One-on-One

Chapter 23: Caught in the Feels

Amira flopped down on the worn couch in Imani's dorm, a whirlwind of emotions still swirling in her mind from her confrontation with Jada. The room was filled with familiar posters and cozy throw blankets, providing a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her. Imani looked up from her laptop, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Hey, what happened?" Imani asked, closing her laptop and leaning forward, her eyes searching Amira's face for answers.

"It was rough," Amira replied, rubbing her temples as if trying to ease the tension. "We talked, but it was... complicated. I told her how I felt about everything. She's sorry, but I just don't know if I can trust her right now."

Imani nodded, her expression sympathetic. "That's tough, girl. You gotta do what's best for you. Did she at least own up to how she hurt you?"

"Yeah, she did. She said she never meant to betray me, but it just feels so messy," Amira admitted, letting out a sigh. "I miss how things used to be."

Imani reached over, squeezing Amira's hand. "Give it time, girl. Everything will fall into place. You just gotta take the right steps, and this was one of them."

"Thanks, Imani," Amira said, grateful for her friend's unwavering support. "How about you? How's everything with Tariq?"

Imani's face softened, her usual playful smile replaced by something more thoughtful. "Girl... he's something else," she murmured, almost to herself. "He makes me laugh so hard, like nobody else does. But then... sometimes, he'll say somethin' that makes me wonder if he's really feelin' me, or if he's just playin' around." She glanced down, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against her phone. "I don't know what we are yet, but he's got me thinkin' about him a little too much, you know?"

Amira smirked, leaning back. "It's gon' get there, girl. I see how he looks at you."

Imani bit her lip, her eyes brightening. "Maybe... but it's confusing. Like, look at this." She pulled up a text from Tariq, scrolling back to one of their late-night conversations, and held it out for Amira to see. It read, "You better stop makin' me smile this much or I'm gonna start fallin' for you. Just sayin'."

Amira's eyebrows shot up as she read it, a playful smile spreading across her face. "Girl, he said that to you? That's more than just a little crush!"

Imani laughed, cheeks warm as she took her phone back. "Right? When I saw that, my heart was doin' backflips. But then he acts all chill the next day, like he didn't just drop that bomb on me. I don't know what to make of it."

Amira nodded, understanding her friend's uncertainty. "Maybe he's just tryna play it cool, but it's clear he feels somethin'."

Imani shrugged, though her smile hinted she wanted to believe it too. "Maybe... I just don't wanna get my hopes up too high, you know?"

Amira gave her a gentle nudge. "Hey, he wouldn't be textin' you like that if he didn't mean it. Just let it happen naturally."

Imani chuckled, slipping her phone into her lap. "I hear you. I guess I'm just... nervous. But I haven't felt this way about someone in a long time. So how you and Jordan doing?"

Amira felt her cheeks warm at the mention of his name. "Um...," she blushed. So yeah, we're still on friend terms for now, but sometimes it feels like there's something more between us."

Imani nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That makes sense. But you can't deny the vibe you two have. I mean, you both light up when you're around each other."

"Yeah, " Amira said, biting her lip. Honestly, when I'm with him, it just feels easy. Like, he makes me laugh, and we vibe really well. There's just something about him that clicks, you know?