Please excuse any grammatical errors.

February 1, 1992

~Tia's P.O.V~

I decided to take an evening flight to New York. I had my face slightly covered with, it didn't look out of the ordinary because it was freezing. The COLDEST month in New York right now. I didn't want anyone noticing me, and didn't want a repeat of two days ago in Atlanta. I went to the store for women necessities, and was hounded by a crowd of folks. I'm not used to that, need a security team now. Tia is a woman about security whether its about a bag, or about my safety, and a man if I ever decide to get one...

I now was sporting a pair of prescription glasses. In fact I can see without my glasses but can see BETTER with them on. It's like a filter looking through them. My eyesight hardly bad, I have slight astigmatism in my left eye. As I was nearing the exit I saw a Hispanic mald holding a sign with my name on it. It read "Here for Ms. Tia- Nakia." In the couple of movies I did do I only put Tia N. Andrews, so this had to be someone I knew who put him up to this. So, I walked up to him.

"Excuse me, sir." I said getting his attention then continued, "That's my name."

"Oh, yes. Follow me ma'am." The man, said in his accent.

"What's your name, and who put you up to this?" I asked.

"I'm Jeff (heffé), and I was told not to say ma'am." He trailed off

"Okay..." I said a bit hesitant. I followed him to the exit.

He lead me to an unknown red car with tinted windows. I didn't recognize the car so, I quickly turned on my heels and went the other way. That is, until I heard my name being called. I turned back around to see DeVanté on the side of the car calling me. His calling me got the attention of others. People start coming his way. So, I quickly ran with my suitcase dragging behind me. Well, as best as I could run I had on winter heels, and ice on the ground. People were making their way towards us.

"Thank you sir!" Donald said to Jeff (heffé), quickly got in the car

When I got to the car, I pulled the handle and opened the door. I almost slipped but quickly grabbed onto the handle inside of the car thats near the headrest. I jumped in the passenger side, stuffing the humongous suitcase in front of my legs in a hurry. As I was about to close the door someone held onto it.

"DeVanté, can I get a picture!? My wife would love it!" A male said.

I kicked him with my heeled winter boot. Not hard, but just enough to make him fall back. I slammed the door, and he sped off. DeVanté's fast driving, made suitcase was squishimg my left leg. My right leg was on top of the suitcase and on the dashboard. We had lost the crowd of people by now.

"Ahhh," I winced in pain at the impact.

"I'm sorry. Just put your other leg up," DeVanté suggested looking over to me, then back at the road.

I did what he suggested, but when DeVanté made a quick halt my body slid up. I didn't have on a seatbelt, because I was to in a rush. Strapping my seatbelt in, I pushed my body back to feel somewhat comfortable in this awkward position.

"Why didn't you just tell the man to tell me 'Donald' or 'Mr. DeGrate sent me'?" I asked him.

"I didn't think about it at the time." He said.

"Mmm," i looked at him, I guess he felt me staring, so he turned my way.

"What? Why are you staring?" He said turning back to the road. When turned around I got a better look. His brown skin lightening.

"When did you get your nose pierced?" I asked looking at him.

"I been had one, I just let it close up. So, I got it re- pierced."

"Mmhm, well you look nice with it on." I complimented.

"Thanks, now will you stop staring?" He said biting his bottom lips.

"I was just trying to get a better look at it." I said still looking.

"You done?"

"Mmhm."

"Then, can you," he pointed his index finger down spinning it in circles.

"Okay," I said turning my head to the road ahead. "Hey, why didn't you just tell me you were going to pick me up? We were on the phone for a majority of the night..."

"I- I just wanted to surprised you. You know?" He shrugged.

"Yeah, a surprise it was. I saw the tinted windows and hauled off," I said laughing. "When did you get a new car?" I said feeling on the soft seats.

"About two days after you left..." He said resting his right hand on his face, while still driving with the left one.

"What model is it?" I asked.

"1992, GMC Yukon Denali 4X4." DeVanté replied. I had no idea of what all of that meant, but okay...

(I know this is a new car, but I don't really like the 90's big cars.)

"Cool!" I smiled. "Hey, where are you taking me?"

"To the crib," he turned back to me.

"Why? I already booked a hotel."

"Ain't no hotel. You coming to stay at our house, in the guest bed." He said, looking at me through the corner of his eyes.

My body must've liked his tone, because my core throbbed unintentionally. "Okay..." I said with widened eyes sinking into the seat more, with my arms folded against my chest. Remember my legs are still over my suitcase and dashboard. I heard him chuckle.

"But, I don't even know how long I will be staying here, it could be months for all I know."

"And? It's has been already done, Tia..." He said in a smoothe voice.

"So, it's just you and Dalvin staying together?" I asked him.

"Yeah, just for the moment. I'm moving probably at the end of this year. I told you this." He chuckled again.

"You did, you did." I nodded. "My hotel is booked, though." I realised.

"I canceled it, you are a friend. You're welcomed at our house."

"Thanks, but how'd you know where--"

"I just knew you'd go to the same one as last time."

"Well, you know me well." I chuckled.

"Mmhm, I pay attention to you- people." He quickly corrected himself shaking his head.

"You know you are awkward sometimes." I chuckled.

"Mmm," he pursed his lips tightly.

We pulled up to a tall building He typed in a code and drove up the ramp, until he came to a complete stop at a parking spot.

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

I stopped at my favorite parking spot on the top floor. I got out and jogged over to her side of the car. When I opened the car door to her side, she attempted to move her legs. They have been sitting up the whole ride here, which were about an hour.

"Ssss ahhhh," she moaned out while attempting to move her legs again. Lord, please give me strength!

"Y-you good?" I asked her with a strained deep voice, I could barely recognized.

"No, my legs been up too long, and now they're a sore." She whined.

"Alright let me help you," I grabbed her leg right leg, and successfully moved it from the dashboard and car. But, not without her moaning. I cannot deal.

"Mmm," she moaned out as her leg hit the floor of the car on the side of her suitcase. She then grabbed her left leg to move it. On her first attempt she barely moved it. The second time she moved it she moved it all the way. She moaned the whole process.

"Will you stop with the moaning?" I said half irritated and half turned on.

"I can't help it! It hurts..." She frowned. "Now can you help me out?" I grabbed her by her waist and lifted her up out the tall car.

"Thanks," she said. When her feet hit the ground her, legs gave out but I caught her before she could fall.

"I'm sorry, I have pins and needles in my leg." She laughed embarrassingly.

"It's cool," I laughed with her, lifting her back up. In the process of lifting her up, her backside brushed up against an awakening part of my front side. He head snapped back at me in an instant. Uh oh, she felt it!

"Uhhh, that's my cellphone!" I blurted out. I slightly pushed her forward still with a secure grip, dug inside my pocket and grabbed it out. Thank goodness it was on that side!

"Oh..." She trailed off, I felt her tense body relax. SAFE!

I stuffed it into my pocket and held her a bit longer. My head fell against her shoulder, my face was lightly against her neck. She smelled good as fuck! It felt good, to say the least. The feeling I felt wasn't just physical, or sexual. I was smitten. I don't believe in love at first sight or in this case second sight, but this must be what it feels like.

"I think I'm good now," she turned around to look at me from the shoulder I was rested on. I now noticed she had her glasses on. I mean she told me over the phone about them but they look nice on her.

"You sure over there Bambi?" I asked her in an amusing voice.

"I'm sure DONALD," she barked back. She knows I hate my birth name, I've told her that over the phone dozens of times.

"Touché," I let her go chuckling, and grabbed her bag from the floor of the front seat.

"Damn, girl! What you got in this thing?"

"Some of everything, I'm an over-packer. Like I told you earlier, I don't know when I'll be back home." She laughed.

"You are something else. Come on." I led her to the ENTER sign. "Its only two flights down. So, you wanna take the stairs or elevator?"

"Stairs." She quickly replied.

"Mmkay," we walked in to the stairs. I forgot how heavy this big ass suitcase was...

"I forgot how heavy this was." I said to her, and continued walking with her in front of me. Her snow-boot-heel-thingys clicked against the hard floor, as she walked. We made it to my floor. I opened the hallways door for her.

"Thanks," she walked inside.

"Mmhm, you can stop at the second door towards the left." I told her since she was in front of me. There were only four apartment/ condos on this floor.

"K."

When I finally made it to the door I was a bit tired because of this heavy ass suitcase. I unlocked and opened the door, I had her walk in ahead of me, with me right behind her. I sat the suitcase down by the door, closed it and locked it. When I turned around I was met with and ugly ass K-Ci and JoJo sitting on my couch. Eating MY food, on MY couch, without MY permission. Tia waved at them and only waved back.

"What y'all ugly niggas doing here?" I asked staring in their direction, pushing the suitcase handle down.

"What is SHE doing here?" K-Ci asked.

"Don't question me in my own house. But, hence the suitcase she's staying."

"Why? You don't even know her that much." K-Ci said.

"Wrong, I do know her. I know her more than you think. Now, what are y'all here for?"

"We just came to chill." JoJo said leaning back into the couch.

"Mmkay," I said to him. "C'mon let me show where you'll be staying."

Grabbing Tia's suitcase, I led her to the room she'd be staying in. We had four bedrooms in here. Just for when we have friends or family stay over. Her room was right besides mine. Dalvin's room was right across from hers. The other guest room was across from mines. The main bathroom was straight down the hall.

"I'm sorry, about K-Ci. He's been acting weird lately towards me. So, it doesn't have anything to do with you."

"It's fine. This room is spacious."

"Mmhm, you should see my room. You like it?" I asked Tia.

"I do." She said setting her purse down on the dresser.

"Well, make yourself at home. I'll be back." I left out the room, and went back into the living room.

"Yo, K-Ci. What the hell is your problem?!" I whisper-yelled at him.

"She's what's my problem! She only been around for a minute, and you been up her ass every chance you got, my nigga! Even when she wasn't physically around." He raised his voice.

"Why is what I do impact your life?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow, matching his tone.

"You ain't even had time for us but you got time for that BITCH! The only time you be really speaking to us is when we're working and besides then it's every blue moon. Other than that you over there sniffing her ass like a dog or some shit." He said to me. I was sure she heard from the back room. Dalvin came out from the back.

"Yo, what's going on NOW?" He asked, but I ignored him. I was too focused on what K-Ci just said.

"Bitch!? She hasn't even done shit to yo ass! I ain't say shit when you kept disappearing on me. You be with Mary all the time, and I don't mind that. I didn't say shit when none of y'all started venturing off. But when I find someone that interests me, you all just come for me!" I said angrily.

"Y'all calm down!" Dalvin and JoJo yelled in sync.

"De is right, K-Ci. We all distanced ourselves from the rest of the crew, when we got in relationships. You did, I did, and so did JoJo." Dalvin said towards K-Ci, and continued. "De ain't seriously been with nobody in the last three almost four years. Its not like we never speak. We see each other everyday. It ain't her fault, he likes her. She probably wasn't aware until now. You and your BIG ass mouth K-Ci. Look, we homies and no matter how much distance is between us we gon' ALWAYS be homies. Now, whatever beef y'all got right now needs to be squashed!"

"Yo, I'm sorry De." K-Ci said.

"What was that? Do I heard Cedric Hailey apologizing, TO ME?"

"I said I'm sorry. You won't hear that again from me for a while so take it in while you can." He laughed.

"A'ight, we boys?" I asked.

"We boys." We dapped up and shoulder bumped.

"Alright!" JoJo said breathing in deeply. "The thickened air, has thinned!" We all laughed again like old times.

"A'ight I'm 'bout to go hang with Mary! I'll catch y'all niggas later!" K-Ci said leaving the house. I cleared my throat and looked at Jojo.

"Yeah, imma go to. I 'bout to go see what Tashaunda is up to." He said getting up and leaving.

"A'ight see y'all." Dalvin and I yelled out to JoJo and K-Ci both. Dalvin and I went to the room Tia was in.

"Hey, Tia!" Dalvin said to her.

"Hello, Dalvin. How's it going?"

"Great now, I'm pretty sure you heard EVERYTHING that was said out there." Dalvin said putting emphasis on everything, looking at me.

"Yeah, I did..." She trailed off.

"Look, K-Ci didn't mean any of what he said." I told her.

"Yeah, I know I heard," she laughed, and continued. "But, my question is did you?" She asked.

"Yeah... I'm gonna go..." Dalvin said standing there awkwardly and took this as his opportunity to leave.

"I meant every word."

"Donny, I..." She trailed off.

Word Count: 2,730

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