xxxv. AND WE'RE DONE.
February 2, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Los Angeles, California.

Liked by sza, davefree and 3,435,134 others
sedona  working 🐆🤎👜

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sedona i'm so excitedddddddd.
⤷user2 mind sharing the details.

sza smexyyyyy ❤️.
⤷sedona let's talk about u tho 😖.

user2 bad asf. Marco fumbled severely.
⤷bugbomg deadass.
⤷sedona who?

davefree 👀.
                         view 45 more replies

feliciathegoat we readyyyyyyyy 🧟
⤷sedona u sure?
                          view 1,234 replies

user55 RESPECTFULLY SIT ON MY FACEEEEEEE.
⤷nickiminajsbuttcream nawt Dave Free in the comments. possible @kendricklamar collab?
⤷user65 ngl I'd be here for it.
⤷sedona 🌚.

—

The alarm on Sedona's phone buzzed relentlessly at 4 a.m., pulling her from a dreamless sleep. Her body ached from the previous day's choreography, but she reminded herself that today was the final stretch for the Push 2 Start music video. She groaned, stretching under the thick blankets of her trailer before dragging herself out of bed.

By the time Sedona reached the set, the sun hadn't yet risen, leaving a chill in the air. Her team greeted her warmly, handing her a steaming cup of ginger tea. "Ready to become a walking canvas?" Monica teased, her energy infectious even at this ungodly hour.

Sedona smiled tiredly. "Let's do this."

—

Inside her trailer, makeup artists began the painstaking process of spray painting her body. The design was vibrant, with layers of bright reds, oranges, and yellows blending into deep purples and blues. The paint glistened under the artificial lights, giving her an otherworldly glow. Her costume was minimal—a gold fringe top that shimmered with every movement and matching bottoms.

"You look like a living sunset," Monica said, snapping a quick picture for her behind-the-scenes folder.

Sedona glanced at herself in the mirror, momentarily taken aback. The colorful design was striking, and it perfectly captured the bold, sensual energy of Push 2 Start.

"You ready for this?" Monica asked, sensing Sedona's hesitation.

Sedona nodded, exhaling deeply. "Yeah. Let's get it."

—

The scene began where they had left off the previous day, Sedona leading the lead boy—played by a rising actor with just the right amount of charm—into a dimly lit building. Her movements were deliberate, calculated, as though every step was a promise.

Lip-syncing the sultry lyrics, she placed a hand on the boy's chest, gently pushing him against the wall. "Mm, pushin' on my buttons with no hesitation ('tation)..." She mouthed, her voice playing through the speakers.

As the camera followed her, she slowly revealed her "true self," her colorful, painted body glistening under the flickering lights. The boy's expression shifted from curiosity to awe, perfectly capturing the dynamic the director had envisioned.

Sedona circled him, her presence commanding as she mouthed the line, "Gas me up, give me motivation (motivation)." The dancers appeared like shadows behind her, creating a hauntingly beautiful moment as they lured the boy deeper into the building.

—

The final shot was set atop a high-rise building in the heart of downtown. The rooftop scene was meant to embody freedom and power, the culmination of Sedona's character taking control.

But standing at the edge, staring at the height, Sedona felt her heart race. She wasn't usually afraid of heights—roller coasters were her thing—but something about standing on a rooftop with nothing but a thin safety harness made her stomach churn.

Monica noticed her hesitation. "You got this, Sedona. It's just another stage."

Her dancers chimed in with encouragement, hyping her up until she finally nodded. "Okay, okay, let's do it," She said, more to herself than anyone else.

The cameras rolled, and Sedona took her position. The choreography was fluid and hypnotic, her movements perfectly timed with the track. "So tell me where we goin', pick a destination ('nation)," She sang, her voice soft but strong.

As the music swelled, Sedona dropped into a low spin, her painted body shimmering under the moonlight and incandescent lighting. The wind tugged at her hair, adding an ethereal effect to the scene. She danced with everything she had, forgetting her fear as the energy of the moment took over.

—

When the final cut was called, the crew erupted into applause. Sedona stepped away from the edge, laughing nervously. Monica ran up to hug her. "You killed it! That's a wrap!"

The adrenaline slowly wore off as Sedona changed back into comfortable sweats and wiped off the body paint. By the time she returned to her trailer, exhaustion hit her like a wave.

The adrenaline of wrapping up the final scene began to wear off as Sedona walked back to her trailer, still shimmering with remnants of the bold, colorful paint covering her body. Instead of rushing to remove it, she decided to make the most of her transformed look.

Inside the trailer, Sedona slipped into a cropped white tank top and a pair of loose, high-waisted shorts, the vibrant paint still glistening across her arms, legs, and neck. She glanced in the mirror and smirked. Might as well show this off a little, she thought.

She pulled out her phone and propped it up on the counter. The instrumental of Push 2 Start played softly in the background as she began recording a quick clip. Sedona swayed to the beat, mouthing along to the lyrics and flashing the occasional playful smirk. With every turn, the bright paint caught the light, making her movements look ethereal.

Satisfied with the recording, she quickly typed out a caption: coming soon... 🐆 followed by a fire emoji. She hit post, already imagining how fans would react.

After changing into sweats but leaving the paint untouched for now, Sedona flopped onto the couch in her trailer, her body begging for rest. Before she could fully relax, her phone buzzed. It was a FaceTime request from Kendrick.

She accepted the call, and his familiar face popped up, his expression instantly lighting up when he saw her.

"Yo, what's this? You out here lookin' like a whole masterpiece," Kendrick teased, his voice warm.

Sedona laughed, flipping the camera to show him her full look from earlier, complete with the gold fringe top and shimmering paint. "This. Is the final look," She said, twirling slowly so he could see every angle. "I've been sprayed and dusted for over three hours."

He let out an appreciative whistle. "Man, they ain't ready. You killed it, I can already tell."

"Really?" She asked, her voice softening. She leaned closer to the camera, her tiredness momentarily forgotten. "I was nervous about today, especially the rooftop scene. Heights aren't exactly my thing."

"And you still did it," Kendrick replied. "That's what I'm talkin' about, baby. You always pull through."

The word hit her unexpectedly, her cheeks heating up as the smile spread across her face. She tried to play it cool, but her voice betrayed her excitement. "Baby, huh?"

Kendrick shrugged, his grin widening. "What else am I supposed to call you? You my girl, right?"

Sedona bit her lip, unable to stop smiling. The exhaustion of the day melted away, replaced with a lightness she hadn't felt in a while.

"You're in a good mood now," He teased.

"You think?" Sedona laughed, leaning back against the couch. "I'll be in an even better mood when this video drops. We're setting the tone for summer."

"I already know it's gonna go crazy," Kendrick said, his confidence in her unmistakable.

They talked for a few more minutes, Sedona's head slowly sinking into the arm of the couch as her body gave in to exhaustion. By the time Kendrick said goodnight, her eyes were barely open.

"Let me get out of this paint before you distract me even further, later," She murmured sleepily, her smile still in place as the screen went dark voice trailing off before she even hung up. Kendrick chuckled softly on the other end. "Goodnight, Syd," He said before the screen went black.

Sedona sighed, the smile still lingering on her face as she placed her phone on the small table beside her. She let her eyes drift shut for a few moments, basking in the warmth of their conversation. But she knew she couldn't fall asleep just yet. There was still paint to be scrubbed off and the long drive home ahead of her.

Reluctantly, she peeled herself off the chair and headed to the small bathroom in her trailer. The mirror reflected back the remnants of her shoot—gold and shimmer still clinging to her skin in intricate patterns. As much as she loved the look, it was time to let it go.

Grabbing a cleansing balm and a soft towel, she began the tedious process of removing the paint. The rich hues melted away slowly under her careful touch, revealing her bare skin beneath. It felt oddly symbolic—stripping away the glam of her on-screen persona and returning to just Sedona. She paused for a moment, running her fingers over her now-clean face, appreciating the simplicity.

When she emerged from the bathroom, Monica was waiting for her, clipboard in hand and her headset still in place. "Hey, superstar," Monica greeted with a playful grin. "You crushed it today."

"Thanks," Sedona said, running a hand through her curls. "What's next?"

Monica launched into a rundown of the upcoming days, her voice a mix of enthusiasm and efficiency. "Tomorrow and the day after is a free day, and then rehearsals kick off the moment we step off that plane. Don't forget, the tour starts on the 7th. It's going to be non-stop from here on out."

Sedona nodded, taking it all in. "Got it. Thanks, Mo."

Monica gave her a quick hug. "Get some rest, okay? You deserve it. And hopefully spend time with your boo."

"I'll try," Sedona replied with a smirk. She grabbed her bag and stepped out into the cool night air, heading for her car.

The soft buzz of Sedona's phone stirred her awake, barely. She squinted at the screen, noticing Kendrick had sent her a text. "Text me when you get home safe, baby girl." She chuckled under her breath and typed back, "Will do. Heading out now."

Dragging herself off the couch, Sedona grabbed her bag, slipped into her sneakers, and headed out into the cool night air. Her car sat waiting in the dimly lit parking lot. The moment she slid into the driver's seat, her phone buzzed again—another FaceTime request from Kendrick.

Sedona answered as she backed out of the parking spot. "Can't go five minutes without me, huh?" She teased, her voice light despite her fatigue.

"Nah," Kendrick replied with a smirk, his face filling her screen. "I just needed to hear that tired voice of yours again. You headed home?"

"Yup," She replied, switching the phone to speaker and propping it in the cup holder. "Barely. Today was a lot, but I'm glad it's done."

"You sounded fire when I saw the clips from earlier. Bet you look even better in motion."

Sedona glanced down at her hands, the faint shimmer of leftover paint catching the kitchen light. She turned her arms over, watching how the specks still clung to her skin. "That I did. But, I swear, I've scrubbed like three times, and I'm still out here looking like a human disco ball," she said with a smirk.

Kendrick chuckled, leaning against the counter as he gave her an appreciative once-over. "Ain't nothing wrong with that. Glitter kinda suits you," he mused, his voice dipping into something softer, more playful.

Sedona raised a brow, tilting her head. "Oh yeah? You saying I should walk around shimmering like this all the time?"

"I wouldn't complain," Kendrick admitted, his eyes lingering on the light catching on her collarbone. "Might even start callin' you my little star."

She laughed, shaking her head as warmth crept up her neck. "Smooth," she teased. "Real smooth Duckworth."

He smirked, tilting his head toward her. "You good, though? For real?"

Something about the way he said it, the way his voice held that quiet concern beneath the flirtation, made her chest tighten in the best way. Sedona met his gaze, letting herself soak in the sincerity behind it before giving a small nod. "Yeah," She hummed, voice softer now. "I think I am."

"Today's been something," She sighed. "Tiring, but it's the good kind of tired. You know? Like the kind that says I did something worth the effort."

"Yeah," Kendrick said after a beat, his voice low and reflective. "That's why you're gonna win. You don't stop."

Sedona grinned, her heart warming at his words. "You always know the right thing to say, huh?"

"Only for you."

The two fell into easy conversation for the rest of her drive, Kendrick telling her about the latest beats he was working on and Sedona filling him in on some of the behind-the-scenes antics from the shoot. By the time she pulled into her driveway, her shoulders felt lighter.

"I'm home," She announced as she stretched and reached for her phone. "Finally."

"Good," Kendrick replied. "Get inside, grab your mangoes or whatever snack you got planned, and get some sleep."

Sedona laughed as she unlocked her front door. "Wow, you know me too well. I was literally about to grab mangoes."

"See? That's why we're locked in."

Still laughing, Sedona kicked off her slippers and headed straight for the kitchen. She opened the fridge, grabbing the container of pre-chopped mangoes she'd picked up the day before. As she took the first juicy bite, she let out a soft hum of satisfaction.

"Yep. Definitely mangoes," Sedona said, holding one up toward the screen.

Kendrick laughed. "Enjoy, superstar. I'll let you get some rest now."

"Night, Kenny," Sedona smiled softly, ending the call and placing her phone on the counter.

Sedona carried the container to the couch, sinking into the cushions with a sigh of relief. She curled up, nibbling on mango pieces, her mind drifting between exhaustion and contentment. As she licked the last bit of juice from her fingers, her phone buzzed again.

Another text from Kendrick. "Keep shining in ways the world ain't even ready for yet. Get some rest—I know you need it. Night, baby."

She smiled to herself, setting the phone aside and pulling a blanket over her legs. With the sweetness of the mango lingering on her lips and Kendrick's words warming her heart, Sedona decided to finally let sleep take over.

Just as her eyes fluttered shut, a quiet laugh escaped her. "Oh, he wants me so bad," She murmured to herself, the thought sending a wave of giddy excitement through her before an eventual smirk. "Welcome to Death Row my boy."

But beyond the teasing, the reality of it settled in—she wanted this too. More than she initially let herself admit. This wasn't some fleeting, just dating to date, a crush or casual fling. It was something real, something worth being intentional about.

With that in mind, she made a mental note to set up a call with Dr. Garcia. If she was going to do this right, she wanted to make sure she was prepared for everything that came with it.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Thirty-five.
— ０１／２８／２５
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This app/website is still giving me trouble but I'm still going to try my best and give you something. Listen after getting y'all with the last update, I decided why not give you the really thing.

Thoughts on the chapter? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
-shea