Streetlight Serenade

Close Calls

I been hearin' things. Whispers on the block, streets calling , names gettin' thrown around that don't sit right with me. Some new faces pushin' weight, movin' in on territory they got no business touchin'. And I know what that means—it ain't gon' be long before shit hits the fan.

I'm out here makin' sure my crew's good, but my mind keep driftin' to Laila. Can't shake this feelin' that somethin' bad gon' happen, and I won't be there to stop it.

Late one night, I'm postin' up with the boys, talkin' shop, when I see her. Laila, walkin' down the street like she don't got a care in the world. But I see the shadows movin' behind her. It's too dark to make out faces, but I know trouble when I see it.

"Ayo, y'all hold it down," I tell the crew, my eyes locked on her. I start movin' in her direction, quick and quiet, tryin' not to draw attention.

She don't see me at first, but I can tell she feel me. She's always been good like that—knowin' when I'm close. When she finally spots me, her eyes widen a bit, but she don't slow down.

"What you doin' out here this late, Lai?" I ask, my voice low, like I'm just makin' conversation.

"Comin' from class," she says, but there's a tightness to her voice. "What about you?"

I shrug, actin' like it's nothin'. "Just makin' sure everything's cool. You know how it is."

I glance over her shoulder, seein' the shadows still lurkin'. "You should head home, Laila. Ain't safe out here, especially for you."

She frowns, and I can see she's about to say somethin', but then we hear it. The scuffle, the low voices turnin' loud, and I know it's about to go down.

"Get behind me," I order, my tone leavin' no room for argument.

"Rico—" she starts, but I don't let her finish.

"Now, Lai."

I glance over her shoulder, seein' the shadows still lurkin'. And then, I see it—the glint of metal, but it ain't no knife. It's a gun, half-hidden under the jacket of one of the dudes tailin' her.

She moves, and just in time too. The guy with the gun steps out from the shadows, and I don't hesitate. I lunge at him, grabbin' his wrist before he can even think to pull the trigger. We wrestle for control, my blood poundin' in my ears. The crew ain't far behind, movin' in quick to handle the others.

I rip the gun from his hand, tossin' it to the side as I take him down. I can hear the scuffle behind me as my boys handle the rest, but my focus stays on Laila. I spin around, breathin' hard, my heart racin', and there she is—watchin' me with those wide eyes

She's too close to this life, closer than I ever wanted her to be.

As the adrenaline starts to fade, I turn to Laila, who's watchin' me with wide eyes, her breath comin' fast. "You good?" I ask, my voice still tight from the rush.

She nods, but I can see her hands tremblin', and it makes my chest tighten. I reach out and pull her close, just needin' to feel her, to make sure she's really alright. She don't resist, lettin' me wrap my arms around her, her body pressin' against mine.

"You scared me, Lai," I admit, my voice low and rough. "I can't... I can't lose you."

She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes searchin' mine. And then, before I can think, before I can stop myself, I lower my head and capture her lips with mine.

The kiss is desperate, full of all the fear and relief and feelin's I been holdin' back for too damn long. She kisses me back just as hard, her hands clutchin' at my jacket like she needs me just as much as I need her.

I don't know who moves first, but suddenly we're both reachin' for each other, pullin' at clothes, tryin' to get closer, like we can't stand even a second of space between us. I back her up against the nearest wall, my hands roamin' over her curves, feelin' every inch of her, claimin' her in a way I've only ever dreamed about.

"Rico..." she breathes against my mouth, and it's like gasoline on a fire, makin' me burn even hotter.

I lift her up, her legs wrappin' around my waist as I push her harder against the wall, our bodies pressin' together like we can't get close enough. Her fingers tangle in my hair, tuggin' as she gasps my name, and I lose it.

I bury myself in her, my lips findin' her neck, her shoulder, anywhere I can reach. She's everywhere, all around me, her scent, her taste, her warmth. And I know, in this moment, that I'm gone—completely lost in her.

Her breathy moans fill the night air, and I swear, it's the only sound I wanna hear for the rest of my life. We move together, fast and desperate, like we're tryin' to erase the distance that's always been between us. Every thrust, every touch, it's like I'm tryin' to tell her all the things I ain't never said, all the ways I been feelin'.

When we finally break apart, both of us breathin' hard, it feels like the world's shifted. I look at her, seein' the way her hair's all wild, her lips swollen from our kisses, and I know this wasn't just some heat-of-the-moment thing. This was real, somethin' that's been buildin' for years.

"Lai..." I start, but she cuts me off with another kiss, softer this time, like she's tryin' to say it's okay.

When we finally pull away, her eyes are glassy, but there's a strength there too, like she's made up her mind about somethin'. "We can't keep doin' this, Rico," she whispers, but her voice is shaky, like she don't really believe it.

"I know," I say, even though every part of me wants to argue. "But tonight... tonight, I needed you."

She nods, her hands still clingin' to me, like she don't wanna let go. "Me too."

We stand there for a long time, just holdin' each other, tryin' to catch our breath, tryin' to figure out what comes next. But deep down, I know nothin' really changed. The streets are still out there, still waitin'. And as much as I wanna protect her, as much as I wanna keep her close, I know I can't hold onto her forever.

But right now, with her in my arms, I ain't thinkin' 'bout any of that. I'm just glad she's here, safe, with me. And for tonight, that's enough.