THE CLUB was subtle, nothing like what Cora had pictured in her head. She had pictured loud, obnoxious music of rappers blasting through the loud speakers, bodies swaying in the middle of the room to a rock music, anything punk, anything but this.

The club was a small basement in a restaurant close by. The number of people seated in the room could be counted on the ten fingers. A mini bar was stationed at a corner, neon lights flashed up and down the small stage where a performer was currently rapping and people nodded their heads, flowing with the music.

"Want a drink?" Keon whispered loud enough, his breath fanning the hairs on her neck.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Alright. Find a seat, I'll be right there." She took the closet seat to her and waited for him. He returned with two drinks in his hands. He placed one in front of her and took a sip from the other.

"Thank you." She muttered to him. Her eyes stayed on the man on stage: he was probably well into his twenties, his hair was a dirty blonde shade and fell on one side of his face, covering one eye. His denim jacket and stained white shirt didn't say much about him but his ripped pants did, it let you know he was all for punk or rock music, a person who believed it truly was an expression of emotions. He gripped the microphone at the mouth and as he rapped, the spray of saliva from his mouth to the microphone were well seen. His lyrics made no sense but everyone else nodded along like it did.

"So you like rap music?" Cora turned her eyes back on Keon.

"I do. It's a relief for me."

"How so?"

"I convey my emotions through them."

"What emotions?" He had perked up the interest in her and now she willed to know more.

He glanced from her to her untouched drink, a slow grin crawled it's way up his face. "Drink up, Hardaway. It's a long night here." And with that he shut any room for conversation.

Two hours more. Two drinks more. Cora was nearly completely intoxicated but Keon remained unphased,  like the alcohol turned to his blood the more he drank it.

A bald round man walked on to the stage. He grinned widely and grabbed the microphone. "It's with great pride that I introduced our last rapper for the night, Keon Pail." The man walked off stage as a round of applause errupted from the audience.

The man walked towards them. He clapped Keon on the shoulders and leaned in close to his ears. "There are high producers here tonight, kid. Do well and you just might find yourself touring the world. The new upcoming rapper." Keon nodded in understanding. He thanked the man and walked up to the stage.

He stared at the ground for a while, composing himself properly. As he picked the microphone up, the beat dropped and all heads in the room nodded in accordance. He didn't know who this big shot producer was but he wished to wow them.

"We come back from way behind, listen I'll tell you all about it.
They claim to be woke,
yet they still broke.
They all want to be royal,
step down I respect the loyal.
I'm the true king here.
I come from the ville ,
I wasn't blessed with no uncle Phill.
I didn't have aunt viv,
I only knew my ma.
I bet she's proud.
Look at the man you raised.
Escaping bullets and guns, earning my right to live before it's all gone.
It's truly a struggle to be born,
when all your good clothes are worn. You ain't never know how I feel.
I'm not trying to convince,
no I never was fresh prince.
Walk in my shoes before talking my story." He ended the rap, placing the microphone back in it's place.

Cora's jaw dropped, the applause around her fading out from her hearings. He was talented and now she understood what he meant by conveying emotions. It was raw and she wasn't the only one that knew that. The bald man gave him a thumps up from behind the bar along with a proud grin, he nodded at the man and made his way back to Cora.

"You were really good." She commented.

"Thank you." He smiled at her, happy she thought so.

He looked to the stage where the usual dj had taken his place, playing endless tracks of music and he looked back to the girl beside him. He grinned.

"How about a dance?" He stretched out his hands. "I wouldn't take no for an answer."

"I wasn't going to say no."

Happy New Year guys🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊 I hope this year is filled with more blessings for you.

Just to let you know, the rap I wrote it myself. Yeah. Hope you like it.