Morning.
PHYLICIA
I woke up before my alarm.
That alone told me something wasn't right.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet of my home. My mornings were usually predictable..coffee, music, silence, preparation.
Today, my mind was already moving.
Angela's laugh.
Her standing in my doorway Friday night.
The way she said she'd see me Monday like she meant it.
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.
"Get it together, Phylicia," I muttered.
I reached for the phone on my nightstand and stared at it for a few seconds longer than I should have.
Then I dialed.
It rang twice.
"Hello?" Her voice was soft, a little sleepy.
I had to fight the small smile that tried to form.
"Good morning," I said, keeping my tone even.
There was a beat. Then warmth.
"Well, good morning, Ms. Allen."
I ignored the way that did something to my chest.
"I was calling to see if you'd like to get breakfast before school," I said. "There's a café a few blocks from campus."
I could hear her sit up on the other end.
"I'd love that," she said quickly.
Good.
"6 o'clock?"
"I'll be there."
"Alright see you there"
ANGELA
I stood there for a second after she hung up.
The receiver was still in my hand.
The dial tone was buzzing softly in my ear, but I didn't move.
Phylicia had just called me.
Not the other way around.
She called.
And asked me to breakfast.
Before school.
I slowly placed the phone back in the cradle, staring at it like it might ring again.
Then it hit me.
A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
"Okay," I whispered to myself. "Okay."
This was new.
Not hallway lunches.
Not quick conversations between classes.
Not the careful, professional version of whatever this thing between us had been.
This was intentional.
This was her making space for me.
I walked into my bedroom, then stopped halfway there, suddenly aware of the fact that I had exactly one hour to get myself together.
"Breakfast," I repeated.
I opened my closet and immediately started overthinking.
Too dressed up looked like a date.
Too casual looked like I didn't care.
Too much effort looked like I was trying to impress her.
But the truth was...I was.
