Endless

7

Ty's POV

The minute we stepped out the dining hall, the air felt different. Cooler, but heavier somehow — like the whole campus could feel that me and Kentrell wasn't just "walking."
Nah... he was leading.
And I was following.
And the shit felt loud.

He walked slow at first, hands in his hoodie pocket, dreads swinging a little with each step. His shoulders stayed loose, but his eyes scanned everything — people, cars, random freshman acting stupid.

Like he was clocking the whole world.

And the whole world was looking at him.

"Kentrell..." I started.

"Hmm?"

"You walkin' fast as hell."

He didn't even look back.
"Keep up, lil man."

My stomach did a stupid flip.
"I AM keepin' up."

"You ain't," he said, smirking. "You lil feet tryna catch mine."

"Bruh—"

He slowed down suddenly, and I almost bumped into him.
He turned halfway, eyes dragging down my outfit, then back up to my face.

"You good?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Why you breathin' like you ran a lap?"

"I'm NOT—"

"You is."
He grinned like he caught me slipping.

I shoved his shoulder lightly. "Bruh shut up."

He laughed, low and warm, then draped his arm around my shoulders like it was nothing.
NOTHING.
Like we been doing this.

His arm was heavy, warm, solid. I swore my brain short-circuited for a second.

"Aye," he said quietly, leaning in, breath touching my ear,
"you look nervous."

"I'm not—"

"You is," he repeated, voice dropping. "I can hear it."

"Hear WHAT?"

"Your heartbeat."

My lungs forgot their purpose.

Before I could react, a group of girls walked past us, giggling and staring at him — whispering.

"Heyyyy Kentrell," one said, smiling too big.

He didn't even acknowledge her. Didn't blink her way.
Just tugged me closer by the shoulder and kept walking.

My mind:
sir... what does this mean.

When they passed, I whispered, "Bruh you ain't have to do all that—"

"Do what?" he said, acting stupid.

"You pulled me."

"No I didn't."

"You DID."

He looked down at me, smirk forming slow.
"Aight. And what if I did?"

I looked away quick. My whole chest got warm.

"Mmhm," he murmured, "exactly."

We kept walking until some random dude on a bike passed too close — like his handlebars almost grazed me.

Before I could even flinch, Kentrell's arm shot out in front of me, blocking the dude with his forearm.

"AYE, watch where the FUCK you ridin', lil bruh," he barked.