"MA I GOT AN EXTRA SHIFT TODAY" Henna swiftly lied applying makeup to her eye in the mirror as her mother came up behind her. "How long you finna be out for?" Her ma asked rather kindly making Henna frown inwardly. "It's the night shift so till we close up at 3" She said setting her face as her mother stopped right behind her making Henna tense up in fear. "Yeah, that's fine. I'll be home" Her mother said grabbing her purse that was in front of Henna making her slightly nod still tensed as the woman walked away.

Henna was wiping down tables at the diner when she heard the bell above the door jingle. She looked up to see Jimmy walking in, a knowing smirk on his face."Back again?" she asked, raising an eyebrow."Food's good," he replied, sliding into the same booth as before. His friends weren't with him this time, just him, which made Henna instantly suspicious.

"Where's the crew?" she asked, jotting down his usual order before he could say it.Jimmy shrugged. "Told 'em I had business to handle."

"Business?"

"You."

Henna froze for a second, her pen hovering over the pad. She glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. "What do you want from me, Rabbit?"Jimmy leaned back, his arms stretching across the back of the booth. "Just trying to know what's behind that tough act. You always this guarded?" he asked her making her roll her eyes as she clocked out for the night. "Where we even going tonight?" She said slipping on her coat. "Thought we could go out to the movies if that was okay with you?" He asked opening the door for her. "Sounds nice, what movie?" She asked as they walked down the street to his car. "Y'know that one movie with Ice Cube that came out?" He asked making her immediately snap her fingers, remembering the movie as she got in the car. Henna buckled her seatbelt, glancing at Jimmy as he settled into the driver's seat. "You talkin' about Friday?" she asked, a small smirk creeping onto her face.

"Yeah, that one. Thought you might like it," he said, turning the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life as the car pulled out onto the street.Henna raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat.

"We'll see"

"You want anything?" he asked, looking back at her as they went up to buy snacks. "I'm good," she said quickly, remembering she didn't bring enough money for that.Jimmy gave her a look, tilting his head. "Henna. C'mon now." She shook her head again. "I only brought enough for my ticket nigga" She replied as he pulled her hand. "Who said you was finna pay?" He questioned making her roll her eyes.

She sighed. "Fine. Medium popcorn. Extra butter."

Jimmy grinned, ordering her popcorn along with a soda and some candy for himself. As the cashier handed over the snacks, Henna raised an eyebrow. As they walked toward the theater, Henna glanced at Jimmy from the corner of her eye. His confidence irritated her, but at the same time, she found it oddly...charming. She hated that.

"Why you always act like you got somethin' to prove?" she muttered, grabbing a handful of popcorn before they even sat down. Jimmy smirked. "Ain't about proving nothin'. I just do what I do." She scoffed. "Yeah, okay."

They found their seats near the middle of the theater. As the lights dimmed, Henna settled in, letting the buttery popcorn distract her from the fact that she was actually...enjoying this. Halfway through the movie, she felt Jimmy shift beside her. He leaned in slightly, voice low. "You always this tense?" Henna side-eyed him. "You always this nosy?" He chuckled, taking a sip of his soda. "Just tryna figure you out."

As the movie played on, Jimmy casually tossed a piece of popcorn at her. Henna turned slowly, unimpressed. "You got one more time."

"Oh yeah?" He threw another.

Without hesitation, she grabbed a handful of popcorn and dumped it in his lap. Jimmy gaped at her before busting out laughing. "Oh, so you got jokes?" Henna laughed at the boy.

"Always."

As the credits rolled, Henna stretched her arms over her head, glancing at Jimmy, who was still grinning like he had won something. They walked out into the night, the crisp air hitting Henna's face as they made their way toward his car. The streets were quieter now, the city buzzing with a different kind of life—streetlights flickering, distant music playing from a car passing by, the occasional laughter from groups of friends still out this late. "You wanna head straight home, or you tryna stall a little longer?" Jimmy asked, unlocking the car. Henna hesitated for a second. Normally, she'd shut something like that down quick. But tonight, she didn't feel like going back to the house just yet.

"What you got in mind?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Jimmy grinned, pulling the passenger door open for her. "Guess you'll have to find out." She exhaled through her nose, shaking her head but getting in anyway.

They drove for a while, the city lights passing in a blur, the radio humming low in the background. Jimmy had one hand on the wheel, the other tapping a rhythm against his thigh. "You ever just sit somewhere and watch the city?" he asked out of nowhere. Henna turned her head toward him. "You mean like one of them poetic dudes? Staring at the skyline, thinkin' bout life?" Jimmy laughed. "Nah, just... sometimes it's nice to slow down. Take it in."

She considered that. It wasn't something she ever let herself do. She was always moving, always thinking about the next step, always trying to stay ahead of something she couldn't even name.

"You got a spot or somethin'?" she asked. Jimmy smirked, making a sharp turn. "Yeah. Hold up."

A few minutes later, they pulled up to a hill just outside the city. From there, Henna could see everything—the glowing skyline, the way the lights stretched out endlessly, blinking like stars. It was quiet, peaceful, nothing like the chaos of her usual nights.

She let out a slow breath. "Damn," she admitted. "Aight, this kinda nice." Jimmy leaned against the hood of the car, watching her. "Told you."

Henna stood beside him, her arms crossed, staring out at the city. For the first time in a long time, she let herself just be. No walls, no front, no overthinking. Just the city, the quiet, and a boy who, against all odds, she didn't mind being around.

And that? That was still terrifying.  

A/N

okay guys ik i havent updated this book since oct so please forgive me! This is just a tiny filler but drama is coming up fs!

but back to the og A/N

how are we all doing lovelies?

Any comments or suggestionss??

I love you guysss 🤍