𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

"my talking stage is getting on my last nerve." gio muttered in irritation as she set her phone done in defeat.

the ambient lighting of damian's restaurant cast a soft glow on our table, the low hum of conversation and clinking cutlery adding to the cozy atmosphere. the scent of fresh pasta and grilled seafood wafted around us.

"why do girls like to block people over the smallest arguments?"

"didn't i use to do that to you when we first started talking." i asked amused by the memories, back when i was younger and immature. fun fact, gio and i were talking romantically since she was technically my type but we became close after we realised that we were doper as friends.

"yes and it was annoying as fuck." gio says rolling her eyes.

"what was the argument about?" natalie asked, glancing over at gio, who was seated next to her in the booth. she brought a forkful of creamy risotto to her mouth, her eyes narrowing with interest.

"i took too long to text and she doesn't believe that i was napping for real." gio exclaimed in disbelief, her voice rising slightly. "i been told her to fix her trust issues, it's not my fault that her ex fucked her best friend and sister."

"and?" i gasped, a bit too loudly. i was at damian's with nati and gio for a causal lunch date before my tiny desk performance with NPR music later that afternoon. we were all in need for an emergency link-up the moment natalie touched down on LA, since it's nearly impossible for us to hang out as a trio with natalie filming her movie in england. the restaurant was a cute spot, with its rustic wooden tables and exposed brick walls giving it a charming, laid-back vibe. "damn, i would have trust issues too."

"i think you need to drop her," natalie said simply. she paused to take a sip of her sparkling water, the glass catching the light. "dealing with people who irresponsibly place themselves back in the dating market unhealed and expect someone to tolerate that is exhausting." natalie will always be the president of standing on business.

"true, but i don't know guys, she is hella cute." gio pouted, finally eating her meal after talking our ear off since we arrived. she stabbed at her salad, the fork crunching through fresh lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

"okay gio, there are many other cute girls in america, heck in the world. you'll be fine." i say in an attempt to reassure her. knowing her she won't take our advice and will continue to stay attached to this girl she's talking to.

honestly, girl same.

my phone rings but i completely forgot that natalie has her face recognition registered so when we both looked towards my phone, which was angled more towards nati, it opened and showed the message.

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 (𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫)

yo just woke up |

u need to stop spamming my phone with the bear memes |

why r u even awake at 4am? |

i quickly grabbed my phone off the table, but the damage was already done. natalie's fork dropped loudly into her bowl, her face already twisting in disapproval. gio looked between the both of us, confused about what was about to go down. the low murmur of the restaurant seemed to grow quieter as tension settled at our table.

"i can explain." i start slowly but natalie wasn't having it.

"bitch you didn't." natalie hissed, trying to keep her voice down.

"what she do?" gio asks, piping in. i cringed waiting for my ass to get a good grilling. gio's curiosity was only growing, her eyes wide and attentive.

"why are you texting dani? didn't i specifically advise you not to talk to her?" natalie starts, crossing her arms tightly towards her chest, a half disapproving look plastered on her face, but a smile was also twitching. i already know that she was finding this unbelievable.

ever since she came over to my house to watch the bear, our old friendship has reblossomed and we have been texting almost everyday. it wasn't on any weird shit, mostly sending memes and talking about nothing. i made sure to not cross any lines and dani seemed to also have intentions on staying respectful. the girl is in a relationship after all.

"well...maybe?" i said quietly, looking between gio's confused face and natalie's shocked one. "okay yes we're talking. as friends though, don't get it twisted."

"hold up, dani as in danielle? i'm sorry but how, when and what happened?" gio exclaims, i could see her becoming impatient for me to spill the tea, but natalie beat me to it.

"this girl over here, who never listens to anyone, told me that she's been recently bumping into dani a lot. i told her goofy ass to not engage, but look where we are now. they're at the sending memes stage."

"damn, skai i'm afraid you may be in too deep if you're at that stage." gio laughed, finding the situation humorous. she reached for her drink, taking a sip and shaking her head in amusement.

"it's not like i'm doing anything that is crossing any boundaries, we used to be friends after all so what's wrong with our friendship?" i ask, trying to convince the girls, as well as myself but was failing miserably.

"you know damn well you and dani cannot be friends." natalie rolled her eyes alongside her comment, giving me a be-for-real face.

"skai i can't lie, i don't blame you." gio admits and throws her hands up in the air in defence when natalie side-eyes her. "what? we all go back to our exs at least once...or five times in our lives. plus have you seen dani?"

"exactl—uh no i'm not going back to her." i say in quick defence, slightly tripping up in the beginning.

"i'm telling you right now, this is not going to end well." natalie said, shaking her head as she sipped her drink. the sunlight filtering through the windows cast a warm glow over her features, emphasising her seriousness.

***

i left the girls at around five pm to meet up with my team at the studio. everyone was prepping their instruments in the studio, which was bathed in the late afternoon sunlight that streamed through the large windows. the usual chaos of setting up microphones, adjusting sound levels, and running through set lists filled the room with a buzz of focused energy. i took a moment to gather my thoughts and chat with the producers about the set list.

my team had arranged it partly because i had been begging them to book me for years and partly as a stepping stone to help me regain my confidence after my traumatic incident that had left me shaken.

as the crew set up, a sudden and urgent call interrupted my pre-show rituals. one of my keyboard musicians had fallen sick, and the timing couldn't have been worse. desperation clawed at me as i scrambled for a solution.

dani's name flashed across my mind. i remembered she was in town with her team, and i knew she had some of the best musical talent working for her.

i go into a quiet corner and sigh before calling dani's number. there was a good chance that she was sleeping or she probably wouldn't answer but i tried my luck. the call went through after two rings and i crossed my fingers as i brought the phone close to my ear, peering over at the staff who were frantically discussing about a replacement.

"yo, what's up." dani's raspy low voice replies immediatly.

it felt so weird hearing her voice on the other side of a line, still not getting used to us calling each other causally. i shook my thoughts to the side since i have bigger fish to fry.

"hey dani, sorry is this a bad time to call? i kind of need to ask you a favour." i asked, trying to keep a straight and composed voice. i heard shuffling on the other end of the phone, confirming my assumption that she was sleeping.

"nah, i'm free right now. why what's wrong skai?" her voice softened, sounding more alert.

"great, well you see, i am performing for tiny desk but my keyboardist had to cancel on me last minute and i'm in desperate need for a replacement." i started, brandy walking towards me mouthing if there is any progress. i place my hand up to motion for her to wait. "i know you're in LA right now and if i could borrow your keyboardist for just two hours that would be perfect, they'll get financially compensated of course."

"uh, sure why not. i have to double check with my management cause i have a gig this evening, but since it's for two hours i don't see why not." dani says and i gives brandy the thumbs up. she sighs in relief and turned to quickly report back to the staff.

"thank you dani, you don't understand how much of a life saver you're being right now, i promise that i owe you one." i said, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. her chuckle on the other end of the line eased some of my tension.

"no problems, let me go ask already and get back to you." she cut the phone and i let out a breath i didn't know i was keeping in. i walked back to the set-up and we did a few rounds of rehearsals before the keyboardist arrived.

dani and trenice strolled in forty minutes later, dani's keyboard musician following behind, already receiving instructions on where to place his equipment. the room was bustling with activity, the final touches being added to the stage setup. relieved to see them, i smiled while approaching the pair.

"hey guys, also dani thanks again, i didn't know who else to call."  i said, stopping in front of the two. trenice smiled cheerfully and waved. the ambient noise of instruments being tuned and last-minute adjustments buzzed around us.

"don't even worry about it." she says, looking behind me to the arrangements for my stage. her presence seemed to add an extra layer of chaos to the already chaotic scene.

"if you two have time then you're welcome to stay in the audience and watch the show." i suggested, and trenice looked towards dani, excitement sparkling in her eyes.

"hell yeah, i've been waiting to hear you live." trenice says and dani nods, her wet brown curls falling over her eyes and shoulders delicately. the lighting in the room caught the droplets in her hair, giving her a soft, almost ethereal glow.

"sure, we'd be honoured to stay." she said, smiling charmingly, making me slightly nervous. her stance was as relaxed as her outfit and aura, head slightly cocked to the side, as she gazed lazily at me, adding to the butterflies in my stomach.

"okay, well, pick any seats in the front row and enjoy." i said before twirling on my heel to get ready for my performance. the room's energy was electric, the anticipation building as showtime approached.

i returned back after a few minutes, and the seats were already packed with anticipating fans. i waved enthusiastically as i walked towards the stage. as the lights dimmed and the room fell into a hush, i took my place at the centre of the intimate setup. the soft glow of the stage lights cast a warm ambiance, making the space feel both grand and personal. the first notes played by dani's keyboardist filled the air, and i began to sing.

each song felt like a piece of my soul being laid bare, the rawness of my emotions resonating with every chord and lyric. i poured everything into my performance, my voice weaving through stories of love, loss, and hope.

occasionally, i caught dani's intense stare from the front row, her eyes never leaving me. there was a weight to her gaze, something unspoken that lingered in the space between us.

during a softer, more introspective song, i locked eyes with her again. the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of us connected through the music.

the final song came to an end, the last notes lingering in the air as the room erupted into applause. i took a deep breath, the adrenaline coursing through me as i soaked in the moment. glancing at dani, i saw her clapping alongside trenice, she smirked as she whispered something to treee. it was a small gesture, but it meant everything.

"thank you guys! don't forget to stream only you by me and normani!" i say into the microphone, pulling a playful serious face causing some the audience to respond with laughter. "ok love y'all!"

after the performance, i made my way backstage, where dani and trenice were waiting. the room was buzzing with congratulations and the usual post-show chaos, but their presence was a calm amid the storm.

"your voice is angelic honestly skai." trenice says as they greet me. i couldn't help but gush at her compliment. "girl when you go back on tour, i'll probably end up going to three shows."

"stop making me blush tree seriously." i say, playfully pushing her shoulder as she laughs at my response.

"i mean that why she's everyone's favourite singer right?" dani's raspy voice adds, her arms tightly crossed but her eyes had a warmth to it. she kept her distance but something about the way she looked and spoke to me was welcoming.

"seriously, guys stop."

"look, we have to head to our venue for our gig, but you're welcome to join us." trenice suggests as she digs into her pocket to reveal a leaflet. she hands it to me and i look for the address.

"of course i'll come, i might even bring a few extra guests from my music team. our guitarist is a big fan of your music shake, by the way." i remarked, folding the paper into a small square before slipping it inside of my phone case.

"that's dope, just bring anyone you want along with you and when you get backstage ask for me and i'll come and get you." dani says and i nod. trenice and dani say goodbye and walk towards the exit whilst i returned to my dressing room to collect my things and have a quick mini meeting with brandy.

***

after my tiny desk performance, i quickly got ready and headed to the venue where dani's gig was taking place. the night air in LA was crisp and cool, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the stage lights. i could still feel the adrenaline from my performance coursing through my veins as i walked into the venue. the bouncer at the door recognized me and waved me through with a nod.

inside, the place was already buzzing with energy. the low hum of conversation mingled with the thumping bass of the music. the lights were dim, casting a warm, intimate glow over everything. i made my way to the backstage area, where a member of the staff guided me through a maze of hallways and equipment.

as i stepped into the backstage room, i was warmly greeted by the 070 crew. they were lounging on worn leather sofas, laughing and chatting. the air was thick with the smell of weed and the sound of music playing softly in the background.

"yo skai! i'm watching your tiny desk performance right now and it's dope!" ratzy said as he greeted me at the door, dapping me up. his eyes were bright with excitement, and i could see the performance playing on his phone screen.

"thank you." i gushed, feeling a rush of pride. it felt good performing in front of an audience again. the adrenaline was still humming in my veins.

"it already has two million views and it was posted two hours ago. skai, you really are on some other level." cine complimented, pushing a chair out for me to sit. i smiled at him gratefully and settled as the others chimed in with their agreement.

"two million, that's crazy." ralphy commented as he took a sip from his cup. the aroma of whiskey wafted from his drink. i couldn't help but beam at his comment since ralphy was arguably the closest in terms of family to dani, and it was nice to be on good terms. "why are you guys making the princess sit on a plastic chair? make space on that god damn couch!"

the others shifted, making room for me as i laughed in amusement, feeling a bit embarrassed from the amount of love they were showing me for my performance. their faces were lit with genuine admiration, and it warmed my heart.

"guys, it's actually nothing," i said, trying to downplay it.

"please, i insist." ralphy persisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. rolling my eyes playfully, i made my way to the couch, sinking into the soft leather.

"alright, the show is about to start, let's go, gang!" phi yelled as his head popped around the door, his enthusiasm infectious. "oh hey skai, great performance by the way!"

"wow, it seems like everyone watched my performance. thank y'all for the support, for real." i said, my voice filled with gratitude.

"of course, plus dani persisted. she made us all sit down and everything to watch it—" he started, but stopped when someone in the crew abruptly cleared their throat.

i caught dani's eye across the room as she emerged from the small closet room where she was getting changed. her usual beautiful flowing locks were braided into two neat plaits which rested on her shoulders, making her cheekbones with her 070 tattoo appear more prominent. she was wearing a causal black tactical vest, underneath was a simple graphic tee coupled with baggy jeans.

dani's eyes averted mine momentarily to shoot a weird look towards phi before darting her dark eyes over at me one last time. i laughed it off, feeling a flutter in my chest.

the night continued with a blur of conversations, laughter, and good vibes. i vibed with the crew, sharing stories and jokes, the atmosphere relaxed and easy. dani's performance was electrifying. she commanded the stage with a raw, intense energy that captivated everyone in the room. i stood on the top balcony above the crowd, completely mesmerized by her presence, the way she moved, the way she sang with such passion.

after the show, we all headed back to dani's condo. it was a spacious place with a modern, minimalist design, yet it felt cozy and lived-in. the living room was filled with mismatched furniture and artwork covering the walls, matching it's owner's unique charm. everyone settled in, some on the sofas, others sprawled out on the floor as we all played an intense game of uno.

as the night grew later, the energy began to mellow out. some of the crew started to head out, saying their goodbyes with sleepy smiles and hugs.

soon, it was just me, dani, and a few others left. i sat on the end of the sofa, trenice sitting next to me and dani was sitting on an armchair on the other side of the room.

"i'm actually quitting this dumb game." i said in exasperation, as everyone groaned in annoyance that malick won three times in a row. trenice and i threw our cards into the coffee table in unison.

"i need to piss so bad," trenice says suddenly getting up, tapping malick's long legs to move with her boot. "move dickhead."

"ouch man, no manners whatsoever." malick shouts, soothing his knee.

i opened my phone to quickly check the time, it was four am. i felt a dip in the sofa and looked over to see dani casually lounging next to me.

"you need me to get you an uber home?" she suggests, her arm resting behind me on the sofa. i felt my breath slow down as i noticed how close we were sitting, enough that our knees touched.

"yes please my phone is about to die and i'm getting tired," i replied, feeling a yawn on stand by. she whips out her phone from her back pocket and i watch as she places a request for a pickup.

"i'm really glad you came to my performance by the way." dani said softly, finally looking up from her phone. i could have melted under her gaze as she looked at me with low eyes, clearly high but still conscious enough to keep an intense look.

"i can say the same, it was really cool of you to help me on top of that," i replied, looking into her eyes. with every move i made, dani's eyes followed intently, making me become very self conscious.

"you owe me though, i'll let you know what the payback will be when the time comes." she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"why am i scared?" i laughed lightly, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

"you should be." she says assuring me. her phone rings again and she opens it to see that my car was two minutes away. "you should start to get ready."

i agreed, finally getting up from the couch. i waved goodbye to everyone and headed towards the door. not expecting dani to follow me, i turned to say one finally goodbye and saw her head my way, speaking to malik on the way over.

she let out a laugh before turning towards me with an expectant look as i watched her with confused eyes.

"you don't have to go outside, i'm fine." i insisted but she stared back at me with a blank stare.

"girl if you don't get your ass out this door so i can safely see you get in an uber." she scoffs and i flash her a grateful smile.

dani went out of her way to take me down the elevator and even outside of the gates where my uber was waiting.

"you actually didn't have to." i continued in my protests but it was left ignored.

"it's four am in the morning, and america's beloved singer is outside with no bodyguard." dani says, rolling her eyes as she opened the door. i gave her a look before getting into the backseat. she leaned against the door, ducking her head to look down at me from outside. "text me to let me know that you got home safely, yeah?"

"yes sir." i say saluting to dani who i couldn't help but notice how bossy she was being tonight.

"yeah, that's what i like to hear." she says in her unique gravelly voice, making me laugh aloud. she flashes me a smile, her brown eyes twinkled softly underneath the light coming from the car before she shuts the car door.

𓏲𝄢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 ;)