Ari Lennox as Taylor

December 31, 1999
Time| 8:03 p.m

"Thank you." DeVanté said grabbing his key then making his way to his hotel room.

His day- NO, his WEEK has been VERY stressful. DeVanté had to travel from the states for the holidays straight to Australia for business purposes on New Years Eve. Most people would be celebrating the New Year with their significant other, but DeVanté being DeVanté, he's a workaholic and the holidays put some strain on his wallet. Well, that's what he likes to think. He's the type that needs a certain amount of money in his account AT ALL TIMES to function.

Another big problem is him not being able to get first class tickets. He's not used to sitting in coach on a long ass flight from America to Australia. He had to hear screaming children, and knees in his back the whole flight. Oh, and he was sat next to the bathroom... That's the price of doing things last minute.

DeVanté had some trouble opening his room door with the card. Getting frustrated, he threw his card at the door with great force.

"Fuck!" He said in irritation.

At this point, all he wants to do is get enough sleep for his meeting tomorrow evening and it's almost midnight. He sighed with his back against the door. He looked up and saw a hotel housekeeping turning his corner.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" He called out.

She turned to him. "Yes, sir?"

"I'm having trouble accessing my room. Can you give me a hand?" He asked politely.

One thing about him, no matter how frustrated he is about something, he'll never take his anger our on someone who has nothing to do with the situation.

"Yes, sir." She walked closer to him. "I need the card."

"Oh, yeah!" He chuckled and bent down. "I'm sorry." He handed it to her.

She got the door open on the first try. "See, all you have to do is match the chip."

"Yeah, thanks for your help." DeVanté nodded.

"You're welcome." She walked away.

DeVanté went inside his hotel room, taking a deep breath of relief. He wanted a suite, but around this time, everyone and their mother is out of town visiting family. Something he should be doing, but again, he a workaholic. All the rooms are full. He was lucky to even have this room. He put his luggage to the side.

"At least I have a living room. Small but cozy looking." He chuckled and plopped on the couch.

"Yeah... I'm sorry, but I cannot babysit. I'm on vacation AND it's New Year's Eve." DeVanté heard a woman speak. "Alright, bye. I was in the shower anyways."

"Damn, these walls thin as fuck." He thought aloud then stood up.

He wants to take in his surroundings because he's never been inside this hotel, nor has he ever been in Australia. DeVanté also needs to use the bathroom, but first he needed to find it. Finding it won't be hard because the hotel is small. He went into the bedroom, dragging his suitcases with him. He sat the suitcase near the television instead of inside the closet. He stopped once he heard a running shower.

"I know damn well... Are you fuckin' serious? These walls THAT damn thin and I paid all this damn money for this room." He scoffed. "It better not be like this my whole stay." He mumbled then opened another door that was cracked open.

He tiredly lifted the toilet seat up, unzipped his pants and peed. As he was doing so, he looked around and noticed some clothes sitting on the small rack... Women's clothing... He frowned thinking that the hotel was dirty. He noticed that he could see the shower more clear as he stepped inside. DeVanté turned his head and noticed the slightly foggy mirror. There's also a phone sitting on the counter.

He turned his head to the shower and saw a silhouette of a woman. His eyes widened as he stood there shocked with millions of questions running through his brain. How could he have missed this? All the signs. The door opened and he was met with a pair of frightened eyes and a loud shriek.

DeVanté tucked himself back into his briefs. "Wait, this isn't what it looks lik-" He couldn't even finish his sentence due to him being punched in the jaw.

"What the fuck!?" The lady screamed then sent another punch, but this time to his nose and he fell backwards into the floor. That nose punch left him leaking.

"WAIT!" DeVanté shouted.

"YOU FUCKING PERVERT!"

Another punch went flying his way, but he caught by grabbing her fist. She didn't stop, she tried kicking him in his groin that is still out by the way. He flipped them over, still holding her.

"LET ME EXPLAIN!" He screamed out, breathing heavily due to everything that just occurred.

"Please don't hurt me." She pleaded with tears running down her face.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." He said more calmly.

The woman looked down at his opened pants with wide, scared and wet eyes. He let go of her to tuck himself in and zip his pants up and he felt more punches. He was able to zip his pants up while blocking them then grabbed her again. He stood up with her, STILL holding her fist tightly.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He repeated. "I'm not a pervert."

The lady continued to cry. "Take everything, but PLEASE don't hurt me!"

"I'M NOT GOING TO HURT YOU MISS!" He said with a harsh voice. "This- this has to be a mistake. They must've gave us the same hotel room on accident, BUT I PROMISE you that I'm not that kind of guy." He said staring her in the eyes. "You need clothes, but if I let you go, will you promise not to hit me?" He asked her.

The woman gave a small, "Yes."

"Okay." He exhaled and let go. A fist came flying his way, but he again caught it. "Now lady, you promised that you wouldn't hit me." He frowned.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"I'm going to leave this bathroom so you can get dressed and we could get this straightened out downstairs." He back up, still holding her fist and taking her with him to avoid being hit again.

DeVanté quickly let go and ran out the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He heard the lock once he did. He sighed heavily.

"This is fucked up." He muttered to himself.

He made his way into the living room area of his hotel and sat back down in disbelief. Taylor locked the door still frightened. She look at the counter thinking she'd see her phone there but it was gone. She looked down and saw her cell phone on the floor broken into pieces.

"This isn't real." She kept repeating to herself.

How was the guys intentions pure if he was standing there with his junk out... IN FRONT OF THE SHOWER SHE WAS JUST IN!? It doesn't make sense to her.

"But he hasn't done anything to me. Yet..." She thought aloud.

She snatched the towel and began drying her body. She doesn't care about lotion or anything, she just wants to figure out what EXACTLY is happening HER DAMN SELF. Taylor put her clothes on and opened the door. She looked around before stepping out. She grabbed her purse, taking out a can of mace and a switch blade JUST IN CASE. She also grabbed her passport and money and stuffed it in her bra. She exited the bedroom, stepping straight into the living room area. She cleared her throat causing DeVanté to turn around.

"Hello." He spoke, standing up.

"Hi," She said with one eyebrow raised.

"We got off in the wrong start. I'm sorry that we met the way we did." DeVanté spoke.

"Yeah..." Taylor mumbled. "So what are YOU doing in my hotel room?" She said cutting straight to the chase.

"Your hotel room?" He chuckled.

"Yes! I was here first. How did you get in here?" Taylor asked him.

He held up his key card. "I have access. The hotel didn't do what they were supposed to do which was keep tabs on who enters and exits their building."

"Hmmm... Why was your junk out while I was showering?" She held up a finger. "And don't lie to me, because you know what I'm capable of."

"Yeah, you hit like a nigga. I'm sure my face is a bit fucked up because of it." He spat.

Taylor chuckled. "Yeah... Something like that." She nodded, impressed.

"To answer your question, I had to take a piss. I'm DeVanté by the way." He introduced.

"Whatever my parents named me."

DeVanté smiled politely. "You have a key or did you break in?" DeVanté asked.

"Funny." She squinted. "You're implying that I can't afford such a place?"

"No, I wasn't- it was a joke!" He chuckled. "Lighten up."

"I can't when there's a stranger in my room." She spat.

"Okay, whatever!" He scoffed. "What we
need to do is go to the front desk and confront them."

"Right." She nodded.

"Ladies first." DeVanté waved his arm.

"No, I still don't trust you. You go first." She spoke with slanted eyes.

"Okay..." He trailed off looking to the side.

DeVanté made his way to the door thinking how dressed up she is just to go downstairs. He opened the door and walked out. They both made their way to the elevator. Taylor felt relieved when she saw others inside the elevator.

"So, what do you do for a living?" DeVanté asked trying to make small talk.

"Mind my business." She smiled.

"Cheeky." He nodded, amused. She the elevator opened to let them out, Taylor nodded at him to go first. "Still?" He questioned.

"Yes." She blinked rapidly.

DeVanté could understand her not being trusting of him. They did meet in the most awkward way possible. He couldn't imagine being a naked woman that had a random man on top of her with his pants open. That's scary!

"Hi, hello," Taylor said getting the attention of the clerk.

"Hello, how can I help you?" The man asked.

"You gave us the same room," DeVanté revealed. "We don't even know each other. Could you assign me to another room?"

"I'm so sorry about that. We have new workers that still are in training. Your names?" He asked.

"DeVanté Swing."

"Taylor Taylor," Taylor replied and DeVanté chuckled at her name.

The clerk checked through his computer, then looked to them when he was done. "I'm sorry, but unfortunately we don't have any extra rooms available nor do most hotels around this time of the year. I'm sorry." He said sympathetically.

"No, this can't be right!" Taylor said frustrated.

"No... Are you sure? Could you check again?" DeVanté asked him.

"Sure, but into sure the result won't differ." The clerk replied looking through his computer.

Taylor folded her arms and looked to DeVanté and he looked at her, they both shook their heads.

"Yeah... We're booked. There are no rooms available. Maybe you could see if there are any other hotels near that have an open room? Good luck with that." The clerk smiled.

Taylor scoffed. "This is crazy."

"It is." DeVanté agreed looking directly at Taylor. "So, should we go back upstairs and get to calling?" He asked Taylor.

"Yeah. I'm sorry about everything. Taylor." She held her hand out.

"I- you see... I didn't get to wash my hands after using the bathroom, so I don't know if you wanna shake my hands. If you want to, by all means, do so..."

"No thank you." Taylor chuckled.

"Yeah, I would've thought different if you had." He laughed as they made their way back to the elevator. Taylor joined in on the laughter.

When they finally made it back to the hotel room, they went straight to the phone and phones book. DeVanté used his cell and Taylor used the hotel phone. DeVanté hung up during his last conversation.

"Nothing." He sighed.

"Me either." She shook her head.

"So, what now?" DeVanté asked. "Do you have family here?"

"I do, but there is no space. You?" She asked.

"No, I'm on here due to business." He replied.

"So what will we do?" Taylor asked.

"Um, I guess I'll sleep here on the couch while you take the bedroom. Does that sound okay?" He asked her.

"That sounds nice, but I'm not about to sleep. I was planning on leaving being that it's New Year's Eve and all. I'm trying to have fun." Her eyebrows rose as she spoke.

"And you don't wanna leave a stranger here with all of your valuables?" He asked her.

"BINGO, BABY!" She chuckled.

"I was tired, but I think those punches woke me right the fuck up. Where are you headed?" DeVanté asked.

"Fun." She chuckled.

DeVanté sighed. "Okay, I'll go as long as there aren't any drugs or alcohol involved."

"You don't drink or take a hit of the blunt every once in a while?" Taylor asked.

"No. I drink here and there, but I'm a businessman and stay professional."

DeVanté has hit the blunt when he was a teenager. He actually did it on daily basis but stopped cold turkey when he noticed he wasn't doing anything else with his life. Now, he's a successful businessman with buku bucks!

"I'm a businesswoman, but who says we can't have a little fun and let loose every once in a while." She cheesed. "Loosen up, tight ass."

DeVanté laughed. "I'd hope my ass is tight. That means aunt nobody been in it."

"So you aren't gay?" Taylor said surprised.

"Excuse me?" He asked offended. "Why would you say that?"

"You keep yourself up and it's rare that I see straight men do that. I didn't mean to offend you and I'm sorry for having that impression and being rude." She apologized.

"Well, I take that as a compliment. I feel that all men should keep themselves up especially since women go through all they go through." He replied.

"I think I like you." She nodded with a smile. "You speak with respect and understanding." She said shocked.

"Why so shocked?" He questioned.

"Mm, just used to being talked over and people gaslighting." She shrugged.

"It sounds like you're around the wrong type of people."

"Touché."

Where are you from? I don't hear an Australian accent from you." DeVanté asked her.

"Mississippi." She asked. "Where are you from? I hear a little southern twang."

"I was born in West Virginia but moved to North Carolina. I'm now a Texas man." He replied proudly.

"I'm now a Texas woman!" She chirped up. "Proudly from Mississippi though."

"What city?" DeVanté asked.

"Austin."

"City woman, huh? I stay in Houston." DeVanté replied, knowing she probably would ask him the same question.

"I work in the city, but live in the countryside. I like people, but not like that." Taylor chuckled with risen eyebrows.

"I feel you. That's why I don't go out."

"Yeah, I have my days, stranger," Taylor said to him. "Have you ever been here? You know your way around?"

"No." DeVanté shook his head. "This is my first time here. It was last minute and all. I'm guessin' you do, right?"

"Yes, sir!" She nodded. "I've visited about..." She looked up at the ceiling in deep thought. "Five times I believe. This counting as the fifth."

"Oh, well... Could you show me around?" DeVanté asked hopeful that she'd be willing.

"Sure, get ready while I get ready." She said standing up.

"Now?" He asked her.

"Yes, now. It's almost New Year's." She reminded him.

"I guess... BUT don't try to walk in on me naked." He added.

"That'd be creepy." She frowned then walked into the room. "Knock when you're dressed please?"

"Yeah!" DeVanté heard the lock click and chuckled.

He got dressed as did Taylor. Taylor just has to freshen up and oil herself down. DeVanté sniffed himself then just decided to change his clothes. He didn't stink, he was just dressed down from what he's used to. He wanted to be comfortable during the plane ride, though it was anything but comfortable.  DeVanté has already taken a couple of birdbaths during the flight. He knew he'd definitely have to take a shower later since he won't now.

He doesn't have to dress for winter weather like he was back home almost twenty-four hours ago. He threw on some tan-looking slacks a button-up shirt, a tie, and a blazer. He even added a handkerchief to his blazer pocket. She washed his face of the blood that once dropped from his nose. Taylor has a left hook on her! His nose is proof.

That's his regular everyday attire. DeVanté knocked on the door, alerting Taylor that he's ready and that she could come out whenever she was ready. Taylor took a while to come out, but when she did, she came out in what she would consider club attire looking GOODT. Oh, yes! She's a snappy dresser as well.

Taylor eyed DeVanté, and he did the same with her. The only difference is that they both had different thoughts. Taylor thought he was overdoing it, while DeVanté thought she looked magnificent.

"Umm... You look nice BUT- How can I say this?" Taylor thought aloud.

"What's wrong with my fit?" DeVanté asked.

"We aren't going to a funeral nor a wedding, stranger..." She trailed off, sounding as nice as possible.

DeVanté looked down at his attire and took off the blazer. "Is this better?" He asked her.

"A little..." She gave a fake smile. "Maybe you should take off the tie?" She suggested.

"You're right." He nodded and took it off. "Better?"

"Positive." She nodded.

"You look nice." He complimented.

"Thanks, you do too and did before. It was just a tad bit too much for where we're going. Plus you'd get hot. It's like seventy-something degrees out there." She chuckled.

"Right," DeVanté agreed. "So are we just going to stand here, or are we going to go?" He pointed to the door.

"Definitely go." She said making her way torwards the door.

When they made it outside, they hailed a cab. "So, what's with your first and last name being the same?" DeVanté asked making small talk.

"Long story," Taylor replied.

"We got nothing but time."

Taylor turned to him. "Ok. So... They thought I was going to be a boy, and my mother went into labor early while my father was out because it was boxing night. Because they thought I was a boy, they didn't have a name for me. My name would've been Theophilus if I had been a boy, but when my father got there he was taken aback too. He was going to name me Moonshine, his favorite liquor, but my mother told him NO. Plus she wanted another T name. So he thought about Tequila..."

DeVanté started laughing. "Alcoholic?"

Taylor smiled. "No, he'd only drink on holidays and boxing days are a holiday in my father's book."

"I'm sorry. Continue."

"My mother again declined the name Tequila, so he said Taylor before he drunkenly dropped to the floor. My mother for some reason loved it and so here we are with the name Taylor Taylor." She finished.

"That is a long story." DeVanté agreed to her earlier statement.

"Told you so." She chuckled. "The lights look so beautiful, but there's no snow."

"Back home there's snow."

"I know, but I ain't mad at it. I like the sun." Taylor replied. "How'd you get the Spanish name?"

"DeVanté?" He asked her.

"Yes, unless that isn't your real name."

"No, it's my name. My mother heard the name one day and suggested it to my father. Short story." He shrugged. "Just like most black parents. They hear something, it doesn't matter what it is, but if they like it, they gon' most likely name you that."

Taylor nodded in agreement. "So how old are you?"

"Twenty-nine," DeVanté replied.

"Oh, I just turned thirty-one in December."

"Thirty-one?" DeVanté asked with raised eyebrows. " You pulling my string or what? You don't look it AT ALL. I thought you were like twenty-one."

"Because I take care of myself, stranger."

"I can tell." He nodded in agreement.

They made it into the busiest part of Sydney which is crowded, and traffic is backed up, so Taylor just told the cab driver to let them out where they are so he'd still be able to turn around. Taylor was about to pay, but DeVanté beat her to it and refused. She thanked him. They stepped out into the almost humid weather.

"I thought you said it was like seventy?" DeVanté asked her.

"It is, but aren't you glad that you didn't wear the blazer?" She asked him.

"Definitely!" He chuckled.

They stopped at a food truck. "This truck is the real deal. Reminds me of the food back home and that's rare here."

"Mississippi food or American food?" DeVanté asked.

"Mississippi and you KNOW that's hard." She chuckled.

"I've never been, but my grandparents are from near there." He told her. "Alabama," DeVanté added.

"Not quite there, but it is the south, so okay." She chuckled.

"True, I guess I was just trying to keep it going." DeVanté chuckled nervously. "Are you single?" He asked her.

"Absolutely." She nodded, stepping up in the line.

"Me too." He replied. "I was asking out of respect."

"Respect for..?"

DeVanté looked to the side because she really didn't know himself. "I don't know. I just felt that it was right to ask."

"I'm single, but we aren't doing anything. I mean, we met in unfortunate circumstances, so we might as well get to know who we'll be sleeping with tonight." She then noticed what she said. "Near. Sleeping near. It is the same hotel room."

"If you say so." He laughed. "But I would want my woman to tell me a man fell on top of her while she was naked."

"You'd think she was cheating and wording it differently."

"True, but I'd still want to know," DeVanté told her.

They finally made it to the front and were able to order food. "Taylor! You're back?" Sam, the food truck worker asked.

"I am, Sam. You know I had to come here." She cheesed.

"And you brought a friend along?"

"And I brought a friend along." Taylor clarified.

"Hello, I'm DeVanté." DeVanté introduced himself then turned to Taylor. "So what do you recommend?" He asked Taylor.

"Fried shrimp, fried catfish, cornbread, okra or collards, mac, blueberry pie, and butter cookies," Taylor told him then turned to the worker. "I'll have the fried shrimp, collard greens, cornbread, macaroni, and a butter cookie."

"I'll have the catfish and all the sides she's having minus the cookie. In place of the cookie, I want the blueberry pie." DeVanté ordered.

"Okay." Sam grabbed the money from them, then they waited on the side.

DeVanté took notice of something. "There's nowhere to sit."

"I know, it's packed, but we'll just find a window sill." Taylor shrugged.

After a while, they were handed their food and found a window sill to eat in as Taylor said. They ate in complete silence because they were too focused on eating their meal. Taylor didn't hold back on eating. Why should she?

"That was delicious," DeVanté said wiping his mouth.

"Mmhm," Taylor mumbled, finishing the rest of her cookie.

"You seem like the healthy kind, considering how you look," DeVanté told her.

"No, I eat what I want. I just have portion control and workout. But the last two months of the year... That's when I start slacking due to it being the holidays."

"I'm the same way." He told her. "To the T."

"I'm thirsty going to get something to drink." She spoke while dusting herself off of anything that might have fallen on her while eating.

Taylor stood up, as did DeVanté. "Same," DeVanté told her. "What's a good place for that?"

"I know just the place." She smiled.

She lead him into a loud environment that he had a hard time adjusting to. It was a club, but a slightly more boujee one. More like boujetto! It was far from where they were previously.

"I'm ONLY here for the drinks!" She shouted over the music.

DeVanté couldn't hear a damn word she spoke. "What?"

"I ONLY come here for the drinks!" She repeated closer to his ear.

"Oh!" He shouted just as the music changed, which also meant people could hear him due to the change in volume of the music. DeVanté felt embarrassed as he felt eyes on him. "We could've gone to another place with little to no people. Especially loud ones."

"On a New Year's Eve? Everything is packed around these parts. Deal with it." Taylor took a seat at the bar. "The drinks make up for the noise anyways. It looks boujee, but the prices aren't."

DeVanté took a seat. "I'm getting a headache."

"I can tell you don't get out much." She chuckled and ordered a drink.

"You're right, the prices are nice for drinks like these." He took a shot of straight vodka.

Courtney didn't take any shots, but she did order a long island iced tea. Her alcohol tolerance is high, and one wouldn't do much of anything to her. It left her a little tipsy, but she's well aware during the tipsy stage. She doesn't want to be wasted when they'll be a stranger staying in her hotel room. DeVanté on the other hand kept throwing shots back.

"Slow down." Taylor laughed.

"You said loosen up. That's what I'm doing." He said throwing another one back.

"As long as you know your limit. I'm not about to be carrying a grown man." She told him.

"I know my limit, but I also haven't drunk like this in... I don't know how long." DeVanté realized and pushed his last shot away, instead of drinking it.

"Yeah, you definitely should slow down. I said you should have fun, not get hammered." She reminded him.

They each ordered a bottle of water before fixing to leave. "I feel like dancin'!" DeVanté shouted over the loud music.

"Okay... Can you?" Taylor asked him with both eyebrows risen.

"I used to get down. Let me see if I still got it." DeVanté replied as they stopped in the middle of the floor.

Courtney could dance like no other. DeVanté? Well... See for yourself.

"I STILL got it!" DeVanté said thinking he was killing it.

"Do you?" Taylor whispered to herself.

He wasn't even on beat. The song playing is I Wanna Sex You Up for crying out loud! Courtney slowly back away, feeling embarrassed by him and for him. He kept dancing. He was so in his own little world with dancing that he didn't notice Taylor was dancing with someone else for a WHILE.

"Taylor?" He looked around.

He spotted her and walked up to her. The guys she was dancing with backed away thinking he was her man.

"Taylor?" He said from behind her.

"Yes?" She said startled by his deep voice.

"What happened? I was killing it out there. Did you just see me? Why'd you leave?" He threw out question after question with his hands in his pocket.

"Umm, I didn't even notice I was with anyone else." She chuckled nervously and continued to dance.

DeVanté did another dance.

Taylor grabbed his shoulders. "Just sway." She whispered.

"I don't know how."

She showed him. "Like this." She said showing him.

He followed her moves as best as possible.

I mean, Taylor felt that it was better but still bad. He has no rhythm or blues bone in his entire body. When they felt it was enough, they made their way back outside. Taylor just shook her head at him with an amused expression.

"What? You don't like my moves?" DeVanté asked breaking the silence.

"I didn't say that." She told him.

"That was the dance my mama made me do in front of company when I was a kid," DeVanté explained.

"No wonder..." She said holding in the laughter she's been holding back.

"What was wrong with it?" DeVanté asked.

"EVERYTHING!" She said laughing continuously.

"Really!?" He said shocked by her response.

"YES. Please don't do that again. Well, at least not with me." She told him.

DeVanté popped his mouth at her. "Whatever. You just mad that I'm better."

"Keep tellin' yourself that, stranger." She chuckled then looked down at her watch. "It's 11: 23. After I show you around for a little while longer, we'll make our way towards the fireworks and countdown." She pulled a blunt from her small purse and lit it.

"That's real Mary Jane or that fake shit?" He asked her.

"No, baby... THIS is real. I don't do that other stuff. It'll definitely mess you up. I'm not trying to get messed up or hooked like that."

"Smoke often?" He asked looking at her.

"Only when I'm on vacation. Other than that, no. I keep it classy." She smiled.

"I see. I haven't smoked in a while, but what the hell? Could I have a few drags?" He asked her.

"Mmhm." She nodded while exhaling.

He took a few puffs, feeling that familiar feeling that he has I felt in a while. DeVanté blew it from his nostrils then handed it back to her. They passed it back and forth while looking at the night scenery and making small talk.

"I'm surprised these stores and everything is still open," DeVanté spoke.

"They knew people want to pass time until the countdown. That means more business." She chuckled. "They know what they're doing."

"That shit is smart though. I would do the same. Especially in this area with police roaming."

"As we're smoking weed." She chuckled.

"It has no smell. Why is that?" (I'm not sure that exists. Chile, I don't do those things. 🥴)

"Because I'm not trying to get caught." She chuckled.

"I feel you. This shit is illegal here. How'd you get it?"

"I brought it from back home. Since there's no smell, the dogs were unable to detect it which made it easier to sneak in." She told him. "I don't know the people around here like that to be buying it."

"Smart." He nodded. She put the blunt out as they approached a small store. She inhaled before doing so. "I wanted another drag." He complained.

She motioned him over. DeVanté knew what was about to happen, so he opened his mouth and exhaled into his mouth. DeVanté pulled away and exhaled through his nose, then they entered a shop.

"What kind of businessman are you?" Taylor asked him once they were all the way inside.

"I'm a consultant." He revealed.

"Oh, okay. That's nice." She nodded.

"What is it that you do?"

"I'm an interpreter and a physical therapist." She told him.

A physical therapist makes 78k to 100k a year ALONE. With those salaries combined, she's making BANK!

"Damn!" He said causing people to shoot him stares.

"I know." She chuckled.

"Physical therapy is great. People will always need you. How many languages do you speak?"

"Eleven, but I'm working on twelve."

"DAMN!" He said even louder. All eyes were on him. "Fuck y'all looking at? Mind your business." DeVanté said loud enough. Courtney laughed silently. "What do you speak?"

"English."

"No shit. Were speaking in that language now." He chuckled.

She smiled. "I speak Portuguese, Spanish, Latin, Vietnamese, Creole, Twi, Italian, Hebrew, French, Zulu, Igbo, and I'm working on Slovak."

"Okay, say something to me in French."

"Okay, umm... Ne fais plus jamais cette horrible danse et tu as une grosse tête" She told him.

It gave him chills. "I like that. What does it mean?" He asked.

"Never do that horrible dance again and you have a big head." She laughed.

He popped his mouth. "My dancing skills are ALL that and a bag of chips." He popped his collar. "My own mama loves it."

"She's your mother, and I'm sure she doesn't want to hurt your feelings." Taylor touched his shoulder like someone trying to console a grieving person.

"What about my father? He's straight up with me."

"Him too. I'm sorry to have to be the first person to tell you this." She chuckled dropping her hand.

"You aren't the first." He told her.

"Then you damn sure should've been stopped doing that. Who was it that was being truthful with you?" Taylor asked.

"My baby brother, Dalvin. BUT he can't dance either!" He shot out in defense.

"Well, THEN it runs in the FAMILY. If a person who cant dance themselves, tells you that you suck, you should listen and tighten up on your moves." She said walking to another row of knickknacks.

DeVanté followed. "You have a valid point, BUT I'd like to see you try that dance. I bet you couldn't do it."

Courtney guffawed loudly then covered her mouth. "I'm sorry." She apologized to the people who gave her a look.

"You don't gotta say sorry for shit. They should MIND THEIR BUSINESS." DeVanté said the last part aloud.

"But no thank you. I don't want to be caught doing that mess. You looked a hot mess." Taylor shook her head.

"I looked damn good." DeVanté started doing the same dance in the store to the music they were playing.

"What the fuck is he doing?" He heard some Australians ask each other while others laughed at him.

Taylor walked away with her face covered in embarrassment. DeVanté followed close behind STILL dancing.

"How embarrassing," Taylor said to herself.

DeVanté stopped. "So you really dissing me and my skills?"

"Hell yeah," Taylor said turning around.

"Well damn. You don't have to be so frank." He chuckled.

Taylor shrugged. "That's me and that's how a playette got to be. Ask the people on my block, I'm as real as can be."

"Word is bond, fakin' moves has never been my thing, so pass the word to you nigga DeVanté." DeVanté sang the song. "Yeah, I see you taking words from music lyrics."

"I didn't think you listen to music like that."

"Why? Because I'm such a tight ass?" DeVanté asked.

"Exactly." She pointed to him.

"Nahh, I listen to rap and hip hop in general. I just don't replicate the messages. That's where people have it fucked up at. Those people rapping and singing these songs don't do half the things they perform." He told her.

"While that's true, some do worse than what they perform."

"Agree." DeVanté looked at Taylor who was looking at the knickknacks.

She picked up a set. "A wedding gift." She mumbled, thinking about her cousin who's due to be getting married this year.

"And it's cheap." She added, looking down. She picked it up and put it in the handheld cart that DeVanté held. "It's nice, right? For only 12 US dollars."

He quickly looked away then to her pretending like he didn't hear her or was just staring. "Huh?"

"It's nice for just twelve bucks, right?" She repeated.

"Yeah. You think my mother would like this?" He asked picking up something random that he didn't really care about.

"I don't know your mother, stranger."

"Right... I mean, as a woman would you like this set?" He asked her.

"No, it's ugly." She shook her head.

DeVanté was thinking the same thing. He was just trying to not look noticeable at his staring. "Yeah, I don't like it either." He frowned looking at the ugly set.

"Why'd you ask?" Taylor asked confused.

"I just wanted another opinion from a lady." He told her. Good save! He thought.

He ended up getting something for his mother to out in her house, something better than he had picked before. It was also something a lady, Taylor agreed looked nice. They checked out. They left just in time to be able to walk to the countdown and catch it. It was a crowd of people just standing and waiting. It was now their turn to stand and wait.

"What's yours New Year Revolution?" Taylor asked DeVanté.

"I didn't have one before, but I'd say to loosen up sometimes, according to you. I need to kick my feet up sometimes and enjoy life more instead of working and being so uptight." He told her. "Will you tell me yours?"

"Mines? Well, I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing. It's been working this far, look where I am now." She told him.

"Toast?" He held up his bottled water.

"Toast!" She said opening her bottle then bumping it against his.

They took a few gulps then the countdown began. Taylor and DeVanté chanted with everyone else. DeVanté is really taking a liking to this woman he met only three hours ago. This is what some would call love at first sight. THAT'S exactly what DeVanté is feeling. He never believed it could happen, but here he is...

"TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE!

January 1, 2000

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

DeVanté pulled Taylor close into a deep kiss while holding her chin. Taylor fell into the kiss and added tongue. She thought he had no rhythm in his entire body, but his mouth is another story. His tongue danced all around her mouth and so did hers. Who knew tight ass would be such a great kisser?

They pulled away, taking a deep breath. "You're a great kisser." DeVanté exhaled. He was really feeling her.

"I was just about to say the same." She chuckled. "That was- that's was unexpected." She stuttered.

"I know and I'm sorry." He apologized.

"No, by all means, that shit was great. If it happened again, I wouldn't even complain." She said fanning herself.

He took that as a challenge and did exactly what she said. He kissed her again, and this one left her hot and bothered when they did pull away. She threw the remainder of the water left in her bottle back.

She was HOT, and so was he. But was she about to do anything about it? NO! Kissing is one thing, but getting down with a stranger is just not in her vocabulary. Taylor wasn't raised like that, nor will she steer her beliefs for anything or anyone. Again, she keeps it classy, not giving out the ASSy.

He drank the rest of his water too, still parched. He cleared his throat. "So we did the countdown, what now?"

"We didn't even get any champagne," Taylor said to him.

"I'm tipsy enough." DeVanté chuckled. "I'm good."

"Did I say champagne? I meant champipple. That doesn't do ANYTHING." She laughed.

"Shit, I don't know. It just might do something to me considering that I don't drink much."

"Could've fooled me." She eyed him. "The way you were throwing those drinks back said otherwise."

"I know."

They had a hard time hailing a cab, so they just decided to walk back to the hotel. It's like a thirty-minute walk from where they are, maybe more due to the crowd.

"I don't think I wanna walk in heels." She told DeVanté.

They stopped at a store and brought some gym shoes and a pair of socks so she'd be able to walk comfortably. The temperature also dropped significantly. Instead of being seventy-something degrees and feeling ninety, the temperature is now at sixty-one. That made the pair grateful because it reduced the amount of sweat that they would've had.

"Goodnight," Taylor said just above a whisper.

"Goodnight," DeVanté said in the same tone, but deeper pitch.

Taylor went into the bedroom and DeVanté heard the lock click. Next, he heard something being shoved against the door. Taylor felt safer with him now that she hung out with him, but she wasn't taking any chances. Taylor was not about to let her guard down. People are crazy these days, so she shoved a dresser and her suitcases against the bedroom door.

"Are you okay?" He asked her.

"I'm fine!" She said loud enough to where he could hear.

DeVanté went to sleep feeling great, I stead of stressed this night. He felt like his old self again. What are the odds of going to a hotel and binding with someone the hotel gave the same room to? It was rare, but it happened. Courtney felt good too!

When they both awoke, they went back downstairs to the front desk and got everything sorted out. There are now some rooms available. Taylor is due to leave tomorrow morning, while DeVanté is due to leave tomorrow evening. DeVanté made her feel comfortable, but she still didn't feel comfortable enough for him to be sleeping in the same hotel room.

Never once did he give her creepy vibes. Taylor brought herself a new cell phone the next day. DeVanté went to his interview with no problems and even spent some more time with Taylor Taylor. He didn't know anyone else there, so why not? They had fun every time they were together.

"I want to keep in touch with you- is that alright?" DeVanté asked Taylor as they stood in front of her hotel door. "Since you'll be gone in the morning and all. I have taken a liking to you and I'm sure you've done the same. I'd like to see you more often."

Taylor thought about it, looking at the ceiling. "If it's REALLY meant to be, we'll find each other." She told him.

DeVanté looked at her with disbelief. "Huh?"

"You heard me."

"I'm sorry. That's true. If it's really meant to be then we'll find each other." He nodded at her, then pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for your time and courteousness." He pulled away, holding her hand.

"You too. I had a great time." She smiled.

DeVanté walked away hopeful that he'd find her. I mean, he does know a lot about her in this short time. It should be easy, right?

Author's Note: I had to give y'all something because I KNOW I'm behind in These Three words. It's late but Happy New Year! Would y'all like a part two of this one or leave it as it is?