Expect The Unexpected (H-Town)

Clear The Air

G.I.

Before the boys and I leave for tour tomorrow, I needed to clear the air with Leah.

No distractions. No assumptions. Just truth.

When I pulled up to her house, she was already outside, sitting on the porch swing, rocking slowly like she'd been waiting for something she already knew was coming.

I walked up the steps and sat beside her.

"Wassup," I said quietly.

"Just waiting to hear what you have to say," she replied. "You?"

I nodded. "Same reason I'm here."

She looked out into the distance, then back at me.

"Alright then. Let's get it over with."

There was a sad little smile on her face, and that made my chest tighten.

"I know you got feelings for me," I started. "And I don't take that lightly. You're smart, beautiful, funny—easy to be around. You always have been."

She exhaled slowly. "Here comes the but."

"But," I said honestly, "I don't feel that way about you.
I never did. I see you as my little sister, my best friend. And I don't want to lie to you about that—especially not before I leave."

She nodded, even though I could tell it still stung.

"That's fair," she said after a moment. "I'm with Leonce anyway. He makes me happy—and I make him happy. That's what I'm choosing to focus on."

I nodded back. "That's good. He seems like a solid dude."

"Yeah," she said quietly. "He is."

We sat there in silence for a few seconds, the swing creaking softly beneath us.

"Good luck on tour," she added. "I really hope everything works out for y'all."

I smiled, grateful. "Thank you. That means a lot."

I stood. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow before we leave?"

She smirked, standing too. "Yeah... you probably will."

We hugged—brief, familiar, final in the best way. No tension. No confusion.

Just clarity.

I waved as I headed down the steps, feeling lighter than I had all week.

Sometimes clearing the air doesn't fix everything.

But it does let everyone breathe again.

Leah

The porch felt emptier after Darryl walked away.

Not lonely—just still.

I stayed on the swing, letting it rock back and forth slowly, the sound of the chains creaking mixing with the hum of the neighborhood. Kids laughing down the block. A car passing. Life continuing like nothing had just shifted inside my chest.

I pressed my palms together and exhaled.

I wasn't surprised by what he said.

I think that was the hardest part.

There was a time when I would've replayed his words over and over, wondering what I could've done differently. Wondering why I wasn't enough that way.

But today?

Today I felt... clear.

It still hurt a little—because feelings don't disappear just because you understand them—but it didn't feel like rejection anymore.

It felt like closure.

I stood up and went inside, heading straight to my room. I sat on the edge of my bed and looked at the promise ring on my finger, turning it slowly.

Leonce didn't rush me.
Didn't confuse me.
Didn't make me question my worth.

He chose me without hesitation.

And for the first time, I let myself fully accept that.

I lay back and stared at the ceiling, a small smile forming.

"I'm gonna be okay," I whispered.

And for once, I believed it.

Leonce

I found out about the tour from Leah.

Not from the guys.
Not from gossip.

From her.

We were sitting in my car, parked a few blocks from her house, windows cracked open, late afternoon sun settling low.

"They leave tomorrow," she said casually, like she wasn't watching my reaction.

"All of them?" I asked.

"Yeah."

I nodded slowly, letting that sink in.

"So... that means you won't be seeing him much," I said carefully.

She shook her head. "No. But that chapter's closed."

I looked at her then—really looked at her.

She wasn't trying to convince me.
She wasn't defensive.
She was peaceful.

"That bother you?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Only thing that would bother me is if you still wanted something you weren't saying."

She smiled. "I don't."

That was all I needed.

"I ain't worried about a dude that already made his choice," I said. "I'm more focused on what we're building."

She reached for my hand, squeezing it lightly.

"You're different," she said.

"I know," I replied with a grin. "That's kinda the point."

We sat there in comfortable silence, the kind that doesn't need filling.

The tour might've taken people away.

But it also cleared space.

And I wasn't planning on wasting it.