Page 11 of Blake University: HBCU Chronicles – Yon & Imole

By the time they made it back to the dorm suite, it was well past two in the morning. The campus was quieter now with just a few stragglers still buzzing from parties or sneaking in late. But inside Suite 716B, the energy was still electric.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Lala kicked off her heels with a groan and flopped dramatically onto the couch.

“My feet are dead. Like, gone. Buried.”

Stormii followed behind her, tossing her purse on the counter and fanning herself with a dorm flyer.

“I ain’t even mad, though. That was a movie.”

stood near the door, her gold heels dangling from one hand, still processing everything. She leaned against the wall, her mind spinning.

Yon Dawson danced with her.

In public.

All night.

And held her hand like she mattered.

Stormii turned, eyes narrowing.

“Um, ma’am. Are you gonna say something or just stand there looking like you got proposed to?”

Lala sat up, grinning.

“Yeah, girl. Spill it. You and Mr. Homecoming looked real cozy in that VIP section.”

slid down to sit on the floor, heels still in hand, her face hot.

“I can’t believe that just happened.”

“You better start believing,”

Stormii said, grabbing a bottle of water from the mini fridge.

“Because Yon was on you like a song he ain’t wanna skip.”

“I mean…”

paused, a dreamy smile creeping across her lips.

“He remembered me from Chem. He actually remembered.”

“And then he invited you to the party. And then y’all slow danced like y’all were in the last scene of a romance movie,”

Lala added, practically squealing.

“Sis. This is your soft era!”

“I was not prepared,”

admitted, pulling her legs up to her chest.

“Like, never in a million years did I think Yon Dawson would even look at me. Let alone dance with me all night… for everybody to see.”

Stormii raised an eyebrow.

“Girl, you been fine. You just now catching up.”

“And let’s not act like you didn’t body that Zara dress,”

Lala said.

“The red? The fit? You ate.”

covered her face, laughing into her palms.

“Y’all are too much.”

“No,”

Stormii said, walking over and plopping beside her.

“We’re just right. You’ve been sleeping on yourself, but tonight? You woke up.”

There was a brief, soft silence. Not awkward, just full of realization.

exhaled, her heart still fluttering.

“I liked holding his hand.”

Lala flopped beside them both, smirking.

“Okay, well I liked Ace’s smile, and Stormii looked like she was auditioning for a BET After Dark video with Porkchop.”

“Don’t be mad ‘cause we got rhythm,”

Stormii teased.

They all burst out laughing again, limbs tangled across the floor and couch cushions, makeup still flawless, edges only slightly lifting, hearts more full than they’d admit out loud.

Homecoming had officially delivered.

And for ? If sophomore year ended tomorrow, she had already experienced more in the last three days then she had in her whole life. And it felt amazing not to have to hear the stories of college life but to be a part of the celebration.