BENEATH THE SURFACE

Chapter 2: First Taste of Trouble

Myeisha couldn't shake the memory of Trip's piercing gaze from the night at the club. It was like his energy had wrapped around her, pulling her in. A few days later, she found herself agreeing to meet him for dinner, but it wasn't some fancy spot—it was a low-key restaurant in the hood, where Trip felt comfortable. As she walked in, she spotted him sitting in a booth at the back, his usual swagger on full display.

Trip: "There she go."

He stood up, giving her a grin that made her heart skip. His gold chain glistened in the low light, and Myeisha could smell his cologne as he pulled her into a hug.

Myeisha: "You always chillin' like you ain't got a care in the world."

Trip chuckled, leading her to sit down across from him.
Trip: "Gotta stay cool out here, ma. You get too stressed, these streets eat you alive."

Myeisha raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the booth.
Myeisha: "Yeah, but these streets is dangerous. Ain't you worried about that?"

Trip leaned in, his voice lowering as his eyes locked onto hers.
Trip: "I worry 'bout a lot of things. But right now, I'm focused on you."

Myeisha couldn't help but smile, though she tried to keep her guard up.
Myeisha: "You sound like you tryna run game."

Trip smirked, leaning back, his arms resting on the back of the booth.
Trip: "I don't gotta run game, Myeisha. I just speak facts. I like you. And I think you feelin' me too."

Before Myeisha could respond, two men walked into the restaurant, their eyes scanning the room before they landed on Trip. One of them nodded in his direction, and Trip's whole vibe changed. He sat up, tensing as the men walked over to their table.

Man 1: "Trip. We need to talk."

Trip kept his cool, but Myeisha could see the shift in his demeanor. He stood up slowly, nodding to the men.

Trip: "Give me a minute, Myeisha. I'll be right back."

Myeisha watched as Trip and the men stepped outside, her heart pounding. She didn't like the look of these guys—they were rough, clearly from the streets, and the way Trip had reacted told her something was up. She tried to focus on her food, but her mind was racing.

Minutes passed, and she could see them outside through the window. The conversation started getting heated, with the men gesturing aggressively toward Trip. She saw one of the guys shove Trip, and instinctively, she stood up, ready to intervene. But just as she reached the door, she heard a loud BANG.

Myeisha froze, her heart in her throat.

Myeisha: "Trip?!"

She rushed outside, her eyes wide as she saw Trip standing over one of the men, who was now bleeding from a gunshot wound in the leg. The other guy backed off, his hands raised in surrender.

Man 2: "A'ight, a'ight! We don't want no more problems!"

Trip glared at them, his hand still on the gun tucked in his waistband.

Trip: "Then get the hell outta here before I change my mind."

The men scrambled to get their friend up, dragging him down the street as fast as they could. Trip turned to Myeisha, his expression hard but his eyes softening when he saw her standing there, frozen in shock.

Myeisha: "What the hell just happened, Trip?!"

Trip shrugged like it was nothing, but Myeisha could see the tension in his shoulders.
Trip: "Nothin' you gotta worry about. Just handle my business."

Myeisha stepped closer, her voice trembling.
Myeisha: "That ain't nothin', Trip! You just shot somebody!"

Trip reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, his grip firm but not painful.
Trip: "Listen to me, Myeisha. This is how it is sometimes. I don't want you caught up in this, but you gotta understand—this is the life I live."

Myeisha pulled away from him, shaking her head.
Myeisha: "I didn't sign up for this! I thought we were just chillin', gettin' to know each other. I didn't know you was this deep in it."

Trip's eyes softened, and he stepped closer to her, his voice dropping low.
Trip: "I'm deep in a lot of things, Myeisha. But I ain't lettin' you go. You feel me? I'm tryna build something with you. But if you ridin' with me, you gotta know there's gonna be times like this."

Myeisha looked up at him, torn between the fear in her chest and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. She knew he was dangerous. She knew this life wasn't for her. But something about Trip made her want to stay.

Myeisha: "I don't know if I can do this, Trip."

Trip reached out, cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks.
Trip: "I'm not askin' you to change. Just stay down for me. I'll take care of the rest."

Myeisha's heart pounded in her chest, and before she could say anything else, Trip pulled her into a kiss. It was intense, full of passion and promise. When they finally pulled apart, Myeisha's head was spinning.

Trip: "We good?"

Myeisha took a deep breath, nodding slowly, though she wasn't entirely sure what she was agreeing to.

Myeisha: "Yeah... we good."

But deep down, she knew that this was just the beginning. The life Trip lived was dangerous, and being with him meant accepting the risks. As they walked back into the restaurant, Myeisha couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just taken a turn she couldn't come back from.