Crossed Paths

Part 8: Push & Pull

A month into the semester, the heat of August had started to wane, but the tension between ambition and distraction was still as hot as ever for Darrell and Nevaeh. Both were laser-focused on their goals, yet somehow, they kept finding themselves orbiting each other. Their first real exchange had been at a football game, where they exchanged numbers amidst the roaring crowd. They were still just acquaintances, but there was something about the way their conversations flowed that made both of them pause.

Morehouse Library – Afternoon Study Session

Darrell sat at a corner table, a stack of books spread in front of him. The hum of whispered conversations and the occasional shuffle of papers filled the room. He adjusted his maroon hoodie, glancing at his phone every few minutes as he half-heartedly skimmed a case study for his pre-law class.

His phone buzzed, and he picked it up immediately.

Nevaeh: This torts case you sent me to look at is ridiculous. Who sues over coffee being too hot🤨

Darrell smirked as he replied.

Darrell: That case is a classic. McDonald's learned their lesson, though.

She responded almost immediately.

Nevaeh: Still. People are wilddddddddd😂.

He grinned, running a hand over his waves. They'd been texting sporadically since the football game, mostly banter about school and their ridiculously packed schedules. It wasn't anything deep, but he looked forward to those moments.

Across campus at Spelman, Nevaeh sat on her bed, legs crossed as she reviewed notes for her upcoming chemistry exam. Her roommate, Heaven, sat at the desk organizing flashcards.

"Who keeps texting you?" Heaven asked without looking up.

"Darrell," Nevaeh replied absently, biting her lip as she typed a reply.

Heaven turned in her chair, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, Darrell as in Morehouse Darrell? The guy from the football game?"

"Yeah," Nevaeh said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You two texting like that now?" Heaven asked, a sly smile creeping across her face.

"It's not like that," Nevaeh said quickly. "We just talk about school stuff."

"Mhm," Heaven said, turning back to her flashcards. "I've seen the way he looks at you. Trust me, it's not just about school."

Nevaeh didn't respond, but a small part of her wondered if Heaven was right.

Late Night at Kilgore Plaza

A week later, Nevaeh found herself at Kilgore Plaza for a campus-wide networking mixer. The event was supposed to be about connecting with alumni, but somehow, Darrell had found her through the crowd.

"Didn't think you'd be here," he said, leaning against a nearby pillar. He was dressed casually in a maroon Morehouse polo and dark jeans, but his confidence made him stand out in the crowd.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Nevaeh shot back, raising an eyebrow. She was wearing a fitted navy Spelman blazer over a white blouse, her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail.

"Figured you'd be buried in your chemistry textbook," Darrell teased.

"Funny," she said dryly. "What about you? Don't you have a mock trial to prepare for?"

"I do," he admitted, "but even I need a break sometimes."

"Interesting," she said, crossing her arms. "Because you strike me as someone who doesn't know how to take a break."