Can we try again?

Hundred and twelve

Samira

I spotted Daniel as I stepped out of my flat building. He was in his car which was parked on the side road. From where I stood, I could see his head bowed slightly, and I imagined he was scrolling through his phone. I noticed the pensive look on his face, as though he was deciding whether he should be there.

As I stood outside the front door, contemplating whether I should walk up to him or sneak by without being unseen, he looked up and saw me. Immediately, he got out of the car and headed towards me. Watching him walk towards me with his slight swagger, my heart did a little backflip. I realized, with great intensity, how much I'd missed him.

But of course, I kept my emotions in check. I kept my face impassive, unwilling to let my countenance betray me. I adjusted my strap bag across my shoulder and took a few steps forward in his direction.

"Hi, Samira." His voice was sullen, quieter than usual. There was something about him—something unforthcoming and withdrawn about his demeanour.

"Hi, Daniel," I replied, matching the energy with which he greeted me. I didn't say anything else. I wasn't going to start a conversation with him after he'd ghosted me all this while.

There was a moment of silence and then he spoke. "I was wondering if we could talk." He put his hands in his pockets. There was a nervous energy emanating from him, and it made me wonder if something had happened. "But it seems like you're heading out."

"Uhh. . .yeah. I'm just heading out to pick Jameel up from my friend's." I paused. "Is everything okay? You look. . . "

"Yeah. I'm fine." He said brushing my concerns off. "There's just something I need to talk to you about."

I stared at him, wondering what this was. What on earth could have made him so worried to warrant this discussion he wants to have with me? If it were up to me, I could have demanded that Daniel tell me whatever it was he wanted to talk to me about. But from the look on his face, it appeared to me that it wasn't something he could just casually spew out whilst we were standing outside my flat. I feared that it was going to be a 'take a seat', serious conversation.

"I just need to go pick Jameel up first." I finally said. "I should be about fifteen or twenty minutes."

"Do you want me to drive you there?" He offered.

"Uh. . ." I hesitated. "I mean, you don't have to. As I said, it should take tops twenty minutes."

"Well if I drive you, it'll take less than that, right?" He smiled a little and it was all I could do not to melt into a puddle, right there. I better keep my emotions in check.

He was right. "Okay. Fine." I followed him to his car.

We arrived at Bernie's house and as soon as Daniel found somewhere to park, I quickly got out of the car. I knocked on Bernie's front door and it was immediately swung open by Bernie.

"Hey girlfriend," she pulled me in a hug cheerfully.

"Hey," I returned the greeting, grinning widely.

Bernie already had the door wide open, ushering me inside. "Come on in. Let's have a glass of wine before you go home with Jameel."

I shook my head. "Unfortunately, I can't Bernie."

"Why is that?"

"Uh. . .Daniel is here." I motioned to where Daniel was parked across.

A look of confusion was etched on her face as she looked across the road. "Daniel who?"

"Daniel," I repeated. "Jameel's dad."

"Oh! Daniel!" I saw as the realization dawned on her. "I see. Wait, what is he doing here?"