Chapter 1 - After The Goodbye
The music was loud as fuck.
Like, loud enough that Lina could feel the bass in her chest every time somebody opened the door. Everybody was either drinking, yelling over the music, laughing at shit that probably wasn't even funny, or walking around like they knew everybody there.
And then there was Lina.
Standing there with a cup in her hand, looking around like she was supposed to know what the hell was going on.
“Girl, come on,” Sarahi said, grabbing her arm. “You just gonna stand here all night?”
Lina looked at her. “I'm not standing. I'm literally right here with you.”
Sarahi laughed. “Girl, you know what I mean.”
Lina rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink.
She barely knew anybody here. Sarahi knew people, obviously. She was walking around greeting everybody, hugging people, laughing with them like she'd known them her whole life.
Lina was just trying to keep up.
“Come, I wanna introduce you to somebody.”
“Who?”
“Just come on.”
“Bro, where are we going?”
“Linaaa.”
“Okay, damn.”
Sarahi laughed and pulled her along.
That's when she saw him.
Maurice.
Bald head, caramel skin, around five-ten, medium build. He was standing there looking way too comfortable, like the whole party belonged to him. Like everybody should've been happy he showed up.
“Heyyy,” Sarahi said, smiling a little too hard.
Lina noticed.
Oh, brother.
“What's up?” Maurice said, grinning.
“This is Lina,” Sarahi told him. “Lina, this is Maurice.”
“What's good?” he asked, looking Lina up and down before meeting her eyes again.
“Hey,” Lina answered quietly.
“Damn, you always this quiet?”
She gave him a small smile. “I mean, I just got here.”
Maurice laughed like she'd said something hilarious.
“Nah, I like that. You don't talk too much.”
Lina didn't know what the hell she was supposed to say to that, so she just took another sip of her drink.
Sarahi kept talking to him, smiling and laughing at everything he said. Lina stood there, half listening, already wishing she could be somewhere else.
There was something about him.
She couldn't explain it. Maybe it was the way he looked at her a little too long, or how he acted like he knew he was the shit. Everybody else seemed cool with him, though.
So whatever.
She wasn't about to say anything.
As the night went on, people started pulling out more drinks, and somebody brought out some coke.
Maurice was one of them.
“Y'all want some?” he asked, holding it out like he was offering somebody a piece of gum.
“Nah,” Lina said immediately.
“Come on, don't be like that.”
“I said no.”
He smirked. “Damn, alright. I'm just asking.”
Lina looked away.
She should've left it at that.
But between the drinking, everybody around her acting like it was nothing, and not wanting to be the only one making a big deal out of it, she eventually gave in.
And just like that, the night kept going.
After a while, everything inside started feeling like too much. The music, the people, the yelling, everybody all up in everybody's space.
Lina needed air.
She set her cup down and made her way outside.
The cold air hit her face, and she let out a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding.
Finally.
She stood near the edge of the driveway, looking out toward the road. Cars passed every now and then, their headlights sweeping across the pavement before disappearing into the dark.
For a minute, she didn't have to talk to anybody.
Didn't have to smile.
Didn't have to pretend she was having the time of her life.
“HEY!”
Lina jumped a little and turned around.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Maurice.
She sighed before she could stop herself.
“Wyd outside?” he asked, walking closer.
Lina put on a small, fake smile.
“Hey,” she said softly.
He looked at her, grinning. “You good?”
“Yeah. Just needed some air.”
“Why? You not having fun?”
“I'm good.”
“Come on, don't be like that. You gotta loosen up a little.”
Lina looked back toward the road. “I'm loose.”
Maurice laughed.
“See? There you go.”
She gave him another little smile, mostly because she didn't know what else to do. She wasn't comfortable with him standing there, but she wasn't about to tell some dude she'd just met to leave her alone either.
Then—
“WTF Y'ALL DOING OUT HERE?”
Lina turned toward the voice.
Güero.
He came out the door like he was announcing himself to the whole damn neighborhood.
Lina couldn't help smiling a little.
Güero walked over, still looking at them, then turned his attention to Maurice.
“What's up?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Maurice answered, his smile tightening just a little. “Was just checking on Lina here. Saw her come out.”
Güero looked at Lina.
“She good. I'm watching over her.”
Then he tilted his head toward her.
“Right, Lina?”
She looked at him and gave him a little grin.
“Yeah.”
“See?” Güero said, looking back at Maurice. “We good.”
Maurice's jaw shifted, but his smile stayed on his face.
“Cool.”
He turned and headed back inside.
Lina watched him go, relieved he was finally gone.
Güero looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You smiling.”
“So?”
“So why you smiling like that?”
Lina shook her head. “You're annoying.”
Güero burst out laughing.
“Damn! I just got out here!”
“Exactly.”
“I'm trying to make sure you good, and you already talking shit.”
“I'm not talking shit.”
“You literally just called me annoying.”
“Because you are.”
He put a hand over his chest like she'd hurt him.
“Wow. That's crazy. First night knowing you and you already disrespecting me.”
Lina laughed, looking down.
And just like that, she felt a little more comfortable.
They barely knew each other. Hell, she probably couldn't even tell somebody three things about him yet. But there was something about Güero that made talking feel easy.
He wasn't making her feel like she had to be somebody else.
“So what's your deal?” he asked.
Lina looked at him. “What you mean?”
“Like, who are you? What you do? You always this quiet?”
She shrugged. “I don't know. Depends.”
“Depends on what?”
“Who I'm around.”
Güero nodded like that made perfect sense.
“Okay, I respect that.”
“Good.”
“Damn, you got an attitude too?”
Lina laughed. “Shut up.”
“There she go!”
“Bro!”
He started laughing again, and Lina shook her head, smiling despite herself.
They talked for a while. Nothing too serious. Just random shit, jokes, little questions about each other. Güero wanted to get to know her, and for once that night, Lina didn't feel like somebody was trying to get something out of her.
He'd told her he'd look out for her, and he was doing exactly that.
He couldn't explain why he felt like he needed to, either.
He barely knew the girl.
But something about Lina made him want to make sure she was good. He didn't think too hard about it. He just knew that if he'd said he'd look out for her, that's what he was gonna do.
A little while later, the door opened again.
Sarahi stepped outside.
And right behind her?
Maurice.
Lina's smile faded a little.
Oh, brother.
“Y'all out here having a whole damn meeting?” Sarahi asked.
Güero laughed. “Yeah, actually. We discussing your attitude.”
Sarahi looked at him. “My attitude? Boy, shut up.”
Lina laughed under her breath.
Maurice stood beside Sarahi, hands in his pockets, looking like he hadn't just walked back inside all annoyed.
“So what's the move?” Sarahi asked. “Y'all tryna leave or what?”
“I'm good with leaving,” Lina said.
She didn't mean to sound so quick about it, but she was ready to go.
“Yeah, I'm getting tired anyway,” Sarahi said. “We can call it a night.”
Güero nodded. “That's cool.”
Maurice shrugged. “Whatever y'all wanna do.”
Of course.
Lina looked down at her phone, checking the time.
The night had felt long as hell.
And she was ready for it to be over.
The next morning, Lina woke up and just stared at her phone.
She didn't move.
A tear slid down her cheek.
She turned around and went back to sleep.
