Page 2 of Lyric Squared

“Perfect,”I whispered, appreciating my reflection.

The sundress was ideal for the warm weather. My natural curls hung down my back. My face was lightly polished with my mother’s finest cosmetic findings. On my feet were a pair of Dior sandals, courtesy of my mother’s closet.

I turned on my heels, staring at the door as the bell rang again. Slowly, I closed my eyes. Though I was unhurried, my heart was racing. I placed a hand on my chest as I stepped forward, opening my eyes in the process.

“Keep it cute, Lyric,” I whispered while twisting the knob.

It didn’t matterhow well I prepared, I’d never adjust to the sight of him. Staring back at me, Keanu stood on our porch with his hands folded in front of him. I gnawed on the inside of my bottom lip. My right foot twirled in a circle as our eyes connected.

Butterflies swarmed my stomach. I wanted to double over, but with glee instead of pain. He was so enamoring. So glorious. So handsome. So strong. So considerate. So close.

He’s a friend.

The reminder was one I gave myself far too often.

He’s family.

Still, I couldn’t wrap my heart around the revelation. It wouldn’t listen. It didn’t have ears. Only feelings. Emotions. And my feelings for Keanu made us both emotional.

Family doesn’t make me feel the way he does.

“What’s up, Lyric?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. They’re not here.”

“I stay across the street. I know.”

I nodded with a smile. “Right.”

Silently, I waited for his next words. I held onto his last ones like my last breath.

He didn’t speak for what felt like forever. He studied me. Like a quiz.

“Did they send you?”

“Who?”

“To see what I’m doing? To make sure there are no boys in the house?”

“Betta not be no boys in this mufucka. They ain’t got to send me to check on that. I’ma do that anyway.”

“You guys do know that I will have to get a boyfriend someday, right?”

“Not until you’re thirty,” he informed me.

“I’ll have children by then,” I assured him.

“I was in a good mood when I walked over here. Now you fucking that all up, Lyric. You trying to make me crazy, huh?”

“Crazy?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he sighed, shoving a hand in his pocket. In his hand was a gold keychain in the shape of an L. Diamonds glistened, forming the letter fully. It was small. It was shiny. It was perfect.

“They said you lapped them mufuckas in that math shit you signed up for.”

“The competition?”

“Yeah. That. I ain’t make it.”