Woke

14.)

Kiara:

It was Wednesday night, and my friends and I were on Thanksgiving break. As per a new tradition we had started the year before, Monica and Tiana were over at my house for "Friendsgiving."

Friendsgiving was particularly exciting this time for me. The girls and I had returned from a short cheerleading practice that had gone great. Coach B and I seemed to be getting along extremely well, and the dance routine we were learning for our upcoming first game was fire. I was super excited for the season.

After our practice, my friends and I had gone to the store to buy ingredients for ice cream sundaes. The boys had basketball practice from 6-8pm, so they were supposed to be arriving soon with dinner.

A knock came to the door. "Finally!" Monica said, checking her phone. It was well past 9, so we were getting a little impatient.

I ran to the door and pulled it open. I came face to face with a smiling Devon. Chris was behind him. I folded my arms. "Y'all are late."

"Did you want food, or nah?" Devon held up two bags of Sakura Japanese.

Chris jumped in. "And I figured you'd want us to shower, so we stopped by Devon's house then mine."

"My shit is cold?" Monica pursed her lips and snatched one of the bags from Devon.

Devon rolled his eyes. "Kiara has a microwave in her kitchen for a reason."

"Shut the hell up." I pulled out my phone to Venmo the money I owed. "How much?"

"Actually--" Christiano gently pushed my phone away, "don't worry about it. I covered."

I rose an eyebrow. "You did? Well, I need to pay you back--"

"Seriously, it's on me." Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but return the small smile he gave me.

I was feeling extremely confused about the way my heart seemed to leap anytime I looked at him. Chris and I were undeniably friends, but having feelings towards him was a scary thought. Our previous kisses had been on replay in my mind since they initially happened. Given how he already liked me, it was practically guaranteed for us to get together if I decided I actually did like him back-- I'd always been one to pursue who/what I wanted. But I was fearful of what may come of surpassing our friendly relationship. I had to fight it.

"Well... thanks." They followed me into the kitchen, and we all took turns heating our food up. We ate and lightly conversed in my living room.

"Ooh! I love this song!" Tiana got up from the couch and started dancing along to the beat.

My playlist had started blasting Bust A Whine by Pleasure P, causing Monica and I to also jump up and sway our hips to the song.

Devon started whistling, before getting up to dance with Tiana and Monica.

I looked at Chris who was still sitting on the couch. "Come here."

His eyebrows rose. "You're willfully asking me to dance?"

I failed to fight back a smile. "I wasn't asking."

I held out my hand, and he took it without hesitation. I helped him off the sofa, noticing for the first time the difference in our heights. He towered over me at about 6'2, making my 5'8 feel tiny in comparison. With the hand he was holding, Chris spun me around so that my backside was pressed against his front. I didn't hesitate to whine my hips against his body. I felt his hands confidently grip my waist, guiding my movements.

We easily danced together to the song, and I couldn't get over just how natural and fluid our movements were with one another. It was like we were born to be dance partners.