• A Blackbird's Serenade • (GxG)

"Emotional Intelligence"

Tiana

"I..."

Brief silence fell before Journee drew a quiet breath. "Tiana, just be honest with me."

Those words left me with a saddened pause as my mouth downturned ever so slightly. Journee hardly ever called me by that name, unless she was dead serious, or upset. And the last thing I wanted to do was upset her.

"It's not that I don't wanna go with you-"

"But you ain't sayin' that you do either-" creating space between us, she sat upright against the headboard. My frown then deepened just a bit more. "Listen, I understand. Really, I do. It's a lot to ask you to just pick up your life here and come with me on the road, even for a job. I know that ain't easy. You got things keepin' you here, and I won't stand in the way. All of that is just fine, I just wish you'd talk to me about it Tiana, don't leave me guessin' and wonderin-' I don't like it."

"Okay-" Journee's arms folded as I sat up with her to scoot closer. My hand took hold of her chin, urging our eyes to meet despite her purposefully averting them. "I'm sorry, alright?.... Baby don't be mad at me, please?..."

With a pause as we gazed upon one another, she then allowed her body to open up to me a bit more. Mentally sighing a breath of relief, my head tilted apologetically .

"I'm not mad... I just don't wanna spend the next six months without you, and I'm afraid I'm about to... I know I gotta be okay with that, but-" she shook her head, glimpsing up at the ceiling. "It's harder than I thought..."

Subtly twisting my lips in deep thought, I stared at her in consideration as a million thoughts swarmed my brain. Journee's attention had trickled to her lap, and I knew then that I needed to make up my mind.

Unfolding her arms, I said nothing while pulling them around my body as I straddled her lap. She had no choice but to look up at me, but even then, her eyes were glossed over. And I felt terrible for being the reason why. I was sorry for taking so long, and for not letting her in about it. Especially when I know what I should do, and what I need to do. It was never that I didn't want to go, just that I was unsure of whether or not I should stay.

Placing both my hands to her soft, flushed cheeks, I leaned in to press our lips together. Then I followed with another, adding more emotion behind it as her hands roamed my lower waist. And the last kiss caused our heads to bob as it ended with a bit of a smack before I broke away.

"We ain't gonna spend the next six months apart honey." Peering into her eyes, I watched with a minor grin as she realized. Folding my own arms, I sat back a bit on her lap. "Plus I can't stand the idea of anybody else stylin you-" the smile tugging her lips warmed my heart as I pointed a playful finger. "You's mine, y'hear?"

Giggling with a soft beam, she tackled me in an embrace, taking us both down across the bed and making me laugh. My legs were still wrapped lazily around her as she held me close, now laying on top of me. And I draped my arms over her shoulders, gazing upon her as our laughter died down.

"Don't be doin' this cause of me," Journee then said, in all seriousness. "I don't care how sad I may seem, I'll be alright if you wanna stay Tee. We'll figure it out-"

"Ain't nothin' to figure out-" I brought her forehead to my lips, then held her close. "My dream is still cosmetology, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime- I'd be crazy to pass it up, and I'd be crazy to let you leave without me... The work I wanted to do here can wait," I shrugged. "It's no rush..."

Studying my expression further, she let her finger softly trace my eyebrow before dragging it to my cheek, then my bottom lip. Her eyes trailed my every feature before locking with mine, and with a look that could pose as a truth serum.