xlix. IN THE LAB (SORTA).
February 17, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Frankfurt, Germany.

@SEDONASBOTTLE replied to your story ⃗
what's cooking.

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—

The soft glow of the MacBook screen illuminated Sedona's face as she sat cross-legged on the floor of her hotel suite, her Stitch onesie zipped halfway down for comfort. Her curls were piled into a loose bun, a few strands falling as she leaned forward, fingers tapping against the keyboard while the beat looped in her headphones.

The makeshift studio in front of her was simple but effective—a mic, a couple of speakers, and her trusty headphones. No matter where she traveled, this setup came with her, just in case inspiration struck. And right now, it was hitting like lightning.

The beat, a leftover from her last sessions in Jamaica, pulsed through her body, its warm bass wrapping around her like a familiar embrace. She closed her eyes, letting the melody settle into her bones, and the words started forming effortlessly.

"I'ma tell you this one time. Boy, I want you to be mine..."

She bit her lip, typing out the line before humming along to the rhythm. In her mind, Whoa wasn't just a song—it was a feeling. That euphoria that music and love could give you. The kind of high that wasn't artificial, just real. And maybe, just maybe, it had a little something to do with the man she was currently seeing. The one she was also on tour with.

"You locked in?" Monica's voice cut through, and Sedona lifted her head.

Monica sat on the couch, her planner open as she tapped on her phone. She had been going through Sedona's schedule for the next few months, rattling off dates for rehearsals, interviews, and upcoming shows.

Sedona nodded, removing one side of her headphones. "Yeah, this beat is speaking to me."

Monica smirked. "I told you to hold onto those Jamaica sessions. You always find something later."

Sedona grinned. "You were right."

"Say that again?"

"Relax, I'm not gassing you twice."

Monica laughed, closing her planner. "I gotta take this call. Be back in a few."

Sedona gave a thumbs up, already half-tuned out as she returned to her lyrics.

Monica stepped into the hallway, phone pressed to her ear. As she leaned against the wall, she noticed Kendrick walking toward her, fresh from the gym, hoodie slung over his shoulder. His hair was damp with sweat, braids slightly unruly.

"Look who's finally awake," Monica teased as she ended her call.

Kendrick smirked, adjusting his duffle bag. "Man, I been up. Just needed that workout."

Monica glanced at her phone. "You heading to your room?"

"Yeah, but I was gonna see if Sedona wanted food."

Monica raised an eyebrow. "She's in studio mode."

That made Kendrick pause, his interest piqued. "She recording?"

"Mmhmm. No interruptions unless she says otherwise."

He glanced toward Sedona's door, where faint, muffled music seeped through. His lips curled slightly. "She in her bag, huh?"

Monica nodded. "Deep in it. You know how she gets."

Kendrick chuckled. "Yeah, I do."

Monica smirked. "I'll let you know when she comes up for air."

Kendrick gave a nod, but as he walked past, he couldn't help but linger for just a second longer, listening to the rhythm barely escaping from behind that door. Whatever Sedona was cooking up in there—he had a feeling it was about to be special.

—

Sedona barely noticed the moment Monica left. The words were flowing too smoothly, the beat sinking into her bloodstream like second nature. 

"Don't wanna leave, I just wanna be here by your side. You make me feel and believe that we in paradise..."

She sang the line softly into the mic, testing the melody, then played it back. A smile tugged at her lips. It was coming together, the way it always did when she was in that zone. She adjusted her headphones and leaned back against the couch, letting the beat loop again as she closed her eyes. 

The track was airy yet full, smooth like liquid gold. It felt light—like falling, floating. Like love. 

Her fingers hovered over her MacBook as she fine-tuned the lyrics, thinking about that feeling. That feeling when someone is so deeply ingrained in you that every thought, every touch, every moment feels like a breathless freefall. She hadn't smoked in months, but the high of this moment felt just as euphoric. 

She licked her lips, humming another run before hitting record again. 

"Oh, you make me feel and believe, baby..."

Her voice poured into the mic, soft but certain. She layered the harmonies as the warmth of the track wrapped around her like a second skin. 

Sedona was so locked in that she didn't hear the door crack open. 

Kendrick had waited. He really had. But curiosity got the best of him. Two showers, a meeting with Dave and his label—later.

When Monica finally gave him the green light—"She should done soon"—he took that as an invitation to stop by. Food could wait. 

Now, standing in the doorway, he took in the sight before him. 

Sedona was on the floor in her onesie, headphones covering her ears, eyes closed as she swayed slightly, mouthing words he couldn't hear. Her laptop was open, her mic positioned perfectly in front of her, and her speakers hummed with a track that he instantly knew was about to be crazy. 

He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe as he listened. 

The music was different from what she usually played him. It was softer, sultrier. He could hear the emotion layered in her voice, the way each note stretched with intention. It wasn't just a song—it was a feeling. 

And the way she was singing? 

Yeah. He knew exactly what, or who was inspiring this one. 

A smirk tugged at his lips. 

Sedona, still oblivious to his presence, sighed and stretched, her onesie slipping slightly off her shoulder. She grabbed her phone to check the time and nearly jumped when she saw Kendrick standing there. 

"Shit!" She yanked off her headphones. "How long have you been standing there?" 

Kendrick chuckled, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Long enough." 

She rolled her eyes, but the heat creeping up her neck was undeniable. "You're supposed to knock." 

"I did." He smirked. "You ain't hear me." 

She huffed but didn't argue. She was zoned out. 

He nodded toward her setup. "You recording?" 

Sedona glanced at her screen. "Something like that." 

Kendrick walked over, lowering himself onto the floor next to her. "That what I think it is?" 

She pursed her lips. "Maybe." 

Kendrick reached for her headphones, gently slipping them over his ears before she could protest. He tapped play. 

Sedona watched him closely, suddenly feeling exposed as he listened. His head bobbed slightly, lips pressing together like he was holding back a grin. When the chorus hit, he exhaled, shaking his head. 

When the track ended, he pulled the headphones off and met her eyes. "Yeah... this one crazy." 

Sedona tried to play it cool. "You think so?" 

Kendrick gave her a look. "You know so." 

She bit her lip, shrugging. "It's just a demo." 

"Nah," He said, leaning in slightly. "This the one."

She held his gaze, and for a moment, the music wasn't the only thing lingering in the air between them. 

Kendrick smirked. "That about me?" 

Sedona scoffed, pushing his face away. "Boy, shut up." 

His laughter echoed through the suite as she turned back to her laptop, smiling wide. But she didn't deny it. 

And he definitely noticed.

Sedona tried to refocus, but Kendrick's presence made it damn near impossible.

He had that effect on her—the kind that made her forget she was supposed to be working. The kind that made her heart do that stupid little thing in her chest whenever he was around. 

She adjusted her mic stand, pretending like he wasn't watching her every move. 

Kendrick leaned back on his palms, legs stretched out, completely unbothered. "So, what you tryna do with it?" 

Sedona exhaled, tapping her fingers against the laptop. "I don't know yet. Just seeing where it takes me. If I'm in a good mood might just add it to the album."

Kendrick nodded, but he could tell by the way she was chewing on her lip that she was overthinking. 

"Run it back," He said. 

Sedona arched a brow. "You giving feedback now?" 

He smirked. "I mean, if you want it." 

She shook her head, but she hit play anyway. 

The track filled the suite again, and Sedona instinctively closed her eyes, mouthing along to the words. Kendrick studied her—how she swayed slightly, how her fingers tapped against her thigh, how she got lost in it. 

Yeah. 

This was her.

When it faded out, he tilted his head. "You gotta add some stacks right here—" He gestured toward an imaginary mixing board. "That 'whoa' gotta hit." 

Sedona blinked, then pulled up the track. "You mean like this?" She adjusted some of the layers, tweaking the harmonies before playing it back. 

Kendrick listened, nodding. "Yeah. Just like that." 

She stared at him, amused. "Since when are you an engineer?" 

He shrugged. "I be knowing." 

Sedona laughed, shaking her head as she saved the new version. 

A comfortable silence settled between them. 

Kendrick watched as she clicked through her files, occasionally humming under her breath. He liked this version of her—the one who wasn't performing for a crowd, just creating. She was always in control of her craft, always meticulous. It was sexy as hell. 

"You been working all day?" He finally asked. 

She stretched her arms over her head, onesie slightly slipping off her shoulder again. "Nah, just when I got the idea." 

"When that was?" 

She hesitated, then sighed. "Like... two hours ago?" 

Kendrick's lips twitched. "Damn, you really got lost in it." 

She shrugged. "It happens." 

Kendrick shook his head, amused, then glanced at her untouched takeout container on the coffee table. "You even eat?" 

She blinked like she was just now realizing. "Uh..." 

He sighed, standing up. "I'm orderin' something." 

"Kendrick—" 

"Nah, I ain't 'bout to let you starve just 'cause you tryna make a hit," He cut in, pulling his phone out. 

Sedona huffed, but the warmth that bloomed in her chest was undeniable. 

Kendrick dialed up room service, placing an order without asking what she wanted—because he already knew. Sedona watched him, twirling her pen between her fingers, before sighing dramatically. 

"You really bossy, you know that?" 

Kendrick smirked. "Yeah. And?" 

She shook her head, closing her laptop. "And you annoying." 

"Again," He said, stepping closer, voice lower. "And"

Sedona rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now. 

And Kendrick? 

He was already way too gone for her.

—

Sedona sighed, stretching her arms before slumping back against the couch. The glow from her laptop screen flickered, the track she had been working on still open, but the energy she had earlier was starting to settle into something different.  

Kendrick was still standing by the mini bar, scrolling through his phone while they waited on room service. He had taken off his hoodie at some point, leaving him in just a plain white tee that clung to his frame. His chain caught the low lighting every time he moved, and Sedona had to remind herself to focus.

But then again, she had been in work mode for hours. Maybe she deserved a little distraction. 

She closed the laptop, pushing it aside. "You know I wasn't that hungry, right?" 

Kendrick glanced up, smirking. "Yeah, I know. But you still gon' eat." 

She scoffed, tucking her legs under herself. "You stay tryna tell me what to do." 

"I just make sure you don't forget," He corrected smoothly, making his way over. 

Sedona studied him as he sat down beside her, their thighs barely touching. He smelled too good—like soap with whatever cologne he had put on earlier. A dangerous combination. 

The makeshift studio set up in front of them was still there, the mic angled toward the couch, headphones resting on the table. It was proof of how the night started, but now... she wasn't sure she had it in her to keep working. 

Kendrick must've noticed her hesitation because he nodded toward the mic. "You tapped out already?" 

She gave him a look. "I been working for hours."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "And you still ain't satisfied." 

That was the thing—she never was. At least not until a song felt right. 

Sedona exhaled, glancing at her notes on the table. "It's close. I just wanna fine-tune it later." 

Kendrick leaned back against the couch, nodding. "It's fire though." 

She arched a brow. "You only heard one take." 

"And it was fire," He repeated, eyes steady on hers. 

Something in her chest tightened. 

Sedona wasn't new to praise—she had worked with the best in the game, and she knew when a song hit. But something about him saying it, about Kendrick just knowing without her needing to explain, made it feel different. 

She looked away, reaching for the half-empty water bottle on the table. "We'll see." 

Kendrick hummed, studying her for a moment before changing the subject. "You ready to go home after this leg of the tour?" 

She nodded, taking a sip. "A little. I need a reset before album mode and I kinda miss my bed." 

"Good," He said simply. 

She frowned. "Good?" 

He smirked, tapping his fingers against his knee. "Just mean I might have a reason to be in L.A. more often." 

Sedona stilled, heart skipping. 

They had been doing this thing—this slow not necessarily undefined, no-label-but-everything-felt-heavy thing—for a while now. It wasn't just convenience. 

It was him showing up unannounced, like tonight. It was her letting him. 

She swallowed, watching him carefully. "You really tryna do that?" 

Kendrick held her gaze, serious now. "Yeah." 

Sedona didn't say anything at first. But her silence wasn't hesitation—it was a realization. 

This wasn't casual. It never had been. 

Before she could say something back, there was a knock at the door—room service. 

Kendrick stood up, stretching before heading to answer it. Sedona exhaled, rubbing her temples. 

Yeah. 

She was gone for him.

—

Sedona watched as Kendrick grabbed the tray from the hotel staff, muttering a quick appreciate you before shutting the door. He wheeled it over to the table, lifting the lids off the plates. The smell of food filled the suite, but Sedona wasn't sure if her stomach was flipping from hunger or something else. 

Kendrick didn't sit back down immediately. Instead, he poured her a glass of water, and then fixed a plate like it was second nature. 

"You really be actin' like I don't know how to feed myself," She mused, watching him. 

He didn't look up. "Nah, I just know you." 

The words were simple, but they landed heavy. 

Sedona exhaled, leaning back against the couch, letting herself just be in the moment. They had been engaging in this back-and-forth for weeks—well before the tour started. But something about tonight made things feel real. More solid. 

Kendrick finally turned, handing her the plate before sitting back down beside her. This time, he stretched his arm along the couch behind her, making their space even smaller. She could feel the heat radiating off him, the smell of his cologne still clinging to the air. 

She took a bite, chewing slowly. Kendrick watched, smirking when she hummed in approval. 

"Told you," He murmured. 

Sedona rolled her eyes but didn't argue. 

For a while, they just sat like that, eating in comfortable silence. The only sounds were the occasional clink of utensils against plates and the faint hum of the city outside. 

Then, Kendrick nodded toward the setup in front of them. "So you just made that song today and you're almost done." 

Sedona licked her lips, nodding. "Most of it, yeah." 

He took another bite, considering. "You said it's 'bout how music and love make you feel, right?" 

She glanced at him, curious. "Yeah." 

Kendrick chewed for a moment before speaking. "So, which one inspired it more?" 

Sedona paused. 

Her first instinct was to brush off the question, to say it was just a vibe she caught. But Kendrick wasn't asking for bullshit. He was asking for her. 

She looked down at her plate, playing with her fork. "Both." 

Kendrick smirked. "That right?" 

She shot him a look. "Don't do that." 

He chuckled but didn't push. Instead, he leaned back, stretching his legs out. "That hook is catchy as hell though. You gon' finish it soon?" 

Sedona nodded. "Probably tomorrow. I'ma sit with it first." 

Kendrick hummed in approval. "It's gon' be a hit." 

She smirked. "You say that about everything I make." 

He shrugged, unbothered. "'Cause you don't miss." 

Sedona wasn't the type to get flustered easily, she's normally the one to leave others flustered but something about the way he said it—the weight behind it—made her look away. 

The conversation slowed again, this time with a different energy. Sedona felt it in the way Kendrick's fingers barely brushed her shoulder as he stretched. In the way, his gaze lingered a little too long when she wasn't looking. 

She exhaled, setting her plate down. "You stay tryna get in my head." 

Kendrick smirked, reaching for his water. "Nah. I just like where I'm at." 

And just like that, she knew she was in trouble. Lots and lots of trouble.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Forty-nine.
— ０２／１４／２５
———————

Happy Valentine Day to all the lovers out there. I hope your significant other, friends, family made this day special for you.

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

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