"Aaliyah! My girl you got so tall, oh my god!" Her grandmother gushed as Aaliyah, her mom and her brother walked through the door of her grandmother's house. "And Dion! You're getting so handsome-"

"What's your wifi password?" He cuts her off, earning a smack upside the head from their mother. "Ow!"

"Sorry mom, he doesn't know how to act sometimes," their mom grits her teeth. "But you look lovely," she smiles as she bent down to kiss her mother.

"Of course I️ do," her grandmother boasts. "Y'all are early but don't worry, the rest of the family is coming soon," her grandmother assures. "In the meanwhile, Elisa come help me in the kitchen baby."

Aaliyah sat down on the couch and pulls out her phone, mindlessly going through her social media accounts, until she got bored. When that repetitive, she downloaded a game app and started to play. But then the game demanded she pay for more levels so she deleted the app and looked for something else. She texted a couple of friends, and ignored Elijah as long as he could stand it, until he started texting crazy and accused her of cheating on him. She rolled her eyes and got up, taking a video of proof that she was at her grandma's house. She walked around, taking a vertical video until she entered the kitchen, where she stopped when she realized her mom and grandmother were talking in a hushed tone.

"...a friend that looks just like him."

"Don't play with me child...."

"It really was him-"

Aaliyah backed out of the kitchen without a peep. That was a weird conversation. She sent Elijah the video and then walked around the home, curiously looking at the photos on the wall. She sees a cute photo of her mom and her grandmother when she was a baby, she smiles. Everyone always told her she looked like her grandmother when she was young more than her mother so much so now it was a running joke in the family. But it was always the two of them. Aaliyah didn't know what happened to her grandpa, and according to her mom, neither did she either. Her grandmother always refused to talk about it. Must be too painful to talk about, she assumed.

Soon, a bunch of her family members started pouring in. A couple of her annoying cousins, uncles, aunties, family friends and visitors they've brought along all came for the Christmas feast her grandma and mom prepared for them all. Aaliyah was so grateful her mom let her drink this year at the dinner. She didn't know how much of her crazy ass family she could handle.

After a delicious dinner and plenty of wine, Aaliyah sat alone in the living room while everyone else talked and caught up out in the back porch and dining room, leaving the living room relatively empty save for a couple of kids watching tv and playing on their IPads. She looked through her photo album, somberly looking at pictures of her and Jackson at the beach.

She lets out a sad sigh. It was going so good. What did she do to deserve someone as horrible as Elijah Besides be naive and stupid? She quickly wipes her left eye, and was about to swipe right when a voice behind her startled her.

"Daniel?"

She quickly turns around to see a frail old lady in a wheel chair, looking down at her phone intently. "Excuse me?" Aaliyah responds. "I️ don't know a Daniel," she tells her.

The old lady shakes her head in disappointment. "Of course. I'm sorry dear," she apologizes. Aaliyah simply gives her a soft smile. "But why do you seem so sad?" She asks.

"I'm not sad," she quickly denies. "Okay...maybe I️ am," She sheepishly admits. "There's this boy-"

"There always is," the older lady says softly.

Aaliyah continues. "I️ like him, but...I️ have a boyfriend," she frowns.

"I️ take it, you don't like him as much as the other boy?" She suggests. Aaliyah shakes her head no. "Then why don't you break up with him?" She curiously asks.

Aaliyah sighs. "It's...complicated," she offers as an explanation.

"They always are."

"I️ wish I️ knew what to do," she sniffles. "But I'm trapped," she whispers.

"How much to do you like this boy?" She asks.

Aaliyah lets out a sad chuckles. "Ugh. So much. You have no idea," she looks over at her.

"I️ might have some idea," she says. "I️ was young and in love once too you know."

"Really?" Aaliyah perks up at this now. "How was that like?"

The older lady shrugs. "He was a charmer. Loved music and cars. A bit of a fool, but he made me laugh. Stubborn as a mule sometimes. I️ married him too. He's right over there," she points to the older man dance with a five year old girl.

Aaliyah deflates, as if she was expecting something more. "Oh."

"But my sister? Bless her soul, she fell hard and fast for a white man. And during the 50's too! You know, that was when segregation was still going on too," the lady added, catching her attention all over again.

"What were their names?" She asked.

"My sister was Grace James. Well, Hopper but then she married this Tuskegee Airman," She gossiped. "But before that, she fell deep in love with this white boy. His name was Daniel. I️ ain't ever got a last name though. But I️ remember his face clear as day. I'm not gonna lie, he was a handsome fella indeed. Did a number on Grace too. She claims she really loved the boy but it was forbidden at the time, so she let him go," she explained.

"How...did she ever fall in love again?" Aaliyah asked, now completely intrigued.

"Of course, but she never truly forgot about Daniel..."

* * * *

1950's

"Danny? You here?" He heard his co-worker Robert call out for him.

Daniel slid out from under a car he was working on an sat up, wiping his hands against a rag that was nearby. "What do you want boss? I'm workin' on Mr. Harris' car, it's due tomorrow," Danny tells him.

Robert sighs and bends down near him, leaning in real close. "I️ got a black woman in my office asking bout a tire and oil change," he whispers.

"So?" Daniel asked. "Did you really just bother me about a problem you could easily fix?" He scoffs.

"It's just...there's other customers here that if they see we service, uh, black people, they'll take their cars to other shops and drive our business to the ground," Robert advised.

"So you want to kick her out?" Daniel asks as he gets up and puts on his button up work shirt over his wife beater.

"Ideally, yes-"

"How bout I️ kick you in the ass for even suggesting something like that?" Daniel glares him. "Business is business Robert. The only color I️ care about is green," he pushes past him to head to the lobby. "I'm sorry for the wait," he says once he gets there. "How can I️ help you?" He asks.

The lady turns around to face him, taking her sunglasses off her face. "I️ didn't see a sign outside so I️ assumed-" she gasped when she saw his face. "Dan-Daniel?"

Daniel didn't even look up from his paperwork yet, so when he looked up to see Grace, he was surprised to see her. "Grace...hi," he breathes out. "You look...amazing," he compliments.

"So do you," she returns the favor. "Do you work here?" She asks.

"Work here? I️ own the place," he boasts proudly. "What about you?" He asks.

"Oh I'm...I'm engaged," she held up her right hand to show off the engagement ring that sat between her fingers.

Daniel's smile quickly dropped but he tried to keep a brave face. "Oh...who's the lucky guy? If you don't mind me asking?"

"First Lieutenant Henry James, Air Force," she says. "Um...anyways, you think you can get my car done in time by tomorrow?" She asks. "I️ have to drive all the way to San Antonio," she explains.

"I'll do you one better. Why don't you come back tonight and I'll have it ready for you," he offers.

Grace's eyes lit up. "Are you sure?" She asks.

Daniel waves his hand. "Of course. Anything for an old, um, friend," he gives her a small smile. Grace smiles back, feeling a bit uneasy now. "Wanna show me?" He asked.

"What?" She was caught off guard by his question.

"Your car. I️ gotta take a look," he slowly explained for her, an amused smirk playing on his lips. Grace rolls her eyes at him before motioning him to follow her out front. Daniel whistles at her ride. "Nice," he compliments. "Let me guess, the lieutenant bought it for you?" He asked.

"No, my father did," she tells him. She watches as he goes around and inspects the car all around before going back up and popping the hood. "Anything wrong?" She asks.

"Nah, everything's good. You're right about it needing a tire and oil change though," he closer the hood once again, wiping his hands against his jeans. "Yeah, I'll have it done for you by tonight. I'll give you a rental and...Just come back by seven," he looks at her now.

"Thank you Daniel," she says graciously.

"Sure," He he gave her a fake smile, leading her to the office. He handed her the keys to her temporary car for the day while Robert leans against a car as Daniel walks back towards him. "What?"

"You know her?" Rob asks.

"Sure. We went to school together when it integrated for like two years," he tells him.

"You two looked more familiar than that," Rob pointed out.

"Would you just get back to work?" Daniel snaps, pushing past him as Robert laughs. Daniel went to go work on Grace's car while she gets picked up. She waves to him goodbye as she gets into the car and he waves back.

Daniel sighs as he and Robert worked on the car. It easily took only an hour but Robert was complaining about half the time so it made it feel like it was longer. After finishing up, they went to work on other cars until seven, when they closed up shop. "You go on ahead Rob, I'll lock up here," Danny said.

"You sure-"

"Leave before I️ change my mind and make you stay late," Daniel playfully threatened with a smirk. Rob punches his arm before heading out. Daniel flips the "open" sign to "close", before going into the garage to straighten everything out for the next day. Just as he was doing that, he heard the sound of someone walking behind him. He turns around to see Grace, walking in with keys in her hand. "Hey there," he greets.

"I️ tried the office first but you weren't there so I️ came here," She rambled, making him chuckle a bit. "Oh!" She exclaims, handing the keys back to him. "Thank you," she said.

"No problem," he nods, motioning for her to follow him. "So your car's fine. It really did need an oil and tire change," he nods towards the car. He then holds up the keys to her car and she walks over to him as he places them in her hand.

"How much?" She asks.

Danny shook his head. "On the house," he states, before walking off to reorganize some things.

Grace follows closely behind. "What?" She sounded confused. "But there's gotta be some way to repay you..."

"What I️ actually want, you can't give me," He suddenly turns around and looks at her. "So just...take your car and go," he says.

Grace felt a pang of hurt but she figured she deserved it. She then takes her keys and turn around to get in her car when she stopped herself. "I'm getting married," she said aloud for him to head. He looked up from his work to meet her eyes.

"I️ know. You said that earlier-"

"Meaning...this is probably the last time we'll ever see each other," she slowly walks back over to him.

He drops everything now. "What are you saying Grace?" He asks.

Grace hesitated slightly before speaking. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I️ only did that for your own good-"

"I'm a big boy Grace," he interrupts her. "You don't have to protect me," he said. "I️ would've handled anything that came our way, I️ promised you that."

"People can be cruel," she reminds him. "And I never want to see you get hurt just cause you're in love with me," she shakes her head. "The world doesn't want us together Danny," she says softly.

Daniel holds his hand out towards her, and she gingerly takes it. He pulls her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist and lightly trailing his nose up her neck, and against her jawline.

"You're dirty," Grace points out.

"I've missed you," Danny simply responds, placing a gentle kiss against her lips. She didn't respond at first, making him think he crossed a line. But then she kissed back with equal force, catching him off guard. His hand came up to cup her face as he deepened the kiss. Leaning closer, he captured her lips again and again.

Grace pulled back to breathe, but it was hard. She could feel her heart beating ears, her lips tingling. He stayed close, breathing the same air as her and he gazed deep in her eyes. They felt... connected. She never felt like this with Henry then she did with Danny, she couldn't deny it, she never did actually. She trembled as her leaned in again. Her hand came up on its own and tangled in his hair. His hair was soft as she pulled him closer to her.

The taste of him was enough to make her moan into his mouth. He echoed her response and shoved everything off on a near by workbench, tools and all clattering all over the floor, all in an effort to get closer to her. Grace gasped at the noise, breaking their kiss. She then realized what she was doing. "Oh my god-"

"Stop!" Danny tightened his hold around her. "Don't-"

"I️-I️ can't- I'm not supposed to-"

Daniel reached up and redirected her attention back to him. "Grace," He quietly calls out to her, making her look down at him from their compromising position of her on top of him. "Don't go," He pleads. "Look, it's just you and me right now, okay?"

Grace calmed down once more and realized he was right. It was just the two of them, at moment. Their moment. "I️ love you," she tells him. "I️ love you," she says once more as he pulls her in to his warm embrace.

"I️ love you too," he says. "I️ never stopped."

Grace pulled back and gently placed her forehead against him. "But that doesn't change anything," she whispers sadly. "It just doesn't."

Daniel looked up at her, his hand reaching up to caress her cheek. "Then...lets make tonight ours," he declares. "Nobody has to know except us. Only us."

Grace nods her head and leans in once more, their lips molding against each other for the last time.

* * * *

"Yeah...my sister never forgot about him," she sighs after she tells Aaliyah the story. Aaliyah was on the midst of bursting into tears, it was the saddest thing she's ever heard.

"So what happened?" Aaliyah's voice cracked, wanting to know and not know all at the same time.

"She got married. Had three girls. Lived a relatively happy life," she says with a simple shrug. "But she always did tell me she felt like she was missing something," she wistfully tells her. "And that's the point I'm trying to make," they both look at each other now. Really look at each other. "My sister may have not been able to be with the man she loves, but you child? You live in a world where nobody gives a damn who you're with. Mostly," she shrugs. "Obviously the world still has a little bit more work to do."

"But it's not that simple," she laments. "I️-I️ feel like I'm stuck. Or like I'm drowning, or-or like I'm screaming and nobody can hear me. Nobody but him!" She exclaims. "But now, I'm scared I️ lost him. Like Grace did."

"How do you know you lost him?" She asked him.

Aaliyah buries her head in her head. "I️ just know I️ did," she frowns.

The older woman waves her hand. "Psssh!" She rolls her eyes. "You're young, you're a baby!" She states. "You think you lost him? Well you didn't baby. High school relationships don't last, but if you truly think he's the one for you, then go for it. Break up with your current man! Do what makes you happy!" She advised. "Baby, life is too short. We all realize that one day or another."

Aaliyah sniffles and smiles. "Thank you. That was really helpful," she sniffs. "What did you say your name was again? Miss..."

"Ella. I'm your great grandmother," She reminds her.

"Oh right," Aaliyah smiles. "Grandma Jess's mom," she gets up to hug her. "Thank you so much," she tells her, pressing a kiss against her cheek.

"Remember child, all of this is temporary. But your feelings for this young man? Those are permanent."

_______________________________

This chapter took me a WEEK to complete. Fuck me.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Concerns?

Also have y'all had a chance to check out Playing for Keeps? Again, it's actually based off my personal experience 😂 but I️ dramatized it to make it more entertaining! Crystal Pham is based off my best friend (we never fought over a boy, but I️ just wanted to put her in a story), and if you haven't guessed yet, Kiana Flores is based off me. Everything Kiana thinks, says or does is based of how I️ actually am lol and I'm so exited about it. Its only gonna be a couple chapters long, like maybe 10. Not too long.

Anyways thanks for reading! 🥳