Scene 1 — Idris' Car, Late Afternoon The sun was starting to dip over the Harlem blocks, casting a warm orange glow across the street. Idris' car was parked on the corner, music playing low through the speakers. The windows were rolled halfway down, letting in a soft breeze. Aurora sat in the passenger seat, one leg folded up, sipping on an iced drink, her phone in her hand. Idris leaned back in his seat, glancing over at her between laughs from their conversation. He turned the music down just a little.

Idris: "so how you feel about dd?"

Aurora blinked, then laughed — not caught off guard, but definitely not expecting that to come up right now. She looked over at him with a smirk.

Aurora: "he cool, he like my bestfriend." "but no, we not datin."

Idris nodded slowly, pretending to buy it, but the look on his face said otherwise.

Idris: "oh aight i feel you" "i thought yall had sum going on cause the way yall be flirtin"

Aurora looked out the window, still smiling to herself, like she wasn’t trying to admit how close he was to the truth.

Aurora (in her mind): hm maybe we do be flirtin a lot

Scene 2 — Next Day, On the Block The next day, Idris and DD were chilling on the block, standing outside a corner store. The sky was overcast but warm. They leaned against the wall, sipping Arizona cans, the usual sounds of the city buzzing around them — cars passing, someone blasting music from a window nearby. Idris looked over at DD, like he was about to say something light. But instead, he hit him with it.

Idris: "so dd how you feel about aurora? yall got sum toing on?"

DD didn’t answer right away. He just looked ahead, smirking a little like he already knew where this was going.

Dd: "nahh bro chill, that’s my heart"

As soon as he said it, his face shifted — he couldn’t stop smiling.

Idris: "why you cheesing when i said her name?"

DD looked down, smile still there, trying to play it cool.

Dd (with a smile): "im not"

Idris wasn’t buying it for a second. He laughed and shook his head.

Idris: "aight bet im finna set you onna date with her then"

DD laughed, pretending he wasn’t hyped. But deep down, he didn’t hate the idea one bit.