Page 11 of Blake University HBCU Chronicles: Archer & Destiny

NINE

Destiny

TWO WEEKS LATER….

Students flowed out of the west lecture hall, laughing and peeling off in every direction.

Destiny rolled down the stone path in her electric wheelchair with her copper brown coils bouncing.

Skin kissed by the light, a small smile played at her lips.

She felt good, her body still carried its aches, her knees still stiff from either sitting too long or the random spasms that came through.

But the weight in her chest, the loneliness, the shame, and anxiety, felt quieter now.

It had been two weeks since she gave Archer her body.

Since he held her like she was his. He continued to treat her like she wasn’t too much or too fragile to love.

Even though they hadn’t done it again, they were still close and very intimate with one another.

Destiny liked the fact that he didn’t press her for it, instead, he took the time to get to know her and spend a lot of time with her.

She rounded the corner near the main quad, adjusting her chair’s speed as she headed toward the busier part of campus and then stopped.

Her breath caught in her throat as she eyed Archer beneath the old tree that split the grass courtyard.

He was dressed in loose jeans, a crisp white shirt, and all white air force ones.

His light brown skin looked like it glowed from the sun, and his hair wasn’t brushed down in waves.

Archer got a fresh taper on the sides with short, dry curls sitting atop his head.

Those pale blue eyes sparkled from where he stood.

One hand in his pocket, the other held a paper bag of takeout.

Destiny looked down at his feet and blushed at the folded gray picnic blanket already spread across the lawn with two chilled bottled drinks resting under the shade.

He looked up as she approached, a small, crooked smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Destiny blinked and then smiled; it felt like her heart was flipping in her chest. He remembered…

. The both of them had been busy, but Archer still made it a point to see her every day.

He told her that he was done with college and that he was gearing up to confront his father about everything so he could figure out who his biological mother was.

All of his personal issues didn’t stop him from confiding in Destiny and getting her advice.

“You stalking me now?” She giggled.

Archer walked up slowly, meeting her at the edge of the pavement. His smile was contagious. When he looked at Destiny, it made her chest ache in a way that it has never ached before.

“If that’s what this is called.” He chuckled.

“I figured we’d eat in the center of campus. It’s something you mentioned, and it makes sense to me…” His words trailed off as he looked at students walking fast but taking seconds to glance over at him and her.

“I want all these mutha fuckas to know that you my woman. If they fuck with you…I’ll?—”

“Archer, don’t be mean.” Destiny cut him off.

“Don’t cut me off, I don’t like that.” Archer mocked her.

They both shared a laugh together.

“Plus, I owe you.” He got serious.

“You owe me?” Destiny frowned slightly.

“You let me hold your whole world in my hands weeks ago. I want to feed you and be what you need. I want to always make you feel special. I’m not sure how to do all of this ‘cause it's new. But I listen to you, Destiny. I’m learning you, too.” He admitted.

She was stunned speechless. She looked past him at the blanket in the grass.

It wasn’t much, just a small set up. The thought is what counted the most to her.

Something about it all made her eyes sting.

She wanted this, something simple, something normal.

To sit in the grass like the other students, to share food and catch a vibe.

She didn’t want to be reminded every second that her body made the world feel further away.

“I don’t think I need to get low on the grass, though. Just being here with you feels good.” She smiled.

“I brought a ramp pad, but you know I like picking you up and feeling you in my arms. It’s whatever you comfortable with.”

Destiny turned slightly and sure enough, there it was. A portable mat in his backpack. It was the kind that locked over uneven ground to give her wheels traction on the grass.

“You really think about everything, don’t you?” She whispered.

“For your safety and comfort…yes.” He smiled down at her.

“Plus, I think about you…a lot.” He added, making Destiny blush hard.

Minutes later, they were settled in the center of the lawn.

Destiny was seated comfortably on the ramp pad next to him.

Archer passed her the subway sandwich he bought for her, along with a small bag of baked BBQ chips.

The sun warmed her arms as students passed by with curious glances but said nothing.

A couple of the female students that had something going with Archer looked at them a little too long with hunger and jealousy in their eyes.

Archer kept his attention on Destiny because with her, the world seemed far away. Destiny felt seen by Archer, not for her chair or her condition, but for her. Their knees touched, his pinky brushed hers… heat ignited between the both of them.

The chemistry between them was raw, electric unlike anything he’d felt before.

She hadn’t even been in his life long, yet her presence already felt carved into him like something ancient and familiar.

There was something about the way she looked at him knowingly, like she could read in between the lines and know what he was feeling without him even having to say it.

He noticed that her eyes always lingered on his lips when he talked. Every time they were near each other, his chest tightened with anticipation.

“This is romantic, I love it.” Destiny broke their silence that was filled with possibility.

“You think? I don’t really got anybody to ask how to be romantic with a woman.” He said honestly.

His father wasn’t a good example of that at all.

“We can teach each other… My father always surprises my mom with flowers. I love them, too, but I get them on my birthday and special occasions. I always said when I got in a relationship that I wanted flowers randomly, too. I like the fact that my mom isn’t the only one in their relationship that has to do all the planning when it’s time for them to spend quality time together.

My father puts just as much effort in. I think that’s what keeps them well-balanced. ” Destiny smiled.

She didn’t want to demand anything from Archer, and didn’t want to be in control of what all he wanted to do for her.

She spoke aloud of what she admired from her parents so Archer could know what she was used to seeing.

Her parents had set a good example in a two-parent household of black love that lasted for more than one decade.

It wasn’t perfect but it wasn’t toxic, either.

“I’m excited.” Archer blurted out lowly, looking right into Destiny’s eyes.

He used the pad of his thumb to wipe some mustard from the corner of her mouth and continued.

“I never been in a real relationship or felt anything like what I feel with you. It’s like…” He looked away at nothing in particular.

Opening up and expressing his true feelings was still something new for him but he felt confident and comfortable enough to do it with destiny.

“You don’t even understand what you do to me…

I don’t even understand it but one day I’ll be able to put that shit into words.

It’s like you make me feel everything all at once.

Peace, want, and wonder…it’s not just the way you move, speak, or touch me…

It’s the way you see me like I’m something more than fine ass Archer…

” He chuckled, reciting what he overheard from the women around campus.

“I know you think that this…” he gestured toward her wheelchair.

“Makes you different…but it’s not something I look past. It’s something I look at and still choose you. You’re not less, not even close. You’re strength and softness in the same breath. You’re beautiful exactly how you are. It all draws me in more to you.” He bit into his bottom lip.

Archer reached for her hand gently, his thumb traced slow deliberate circles against her skin.

Destiny’s lips parted, her bottom lip trembled as her eyes shimmered.

She tried to speak but emotions gripped her tightly.

He leaned in closer and brushed his knuckle under her chin, his touch featherlight.

“I see all of you, and I still want all of you. You above all these bitc—hoes—well women…since I know you don’t like me saying mean shit.” He dropped his head and chuckled.

“What?” He looked seriously at Destiny and shrugged his shoulders with a boyish grin gracing his handsome face.

“You above these hoes, baby.” He smirked, making her blush hard.

“Wow, Archer…You make me feel so good. I don’t want to ever stop feeling this way. I don’t want to feel hurt, either. No one’s ever said anything like this to me.” She breathed; her tears fell freely now.

“I’ve always felt like I had to hide parts of myself. Shrink them down to be accepted until I got tired of trying with people. With you, I feel seen, whole, and wanted.”

“You will continue to feel that way with me…I just don’t want to hurt you…don’t want to argue and feel like I’m failing you at some point. I feel like a fuck up most of the time.” He dropped his head, feeling his own emotions get the best of him.

“Archer…we both not perfect. There will be things that I do, that you won’t like…

and vice versa. We won’t be perfect but we should always be honest with one another, no matter what.

My parents bicker all the time…But I know most of it is out of love.

They are each other’s best friends. They pillow talk and experience life together.

I don’t want you walking around on eggshells just to please me.

I’m scared that I might hurt you as well but I know that I will do my very best not to.

We can forgive and be adults that communicate.

That’s the key.” She smiled confidently.

Archer nodded his head and pulled her gently into him.

He picked each one of her legs up carefully and placed them on either side of him.

He leaned forward and Destiny closed her eyes and leaned in, meeting him halfway.

Forehead to forehead, they let the silence speak for a moment longer.

There was truth in every word that they spoke to one another; it made both of their souls listen and tie in together.