• A Blackbird's Serenade • (GxG)

"Broadened Horizons"

Journee

Sitting under the stars had never felt like this before. Maybe it was because I hadn't done it since a child. Or maybe it was because I was doing it with her.

We'd migrated to Coco's car, the two of us. I'd gotten cold and Tiana was complaining about the bench becoming too hard for her to sit on anymore. We sat here now, as we talked before a mesmerizing view of the night's sky.

"So..." My head turned against the seat as we looked at each other. "Why'd you become a cook?" I asked.

Mirroring me, she met my gaze with a shrug. "Just felt like it." I chuckled,

"You became a cook because you felt like it?" She smiled, chuckling too. "So, let me get this straight-" I held up my fingers to count. "You're a cook, hairstylist, waitress, makeup artist, aaand college graduate??"

Reaching over, she put another one of my fingers up for me. "Don't forget a former member of the chess team-" We shared a heartfelt laugh. "Pretty good at double dutch too."

I giggled. "Lord have mercy, what can't you do?"

"Oh honey the list is long." Tiana held up fingers of her own, making my laughter continue. "For one I can't sew for shit. I can cook but can't bake. Can't sing or play no instruments-" she gave me a look and I bit my lip, hiding a blush. "Oh and I never learned how to roller skate." I giggled again. "And I can't whistle either," she rolled her eyes.

"Oh c'mon now, whistlin' is a necessity," I teased.

"Tuh, you tellin' me-" she crossed her arms. "And don't think I ain't tried- Coco spent weeks tryna teach me in grade school."

"Sweetheart I promise you it's not that hard," I laughed as she scoffed.

"Says the damn singer. Specially with that voice of yours- course you can damn whistle-" Tiana rolled her eyes again as I turned in my seat, completely facing her.

"Who needs to sing when you can do everything else huh-" I put my elbows on the arm rest. "I have another question though..."

Her head turned to me against the seat. "Ask away..."

"You got a boyfriend?"

Tiana looked away with a soft cackle and clap of her hands. "Who wants to know?"

"Can't tell you that yet-" I shrugged with a smirk. "Just answer, yes or no?"

Narrowing her eyes as they gazed amusingly into mine, she bit her lip. "What kinda game you playin' Rose?"

"Can't tell you that either," I chuckled. "C'monnn tell meee-" my head then tilted as my gaze softened upon her. "Please..."

"Oh you's sick-" she laughed, shaking her head at me. It made me smile knowingly. "Fine, the answer's no, you happy?"

"More than you'd know..." I whispered, not realizing that I'd said that aloud.

Just after I'd dropped my head, internally embarrassed, I picked it up only to find her staring at me. The look within her eye had gone from playful to adoring. And the feeling it gave me was nearly indescribable. Suddenly I felt warm all over, yet the last thing I wanted to do was look away.

Tiana's hand then slowly drew near my face, and I kept still as her fingers brushed my jawline.

Her eyes went from her touch to my eyes, asking for approval without the use of her words. And as I gave her the okay by not pulling away, she slid her palm to my cheek.