Keisha was halfway through her community service shift, dragging a half-full trash bag along the sidewalk. Her edges were sweating out, the vest was hot, and every second felt longer than it was. She leaned down to grab a crushed Red Bull can with the trash picker, eyes squinting from the sun—then she saw him.
Justin.
She blinked, standing up straight. "Justin?"
He gave a small nod and held up a trash bag like it explained everything. "Figured I'd help out."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you came to help me pick up trash? That's your game now?"
He stepped closer, trying to keep it light. "I mean, you tell me. You seem to know a lot about my game."
Keisha tilted her head, arms crossing. "I'm just saying... word gets around."
Justin's smile faded just a little. "Yeah... 'cause you would know."
That line hit harder than it should've. Keisha's whol face dropped. She didn't say anything, just gave him one last look, shook her head, and turned away, walking down the block like she couldn't even hear him anymore.
Justin stood there, jaw clenched. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he pulled it out, the screen lit up with a message from Keisha:
just forget it. go find another keisha. i'm not interested, and i'm definitely not special.
He exhaled hard, staring at the message. His chest tightened. He typed quickly:
can we just talk? please. i messed up.
But the next message came faster than he could process:
stop texting me!!
Justin sat down on the edge of the curb, phone still in hand. His knee bounced up and down, foot tapping fast like he was trying to shake it all off.
It was getting dark now. The sun dipped behind the trees and the sky turned dusky purple. His Uber had been waiting, but when he glanced up, he saw the car pulling off—too late.
"Damn," he muttered, standing up and walking toward the corner.
He didn't look both ways.
HOOONK!
A silver car swerved and screeched to a stop just a few feet from him.
A girl jumped out of the driver's seat, looking panicked. "Oh my God! Are you okay?! I didn't even see you!"
Justin took a step back, heart racing. He looked up and saw her—long braids, wide pretty eyes, hoodie halfway zipped. She was short, but the way she stood made her presence big.
"Yeah, I'm good," he said, catching his breath.
She looked him over. "This is my first time driving by myself... I swear I wasn't trying to kill you."
From the passenger seat, her friend leaned out the window and mumbled, "Damn... he fine."
"Shut up," the driver muttered, cheeks flushing pink.
"You sure you good?" she asked, turning back to Justin. "Like, can I get you home or something?"
He started to say no, but then turned and saw his Uber disappearing down the street.
He sighed. "Actually... yeah. That'd be cool."
She smiled a little. "Hop in."
⸻
The car was quiet at first, just the low hum of the engine and soft music playing from the radio. Justin buckled his seatbelt in the back.
"What's your address?" the girl asked, keeping her eyes on the road.
"1875 Greenbriar Court," he said, leaning forward.
Her friend tapped it into the GPS. "We're like ten minutes out."
Justin leaned back, looking out the window. After a second, he cracked a small smile. "Usually my parents tell me not to get in cars with strangers."
The driver laughed. "I'm not tryna kidnap you or something. I'm not a creep."
He joked, "That's what they all say."
"What's a Black boy doing walking alone this late anyway?" the driver asked.
Justin hesitated. "Long story. Had some drama with this girl... Keisha I was trying to talk to her so I showed up to her community service and I-Melissa
The driver's friend looked back at him. "Woahhh. We didn't ask for your whole life story."
Justin chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "My bad."
"So... do you go to school?" the driver asked.
He laughed lightly. "Duh. Of course."
She smiled. "Not too much. I do online. I'm kind of an actor... or something like it."
"Oh okay, that explains the cool ride."
She glanced at him through the mirror. "What school you go to?"
"Brookwood."
She started slowly nodding her head, smirking. "Ohhh. You go to school with all them white people. Big money. And tryna You trying to talk about my whip!"
Justin laughed, putting his hands up. "I ain't say all that."
They laughed with him, the awkwardness melting a little.
Justin looked out the window, then cleared his throat. "So... y'all always almost hit people on weeknights or is it just me?"
Skai laughed, hand on the wheel. "Just you. You're my first near-death experience."
Her friend looked at her sideways. "Girl, don't say it like that."
Justin smiled a little, then looked down at his hands. "Well, glad I made history."
Another pause. The vibe was cool but still kinda awkward, like nobody knew what to say next.
"So..." Skai said, glancing at him in the mirror again. "You play any sports?"
"Yeah," Justin shook his head. "Basketball, I actually have a game real soon"
Her friend grinned. "You got a lil crush already?"
"Shut up," Skai mumbled, half-laughing and lowkey blushing.
Justin looked out the window, smirking to himself. "Y'all funny."
Another silence rolled in, but it felt a little lighter now.
They turned down another street, almost to his side of town.
"You live around a lotta family or just your parents?" Skai asked, trying to keep the convo alive.
"Just my parents and my little brother . And they nosy, so hopefully they not lookin' out the window when I hop out this car," he joked.
Her friend whispered, "They probably gonna think we kidnapped you."
They all laughed again, the car finally feeling less stiff.
Skai glanced at the GPS. "We're like two minutes out."
Justin nodded, not really wanting the ride to end that fast.
Soon they pulled up in front of his house.
"That's me right there," he said.
She parked and looked back. "Well, you made it. Still alive."
"Appreciate you," he said, grabbing the door handle.
She hesitated. "Wait... you got Instagram?"
He blinked. "Yeah... why?"
She shrugged. "Just in case I almost hit you again or something."
He smirked. "Right. Emergency contact vibes."
She held out her phone to have him type in his user."
He followed her. "@justin.notjustin."
"Better not ghost me," she said, smiling soft.
"I won't," he replied. "You kinda saved my life."
He stepped out and walked toward his porch, and just as he opened the door—
"Who was that?" his mom, Dawn, asked, arms crossed.
He rubbed the back of his head. "Just some friends."
She gave him a suspicious look but didn't say anything else.
Justin went straight to his room, tossed his bag down, and dropped onto his bed.
He laid back and pulled out his phone, staring at the ceiling. His mind drifted to Skai—her big doll eyes, those braids, that shy little smile. She was cute, chill, sweet. Something about her reminded him of Keisha.
He opened up his phone as he had it to his bedroom and his thumb hovered over his messages. He hesitated... then typed again:
stop texting me!!
He stared at it, lips tightening.
He sighed and tossed the phone on his chest. After a moment, he picked it back up and opened Instagram.
He followed Skai back. Clicked on her profile.
Millions of followers.
His mouth dropped open. "What the—?"
He was about to message her... but there was already one waiting.
He blinked. A message from her.
He smiled a little and started typing back.
⸻
Meanwhile...
Keisha was curled up in her bed, bonnet on, LED lights set to purple. Her legs were crossed under the blanket, and her phone was pressed to her ear.
"Girl, what the hell is Justin doing now?" Chloe asked, her voice bright and clear through the speaker.
Keisha rolled her eyes. "He showed up at my community service today. Like—literally showed up tryna help."
"Wait... he just pulled up? That's actually so sweet!!"
"Yes!! With gloves and everything Trying to be all noble or whatever it's literally not sweet we started off joking or whatever and he took it too far definitely not someone I could joke with. Like... boy, what?"
"Yikes," Chloe said. "And he's still texting you?"
"Like every five minutes. I told him to stop."
Chloe was quiet for a second. "I mean... maybe you should just talk to him. He clearly feels bad. He is a little awkward, but I think he's trying."
Keisha frowned a little, staring up at the ceiling.
"You need somebody like that," Chloe added. "You're always going for the bad boys and the dicks. Maybe it's time for someone who actually gives a damn."
Keisha bit her lip, her voice softer now. "Maybe you're right."
Chloe laughed. "I know I'm right. Keep me posted though. I want every little detail."