Alliyah

After they went ice-skating, she and Lamar got on their way home. Entering the elevator, Lamar loved to be the one who pressed the 14th on the panel of numbers. It was always an adventure for him to feel the elevator gain a little speed and then slow down to a stop.

“So, did you have fun?” He asked.

“I did, Little! You said you were gonna do a 360, and you did!”

“Maybe next year we can do something different.”

“We always say that and then…” She shrugged.

They both laughed, exiting the elevator.

“Hey, at least this year you let them plan the party!”

“I’m still afraid the house is gonna be on fire when we get there.”

Lamar stopped on his tracks to inhale the air in the hallway:

“No smoke, I think we’re good.”

Alliyah opened the door and Ocean, Malcolm, Z, Blue, Colson, and Mariam jumped:

“Happy birthday!”

Alliyah and Lamar slightly flinched, but instantly laughed. Everyone took their time hugging the birthday girl.

“Is it just gonna be us?” She asked.

“We invited a few more friends, but not many, honestly.” Ocean answered.

As Blue hugged Alliyah, he whispered in her ear:

“Looking for someone?”

Alliyah’s only response was to mess his curls up, but then she said:

“I wanna talk to you, actually.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, meet me in the rooftop, in like 15 minutes after I do my rounds.”

He nodded.