Him

This is my most prized possession in the world. This book. Journal. Diary. Whatever. Contains the best year in my life.

I've read it over and over. And I feel it's time to share it. I feel everyone deserves a year like this. Maybe not exact

of course, but you'll get the idea when you read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It's very near and dear to my

heart.

Day one

It was supposed to be a regular get coffee and go day. Monday to be exact. The worst day, besides the false hope of

Sunday it is THE WORST.

This is how it went today.

I got up. After hitting snooze two or twelve times. I know i'm not the only one who sets the alarm an hour or so early

so they feel like they got more sleep. Right?

Anyway.

I was off and this weeks goal was to try to be a morning person so I got up at five. Ok, seven forty. Close enough.

I jolted up from my alarm for the last time and stared at the clock on my phones screen for a few seconds before deciding

to turn it off. I dragged myself out of bed, went to pee and what not, brushed my teeth, fluffed my hair, washed my face

and did whatever I do to get ready. Then I threw on my jeans, tank top, flats, and was out the door after checking the

mirror to see that i looked decent and checking my purse to make sure I had my keys, money, and whatever else I felt I

needed today which usually's not much past lotion and a mirror.

I walked three blocks down to Starbucks; ordered the drink the person in front of me got. Which was a grande vanilla

frap with no whip.

Then I sat in there for the first time and scrolled through instagram like a normal person.

I heard a chair move but failed to notice The none normal person sitting in it, for i don't know how long, was staring

at me and smiling.

"Can I help you?" I saw a picture on my explore feed I wanted to click so on badly, but I couldn't be rude so I shut down

my phone.

"You can give me a year of your time." He said staring in my eyes so I couldn't look away. Or maybe I didn't want

to look away. Those simple brown eyes held something in them.

"A year?" I barely wanted to give a few seconds. He was cute. Handsome. I don't know what guys prefer so yeah he was

attractive or whatever, but not as cute as the guy in the picture just waiting to be clicked on.

"A year." he said it like it was an everyday simple thing to give.

"Why?"

"Trying something new." he shrugged.

"For a year?"

"Yeah, I guess. If you agree."

"Agree to what?"

(By the way I gave up and got back to my phone, and clicked on the picture only to be annoyed that he

wasn't tagged so I wasn't going to double tap.)

"Getting to know me." I could feel him looking at me. I think. At least I feel like I should feel him looking.

"That takes a year?" Awww..puppy. Double tap.

"We're like universes. It'll take more than a year, but a year is a good start or end point." I glanced up at him. He was

sitting with a lean looking from my screen to me.

"What's the name of your universe?" He looked nice enough. Not creepy. Attractive.

"Derrick."

"Derrrick...?" It was hard not to roll my neck but I did wave my hand a little to make him give more information.

"Jackson"

"Universe Derrick Jackson. Ok." It fit him. He had a Derrick Jackson face. Like all red heads look like a Katie or Emily.

He looked like a Derrick.

"Yours is Jay?" He raised an eyebrow. I looked at the scribbled Jay on my cup then finally realized he had a coffee himself

with Derrick on the side and a muffin. Well what was left of a muffin.

"Jan'ae. Grant." I took a sip and stirred my melting drink to it'd blend a little back together.

"Nickname is Jay than?"

"I don't like to have my name spelled wrong." It never failed so I just gave up.

"Well it was nice to meet you." he smiled. I was glad at that moment that I was black because I blushed. He was cute.

"Nice to meet you too."

"What are you doing today?" He leaned forward making me instinctively try to cover my screen.

"I don't know yet." Why lie?

"Can I put my number in your phone and you can decide if you want plans today. I will have a plan any time you call. or

text." he looked pointingly at my phone and I was reluctant but curious. The ball was in my court, and I had nothing else

to do.

So I gave him my phone.

He put in his information and handed me back my phone right on instagram where i left it.

"Hope i'll here from you. Jan'ae." He got up and walked away. He was tall. Dark. Handsome. He had style. I liked the way

his jeans were pulled up but still had a hang to them. I liked his arm muscles. I guess I kind of liked him in general.

I looked through my contacts and frowned that he wasn't in the D section so I kept scrolling and held in a laugh and

goofy smile when I saw Universe Derrick Jackson.

I'll make him wait. Honestly I just wanted the day to just me.

I spent my whole off day at the apartment. Binge watching orange is the new black until the season was half over. I had

to save some for the next off day.

It was ten at night. He waited long enough. And I was bored.

ME: Hi

UNIVERSE DERRICK JACKSON: Hi. You want to talk or do you want to know my plan?

ME: We aren't doing both? What if I had a plan?

Mm maybe he's controlling. Controlling is a no.

UNIVERSE DERRICK JACKSON: Touche, what's your plan?

What is my plan?

ME: Swinging at the park

UNIVERSE DERRICK JACKSON: Ok. Which one?

I could walk to the park at the river.

ME: the one by the river close to the Starbucks we met at.

UNIVERSE DERRICK JACKSON: What time?

ME: now

I was already out the door and walking. I honestly felt a little nervous. My phone dinged but I didn't even look just

kept going. It was still warm out well i guess it is summer so it'll be warm at any time but this was a warm where i

wasn't sweating after ten minutes. A wake up in warm sheets and not want to leave type of warm.

I got to the park first and couldn't resist the urge to take off my flats and walk in the dirt. I like how it feels under

my feet. Is that weird?

I sat on the swing and looked around seeing nothing but the objects illuminated by the street lights and moon. He

probably had a few minutes to get here. I eyed the baby swing and took a shot.

I won't lie it was harder than it looked to get in that thing.

OK, Try number eight. One, two , three, JUMP!

I pulled up and was caught by a strong hand and pulled back a little so my butt finally sunk into the small seat allowing

the circle to dig into my back and thighs. All I could hear was his laughing.

"Really?" he laughed moving around to the front of the swing so I could see him. Still handsome.

"I - i wanted to see if i could fit." I smiled trying to hide the pain of sitting here and I held even tighter to the

chains holding the swing on either side.

"You're small, but not that small." he shook his head still smiling and backed up and took a picture.

"Are you entertained?" I faked an attitude. I honestly couldn't get mad when he looked that happy.

"Very. Want a push?"

"Ehh i think i want out now." I wiggled giving into the pain. He grabbed me at my waist and pulled me out. "Adult swing

is good enough for me."

I looked at his face riddled with amusement and I felt left out of a joke.

"What?" I sat relieved in the regular swing.

"Do you know what an adult swing is?" He still held the same face.

"This." I swung a little.

"No this is a child swing." he came and pushed me.

"But an adult can use it." It was a fact. I'm adulting now, and I can use it, soooo it's an adult swing.

"Yeah, but it's not considered an adult swing." he pushed me and I kicked sand at him.

"Than what's an adult swing?" I frowned and could almost hear his smile.

"I'll show you a picture later." he laughed.

We played for awhile. Swinging. Sliding. Talking about random nothings.

We ended up sitting in the sand somehow making a sad castle together.

"What'd you learn about me today?" He asked focusing on his pile that kept falling apart.

"A lot I guess." I honestly didn't think about it. I just knew I enjoyed him today. I liked how he went with the flow

the whole night and tried whatever caught my eye like the wobbly balance beam that took us both multiple times to cross

successfully. I learned that he was very knowledgeable about constellations and loved to point them out to me. I liked how

he instinctual he was when it came to my safety. He caught me each time I did something stupid going down the slide, tried

climbing up the side of the playground when I should've fully known better and ect.

I learned that he'd try anything once and if he didn't like it. Like tag. He wouldn't do it again or he'd change the

activity. I liked how the light breeze moved his scent around the air. I liked him.

"How about you write down what you learned and send it to me later and I'll do the same." He was slowly losing patience

with his sand pile.

"I will if you say please." He was controlling. But not the type of controlling I despised. He just knew what he wanted.

I admired that about him. I wasn't structured like that. I was an in the moment person.

"Please." he glanced at me then frowned and flattened his pile finally giving up. I giggled and leveled out the pile I

was actually taking pride in. He gives effort. Not as stubborn as me, but I like that he tries things.

"Ok." There were some things I wouldn't tell him, but I could share a little.

"Ok." he smiled.

"It's late." I looked up at the stars, noticing some constellations he pointed out earlier,

and glanced at my phone for the first time to see it was almost one in the morning.

He walked me back to the apartment and we called it a night. No kiss, hug, or handshake. Just a simple Goodnight and a

good night it was.

I got ready for bed and nestled in; my list ready to send. I wrote it while i was getting ready like the good person I

was.

Me: I learned this about you today.

1. You're tall

2. You're nice

3. You're not bad looking. lol

4. You're a people person

5. You eat muffins upside down like me.

6. You're a boring coffee drinker

7. You're controlling but not controlling

8. You go for what you want

9. You seem dependable

10. You're not like everyone else

11. You're playful

12. You're confident

13. You have a nice smile

14. You're not stubborn

15. You're different

UNIVERSE DERRICK JACKSON: This is what I learned about you Miss Universe Jan'ae (aww he spelled it right)

1. You're gorgeous

2. You have three different types of curls

3. You have an instagram problem but it can be turned off

4. You have interesting coffee taste

5. You cross your feet whenever you get the chance

6. You lick your lips alot

7. Your smile is contagious

8. You're a child at heart

9. You like your privacy

10. You have random white freckles. One on your face and many on your hands and arms.

11. You have perfect posture. At all times.

12. You like to call the shots.

13. You stare off when you think

14. You bite your lip when you're looking for something

15. You're different too.

I looked down and noticed my feet were crossed and smiled. He noticed things about me i forgot about myself and some I

never even noticed. Today I learned something about him but in turn I was learning about me too. I never thought about

the fact that I need to spend time to learn about myself. The more he learns the more I'm excited to learn too.