pulling into the packed parking lot.

Cars fill nearly every space, and people are gathered outside talking before heading in. They dap up a few people they know on the way through the doors before making their way to the skate counter.

Smoke reaches into his bag and pulls out his own personal skates—black boots with bright blue wheels.

After lacing them up, he stands to his feet and skates toward the edge of the rink.

That’s when his stomach drops.

There she is. Annie.

His heart nearly stops.

She’s out on the floor holding hands with a tall, dark skinned dude with perfect waves.

The dude is handsome. Too handsome.

Smoke’s jaw tightens before he can stop it.

Annie is smiling entirely too hard.

She has on low-rise bootcut Apple Bottom jeans with a silver circle belt resting around her waist. A matching cropped Apple Bottom tank shows just a sliver of her stomach. Her hair is parted into two playful pigtails beneath a twill hat, and colorful bracelets cover both wrists, jingling every time she swings her arms.

She looks…Beautiful.

Smoke notices Rhonda skating beside them, but his eyes never leave Annie.

She’s flying around the rink effortlessly. Fast. Confident.

Like she’s been skating her whole life.

50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” replaces the last song.

Annie and the guy let go of each other’s hands.

She spins around and begins skating backward without missing a beat.

As she glides across the floor, her eyes drift toward the wall.

She freezes.

Smoke is already looking at her.

Not casually. He’s staring.

Her stomach flips.

Heat rushes into her cheeks, and she quickly looks away before he can catch her looking too long.

Smoke pushes off from the wall with Tobias.

The two of them shoot onto the floor with practiced ease.

Smoke glides right past Annie.

She can’t help but look.

He’s wearing a Philadelphia Sixers throwback jersey with a matching fitted cap. His red Dickie shorts are sharply creased, just like every outfit he’s wears. A thick gold herringbone chain rests against his chest, while a gold Rolex catches the flashing lights every time he moves. A Sixers sweatband circles his opposite wrist.

He looks so damn good.

Annie suddenly forgets how to breathe.

Beside her, Rhonda squeals. “Oh my Goddd! They came!”

Annie cuts her a look. “You knew they was coming!”

She has to yell over the music.

Rhonda laughs.

“Yeah, girl, I did. I wanted to surprise you.”

Annie shakes her head, laughing.

“You ain’t right.”

The two of them skate off the floor and lean against the railing to watch.

Smoke and Tobias immediately steal everyone’s attention.

They skate like they’ve been doing this since they could walk.

Smoke moves so smoothly it almost doesn’t look real.

It’s like he’s floating across the floor.

He flies backward at full speed without ever looking nervous, weaving around people like second nature.

Annie can’t take her eyes off him.

Edward skates over and stops beside them.

Annie nudges him.

“Smoke’s out there.”

Edward raises an eyebrow.

“Where, sis? Point him out.”

Annie smiles and points toward the middle of the rink. “There he go. The one with the Sixers jersey.”

Edward squints for a second before his eyes widen. “Oh my God, Annie…”

He looks back at her. “He fine as fuck.”

Annie and Rhonda bust into laughter.

From the middle of the rink, Smoke glances toward the sidelines.

His eyes find Annie immediately.

He watches her laughing with the same dude again.

Something twists in his chest.

Jealousy.

It sneaks up on him so fast he almost doesn’t recognize it.

He doesn’t even know this girl like that. So why the hell does seeing another man beside her bother him so much?

Smoke sucks his teeth to himself and shakes the feeling off.

Man… whatever.

He pushes harder, picking up speed as he and Tobias carve across the rink, weaving around other skaters with ease.

Meanwhile, Annie and Rhonda head toward the concession stand.

The smell of buttery popcorn, pizza, and nachos hangs in the air as they wait for their drinks.

A few minutes later, Smoke and Tobias skate off the floor and lean against the wall backs facing the rink.

Smoke casually folds his arms across his chest.

Or at least he tries to look casual.

His eyes never leave Annie.

Her back is turned as she laughs at something Rhonda says.

The bracelets on her wrists jingle every time she gestures with her drink.

Smoke feels that same heaviness settle back into his chest.

She never told him she had a boyfriend.

Did she come here with that dude?

Was she playing him this whole time?

His jaw tightens.

Tobias follows Smoke’s line of sight before grinning to himself.

“Look at you,” he says with a laugh. “Just go speak to her, nigga.”

Smoke cuts his eyes at him and sucks his teeth. “Whatever, nigga. I don’t know what you talkin’ ’bout.”

Tobias chuckles. “You ain’t foolin’ nobody but yo self”

Smoke ignores him, but Tobias already knows.

His homeboy is gone.

Once Annie and Rhonda get their drinks, Rhonda looks across the rink.

“There go Tobias and Smoke. Let’s go say hi.”

Annie immediately shakes her head.

“No, girl.”

Rhonda grabs her wrist before she can protest again. “Come on, scary ass.”

Annie laughs as Rhonda drags her across the floor.

By the time they reach them, Annie can already feel her heartbeat climbing.

Rhonda smiles. “Hey, y’all.”

“What’s good?” Tobias replies.

Smoke nods at Rhonda before his eyes settle on Annie.

Everything around him fades.

The music. The conversations.

The wheels rolling across the floor.

All he sees is her.

Up close, she’s somehow even prettier than she was from across the rink.

Her lip gloss catches the colored lights every time she smiles.

Her cheeks have a soft glow to them.

He lets his eyes drift over her for just a second. The Apple Bottom outfit.

The bracelets. The little pigtails.

Damn. She’s beautiful.

For a moment…he completely forgets what he was about to say.

Annie feels every second of his stare.

It sends butterflies tumbling through her stomach.

She swallows hard before finally looking him over too.

The Sixers jersey. The fitted.

The gold chain. The Rolex.

Lord…he’s too damn fine.

“Sup wit you?” Smoke finally asks.

Annie opens her mouth…Nothing comes out.

Her entire mind goes blank.

Rhonda gently bumps her shoulder.

Annie lets out a tiny nervous laugh.

“Nothing much… you?”

Smoke smiles to himself.

“Nothing. I seen you out there.”

He nods toward the rink. “You know what you doin’.”

Annie giggles.

The sound hits Smoke right in the chest.

He swears he could listen to her laugh all night.

“Yeah,” she says with a shy smile. “I know a little somethin’.”

She tilts her head.

“I see you know what you doin’ too.”

Smoke nods once. “Fo’sho.”

He wants to ask. He really does.

Who was that dude?

But he stops himself.

He doesn’t have that kind of claim on her. Not yet.

And he damn sure isn’t about to sound jealous in front of Tobias and Rhonda.

Before Annie can say anything else, someone skates up beside her.

Smoke looks over. His shoulders stiffen. It’s him.

The same dude. “Annie,” he says with a grin, “you gon’ introduce me?”

Smoke waits.

Annie clears her throat. “Smoke… Tobias… this is my younger brother, Edward.”

Smoke blinks. Brother?

The knot that’s been sitting in his chest all night instantly loosens.

He almost laughs at himself.

Damn. All that over her brother.

Edward sticks his hand out with a grin. “Hello. And I’m her older brother. Don’t let her lie to y’all.”

Annie rolls her eyes. “Ed, stop it. Just ‘cause you believe it don’t make it true.”

The siblings immediately start laughing.

Smoke looks back and forth between them.

He can’t help the small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Yeah…They’re close.

For the first time all night…He can finally breathe.

Just then, the DJ’s voice echoes through the speakers.

“Alriiight y’all! It’s time for limbo! Everybody who wanna play, make your way to the floor!”

A chorus of cheers erupts throughout the rink.

Annie’s eyes light up. “Come on, Ed!”

The siblings hurry onto the floor, leaving Rhonda standing with Smoke and Tobias.

Workers lower the limbo pole as everyone lines up.

The music switches to something with a Caribbean vibe, and one by one, people begin making their way underneath.

Smoke folds his arms across his chest, watching from the sidelines.

His eyes never leave Annie.

She laughs the entire time, clapping whenever someone falls or stumbles.

Then it’s her turn.

She glides forward confidently.

Without breaking her stride, she leans back, bending lower… and lower…

The crowd erupts.

“OHHHH!”

She clears the pole with ease.

Smoke can’t help but grin. “Damn…”

She really can skate.

Annie pops back up laughing while Edward throws both hands in the air, celebrating like she just won a championship.

Smoke chuckles to himself.

He loves seeing her smile.

A few minutes later, the DJ calls out again. “All fellas! Fellas only! Ladies clear the floor!” Pharrell-Frontin comes on.

The women skate to the sidelines.

Annie and Rhonda lean against the rail, watching.

Smoke pushes off alongside Tobias.

The second the beat drops, the two of them slip effortlessly into routines they’ve clearly practiced for years.

They weave around each other without touching.

One skates backward while the other spins forward.

They switch places without saying a word, their movements perfectly timed.

They even break into a few signature footwork combinations that only they know.

The crowd starts clapping.

A few people whistle.

Annie watches with wide eyes.

He makes it look so easy.

Like the wheels are part of him.

Every move is smooth.

Controlled. Confident.

She can’t stop smiling.

Beside her, Rhonda cups her hands around her mouth.

“Okay then, Smoke!”

Annie joins in, cheering and clapping as he glides by.

Smoke hears her over everyone else.

Even with the music blasting.

His eyes find hers for just a second.

He flashes the smallest grin before skating off again.

Annie’s heart flutters.

She can tell he’s been doing this his whole life.

When the DJ announces “All skate!” everyone floods back onto the floor.

This time, Annie and Edward decide to sit down for a minute.

Their legs could use the break.

Rhonda, on the other hand, heads right back out to the rink.

Annie and Edward settle at a table near the edge of the floor with their drinks.

Across the rink, Smoke and Tobias return to their usual spot against the wall. Backs against the wall

It doesn’t take long before a group of girls notices them. Two walk over smiling.

One points toward the rink.

“You wanna skate?”

Smoke shakes his head politely.

“Nah, I’m good.”

Another girl turns to Tobias.

“What about you?”

He laughs. “I’m cool.”

The girls linger for another moment before eventually walking away.

Annie watches the entire exchange.

Something uncomfortable stirs in her chest. Jealousy.

She looks down at her drink.

Of course girls were gonna come up to him.

Smoke was fine as hell.

She’d noticed that from the first night she met him.

And he wasn’t hers.

He could skate with whoever he wanted.

So why does it bother me?

Edward glances between his sister and Smoke before smirking.

“Sis…”

Annie looks over. “Hmm?”

“Don’t be lookin’ like that.”

She furrows her brows.

“Lookin’ like what?”

Edward laughs.

“Don’t even play with me. I can see the jealousy all over your face.”

Annie lets out a nervous laugh and shakes her head. “You crazy.”

But she never actually answers him.

Because deep down…He isn’t wrong.

Just then, the DJ’s voice booms through the speakers.

“Aight, y’all… last song of the night! If you got somebody special, grab ‘em. It’s couple skate!”

The opening notes of Alicia Keys and Usher’s “If I Ain’t Got You” fill the rink.

Almost instantly, skaters begin pairing off.

Some people head for the floor.

Others decide to call it a night and make their way toward the exits.

Rhonda’s eyes immediately find Tobias.

She smiles to herself before skating over to him.

“You gon’ skate with me?” she asks.

Tobias grins. “I thought you’d never ask.”

They roll onto the floor together.

Meanwhile, Annie remains seated beside Edward.

Before she can even think about getting up, a guy she doesn’t recognize skates over.

“You wanna couple skate?”

Annie smiles politely and shakes her head. “No thank you.”

The guy shrugs before skating away.

Across the rink…

Smoke sees the entire exchange.

His heart starts pounding.

This is it.

If he doesn’t ask her now…

Somebody else eventually will.

Before he can talk himself out of it, he pushes away from the wall.

His wheels glide smoothly across the polished floor until he comes to a stop in front of Annie.

She looks up. Their eyes meet.

For a second…Neither of them says anything.

Smoke slowly holds out his hand.

“Come skate wit me.”

Annie stares at his hand. Then at him.

Her pulse races. She glances over at Edward.

Edward looks between the two of them before a grin slowly spreads across his face.

He gives her a small nod as if to say GO.

Annie smiles shyly before placing her hand in Smoke’s.

The moment their fingers touch, a warm rush spreads through both of them.

Smoke gently helps her to her feet.

Without letting go of her hand, he leads her toward the center of the rink.

The music wraps around them.

🎶Some people want it all…

But I don’t want nothin’ at all…

If it ain’t you, baby… 🎶

They begin skating side by side, their hands still intertwined.

Smoke gives her hand a gentle squeeze before smoothly twirling her beneath his arm.

Annie lets out a surprised laugh as she spins.

Her back is now fully against his chest , Smoke slides his arms carefully around her waist.

They begin gliding backward together, moving as one.

Annie suddenly becomes very aware of how close they are.

His hands resting securely around her.

Her heartbeat pounds so loudly she’s convinced he can hear it.

Smoke smiles to himself.

He can feel the nervousness radiating off of her.

He leans closer, speaking softly in her ear so only she can hear. “Relax for me.” His voice is calm. Warm. “I got you.” He pauses. “You don’t gotta be nervous.” A small smile tugs at his lips. “It’s just me.”

Annie lets out the breath she’d been holding. Somehow…Those words settle every nerve inside her.

She relaxes into his hold.

Their movements become effortless.

Their skates glide in perfect rhythm across the smooth wooden floor, weaving through the other couples like they’ve done this together before.

🎶 Some people search for a fountain…Promises forever young..🎶

Annie breathes in. His cologne wraps around her, warm and clean with a hint of spice. It makes her smile without even realizing it.

She can’t believe this is happening.

Just the other day they were exchanging messages.

Now…They’re here. Holding each other.

She tries to fight the smile growing across her face. She loses.

Smoke notices immediately.

Seeing her smile because of him fills his chest with a warmth he’s never experienced before.

He lowers his head slightly into her neck, catching the soft scent of her Pink Sugar perfume. Sweet. Light. Completely her.

He closes his eyes for just a second.

If he could freeze this moment…

He would. Nothing about this feels rushed. Nothing feels forced.

Holding Annie this close simply feels…

Right.

Standing near the sidelines, one of Monica’s friends spots them skating together.

Her eyebrows lift. “Oh…”

A knowing smirk crosses her face.

She already knows exactly who’s going to hear about this before the night’s over. Monica.

Back on the rink Smoke has the urge to kiss her. It’s what he’s wanted to do since the very first moment he saw her. He goes back and forth about it and then he makes his decision.

Smoke lifts his hand and turns Annie’s head toward him to look at him.

She leans a little to the left.

🎶 Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you, baby

If I ain't got you, baby

Some people want diamond rings

Some just want everything🎶

Smoke stares in her eyes while they continue to glide.

He leans his head in and kisses her lips softly and then the kiss deepens.

Their tongues dance slowly.

As they continue gliding around the rink, the rest of the world seems to melt away. The music…

The lights…The conversations…

None of it matters.

For these few minutes…

It’s just the two of them.

They never break their rhythm skating even while kissing.

Smoke tastes her lips gloss. It tastes like peaches. Annie tastes the mint on Smoke’s tongue.

Rhonda and Tobias look at each other while they skate hand in hand and laugh at them.

Edward Smiles from the sidelines.

They keep kissing, neither of them wanting break it. Smoke moans a little and Annie feels the vibration against her mouth. Finally he breaks the kiss. And Annie’s chest heaves.

She smiles big at him.

The song slowly comes to an end.

Neither of them wants to let go.

Even after the music fades, they remain hand in hand as they skate off the floor.

Rhonda and Tobias meet them near the benches, both wearing knowing smiles. Nobody says a word.

They don’t have to.

The four of them sit down and begin unlacing their skates.

The sounds of wheels rolling across the floor, lockers slamming shut, and people saying their goodbyes fill the rink as everyone starts heading toward the exit.

Once they’ve changed back into their shoes, they walk toward the front doors together.

Just before Annie steps outside, Smoke gently reaches for her hand.

His touch stops her in her tracks.

“Let me talk to you for a minute,” he says.

Annie looks up at him and nods.

“Okay.”

Edward glances over his shoulder.

The second he sees Smoke standing there with Annie, a grin spreads across his face.

He doesn’t interrupt.

Instead, he keeps walking outside with Tobias and Rhonda, giving them a little privacy.

For a moment…Neither of them says anything.

The music from inside is muffled now.

People continue walking past them toward the parking lot.

Smoke looks at Annie, trying to gather his thoughts.

There are a hundred things he wants to say. Only one comes out. “I really wanna talk to you.”

He smiles a little.’”And when I say talk…” His eyes meet hers.

“…I mean I wanna hear yo’ voice.”

Annie immediately knows what he’s asking.

A soft giggle escapes before she can stop it.

Smoke smiles to himself. “Since you don’t wanna be the one to call me…”

He rubs the back of his neck. “Can I call you instead?”

Annie studies him for a second.

He suddenly doesn’t seem nearly as intimidating as she thought.

He almost seems…Nervous.

Smoke chuckles quietly.

“Please?” His smile grows.

“You don’t gotta be shy wit’ me.”

He pauses. “And even if you are…”

He shrugs. “I like it.”

Annie’s cheeks warm.

“I wanna hear those pretty words leave yo’ mouth instead of just readin’ ’em on a page.”

A blush immediately spreads across her face.

She lowers her lashes before smiling.

“Okay.”

The smile that spreads across Smoke’s face is different from all the others she’s seen. It’s genuine.

Bright.

The corners of his eyes crinkle, golds flashing

And then…She notices them.

Dimples. Deep ones.

Her heart skips so hard she nearly forgets to breathe.

Lord…How he get even finer?

Smoke tilts his head.

“So…”

A playful grin tugs at his lips.

“Can I have yo’ number, Annie?”

She finally looks back up at him.

“Yes, Elijah.”

Hearing his real name on her lips sends a warmth through his chest.

He quickly pulls his Nokia cell phone from his pocket.

“Go ahead.”

Annie softly recites her number.

Smoke types each digit carefully, making sure he doesn’t miss a single one before saving her contact.

He slips the phone back into his pocket. “I’m gon’ call you.”

He points at her with a grin. “So make sure you answer for me.”

Annie smiles. “I will.”

She nods once. “I promise.”

Smoke’s grin widens.

Without thinking too hard about it, he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to her cheek. “Have a good night.”

Annie smiles so hard her cheeks begin to hurt. “You too.”

They finally walk outside together.

Smoke stands near the entrance, watching Annie make her way over to Edward.

The siblings exchange a few quiet words before a car pulls up to the curb. They climb inside.

Before the car pulls away, Annie glances back through the window.

Smoke is still standing there.

Still watching. He lifts one hand.

She smiles and gives him a small wave.

Then the car disappears into the night.

Smoke lets out a slow breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

A smile spreads across his face as he looks down at the phone in his hand.

He finally got what he’d been wanting since the day they met.

Her number.

And somehow…

He has a feeling this is only the beginning of something different.

As Tobias walks up beside him, Smoke shakes his head with a quiet laugh.

“What?” Tobias asks.

Smoke slides his phone back into his pocket, still smiling to himself.

“Nothin’.”

But he knows. This has been one of the best nights of his life.

I really tried to squeeze this into two parts. This is why the third part is so short. I’m so mad. 😩😭 Tumblr needs to change this shit. 😂 Mannnnn we used to have a time at Skateland every Friday night. I miss skating real bad.

Sprung Series (Ongoing)

STICKY (Stand alone- maybe an ongoing series)

sinner!annie x pastor!elijah

cw: smut, religious themes, major corruption

a/n: requested and inspired by this post by @dealore!! this isn’t my usual vibe, but it was fun and a quick write! i might do more headcanons if y’all are interested :3

masterlist

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modern!au annie x smoke

summary: all his life, smoke had heard that two is company but three is a crowd; and never had it made as much sense as it did now.

cw: smut, toxic smoke x annie, failed threesome, messyy, just read it :3

a/n: hiiii! i took a mini trip to see family, but i’m back noww. this was a request and inspired by this post by @librababe7. i kinda deviated from the idea and had this be a first time event for smoke and his girlfriend

masterlist

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and this is her sitting there watching while smoke just giving it out: