• A Blackbird's Serenade • (GxG)

"L-O-V-E is All That I Can Give to You"

Journee

Stars speckled mesmerizing flecks of silver across a never ending blackboard above. Allowing crickets to chirp freely in the midst of the chatter, vehicle honks, and faint music surrounding us.

Down on Earth, various beams dressed the lower ground, right as late evening was on the rise.

Folks were dressed in nighttime attire as they entered or exited the theater, its vertical sign beaming bright on the side of the street. Other folks chatted in groups outside of cars as the men smoked their cigars and the women hugged their arms. Couples walked hand in hand, taking blissful strolls down the street under the Atlanta night sky. Sharing nothing but smiles and laughter as time seemed to do nothing but fly by...

And as I watched, along with everything else around me, my heart coveted for me to do the same.

Tiana was walking right beside me, as Franklin and Coco led in front of us. Yet I could not touch her, at least not too much... I could not reach for her hand or let my eyes linger once she or I smiled. I could not brush up against her with laughter, as Coco was doing so freely to Franklin; without an ounce of vigilance or hesitance. And I could not steal a single kiss, after too long of hindering myself astrain...

It almost kindled tears to my eyes as I inhaled a breath of cooled breeze, blinking my emotions away while observing the world around me. So vivacious, yet so shortsighted. In so many ways...

"Honey, you alright?" Her rasped voice retracted me from my thoughts, and I grinned at the sparkle in her eyes from the lights. "You cold or anything?"

"No no, I'm fine," I assured with a smile and shrug. "Just, uh... Just thinkin..."

We were all dressed rather nicely, per Franklin's request. Somehow he secured a reservation at this fine new restaurant that was all the talk in Atlanta these days.

Coco wore this knee length, beautiful yellow dress while Franklin resided in a dark brown suit to match. Then Tiana wore an all black blazer and skirt set with sleek black pumps and laced stockings. My outfit was something similar, being a blazer set. Although instead of a short skirt like Tiana's, mine stopped just above my ankles with a bit of a flow, and the blazer was more fitted to my bodice. The color was a purplish red, and the material a bit lighter, given its ability to stretch.

She'd done my hair into this rosy low bun, with a swoop of a curl coming forth at my hairline and sideburns. All while she sported a breton hat, with her voluminous curled hair sitting atop her shoulders as dangling silver earrings gave it a bling.

An arm locked with mine, having me glance over with raised eyebrows. Though she played it coolly, glancing back with a soft grin and smiling fairly with her eyes. My attention then found the floor as I sighed internally, now feeling better about continuing through this night.

Because at least we could do that...

While the group of us walked through the doubled doors, our heads tilted back as our eyes twinkled with awe, taking in the vast scene before us.

"Shit," Tiana muttered. "Getta look at this place- Franky you sure we can be here??"

"Yes Tee," he chuckled over his shoulder as he and Coco glanced back at us. We continued through the crowd, making our way upstairs. "I know the owner- 'nd so does Jo, matter of fact."

Her head snapped at me as my eyes widened, looking between Tiana and my best friend. "I do??"

"Yes Jo," Franklin chuckled again. "'Member Olley? That quiet nerd from school?" My brain racked for a face while he continued. "He used to do your math homework, 'member now?"