Sometime wanna be your lover
Sometime wanna be your friend
Sometime wanna hug you
Hold hands slow dance while the record spins
Opened up your heart 'cause you said I made you feel so comfortable
Date: January 17, 2000 Location: Waffle House, Pensacola, Florida
The girls sat in the worn booth of Waffle House, a familiar haven for late-night hangouts, their excitement simmering just beneath the surface.
Junya and Jela sat on one side, taking up their usual spots, while Takecia and Triana were across from them, chatting quietly as they waited for the twins and their cousin to arrive.
Triana was sitting in anticipation of meeting someone new-someone who had been a constant shadow to the twins, but whom Triana hadn't had the chance to meet.
Joe, she had heard, was the cousin of Josh and Jon. He went by Joe because his real name-Leati-was hard for most people to pronounce.
Despite hearing about him countless times, Triana was skeptical. She had no interest in another setup, no matter how much her cousins tried to matchmake her with him.
Triana rolled her eyes inwardly, already anticipating the awkwardness that would come with having a new guy in the group. As far as she was concerned, she was perfectly content being single, even if her cousins kept insisting that Joe might be the one for her.
"Have you three met this Joe before?" Triana asked, glancing over at Jela, Junya, and Takecia.
Junya, who was perched casually on the edge of her seat, nodded. "Yeah, he's always with Josh and Jon, if you'd come out and hang with us, you'd know him by now."
Triana shrugged, not bothering to hide her reluctance. "I love my bed," she said, grinning a little. "And you know my pops doesn't play that. I'm not about to go out at night just to meet some guy." Her tone was light, but it was clear she had no interest in anything her cousins might be trying to set up between the her and Joe.
Takecia laughed softly but didn't say anything, instead turning her attention to the front door as the twins walked in. Josh and Jon were easy to spot, their tall frames and casual swagger making them stand out even in a crowded room.
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Triana smiled when they waved at her, chewing gum lazily as she noticed Joe walking in behind them. She hadn't expected him to be so... well, handsome. Tall and intimidating, with a quiet confidence that felt like it didn't belong in a place like Waffle House.
His eyes found hers across the room, and Triana raised an eyebrow, giving him a small, knowing smile, though her interest was strictly minimal.
"Hey, y'all," Josh called as they approached the booth.
Triana smiled and waved, still chewing her gum. As they settled in, Jon, ever the joker, tilted his head toward the booth, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Now how are we going to fit in here?"
Junya immediately stood up, her phone buzzing in her pocket. "I'm leaving, actually. My boo's picking me up to go to the bowling alley," she announced, giving everyone a quick wave before making her way out.
