Looking for Something

Chapter 9

Baby, here I am (here I am)

I'm your man (I'm your man)

I came with everything you needed

You and me undefeated,

Till the end of time

One mind, one heart, one love

All you gotta do is,

Take my hand (take my hand)

We will stand (we will stand)

This was made to last forever,

So lets say it together for the rest of time

One mind, one heart, one love

-Trey Songz

~~Dominic~~

"Damn bruh, it is summer vacation already. Just think about it. Next year, we will be seniors and we will be off in the world, starting our real lives off." Man, Chance is right. I never realized until now. "What teams are trying to get you?"

"Dolphins, Steelers, Ravens, Cowboys, Bears, and the Saints."

"Daang, bruh. I only have three on my back."

"Who?"

"Dolphins, the Saints, and the Bears."

"Which one are you leaning towards?"

"Dolphins. Miami is my life man. My moms and pops are here, plus I love my city. What about you?" I understand where he is coming from for real, but I have to get away from Chicago. Too many bad memories.

"I feel where you coming from, but at the same time, I have to stay away from Chicago. So the Bears are a big no no, and I think Syd would be happy if I go with the Dolphins. She loves it here, plus, we already got a house down here, so it would just make it easier on both of our lives."

"What would make you happy man?" I turn to look at him.

"Whatever makes her happy. I am just happy I am being drafted. Doesn't matter to me which team I go on, but I will not go with the Cowboys. That is a big HELL NO! And of course I'm that Chicago Bears fan, but living in Chicago is too sad for me and Syd."

"Dee, are you really going to marry her?" I look at him again. Should I show him? Man, Darnell is my guy and I have not even showed him yet. But, Chance has proven that he is my white Darnell since I have been here. When I am not hanging with Syd, I am hanging out with him.

"Chance, you want to see something?" He looks at me confused. "You cannot tell a soul, ESPECIALLY not Syd."

"Dee, you have my word. What is it?"

"Close the door." He stops leaning on the door frame, steps in, and closes it."

"Lock it." He hesitantly locks the door and I walk over to my sock drawer and dig until I find the heavy loose sock. "I have had this thing for a year. I saw it in a shop when we had that game in Texas, and while the rest of you were going back to the hotel to sleep and shower up, I snuck away to the shop to go buy it." He stares at the black velvet box in my hand and then looks up at me.

"Dee, is that what I think it is?" He takes it from my hands and opens it to reveal the engagement ring I picked out specifically for Syd. "Damn man. This is nice. Dee, how could you afford this?" His eyes grow big as the sun bounces off the diamonds that are glistening in his face.

"Chance, I have had my parents life insurance money since forever, and it is waaayyy more than I can handle. I figured I would use some of that money to buy my girl the ring she deserves. When I saw this one in Texas, I knew that it would not be there by the time I was ready to propose to Syd, so I took the chance, and I am glad that I did. Plus, whatever team I get drafted to, I will get the money back."

"She is going to love you forever after this."

"I am hoping that the ring will not be the only reason." I take it back from him and close the box.

"Dee, come on man. That girl loves you. You can tell, and there is no doubt in my mind that even if you had to tie a piece of rope around her finger, she would marry you just the same." I place the ring in my suitcase in a secure spot and I throw some more things in before I close it and grab it off the bed. We walk out of my room and to my car.

"Thanks man, I believe she does, and I trust her with my life. So if she ever double crosses me, I don't think I will recover."

"She will probably only do that if it means keeping you alive." Before I can respond Syd's car pulls up to the house and she climbs out.

"Hey Chan, hey babe." She smiles at me and gives me a kiss.

"Hey Syd. So, heard you guys are going to Japan in about a week or two. Have fun, and bring me back a shirt."

"Hahah, we'll see! You ready to go?" She looks at me.

"Yep." Chance says goodbye one more time before he walks back into the house. "Which car do you want to take?"

"Let's take your truck. More space."

"Mhm, more space for what?" I grin in her face.

"Definitely not what you are thinking, nasty." She starts walking away from me and I loop my fingers through her belt loops and follow her to her car.

"Girl, I know you want this dihh." She laughs as she opens the trunk and I move her out the way so that I can get her bags. I put them in the trunk of my truck and she climbs into the passenger side. "You ready to go back home?"

"Yea, I can't believe I actually miss it a little. Probably only because that is where my family is."

"Yea, I know how you feel." I pull off and we just ride along talking, like usual. We make it to the airport and  and I climb out. "Here." I hand her one of her bags and she takes it from me. "God, I hate airports." I hear her laugh beside me.

"Why?"

"Because every time we come to one some little knuckle-headed ass BOY thinks he can flirt with you."

"Babe, don't worry about it. It does not happen all the time, you are overreacting."

"Okay, we will see." I follow her into the building and we make our way to the desk to get our tickets. She stands by our stuff while I get them and I come back over to her and hand hers to her.

"See, we have been here five minutes and no one has even looked my way."

"We just got here. Give it a second." We make it to baggage check and all, and no problems there. Thank goodness, but someone is going to find a way to mess with her before we leave. Just trust me.

"See, we are all the way into the waiting room and I have not been hit on. Maybe I am losing my cuteness." I look her up and down.

"Yea, don't believe that lie." She laughs as I sit down.

"Aye, I am going to get some chips. You want something?"

"A Sprite." She walks away from me and I watch her walk over to a vending machine. I watch her ass jiggling in her sundress. Mhm, sexy ass. Chance says in love is an understatement of how I act around Syd, but I can't help it. She just does something to me and everyday I become a little more obsessed with the woman she is becoming.

Then movement out of the corner of my eye breaks me out of my daze. Well a group's movement does. I see the one in the middle and his two little groupies most likely pushing him forward. The second he moves his foot forward, I hop out of my seat and I speed up my pace, watching the whole way over to her.

I reach her before he does and he stops mid-stride and I place my hand on her lower back. "Babe, I changed my mind. Just get me a water."

"Okay." She hands me her water and uses the money she was going to buy my Sprite with to buy another bottle of water. I look back up at ole dude and he mean mugs me and flicks me off. I just smirk and shrug. "Here you go." I grab the bottle from her.

"Flight 37 is ready. All aboard for the flight to Chicago."

"Ooo yay, that's us! See, no one has even attempted to flirt with me." I just wrap my arm around her shoulders and walk with her to our stuff.

"Yea, you were right. Guess I do overreact sometimes."

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~~Sydney~~

"Syd, wake up. We are about to land." I feel Mickie nudge me and I open my eyes and look out the window. I can see my city through the clouds. I buckle my seat belt and watch us land out the window.

Once we land we get off the plane and I grab his hand as we make our way to baggage claim. After getting our bags we go wait for Chasity to come pick us up.

"What time is Chas getting here again?" He sits down on the seats in the window and pulls me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck.

"She said six, and it is 5:30 now."

"Time to kill."

"Yeeaaa, soo...you decided what team you are going to go with yet?"

"I thought you wanted me to go with the Dolphins."

"Yea, but I am not the one playing on the team Mickie. Wherever you decide to go, I will support you. Don't choose a team just because I like it."

"Well, I choose the Dolphins anyways because I know it will make you happy, and besides...I don't care which one I get on really."

"Yay!" I kiss him and he smiles at me. Sometimes I wish I could know what he was thinking.

"Syd!" We both look up to see Chas walking towards us with Dax behind her carrying little Day Day. China runs up and hugs me

"Thank God you are back! I missed you so much!"

"Hey kid, I missed you too." I kiss her on the forehead.

"Hey Dominic!" She waves at him and he laughs and waves back.

"Oh my gosh! Boy you have gotten huge and Syd, you look more like me every day! That is a compliment by the way." I laugh and go to hug my sister. Still silly.

"Heeeyyyyy Day Day!" I take him from Dax. "Hey Dax." I give him a side hug.

"Hey Syd. That school been treating you right?"

"Yea. Better than I thought it would."

"Good good."

"You miss me Day?" He starts blabbing about only Lord knows what, and then he has a giggling fit. "I am going to take that as a yes."

"Well kids, let's get to the house! Dee, your folks are there with Hope and your cousins. They have been so excited that you are coming." We get our stuff and follow her out to Dax's truck. We ride out to the house answering questions about how Florida has been, and talking about what has been going on around Chicago.

"Is my room still the same?"

"Yep. We turned the guest room into Day's room. Oh and guess what!"

"What?"

"We're getting married!" She shows me her ring and I flip out! Chas and I scream at the same time.

"Oh my gosh! Congratulations! Way to go Dax! This ring is gorgeous!"

"That ring used to be my great grandmother's. Been in the family for generations, and I had to beg my mom to let me use it as an engagement ring."

"Well, you done good kid, you done good." I look over at Mickie and he is just looking out the window. "What's up with you?" I poke his cheek.

"Huh?" He looks over at me. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking."

"Abooutt...?"

"Nothing important."

"Are you sure?" He nods his head at me and I just shrug it off. I spend the rest of the ride questioning Chas about their wedding and going over plans with China. We get so caught up in the conversation, we don't even realize that the car has stopped.

"Okaaaayyyy! God, you guys can get out the car now." Dax yells this through the car and we all laugh as we climb out and go to see Dee's family. I open the door of the house and...

"SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME!" I laugh at everyone that came to see us. I am shocked when I see Andie standing in the living room with everyone. Everyone runs up and gives us hugs and kisses.

"Sydney, Sydney, Sydney!" I feel Hope run up and hug me.

"Girl, you have gotten taller, and so much prettier. I'm jealous!" She laughs and hugs me again.

"One day I am going to be as pretty as you right?"

"If anything, you will look better!" I missed my little buddy.

"Mhm, I bet you didn't expect to see me here." I stand up again and Andie walks up and hugs me.

"No, what are you doing here?"

"To see my girl of course. My parents gave me permission to ride back with you when you guys come to visit me in Japan."

"Oh my gosh! I am so hype about this trip!"

"Me tooo!"

"Me three!" Lauren appears and I pull her into a tight hug.

"Ugh, I told you about hugging me! Ruins my rep." She shakes me off and starts wiping down her sleeves.

"Girl, what rep?" We laugh and continue discussing our trip. Where did Mickie get off to? Oh well, I will see him later. It is so nice seeing everybody again. Chas, Dax, China, Day, Auntie Missy and Uncle Richie, Hope, Kyle's family, all my friends, my grandma and more. Never realized how much I missed them until now.

Hours have passed and I finally see Mickie sitting with Kyle, Darnell, and some other guy talking. "There you are." He says this when he sees me walking towards him.

"I have not seen you all night." I kiss him on the cheek.

"Babe, you remember Dez right?" He points to him and I have to take a good look at him, because he does not look the same. A picture of him from that night flashes into my mind, and then I see him again.

"Of course. Nice to see you again. You look so different now." He laughs and takes a sip of his beer.

"Yea, I know. I met this girl, and she was kind of in the same predicament as me, and she encouraged me to get myself together." He winks at me and I understand completely. No one caught it but me.

"Good!" I hear a slow song come on the sound system and I grab Mickie's hand and pull him off the couch. "Dance with me." No one else is dancing, but I don't care. I want to dance with my man.

He laughs and follows me into the middle of the room. He places his hands on my waist and I wrap my arms around his neck. We sway to the music slowly.

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~~Narrator's POV~~

Everyone in the room watches as the young couple starts to slow dance with each other, and some couples decide to slow dance with their mate. Auntie Missy and Uncle Richie sit off towards the side and observe their nephew.

"Have you ever seen him so happy, Rich?" Missy looks over at her husband and he smiles and shakes his head.

"Not since his folks died. I remember just three years ago, he brought her into our shop grinning from ear to ear. I knew he was falling in love already, he just did not know it yet."

"Well, I had my doubts about her, but like I said. She is a strong girl, and I think she has made our nephew a better man for it." They observe at how they are laughing together and have not noticed another soul standing around them.

"Well, may I have this dance, with my wife?"

"Of course you may!" Richie grabs her hand and makes his way towards the dance floor. Everyone seems to be having a good time and Dominic pulls Sydney closer to him, remembering how close he had her at their first slow dance.

"You remember our first slow dance?" He looks down at her waiting for her answer. She smiles up at him and nods her head. She would never forget it.

"Yep. I thought you were drunk or something because you were being a major flirt." He laughs a little.

"I was just feeling you and I wanted you to know."

"Then that's when you said you liked me and I said that I liked you."

"Making me smile too hard for my own good. Then you made the smile grow ten times more when you kissed me."

"I really thought I had made a mistake until you kissed me back."

"Your lips were so soft." He whispers it only loud enough for her to hear, leaning down for another kiss, just like their first. Their heartbeats both grow at the feeling that one gets from the kiss of the other. When they finally break apart they both smile. He lays his forehead on hers and closes his eyes. "I think that was the night I fell for you, and I couldn't get back up."

"Then you pulled me down with you. Now I am stuck...but being stuck in love with you is better than life itself."

"I love you, Shortie." He opens his eyes again to see her face when she says it back.

"I love you too, Mickie." He smiles at the sound of his nickname. He has loved that nickname since the day she gave it to him. Mainly because she made it and he will cherish it forever.