xli. DIFFERENT.
February 9, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Birmingham, England.

kendrick's pov.
Kendrick leaned against a stack of sound equipment, arms folded as he watched Sedona work the stage like she was born for it. The crowd was loud as hell, screaming her name like it was gospel, and she—she was eating that shit up.

She moved like she owned the stage, teasing the audience with every flick of her wrist, every sultry glance. When she turned toward the guitarist, letting the wail of the strings guide the slow arch of her back, Kendrick let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

"She wild," He muttered under his breath.

She knew damn well he was watching. Knew exactly what she was doing. And when she cast that wicked little smirk toward the side stage, locking eyes with him for the briefest moment, he huffed a chuckle, running a hand down his face.

"Man, she somethin' else," One of his crew members said beside him, shaking his head in disbelief.

Kendrick just nodded, eyes never leaving her.

Then, right on cue, Monica appeared at his side, camera in hand, but instead of snapping pictures, she just eyed him with a knowing smirk. "Enjoying the view?"

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "Don't start."

Monica snorted. "Oh, I already started, but that's beside the point." She nudged him with her elbow. "Valentine's Day is coming up real soon. You got somethin' planned for Syd, right?"

Kendrick glanced at her before looking back at the stage. Sedona was mid-verse, swaying her hips as she leaned into the mic, her voice dripping like honey.

Yeah. He needed to get his shit together.

He exhaled, rubbing his chin. "I got some ideas, but I need to make sure everything's down packed."

Monica crossed her arms. "Mhm. And I'm guessing you need my help?"

Kendrick smirked. "You catch on quick."

Monica rolled her eyes. "You better have something good lined up. I'm sure you've noticed, but Sedona likes things that have thought put into them. You can't just pick up some flowers off the road and call it a day."

Kendrick scoffed. "Come on, man, give me some credit. You think I'm half-steppin' like that?"

Monica gave him a pointed look.

Kendrick sighed. "A'ight, look—I want it to be special. Something that ain't just another gift, but somethin' she'll feel."

Monica tapped her chin, thinking. "Well, lucky for you, I know Sedona better than she knows herself. So, spill. What ideas you got so far?"

Kendrick glanced at the stage one more time, watching Sedona absolutely own the final chorus of Kiss It Better. He exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile.

"Something that says I see her," He murmured. "That I really see her."

Monica's smirk softened into something more genuine. "Now that sounds like a plan. Let's make it happen."

Kendrick nodded, mind already racing. If there was one thing he knew for sure, it was that Sedona deserved everything. And on that day? He was gonna make sure she knew that.

Monica leaned against the equipment beside Kendrick, arms crossed as she studied him. "So," She drawled, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You gonna tell me what's really on your mind, or you just gon' keep staring at her like that?" 

Kendrick let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Man, you nosy as hell." 

"Call it what you want," Monica shrugged without a single care, "But I can tell when something's eating at you. And you? You're looking at Sedona like she just hung the damn moon." 

Kendrick exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. He wasn't about to sit here and deny what was plain as day. He liked Sedona—a lot. More than he probably should, given how fast things were moving, but fuck it. He wasn't about to downplay what felt real. 

"She different," He admitted after a beat, his voice lower now, more thoughtful. "Like... I've been with women in the past before, both long and short term, but it ain't never been like this." 

Monica hummed, a knowing smile creeping onto her lips. "How so?" 

Kendrick sighed, watching as Sedona swayed to the beat, completely in her element. "She just... gets me, you know? Like, it ain't no act, no expectations. I can just be around her." He paused. "And she got this light to her, man. She don't even gotta try—it's just there." 

Monica's smile deepened. "Yeah. I've noticed." She nudged his arm. "And you wanna know something?" 

"What?" 

"For the first time in a long time, Sedona's really happy with someone." Monica's voice softened, losing that teasing edge. "Like, I know my girl. I know what she looks like when she's just going through the motions, and I know what she looks like when she's actually living." She glanced at him meaningfully. "And with you? Kendrick, it's like she's floating." 

Kendrick swallowed, something warm settling in his chest at Monica's words. 

"I ain't tryna gas you up or nothing," Monica continued, "But I see the way she looks at you, the way she talks about you when you're not around. It's different. She don't just like you, Kendrick. She feels you." 

Kendrick rubbed the back of his neck, not used to being under this kind of microscope. "Damn, you analyzing me like I'm one of your documentary subjects or somethin'." 

Monica laughed. "I mean, if the material is good..." 

Kendrick smirked, shaking his head. His eyes drifted back to the stage just as Sedona threw her head back, belting the final note with every ounce of soul she had. 

And in that moment, he knew. 

Whatever he had planned for Valentine's Day? It had to be perfect. Because Sedona wasn't just some girl he was messing with. She was something real. And he was damn sure gonna show her that.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Forty-one.
— ０２／０５／２５
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Just a little filler until Valentine's is here.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO ALL MY BLACK PEOPLE!!!!!!

A huge thank you to everyone since we've officially hit 10k reads + 1k+ votes. I'm beyond shocked right now from the love that Redamancy's been receiving. A huge, huge thank you because this is not the end. If I gotta have 100 chapters then so be it. Thank you.

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

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