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Outer Banks.
A place that's usually warm, its natural humidity clinging onto your skin like a blanket, sand hiding between your toes, the wet webbing of ocean water flicking against you whenever you walk too close near shore. That's what it normally felt like but when a storm was steadily approaching the air became cold, the sky growing dark, and the wind felt rushed.
Darkness immediately swept the island as a whole, the night sky being void of any stars, and the moon shined twice as bright. Even with the wind brushing against Aaliyah's cheek she still couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness bubble within her ribs. A storm was coming.
Feet dangling off the edge of Aaliyah's roof. Just the two of them. It's their spot. Like usual. Whenever life didn't throw anything at them, they'd just sneak up there and talk. Between them was a shared bowl of ice cream, vanilla with caramel chunks. Placed next to it was a heart-shaped ashtray (she made it during pottery class one summer ago). The only glimpse of light between them was the lit blunt that hung loosely between the softness of Aaliyah's lips.
It has never been that dark. Never.
Just the breeze and light fluttering of leaves made the darkness seem almost comforting. Another small whiff of smoke escaped her lips and she turned her gaze to the boy beside her only for him to already stare at her. Pope could not stop staring at Aaliyah. Even though it wasn't said something shifted between them. Could it be the evident glimpse of growing up between them, eyes lingering on places that almost felt forbidden? Or maybe they were just being teenagers.
"It's getting late," Muttered Pope, who shifted his weight onto his other foot. "I should go home."
Lateness was never something that stayed in their mind. Sure, it'll give them an earful with their parents but if being late meant that you'd get more time with them then so be it.
"I never knew you cared that about being late Pope," Aaliyah mumbled with a glimpse of tiredness. She was a bit drained so to say from helping her parents make sure that everything was secure with the shop so that whenever the hurricane hit it'll have a lesser chance of extreme damage.
"I don't... I mean — I do but—" Chuckling at his stammering, Aaliyah faced forward and looked into the distance.
A second passed. Aaliyah could feel Pope's gaze on her. It was potent. Strong. She couldn't help but let out a sigh, a gray hue leaking out of her lips in the process. "Heyward."
"Jackson."
Tucking away a thick, coiled strand Aaliyah sighed. "I know that we don't have time for questions since the hurricane's coming but who do you see yourself in five years?"
Pope stared down at his feet dangling over the edge. "College, I dunno. You?" He questions quietly.
"In five years I see myself owning a shop — something that's entirely just for me, happiness, and hopefully with you and the gang by my side. That's what I want. Not what people expect of me." Aaliyah didn't want that life. A life where she'd end up becoming someone's wife on the North side. Unhappy, with plenty of kids and no voice of her own. It was her biggest fear. She dreaded it almost. Hence why she tried not to think about it too much. She was only sixteen. She could hear the conversations between her parents specifically her father on him wanting her to meet this young boy who showed a lot of potential. She didn't need it. Not right now.
Pope frowned at Aaliyah, knowing what she was talking about specifically. Especially when it came to someone he became so close in the span of what felt like months being years, almost a decade even. Someone he could label as her best friend. Reaching over and ultimately realizing the small distance between them, he held her hand before squeezing it gently. "It'll be okay. You have me."
Looking up at him Aaliyah couldn't help but smile, eyes fluttering as she held back the tears that burned her eyes. The energy between them soon grew potent, and strong. Faces grew closer, face growing more hushed but ultimately stopped with Pope wanting to change the subject. Not now. Maybe later. "And I'm glad that I do."
"Besides hopefully in five years, we'd finally be able to get that trip off the road. I'm dying to see you take a picture near the Grand Canyon AJ." Alluded Pope who couldn't help but reminisce over a pact they made during the fourth grade. Once both of them graduated from high school, they had to go on a road trip to popular destinations throughout America.
It took a minute of silence and Aaliyah nodded her head the smallest amount. Realization soon hits her. "You remember that? We were like, nine when we made that promise."
"We were also nine when we promised to get married if we were still single, but I digress."
It was late. They should've been inside. In their respective homes, safe from the hurricane.
But they didn't. I guess being in the comfort of those made the idea of a storm a distant dream.
