Belonging

Chapter Four (new)

Xavier Smith
Nearby Coffee Shop,  Atlanta, GA
12:20PM
—

Syd and Lexi are mid-laugh when Xavier finally slides into the booth. Lexi clocks him immediately. 

"Oh so you stayed?"

Xavier exhales through his nose dramatically, "Good morning to you too."

Syd's eyes scan him once--- hair a little messy, dressed in a hoodie neither of them have ever seen on him. "You ain't go home either."

Xavier shrugs like it's nothing. "It was late."

Lexi leans forward, "So?"

"So nothing. "

Syd doesn't smile. "You okay?"

"Why y'all keep asking me that?"

"Because you thinking too hard before answering these questions."

That shuts him up.

The waitress places a water in front of him. Lexi waits until she leaves before speaking again, "So what happened?"

Xavier stares down at the table for a second, "It was cool."

Lexi squints. "Cool like Netflix cool, or cool like you still got all your clothes cool?"

"Lexi."

"I'm asking respectfully."

Syd ignores her, "Did you feel pressured?"

"What? No."

That one comes quickly because he didn't. 

Not exactly. 

 Syd nods once, "Mmkay."

They let the silence hang for a moment and Xavier takes this time to anxiously tap his fingers against the glass. "When I woke up," a quick inhale, "he moved my phone."

Lexi's fork held still, inches from mouth, and Sydney paused as well. 

Lexi sat the fork back onto her plate, "Moved it where?"

"Just off the bed."

Syd's voice is still even, "Why?"

Xavier attempts a casual shrug, but it comes out stiff and mechanical. "I don't know. I guess it kept lighting up."

"With?"

"The group chat."

The two woman shared a look between one another.

"And?"

"He just grabbed it. Said something like, 'You don't need that right now.'"

Lexi leans back slowly. "Oh."

Syd doesn't react at all, just a slight eyebrow raise. Which was worse.

"What did that feel like?

"Xavier frowns, "It wasn't like that."

"I didn't say it was."

"He just wanted me there."

"With him," Syd finishes gently.

Xavier perks up at her agreeance, "Yeah."

Silence again. 

Lexi taps her nails against the table. "Did you ask for it back?"

"Not immediately."

"Why?"

Xavier hesitates, he's not ready for that part. Because the truth was that he liked it.