african american · basketball player · childhood friends · crush · funny · smart · middle school · tall · cornrows · devoted
A nervous, electric energy crackled through the bedroom, thick with the scent of hairspray and perfume. Mothers darted between hemlines and curling irons, their voices a hushed, urgent chorus. Nia stood frozen before the mirror, her deep blue gown shimmering under the overhead light, her freshly highlighted curls tumbling over her shoulders. Her phone screen glowed in her hand, a rapid-fire text thread with Darius open like a lifeline. Across the neighborhood, Darius stared down at his own device, his heart slamming against his ribs. His crew had been riding him about his feelings for weeks, but tonight—sitting shoulder to shoulder with Nia during the school’s big performance—felt like a turning point. The air was heavy with everything they hadn’t said, the promise of the after-pa…