Crossed Paths

Part 8: Push & Pull

Darrell chuckled. "Touché." He tilted his head, studying her for a moment. "What about you, though? Do you ever take a break?"

"Not often," Nevaeh admitted. "There's too much at stake to slow down."

He nodded, his expression softening. "I get that. But sometimes, you've gotta breathe, Nevaeh."

Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine, but she quickly shook it off. "I'll breathe when I get into med school."

"Fair enough," Darrell said, smirking. "But don't forget to enjoy the ride while you're at it."

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud burst of laughter from across the plaza, and Nevaeh used the distraction to excuse herself.
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Over the next few weeks, their interactions followed the same pattern: brief moments of connection, always tinged with a hint of something more. Whether it was a quick wave in the library, a shared joke in a group chat, or an accidental run-in at the dining hall, they kept circling each other, neither willing to make the first definitive move.

Heaven noticed the change in Nevaeh immediately.

"You're smiling at your phone again," she said one evening as they studied in their dorm.

"Am I?" Nevaeh asked, quickly setting her phone down.

"You know, for someone who says she doesn't have time for distractions, you sure seem distracted lately," Heaven teased.

"It's not like that," Nevaeh insisted.

"Sure," Heaven said, smirking. "But if it was like that, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, you know. Darrell seems... decent."

"Decent?" Nevaeh asked, laughing.

"Fine," Heaven said. "He's fine. And smart. And he seems to really like you."

Nevaeh sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Even if he did, I can't afford to get sidetracked. You know how much my family expects from me."

"I get that," Heaven said. "But just because you're ambitious doesn't mean you can't let someone in. Life's not all or nothing, Nevaeh."

Nevaeh didn't respond, but her mind lingered on Heaven's words.
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That night, as Nevaeh lay in bed, her phone buzzed again.

Darrell: You ever think about how much we overcomplicate things?

She stared at the message for a long moment before replying.

Nevaeh: All the time.

A pause.

Darrell: What if we stopped overthinking for once?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed back.

Nevaeh: What are you trying to say Darrell?

The typing bubble appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared. Finally, his reply came through.

Darrell: Maybe it's time we stop pretending we're just acquaintances.

Nevaeh's heart skipped a beat, but instead of responding, she locked her phone and stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. The push and pull between them was undeniable—but was she ready to let herself get pulled in?
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Nevaeh was barely awake when Heaven's voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Uh, Nevaeh?" Heaven called, peeking out from behind the curtain.

"What?" Nevaeh mumbled, pulling her blanket over her head.

"You've got company. Like, serious company." Heaven's voice was teasing now.

Nevaeh groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Darrell," Heaven said with a grin. "And he's holding flowers. Girl, get up."

"What?" Nevaeh froze.

"You heard me. Now go before the whole hall gets wind of this."

Nevaeh scrambled out of bed, throwing on a sweatshirt and sliding into her sneakers. Her heart pounded as she headed downstairs to the lobby, the sunlight streaming through the large windows.

And there he was, standing just outside the doors, holding a modest bouquet of sunflowers and daisies. Darrell wore a maroon Morehouse hoodie and jeans, his expression unreadable but determined.

She stepped outside, the cool morning air biting at her skin. "Darrell, what are you doing here?"

He turned at the sound of her voice, his lips curving into a small smile. "Good morning to you too ma'am."

"Good morning," she said warily, crossing her arms. "Now answer the question."

He shrugged, holding out the flowers. "I thought these might brighten your morning."

She hesitated before taking them, her fingers brushing against his. "They're beautiful, but... why?"

He exhaled slowly. "Because I wanted to see you. And because I couldn't stop thinking about the text I sent you last night."

Her cheeks warmed, but she held his gaze. "And what about it?"

"You didn't respond," he said, his voice steady but soft. "I mean, you didn't really respond. I figured I'd come talk to you in person."

Nevaeh looked down at the flowers, her thoughts swirling. "Darrell, about that message..."

"I meant what I said," he interrupted. "We're not just acquaintances, Nevaeh. And I think you know that too."

She sighed, shifting on her feet. "It's not that simple, Darrell. A relationship... it's a distraction I can't afford right now."

"I get that," he said, nodding. "But I'm not asking you to throw your goals out the window. I respect everything you're working toward, and I don't want to get in the way of that."

"It's not just about you getting in the way," she said, her voice quieter now. "It's about me. I put so much pressure on myself, and I don't know if I can handle something else on top of it all."

Darrell took a step closer, his eyes searching hers. "Nevaeh, I'm not here to add pressure. I'm here because I care about you. And I think we could be good together. But I'm not trying to rush you into anything."

She swallowed hard, the sincerity in his voice making her chest ache. "So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying let's take it slow," he said simply. "No labels, no expectations. Just... see where this goes. If it's too much, we'll step back. But I think it's worth a shot."

Nevaeh studied him for a long moment, her mind racing. Finally, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Taking it slow?"

"Taking it slow," he confirmed with a small smile.

She glanced down at the flowers again, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "You're really something, you know that?"

"I try," he said, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Nevaeh nodded. "Alright. Slow it is."

Darrell's smile widened, and for the first time in weeks, Nevaeh felt a small weight lift off her shoulders.

"Good," he said, stepping back. "Now, I'll let you get back to your day. But maybe I'll see you later?"

"Maybe," she said, her smile growing.

He turned and started walking away, but before he got too far, he called over his shoulder, "Don't forget to put those flowers in water!"

Nevaeh laughed softly, shaking her head as she watched him go. For the first time in a long time, she felt something other than the pressure of expectations.

Maybe, just maybe, she could find room in her life for something—or someone—else.