KAELIX MCGILL North Carolina

Kaelix slid on his Nike socks before grabbing his Nike slides and sliding them on as well. While Sariyah was in the bathroom, he also slid on another fitted white tee, the crisp white contrasting with his dark skin.

Kaelix sat back on the bed for a moment, scrolling aimlessly through his phone, before the bathroom door flew open. It revealed a tired-looking Sariyah, her hair half-undone, the stray strands framing her face in a way that made her look both frustrated and, oddly, soft.

"You good?" Kaelix asked, his laughter spilling out as soon as he caught her expression.

"No, nigga, l'm not," she muttered, making a beeline for the bed before flopping down dramatically, her arms splayed out like she was over everything.

Kaelix smirked, setting his phone down. "Why you ain't ask me to help?"

Sariyah rolled onto her side to glare at him, her face scrunching up. "Where were you an hour ago when my arms were giving out?"

"Alright, you ain't gotta hit me with the attitude," he said, scooting closer to her on the bed. "I would've helped, you know that."

"Whatever," she mumbled, reaching up to tug at the last few stubborn braids.

Kaelix leaned forward, brushing her hands away. "Let me see."

Her skeptical eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she shifted slightly, leaning forward just enough to give him access to her hair.

His hands moved carefully, unweaving the braid with surprising precision. "You act like I don't got a sister," he said with a small grin.

Sariyah tilted her head. "What girl hair you took out before?" Kaelix chuckled. "Probably every bitch back in Atlanta."

Her face went blank, and he quickly laughed, throwing his hands up. "Chill, I'm just playing. You the first.. and maybe the last, the way you looking at me."

"Shut up," she mumbled, trying to mask the smile that crept across her lips.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Kaelix's hands working steadily to finish the last braid. As the tension between them eased, he tilted his head, studying her.

"Didn't you say your birthday was in November?" he asked suddenly.

Sariyah glanced at him, surprised. "Yeah. Why?"

Kaelix leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he finished her hair. "Because November's next month."

She blinked, realization dawning. "Oh, is it? I haven't really even paid attention to it, to be honest."

Kaelix frowned slightly, sitting up straighter. "Why not?" She shrugged, her fingers brushing against the loose strands of her hair. "Just never been a big deal to me. Birthdays are whatever."

Kaelix shook his head, leaning closer. "Nah, see, that's where you wrong. Birthdays ain't just whatever' Let me take you out for it."

Sariyah tilted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You trying to be sweet now?"

Kaelix grinned, leaning back on his hands.

"Somebody gotta look out for you."

She watched him for a moment, her gaze softening. It had been days since they'd arrived, and for the first time, she noticed how much the tension in Kaelix had eased. He wasn't checking over his shoulder or scanning every window like a shadow was chasing him. He looked... lighter.

"You itching to go somewhere, huh?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"Hell yeah," Kaelix said, standing up and grabbing his slides. "We been in this house for four days straight. I'm over it. Get ready." Sariyah groaned, flopping back onto the bed. "Out where, though?"

"Anywhere but here," he replied, grabbing his keys and tossing them in his hand like he was ready to leave right that second.

"You got forty minutes, and that's me being generous." Sariyah propped herself up on her elbows, smirking. "You always this bossy?"

Kaelix shrugged, flashing a grin. "Only when I need to be. Now, c'mon, we got places to be." He smiled showing all of his teeth before playfully hitting her thigh and walking out the room.

_

Kaelix adjusted the rearview mirror as the car rolled down a winding coastal road. The air outside smelled faintly of saltwater, and Sariyah could see the horizon brightening as they neared the beach.

"You still ain't tell me where we going," Sariyah said, glancing at him suspiciously.

Kaelix smirked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"You'll see."

"You one of them 'mystery date' niggas now?" she teased, leaning back in her seat.

He chuckled. "Something like that. Just trust me, alright?"

Sariyah didn't reply but let the corners of her mouth curve into a faint smile as she gazed out the window.

The light breeze coming through the cracked window tousled the few curls that framed her face, but the rest of her hair was pulled back into a sleek bun.

When they pulled into a small lot near the beach, Sariyah raised an eyebrow. "A beach, Kaelix? You think I'm about to swim?"

Kaelix laughed, shaking his head. "Who said anything about swimming? C'mon."

They stepped out of the car, the sound of waves crashing in the distance instantly filling the air. Kaelix reached into the backseat and grabbed a blanket, nodding toward a small path that led to the sand.

Sariyah trailed behind him, the cool sand slipping beneath her slides as she walked. She watched him spread the blanket on a spot just far enough from the water to avoid the tide.

"Here," Kaelix said, sitting down and gesturing for her to join him.

Sariyah hesitated for a second, then sat cross-legged beside him.

The sea breeze tugged at her loose curls, and for a moment, the two of them just sat there, listening to the rhythm of the waves. Kaelix handed her a menu he had snagged from a small beachfront restaurant nearby

"Pick something. It's on me." Sariyah scanned the menu, then glanced at him.

"You sure? I might run up the bill."

Kaelix leaned back on his elbows, smirking. "Do your worst." They ended up ordering seafood platters-grilled shrimp, fried fish, and hush puppies that came in small, greasy paper trays. They ate in companionable silence at first, their conversation light and playful.

"You don't seem like the type to be chillin' on a beach," Sariyah said, popping a piece of shrimp into her mouth.

Kaelix shrugged, watching her. "Gotta switch it up sometimes. Plus, you been cooped up. Figured you could use a little fresh air."

Sariyah paused, her gaze softening for a moment before she quickly masked it with her usual smirk."So thoughtful of you, Kaelix. What's next, flowers?"

"See there you go pushing it," he said, grinning.

Later that evening, after strolling along the beach and enjoying the salty breeze, they decided it was time to head out. Sariyah didn't know where Kaelix was taking her next, but she didn't mind. The night had been peaceful in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

When they finally arrived, it wasn't a restaurant or a flashy spot like she might've expected. Instead, Kaelix parked at the base of a quiet hilltop. As they walked up, the city sprawled below them, the distant lights twinkling like stars against the dark horizon.

"This your big surprise?" Sariyah teased, raising an eyebrow as she glanced around.

Kaelix smirked, holding out her ice cream cone before sitting down on the grass. "What, you too good for a view?"

She snorted, but took the cone and plopped down beside him, her shoulder brushing his. Their car sat a few feet behind them, music spilling softly from the open windows. Miguel's Adorn played low in the background, adding a rhythm to the night.

"This is nice," she admitted after a moment, taking a bite of her ice cream. He looked at her with a soft smile, watching her eat her ice cream like a little kid.

Kaelix leaned back on his hands, glancing over at her. The moonlight hit her face just right, highlighting the curve of her cheek and the way her hair was slicked back into a sleek bun. She looked good—effortlessly good.

"You got a lotta hair," he said, breaking the silence.

Sariyah blinked, caught off guard. "That's what you wanted to say? After dragging me all the way up here?"

Kaelix grinned, unbothered by her tone. "Nah, I'm serious. I like it like that. Pulled back. Feels... I don't know. Real."

Sariyah paused, her lips twitching like she was about to laugh. "Real?"

"Yeah," he said simply, shrugging. "You don't gotta do all that extra stuff to look good. You just do."

"So when I get all done up? What I'm gone look ugly?" She chuckled looking at him.

"No you're gonna look good then too. I'm just saying you look great today" she nodded at his response.

She rolled her eyes, but the faint flush on her cheeks gave her away. "Boy, eat your ice cream and stop talking."

Kaelix chuckled, taking a bite of his cone. "You don't take compliments well, huh?"

"I take 'em fine. I just don't need you getting too comfortable."

"Too late for that."

Sariyah shook her head, but the corner of her lips tugged upward as she looked out over the city below. For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the hum of music and the cool breeze filling the gaps between their words.

Eventually, Kaelix spoke again. "You ever think about doing something else?"

"Whatchu mean something else?"

"I know you still scamming your free time Sariyah." He tilted his head.

"And how do you know that Kaelix?" she asked, her tone sharp but playful.

"It's not exactly like you tryna hide it from me. You always on that computer, still be checking your phone 24/7." He smiled "you know I don't care, it's not like I'm a saint."

"I was just wondering if you ever thought about doing something else. I know the money good—"

Sariyah raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharpening slightly. "How you know how much money I'm making?"

Kaelix shrugged. "Just a guess. I know people. Scamming ain't small-time money if you know what you're doing."

She leaned back on her hands, licking a drip of ice cream before it could hit her fingers. "And what about you, Mr. Drug Dealer? You sitting on a stash too?"

Kaelix nodded slowly, his tone quieter now. "Yeah. Got a lot saved up. But I didn't really have a reason to spend it back in Atlanta. Didn't need much. It was just me."

Sariyah tilted her head, studying him. "And now?"

Kaelix looked over at her, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm starting to think I got a reason now."

The weight of his words hung between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Sariyah held his gaze, her usual sharpness softening for a moment.

"Smooth ass nigga huh?," she finally said, her voice light but her expression unreadable.

"Nah," Kaelix said, shaking his head. "I'm just telling you how it is."

Sariyah let out a soft laugh, turning her attention back to the city lights. "You like me or something?"

Kaelix didn't hesitate. "Yeah. I do."

She blinked, caught off guard by his honesty. For once, she didn't have a quick comeback.

Sariyah glanced at him, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "Good," she said simply.

Kaelix laughed quietly, shaking his head. "That's all you got to say?"

"What else you want me to say?" she shot back, smirking now.

"Maybe that you like me too," he said, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

Sariyah rolled her eyes, but the playful glint in her gaze didn't go unnoticed. "Yeah, Kaelix. I like you too. Now eat your ice cream before it melts."

Kaelix smiled, his chest feeling a little lighter than it had in weeks.

They stayed there a while longer, finishing their ice cream and watching the lights of the city flicker below. For the first time in a long time, neither of them felt like they wanted or needed to run.