KAELIX MCGILL North Carolina

The drive out of Atlanta was quiet, the weight of their decisions sitting heavy between them. The city lights faded into the distance, replaced by dark, winding roads lined with trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the night.

Sariyah stared out the window, her thoughts a mystery. Kaelix kept his eyes on the road, his grip tight on the wheel.

"You think they'll follow us?" she asked after a while, her voice breaking the silence.

Kaelix shook his head. "Nah. They'll think I'm still in the city. Won't be looking this far out."

Sariyah nodded, her gaze shifting to him. "And your mom? She won't ask questions?"

"She might," Kaelix admitted, "but she won't push. She never does."

Sariyah nodded. The six hour car ride was peaceful for her. She hadn't been somewhere with someone else in a long time. The two of them had small conversations, would listen to r&b music, and Sariyah would also fall asleep during the car ride.

It was everything she wanted and needed it to be. After a long six hour drive they were finally in North Carolina. Where they then made their way to his mom's house.

The sun was just beginning to rise when they pulled into the driveway. The house was small and weathered, its white paint chipped along the edges, but the porch light was still on, casting a faint glow over the yard.

Kaelix killed the engine, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before turning to Sariyah.

"You good?" he asked, his voice low.

She blinked herself awake, stretching slightly in the passenger seat. Her shoulder brushed against his arm as she did, and the brief touch sent a flicker of warmth through him.

"Yeah," she murmured, glancing out the window. "This it?"

He nodded, leaning back slightly. "Home sweet home for now I guess."

Kaelix gave her a dry look. "You wanna sleep in the car?"

She smiled, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Guess not."

Kaelix stepped out, grabbing their bags from the trunk. He slung one over his shoulder before glancing at Sariyah, who was standing by the car, arms crossed against the cool morning air. Without thinking, he reached out, gently resting a hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the house.

"You alright?" he asked quietly as they climbed the creaking porch steps.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice soft. "Just... it's been a while since I've done this."

"Done what?"

She shrugged. "Met someone's family."

Kaelix's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Chill. I'm here, so you ain't got nothing to worry about."

The two of them made their way to the front porch. Kaelix say the bags down and then knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing a tall, lanky teenager rubbing his eyes. Malik's face lit up instantly when he recognized Kaelix.

"Kaelix?" His voice cracked slightly, a mix of disbelief and excitement. He stood there for a second, blinking, before breaking into a grin. "Yo, Ma! Kaelix is here!"

Kaelix chuckled softly, stepping into the doorway and clapping Malik on the shoulder. "What's up, little man?"

"I ain't little no more," Malik shot back, puffing out his chest. "I'm fourteen now."

Kaelix raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You still sound and look like a lil nigga to me"

Sariyah stood just behind Kaelix, watching the exchange with a faint smile. Malik's eyes flicked to her, curiosity sparking in his expression.

"Who's that?" he asked, tilting his head.

Kaelix stepped aside, his hand brushing Sariyah's briefly as he motioned for her to come in. "This is Sariyah. She's a friend."

Malik's eyes narrowed slightly, but a knowing grin crept across his face. "A friend, huh?"

Kaelix gave him a warning look. "Chill out."

Sariyah couldn't help but laugh softly, stepping into the house. "Nice to meet you, Malik."

"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Malik said, his voice dripping with curiosity. He glanced at Kaelix again, clearly itching to ask more questions.

The air inside was warm and smelled faintly of coffee and syrup. A TV murmured quietly from the living room, casting a dim glow over the modest space. The furniture was mismatched but clean, and there was a lived-in coziness to the place that surprised Sariyah.

Before she could take it all in, a high-pitched voice rang out. "Kaelix!"

A blur of curls and energy came sprinting from the hallway, crashing into Kaelix's legs.

"Dede!" Kaelix crouched down, scooping up the little girl as she giggled and hugged his neck tightly.

"You came back!" she squealed, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"Of course I did," Kaelix said, his voice soft and warm. "What you been up to, huh?"

Dede grinned, her tiny hands patting his cheeks. "Malik said we weren't going to see you anymore"

Kaelix's jaw tightened briefly, but he kissed her forehead and chuckled. "I told you Malik slow, you can't listen to everything he say"

Sariyah stood nearby, watching the exchange with a small smile. Her arms were crossed, her posture casual, but there was something in her expression that hinted at something deeper—an unexpected softness.

She liked seeing Kaelix like this. Happy around the people he truly loved. It made her feel a way about him that she didn't understand yet.

"Who's that?" Dede asked, pointing at Sariyah with a curious tilt of her head.

Kaelix hesitated, glancing at Sariyah before answering. "That's Sariyah. She's my friend."

Dede blinked at her for a moment, then grinned. "She's pretty."

Sariyah laughed softly, stepping closer. "Thank you. You're pretty too. I love your hair."

Dede giggled, burying her face in Kaelix's neck.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the kitchen before Kaelix's mom appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun, and she looked more put-together than Kaelix remembered.

It had only been five months since she'd packed up her life and moved to North Carolina with her new boyfriend, leaving Kaelix behind in Atlanta. But it felt like forever. Loneliness could stretch time out like nothing else.

She froze when she saw him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Kaelix... what are you doing here?"

"Hey, Ma," Kaelix said, setting Dede down gently. "Figured I'd stop by for a while."

Her expression didn't change. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest, the dish towel still dangling from one hand. "Why didn't you call me before coming, KJ?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Kaelix shrugged, his eyes flicking briefly to the floor. "Didn't know if you'd let me stay."

She laughed—a short, dry sound that didn't reach her eyes. "Next time, call."

Sariyah shifted slightly behind him, her presence drawing his mom's attention for the first time. Her eyes lingered on Sariyah for a moment, sharp and assessing. "And who's this?"

Kaelix straightened, glancing briefly at Sariyah before answering. "This is Sariyah. She's... a friend."

His mom raised an eyebrow, her gaze darting between the two of them. "A friend," she repeated, her tone skeptical.

Sariyah stepped forward slightly, offering a polite smile. "Hi, ma'am. Thanks for letting me stay."

Kaelix's mom didn't respond right away. Instead, she let out a soft sigh, shaking her head as she turned back toward the kitchen. "You lucky I got room. Breakfast is on the stove," she called over her shoulder. "Y'all better eat before it gets cold."

Kaelix let out a quiet breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his shoulders loosening slightly.

The kitchen was small but cozy, the table already set with mismatched plates and glasses. The smell of pancakes and bacon filled the air, a reminder of quieter mornings from Kaelix's childhood.

Malik was already seated at the table, scrolling through his phone with a bored expression. He looked up as they entered, his face lighting up when he saw Kaelix.

"Yo, KJ!" Malik grinned, setting his phone down. "You back for good or just visiting?"

Kaelix smirked, clapping him on the shoulder as he sat down. "Just visiting."

"Okay okay cool! And y'all just decided to visit together?" Malik asked changing the subject almost instantly.

"Nigga mind yo business"

Sariyah chuckled softly, sliding into the chair beside Kaelix. Her knee brushed against his under the table, and though neither of them acknowledged it, she noticed he didn't pull away.

Dede climbed into the chair on Kaelix's other side, her tiny legs swinging beneath the table as she grabbed a piece of bacon from his plate.

"Hey!" Kaelix protested, though there was no real heat in his voice.

Dede grinned, crunching loudly on the stolen bacon. "You said you'd bring me candy when you came back," she said through a mouthful of food.

Kaelix shook his head, smirking. "I'll get you some later."

His mom reappeared, carrying a mug of coffee and a plate stacked with pancakes. She set it down in the center of the table before sitting across from Kaelix.

"So, Sariyah," she said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "How old are you?"

Sariyah didn't miss a beat. "I'll be 21 in November."

Kaelix snapped his head towards Sariyah. Confused by her answer. He didn't know she was twenty one or even know her last name. He wanted to say something but didn't want his mom to be suspicious so he just held it in for now.

"Where is Trey?" Kaelix asked referring to his mom's boyfriend.

"He's working" his mom quickly answered like it was rehearsed. Kaelix squinted his eyes but quickly stopped before making eye contact with his younger brother who was shaking his head.

The room quieted for a moment, but the air was thick with unspoken tension. Kaelix leaned back in his chair, trying to mask his discomfort. His mom's question still hung in the air, but she seemed to drop it quickly when she turned her focus back to Dede, who was happily stacking pieces of bacon on her plate.

Sariyah, meanwhile, moved like she belonged here—at least on the surface. She passed a napkin to Malik without being asked and gave Dede a playful smile when she struggled to pour syrup without spilling it.

You good over there?" Sariyah teased, watching Dede struggle.

The little girl huffed dramatically. "No. It's heavy."

Sariyah chuckled, reaching over to help. "Alright, alright. I got you."

Kaelix watched the exchange quietly, his hand resting on the table. His gaze lingered on Sariyah longer than he intended, tracing the curve of her jaw and the faint smile that tugged at her lips.

"See?" Malik's voice cut through Kaelix's thoughts. "She already fitting in better than you."

"Shut up," Kaelix muttered, tossing a piece of bread at him.

Malik dodged it, laughing. "I'm just saying. You could learn a thing or two from her" he shrugged

Kaelix shook his head, but there was a faint smirk on his face.

As the meal went on, Sariyah noticed how Kaelix's mom kept stealing glances at her. They weren't hostile, but they weren't exactly welcoming, either—more like she was trying to figure out the story behind this "friend" her son had brought home without warning.

"So, where are you from, Sariyah?" his mom asked finally, her voice casual but probing.

"Everywhere, really," Sariyah replied smoothly, cutting into her pancakes. "My family moved around a lot when I was younger."

Kaelix's mom hummed, clearly unsatisfied with the vague answer. "That so? And what do you do now?"

Sariyah hesitated for half a second before flashing an easy smile. "A little bit of everything. Keeps life interesting."

Kaelix fought the urge to smirk. He could tell his mom wasn't buying it, but Sariyah's calm demeanor seemed to throw her off just enough to keep her from pressing further.

"That's nice," his mom said, though her tone suggested otherwise.

Later that evening, Kaelix sat on the porch steps, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared out at the dark street. The house behind him was quiet, the faint sound of a TV coming from Malik's room upstairs.

He rolled a small stone between his fingers, the repetitive motion grounding him as his mind churned over the day's events.

Sariyah stepped outside, her arms crossed against the cool night air. She hesitated for a moment before sitting beside him, close enough that their knees brushed.

"You alright?" she asked softly.

Kaelix didn't look at her right away. He kept his eyes on the darkened street ahead, the stone still turning between his fingers. "Yeah."

Sariyah tilted her head, watching him. "You sure? You seemed... off at breakfast."

Kaelix flicked the stone into the grass, his jaw tightening. "It's nothing."

"You keep saying that like it's gonna make me stop asking," she said, her voice light but firm.

Kaelix smirked faintly, finally turning to look at her. "You don't let up, do you?"

"Nope," Sariyah replied, leaning back on her hands.

They sat in silence for a moment, the distant hum of cicadas filling the air.

"She seems happy," Kaelix said suddenly, his voice quieter now.

Sariyah frowned slightly. "Who?"

"My mom," he said, his gaze distant. "She's... different. Feels like she's actually trying now. Guess Trey's good for her."

"That bother you?" Sariyah asked carefully.

Kaelix shrugged. "Don't know. It's just weird, seeing her like this. Like she got a whole new life now."

Sariyah didn't respond right away. Instead, she nudged his knee lightly with hers. "Hey, at least she let you stay, right?"

Kaelix chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Yeah. Lucky me."

Sariyah smiled faintly, leaning her shoulder against his. "You got a weird way of looking at things, you know that?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she said, her tone softer now. "But I like it."

Kaelix glanced at her, their eyes meeting briefly before he looked away. "Yeah well I like your way of looking at things too."

"You're so corny bro" they laughed