FLORIDA, danny duncan

⤷ SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, girls.

DANNY,

It was nearly almost midnight, and I already knew Brielle was in bed. After dinner, I didn't see her anytime after that. It was only me, Alex, and Kewon sitting on the couch. The guys who were staying with me were in the rooms as well. I could hear muffled snoring coming from the hallway.

Alex was busy doing something with his camera, while Kewon was on his phone. I was editing a new video that I wanted to upload soon. My phone dinged and as soon as I checked who it was, I sighed.

"Guess who's been texting me." I said to Kewon.

Without looking from his phone, he nodded his head, "who?"

"You know that girl?" I leaned back into the couch, showing him my phone screen.

Kewon looked at the messages, squinting his eyes, "the girl you always see when you come back in town?"

I nodded, "yeah. She knows I'm back in town again."

Only Kewon knew, and now Alex... but he could care less... plus he wouldn't say anything. Kewon knew a lot of things about me. I didn't really like putting my business out. She texted me the first day I got back, and she just texted me again since I didn't reply to her last message.

"When's the last time you saw her?"

"Like, two months ago."

"Are you gonna go see her?" Kewon raised an eyebrow at me.

I turned my phone off, not bothering to reply to her new message she sent me. "Nah."

Kelsey was someone I would go to see here and there. It wasn't always consistent, but the only time she would hit me up is when I'm in Englewood. Her number isn't even saved in my phone... she's just like a sneaky link.

Kewon chuckled, "I'm surprised. You go whenever she hits you."

I shrugged, "just don't want to."

"You got bored of her or something?"

"Just don't feel like going out of my way this time. I got things to take care of and stuff."

Kewon nodded, not asking anymore questions. Silence fell upon us, while we continued to do what we were doing. I finally was able to upload a new video now.

"It's because of Bri, huh?" Kewon broke the silence.

"What do you mean?"

Kewon smacked his lips, "bro, I'm not dumb. Alex isn't dumb. We're all not dumb."

"Don't try to play it off, man," Alex finally spoke after all this time, "we see how you are with her." He said with a small laugh.

"And, you take her out to eat, you openly joke around about her, and, don't forget, you flew her here," Kewon tried to list down every single thing possible, "since when do you do that shit with a woman?"

"I mean, we've been good friends for a long time. She's not some random girl I just met," I tried to debunk his hypothesis. "You're forgetting I always joke around. What's the difference between me bringing you guys with me and bringing her?"

"Okay, now," Kewon's face changed into a 'really?' expression, "not like that. I know how you are," He pointed at me. "I understand you don't like to tell your business, but let's be real here."

I laughed at him, "damn! Can a girl and guy not just be friends without having allegations against them?" I defended myself. "We didn't really talk talk for so long, and when we did again, realized how much I missed being around her."

Kewon shook his head, putting his arms up in defense, "okay, okay."

"That's true, though. There's friendships where they're just close like that, and it comes off in a different way," Alex said, making me sigh in relief. "but..."

I rolled my eyes, "but, what?!"

"I've literally seen you kiss her... at the carnival."

Kewon looked shocked by what Alex had said, then added, "the night I walked in on you guys hugging in the garage!" He exclaimed. "Who knows what more you guys have done."

"Dude," I facepalmed while laughing.

"We're already having this conversation, might as well tell us what the hell y'all got going on!" Kewon began to use his hands while he talked, "friends with benefits? Fucking? Talking? Is she really your girlfriend but you've just been playing it off as a joke?"

"Yeah, we've had our moments, alright?" I was surprised they even brought any of this up. I said while laughing, "...but she's not my girlfriend. Can we just move on from this? Whatever comes out of it, comes out of it."

Kewon shrugged his shoulders, with his hands in the air, "sorry. You just like to think with your dick. First time ever you don't want to link up with a girl that hits you up. Just trying to connect the dots."

"Nosey motherfuckers."

"Hey, you brought up the topic of girls. Don't blame us." Alex defended himself and Kewon.

"Kewon brought up the topic about Bri."

"Man, whatever."

Silence finally fell upon us, again. My phone dinged once more, earning a side eye from Kewon. We looked at each other, but didn't say anything. I picked my phone up, seeing the message.

KELSEY
you keep leaving me on read
if you wanna cut everything off just say that

Once again, I left her on read. I shut my phone off, going back to my laptop.

—

I got up the next morning to go take care of some stuff I had to do. I took Alex with me, leaving the rest of them at the house since I wasn't gonna be gone long. When I got back to the house, I brought Marsh and the rest of the guys back with me.

"I got you some gum." I threw a pack at Kewon.

Kewon just stared at me, letting out a small laugh. "Fuck you."

Everyone was outside, except for Brielle. "Where's Bri at?"

"She's inside sitting on the couch," he said, "she's been quiet all morning."

"What's wrong with her?"

Kewon shrugged, "I don't know, she said she was just tired. We didn't wanna bother her to come out here so we left her alone inside."

"I'll go check on her."

The guys stood around while I walked inside the house to go check on her. Alex followed behind me with the camera as we quietly approached the couch. I peaked over the top of the couch, seeing her slumped over while sitting down. Alex peaked the camera over her, while I silently laughed.