The Unusual Suspects Book 2

Dom

"...I mean you knew all the rules and I wish you had adhered. Because I have this happy personality, but sad soul...my bad if I be acting weird." I said finishing off the poem that Paradox, Depth, and I performed. We had most of the room standing and clapping after that. We put our mics back on the stands and took our seats back out in the crowd.                                                                "After that, I mean what could really compete? We want to thank you all for coming out to witness greatness on this stage tonight. We appreciate each and every performer and member of our audience. Until next time." The host said before exiting the stage.                                                     "Y'all rocked that." Iris said as we looked around the table.                                                                               "I was trying to figure out how to word it because is that how you describe poetry?" Cochise asked as we all laughed at that.                                                                                                                                        "I mean it's an art form that's meant to be felt so telling us we rocked that, definitely works." Depth said and me and Paradox nodded at that.                                                                                                    "I was just surprised that folks was clapping, I thought snapping was the preferred reaction." Riek said and we all laughed again.                                                                                                                                "Babe you're such a dork for that." Araya said to him.                                                                                           "Naw but I get it though, I've been to some wear snapping was the way to do it. I've been to ones with rounds of laughter, people standing up like they're in church...it just depends on how it's felt. Or what the poem was about can set the tone for how to react." I said to clarify.                      "Now that makes sense." Charles said.                                                                                                                        "So we all headed back to the hotel?" Depth asked and everyone looked like they were agreeing, so we did head back. Kev had been quiet for a minute so I looked over at him and he winked at me. I just smiled because I knew he must've been thinking up something. When we got back to the hotel he held me back from walking up to the elevators with everyone else. I turned around and looked at him and he pulled me into his embrace.                                                   "What's up Bae?" I asked him and he stared into my eyes.                                                                                 "I just wanted time away from everyone else." he said and I smiled at that. "I wanna take you somewhere." he said as he started leading me back outside and he hailed a cab. "I know life just been moving pretty fast and so much has been crazy lately, I just want time to stand still for a moment." he said as he kissed my hand.                                                                                                                    "I know what you mean. But it always feels like when we're alone, time is at more of a standstill. Either that or I just embrace those moments more." I told him.                                                                        "Likewise my baby." he said as we rode in silence the rest of the way to the beach. When we got there, it was nearly empty and it was dark, so it was a lil more calming than usual. We walked down by the shore quietly and began to walk alongside of it. "I don't want us to get to the point where calmness like this is overrated. Like performing is fun and I love it don't get me wrong..."    "But you'd rather this?" I asked him as I stopped in my tracks and he did too.                                        "As corny as it might sound, yes." he said and I laughed.                                                                                    "It's not corny. I prefer this too. I mean when I was just writing poetry, I never thought it would grow into this. Same way when I first started dancing or singing even. I mean it's cool, but it could never be greater than this right here. I mean the stage is nice and I love meeting the fans, but if I had to choose between that and this...this always wins in my book." I told him.                       "It better." he said playfully but aggressively. We both burst into laughter in that moment.           "You know I'd choose you again and again in any setting." I said to him.                                                "Talk that shit." he said and we laughed again. "But you know I feel the same way about you though. I mean once I met you, I never ever let up. I still apply pressure while I have you because I sincerely know what I got and I don't ever wanna lose that."                                                                          "Well if you love me like you say you do, I don't think you ever gotta worry about that." I said.        "If? You know better than that, I'm a man of my word." he said as he stared in my eyes. We started walking along the shore some more.                                                                                                            "I know you do. Kev, you show me every single day what real love is. If for any reason we wouldn't work out, the next person would have some tough shoes to fill." I told him.                          "Same. The sense of completion I feel with you, I've never felt. It's more security than I ever had with my own folks or the gang. I be nervous every day because this is the best my life has gone for real." he said to me.                                                                                                                                                        "Why does that make you feel nervous?" I asked him as I stopped in my tracks again. He grabbed ahold of my hands and brought me to him.                                                                                                               "I haven't had that many great things happen to me and usually when shit is going too right, life goes left. I just keep thinking that something is gonna come and ruin everything." he said.             "You gotta think more positively. I get you've been through things, me too Bae. But we can't be defined by our past, we don't live there anymore. We just gotta pray for the best." I said.                  "Of course, I always pray for the best, but I'm also prepared for the worst as well. I get what you're saying, but when you theorize on the worst, you can create ways to avoid it or ways to deal with it if it happens. I'm just trying to avoid it all." I never took a moment to think about the things that plague his mind daily. This was deeper than I thought. I just hope I can keep showing him something different though.