Page 26

My jaw clenched and I let out a low chuckle. "So, this what we doing now?"

"Excuse me?"

"You out here just entertaining anybody, huh?" I muttered, knowing damn well I was pushing it.

She had every right to do what she wanted. But the thought of her with someone else? Nah, I hated it.

She let out a sharp breath, her tone shifting. "Why do you care?"

I didn’t answer fast enough. But she knew exactly why I cared which is why she had tried to butter me up with food, and why she was acting so fucking cagey.

Don’t do that SB.”

“Don’t do what Creed?” Her voice was monotone almost like she was about to check out of the conversation that she had started.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what it is.”

"What it is?" she asked. "You know I’m single right? I’m young. I should be dating instead of waiting around on—” she sighed hard. “I thought with you being my best friend, you would…”

“Thought I would what? Be happy you about to go kick it with some random nigga from yo’ school?”

“He’s not random, he’s actually in one of my classes.”

“I don’t give a fuck if you knew the nigga for years.”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“You know exactly what my problem is Serenity. That’s why you told me the way you did, sent me food so it could what, soften the blow?”

“What blow Creed? You mad for no reason.”

“Look if you want to be out here acting like a ho then—” I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. Her silence on the other end was loud.

“Wow. A ho is crazy coming from the nigga that got a girlfriend but stay blowing my line down.”

"Serenity, I’m?—"

"No, fuck you, Creed. Please, I’m begging you, lose my fucking number." she snapped, her voice laced with heat.

And before I could say another word, she hung up. I tried to call her back, but she kept sending me to voice mail. Gripping my phone tighter in my hand, I almost broke it. This wasn’t how I was trying to end my night.

For the nextweek she ignored every call, every text.

And for the first time in a long time, I realized I couldn’t stand not having her around. I was done waiting.

I had never chased after a girl before. But Serenity? She wasn’t just a girl. And I was done with her ignoring me.

I got Arielle to tell me where she’d be, well, I got Brodie to get Ari to tell me, and before I could talk myself out of it, I was skipping class and practice pulling up to Tisch.

I walked through the hallways nodding at a few students who recognized me, before stopping outside one of the dance studios. And what I saw? It made me stop dead in my tracks.

She was alone in the studio, lost in the music, moving like she was one with it.Sweet Loveby Anita Baker played through the speakers, filling the space around her as she danced in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. I had seen her dance before, but this? This was something else.

She wasn’t just performing—she was feeling every damn note. Her movements were fluid, precise, sensual, but effortless.

I leaned against the doorway, watching.

Watching the way she moved, the way her body told a story, the way she let herself disappear into the music. And for the first time, I felt something I didn’t know how to name.