"A bet was all i was to you Ameri?" Genesis says with hurt in his voice. "I don't know how you believe I would actually date you." Ameri laughed.

"I don't know, he's just different."

They didn't end up in the same space on purpose. Brooklynn is the quiet type. Not shy... just tired. Tired in the "life been heavy for a while now" way. He minds his business, goes to work, comes home, and keeps his world small because that's how he breathes. Azyir is the opposite. Loud, funny, always in motion. ADHD running the wheel every day. Talks so much he forgets to say what he really means. Laughs loud so nobody asks if he's okay. They sit in the same trig class at their HBCU, but they don't talk. They don't dislike each other either. They just... live in two different worlds. Messiah Markell is their professor. Older, calm, strict in the quiet way that makes people sit up straighter. He owns a club downtown called Desirable, but in class he keeps everything controlled. He doesn't like watching people drown in silence or noise. He sees them both slipping. Not failing. Slipping. So he tells them to stay after class. Every day. Not for tutoring. Not for discipline. Just to sit, breathe, work, or not work. A room where nobody has to force themselves to be "okay." And somehow, without anybody planning it... The quiet one. The loud one. And the man who teaches them how to stay. Start learning how to need each other. Not in a fast way. Not in a dramatic way. In the way real connections happen: Slow glances. Shared exhaustion. Walking home together because home doesn't feel safe tonight. Sitting in silence that doesn't hurt. Being seen without having to explain. This is a story about: Black boy rest. Soft dominance. Messy feelings. Learning how to stay present. No fake deep. No forced love. Just real people figuring out how to breathe.

With his life dedicated to the streets, Fetti didn't have time nor the energy for anything else. Determined, cold, and calculated described him when it came to how he moved getting money. He had it all. That is until life took an unexpected turn leaving him to face the consequences. The only thing on Zaytona mind is taking care of his daughter and getting money. But with living in two different states and dealing with a baby mama from hell, it's hard for him to be the good father he's desperately trying to be. When the two worlds collide, things get a little bit messy and very hostile.

In which, Noah becomes Mar's white boy.

"like you said this shit forever i don't see me getting tired of you."

"Let me get yo' number." I said and he looked back at me with surprise. "Why? You gay?" He asked and I laughed. "Nigga, you my new studio person. I want to stay in contact," I explained and he nodded. "Oh. Cause I could've sworn you were flirtin' wit' me." He muttered and I grinned. "Don't take it to heart, I jus' be bored," I said and he typed in his number. "Well, don't joke wit' me cause I'm really like that." We made eye contact again and a smirk gifted my lips. "Mm," I licked my lips and he bit his. "Bye Tariq. I'll save your number as asshole." He went back to his computer. "And I'll save yours as big ass," he laughed. "See, you provin' my point. Bye." He waved good-bye at me. Asshole: Goodnight ____ It's a lil lame ik buttt Read to find out more !😝😙 Trigger warnings inside the book

Camya and Sy'aire have been friends for a while, meeting through there close friends, but the longing stares and the hidden touches always kept them wondering if there was something more between them but neither one ever spoke on it, Sy'aire kept his guard up with anybody that came across him, many people knew about him for being straight forward and blunt and most didn't like it but they still were attracted to him by his imitating demeanor and looks, he didn't have no interest in them, but when he's around Camya it's a different story, no matter how much he told his self to stop, he couldn't keep his eyes off her, when Camya finds herself a man, Sy'aire still finds his self wanting her heart, mind and soul so he can take care of her the right way, even if the man is his cousin.

ꜰʟᴀᴡʟᴇꜱꜱ ᵂⁱᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ᵃⁿʸ ᴵᵐᵖᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐱𝐁

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 & 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 | 𝙱𝚇𝙱