Expect The Unexpected (H-Town)

Not Goodbye, See Ya Later

Dino

The bus smelled like leather, coffee, and nerves.

I sat by the window with my duffel at my feet, watching the block fade behind us inch by inch. Same streets I grew up on. Same cracked sidewalks. Same porch lights flicking on as the sun dipped lower.

Different version of me leaving them.

Shazam was arguing with G.I. about music in the back, something loud and pointless, like always. Normally I'd jump right in. Today I stayed quiet.

Because all I could think about was Kaedi.

It had been a few weeks since church. Since that moment. Since I asked her something that big and didn't get the answer I hoped for.

I didn't bring it up again.

That was the hardest part.

Not chasing.
Not explaining.
Not trying to convince her I was ready now.

But I told myself if I was really growing—like I said I was—then I had to let my actions speak longer than my words ever did.

The bus lurched forward, picking up speed.

"Y'all ready?" Stick called from the front.

"Hell yeah!" Shazam yelled.

I nodded to myself.

Ready for the shows.
Ready for the grind.
Ready for everything except the part where distance makes feelings louder.

I wondered if Kaedi was home right now. Maybe sitting on her bed, legs crossed, thinking too hard like she always did. Maybe she wasn't thinking about me at all.

That thought stung—but I didn't push it away.

I deserved to sit with it.

Because love isn't about being chosen when it's convenient.

It's about becoming someone worth choosing—whether the timing lines up or not.

I pulled my notebook out of my bag and flipped to a blank page.

Didn't write lyrics.
Didn't write prayers.

Just one sentence:

Grow first. Everything else comes later.

The bus crossed city limits.

I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.

I wasn't leaving to escape anything.

I was leaving to become someone better—
for myself,
for my future,
and maybe...
for her.

If life brought us back together when the noise died down, I wanted to meet her as a man who didn't rush, didn't confuse, didn't ask for more than he was ready to give.

And if it didn't?

At least I'd know I finally did this part right.

The road stretched out ahead of us.

And for the first time, I wasn't afraid of where it might lead.

Kaedi

The house felt different without him around.

Not quieter—just less charged.

I sat at my desk with books spread out, actually focused for once. No replaying conversations. No wondering what he meant by a look or a touch. Just me and my thoughts, steady instead of spiraling.

That scared me a little.

Because peace was new.

A knock came at the door and I already knew who it was.

"Hakeem," I said, smiling as I opened it.

He held up a brown paper bag. "Brought dinner. You looked like you were in study mode."

I laughed. "You're not wrong."

We ate at the table, talking about everything and nothing—classes, his paper, my dad's latest rant about the law. It was easy. No pressure to perform or impress.

At one point, he looked at me and said, "You seem lighter."

"I feel lighter," I admitted. "Like I'm finally hearing my own thoughts."

He nodded. "That's important."

Later, after he left, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
I missed Dino.

But I didn't feel lost without him.

That felt like growth—even if it hurt a little.