Everlasting : Dave East x Bernice Burgos

Intro | Everlasting

Sometimes lies sound like truths,
We often wear a mask that doesn't suit,
Always listening to other about my work,
Leading my future from bright to dark,
I had to leave all my dreams behind,
Searching for a piece of treasure I can't find,
To seek something from morality and justice,
In search of my dreams through love and peace.

It was rather beautiful,
The way he put her insecurities to sleep.
The way he dove into her eyes and starved all the fears and tasted all the dreams she kept coiled beneath her bones.

You could see it in their eyes;
they weren't quite friends anymore.
The way she smiled for him?
Friends don't smile like that.
The way he puts his hand on her back?
Friends don't touch each other like that.
The way his voice changed when he said her name?
Friends don't talk like that.
Anyone could see it, clear as day.
They weren't quite friends anymore;
They'd grown into something even greater.

2004 : Harlem, New York.

Bernice watched as the boys played a very intense game of basketball, damn near arguing every second about someone cheating or fouling out. It was street ball though, in the middle of Harlem for heaven's sake.

She was used to it though, the surroundings became mandatory every weekend. After working the entire week, Bernice always made her way from the Bronx to Harlem on the weekends. At the age of fourteen, she found peace in being around the great spirits Harlem had to offer—something the envious girls in the Bronx lacked.

Bernice looked away from her brand MP3 player, which played the loud beats of
J-Kwon's: Tipsy.

When she looked up, she noticed Dave walking towards her with a limp in his walk. She was honestly a little too busy with switching her songs between Twista and Chingy to even notice he'd left the game. They didn't talk much, but she saw he was hurt, so she quickly stood up, stuffing her MP3 player into the back pocket of her denim mini skirt.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Bernice asked as she helped Dave sit down on the small section of bleachers the court had. Surprisingly, there wasn't many kids outside today, besides the usual group of boys who ruled the court nearly everyday. "Yeah I'm okay, just a little sore on my ankle. That nigga Leek almost broke my shit, running like we're playing for a tackle in the NFL."

Bernice laughed in the inside, thinking about how extra Leek could actually be. She squatted down near Dave's ankle, but not too low that her underwear would be exposed since she was wearing a mini skirt. She softly touched his ankle, which was now a little red, making him flinch. "It looks really sore Dave, you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. It ain't nothing I can't walk off trust me". She stood up, straightening her mini skirt out as Dave attempted to stand on his own, hurting himself in the process. Bernice watch as his face scrunched up and he winced in pain. "Look, I know it's hurting—you don't have to lie. Maybe I can help you to Pri and Mac's house".

Dave shook his head, "I live closer than them. They're about three blocks over, my house is only one". Bernice nodded her head, letting Dave wrap his arms around her neck as he hopped on one leg. He often put most of his weight onto Bernice, but she didn't mind as long as she could prevent his pain for the time being.