The Unwritten Chapters

Chapter 5. Clouds

Dominic sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen as his mind wandered. The buzz of the office around him blurred into the background, drowned out by the vivid replay of the previous night. He could still feel the weight of Serena leaning into him, her warmth as they walked side by side out of the karaoke bar, and the softness of her hair when she rested on his shoulder during the train ride. He couldn't shake the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips, but he didn't know why.

He tried to focus on the emails in front of him, but all he could think about was the way she had looked up at him when he wrapped his jacket around her. She was tipsy, but there was a look in her eyes—was it gratitude? Something else? His heart gave a small flutter at the thought, and he quickly shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it.

As he set pace at work trying his hardest to stay grounded he went back to typing code and checking his work. Every so often he would subconsciously hum the lyrics to Emo girl. His fingers typing slower than usual as he founded himself fighting the floating sensation he had to live in his mind. He was so zoned he didn't notice the time, empty seats all around him as his coworkers had gone to lunch.

"Killian." A familiar voice boomed. Dominic looked up and seeing Mr. Mayfield standing behind him. "Go to lunch kid. Everyone left 10 minutes ago." Mr. Mayfield commanded. Dominic jumped out of his chair and laughed nervously. "Sorry sir I was in the zone." He said as an I'll attempt to cover up his drifting to space. His boss sighed shaking his head. Dominic ran down to Shabazz playfully looking at his watch. "You're late Mr.Killian. double demerit." He put on his best corporate accent. Than laughed. He noticed Dom not laughing at the joke, but he did have a goofy smile on his face again. Shabazz chuckled. "Date go well D?" Dominic nodded. "Ahhh so you did holla at her. My boy!" His voice booming with excitement and joy. "N-no it wasn't a date. But I did have a nice time I guess."

"So what did you both get up too?" Shabazz asked with a smile. Dominic barely registered the question, lost in the memory of her laughter echoing in his mind. "Uh..I'm sorry what did you ask me?" Dominic chuckled and asked in return.
"Awwww mannnnn that girl got you bad." Shabazz exclaimed throwing his hands up in the hair and holding them on his head dramatically. "Don't forgot to send me the wedding invite man." Shabazz teased. Dominic's face flushed as red as a ripe tomato. "What are you talking about??" He asked in a beyond flustered tone.

"Shawty's like a melody in my head that I can't keep out!" Shabazz sang out teasing the young man, "Shabazz you doing to much bro!" Shabazz smiled and continued "who would have ever knew we would've been more than friends!" He danced around and laughed. "Shabazz!" Dominic barked more embarrassed than annoyed. He couldn't help laughing. "It's really not like that. She's just a good friend," Dominic said, though even he wasn't fully convinced.

Shabazz's grin stayed, but as he watched Dominic's smile fade, he noticed something shift in his boy's demeanor. Dominic's head dropped, his hands slid into his pockets, and his whole posture closed off. The playful back-and-forth dissolved into a more serious moment. Shabazz saw it and immediately switched gears, his hand landing on Dominic's shoulder with a familiar, comforting weight.

"Yo, D, you good?" Shabazz asked, his voice softer but still carrying that laid-back Harlem edge.

"Yeah, man... I'm just thinking," Dominic replied, a heaviness in his tone. "Like, what if you're right? That would make things so weird. What if liking her... just messes everything up?"

Shabazz let out a short laugh, shaking his head like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Fam, you buggin'. Lemme ask you somethin' real quick—ain't everything that happened last night flow mad smooth?"