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If it were a movie, we’d bump into each other in the entrance hall. I’d leave for his room while he left for mine, and a symphony would be playing, building with anticipation. We’d both jump once we spotted one another. The chandelier would shimmer between us and bring out the warmth in my banister. I’d peek one way. He’d peek the other. We’d try to explain ourselves, but we’d get tongue-tied like somebody caught us sneaking out.

Such a cute scene.

It wasn’t a movie, however, and Aliyah reached his room without running into anybody. She talked to herself on the way over, unsure of what to say or how to say it. It seemed silly to ask him to spend the night when he was already spending the night.

A couple people kept the party going downstairs. The music filtered through the floor, humming under her furry slippers. The texture didn’t match the rest of her pajamas, but whatever. She patted her bonnet down then rolled her eyes for caring so much.

His door stood in the middle of the hallway. The lights along the wall flickered with a dull luster. Her shadow walked beside her, fading where a bulb had burnt out.

“You got this. Just wear your heart on your sleeve. Like he does.”

As she raised her hand to knock, the door rattled from inside. Her shadow nearly jumped onto the ceiling. The knob turned with a decisive click.

It felt like a movie again. The big reveal, shattering the screen between them. If only she didn’t leave so early. She couldn’t help but try to scare him.

“Boo!”

The knob snapped back.The door opened for her, but nobody was there.

A breeze blew into the hall, stiff and muggy. The curtains swayed at a window with one side drawn more than the other. On the bed, his duffel bag sat next to a small bottle of cologne. His button-up lay draped over the footboard. The lamp on the nightstand shined in her eyes. The shade was crooked.

She peeked inside. “Kelvin?”

The room didn’t smell right.

He peered around the door. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“It’s not what— what looks like?”

Maicy stepped out from behind him. “Not what this looks like.”

Her stomach churned. The anger bubbled up with a bitter aftertaste. A wave of embarrassment followed.

So much for a movie.

Aliyah pointed down the hall. “Get out!”

“You got it, Boss.”

Her perfume wafted behind her like she just freshened up.

“No, I want you out, out. Not just out of his room. Out of my house!”

The door swung open. Kelvin reached for her hand, but she yanked it away.

“Nothing happened. She was just apologizing for the battle. I only let her in because I thought she was you.”

“Excuse me? You thought she was me?”

He scoffed. “You know I don’t mean it like that. I was hoping it was you, you know? I thought things kinda ended weird between us, and I was actually about to head over to your room—” He gestured to the bed. “Like, to see if you were thinking the same?”

Clothing and toiletries spilled out of his bag. A pair of gym shorts hungfrom the bedpost. Maicy must’ve knocked while he was changing.

“I jammed my hip into the nightstand when I got the idea. Here, check it.”

He folded his belt down to show her. The edge of the table left a nice black-and-blue mark. His boxers had cartoons on them.

“I was afraid you might’ve fallen asleep, so I hurried. It seemed like a movie to me, like you were about to get on a train or something. I didn’t even know what I was gonna say. I just knew I wanted to hold you.”

And be big spoon, she thought.

The boy beat her to it. She wanted it to be a movie so bad that she let the spotlight blind her. How dare she make a scene like that. Their connection ran so much deeper than movies.

“Hey, May!” Aliyah shouted down the hall, “Don’t leave.”

Maicy stopped at the corner, cast in a sharp silhouette. She glanced back without appearing to care much either way. The chandelier shimmered behind her, lighting the frizz around her fro-hawk.

“I’m sorry I yelled. I overreacted, and you didn’t deserve that. Please, don’t leave. I know the ladies are waiting for you outside, and I’d hate to ruin anyone’s night.”

She shifted her weight then pulled out her hair-pick. “It’s cool, Li. I’m sorry I got between you and your boy. I went a little hard on him downstairs, but he held up. I had to say something.”

He poked his head around the door. “I still get an autograph, right?”

Both the women rolled their eyes. He just couldn’t help himself, could he?

“I got some copies of my album on me. I’ll leave one on the counter for you.”

Maicy waved goodbye with her comb. Her voice trailed off in the entrance hall. They heard her mumbling to herself,teasing him for being such a dork.

“I still get an autograph, right?”

Funny how she did an impression of him because he left an impression on her. Hers was bad. His wasn’t.

“So, what’s up?” He leaned against the door. “Is that why you came over? For a redo? Like, take two?” He slapped his arms together like a clapperboard.

She snickered. “Something like that. I was gonna see if you wanted to sleep in my bed tonight. You know, and hold me?”

“More than anything.”

Another breeze blew into the hall, carrying a note of his spicy cologne.

“Could I just shower first? I hate to wreck the mood, but if I have a minute. I don’t wanna stink up your sheets.”

She put her hand up to hide herself. “Boy…”

Something told her to get out of there before she changed her mind.

“Five minutes.” He shut the door in her face. “Maybe ten.” His belt clattered as his pants hit the floor. “Super cute bonnet, by the way!” She pursed her lips, trying not to grin like a dope. That was supposed to be his thing.