𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

skai is pissing me off.

we were fine a few days ago. our friendship, or whatever we had going on was so confusing that it was giving me a headache. it was so clear that she was acting out at the tiffany and co-party because of jasmine. i couldn't help but feel an extra layer of irritation because of the friend she was with.

seeing her with this giovanna girl brought out buried nerves. i didn't even want to be at the event, but jas insisted to flew me into paris earlier to attend the event with her. i didn't understand why she was so adamant, and i couldn't help but question if she knew that skai would be attending the evening.

i didn't even understand why i was getting so annoyed. it wasn't like i had the right to at all. i have a girl and skai...lord knows what or who she is up to.

i don't care...

i decided to not act out and do something i regretted and let the whole situation go. however skai's silence was now bugging me since days before the event we were texting like we usually do—sending memes and talking about a bunch of nothing and now it was silence.

when fashion week ended and i was finally free from the extravagant fashion shows and boring networking rituals masked as 'after parties', lily left for germany and i stayed for an extra week since i was in full swing at the music video shoot with travis scott's for our latest track.

our song was currently going viral and debuted at number one billboard hot 100. to keep the anticipation going, we decided to film a music video in paris. we already did our own solo shots, so today was the scenes with the two of us. the location was a chic parisian loft with enormous windows that let in the bright afternoon sun.

the crew was buzzing around, setting up lights and adjusting cameras. my focus was on the task at hand: ensuring the video shoot went off without a hitch. my black suit felt slightly uncomfortable in the warm room, but it was part of the look. as i walked back through the set, travis spotted me and came over.

"yo, shake! what's up?" travis greeted, his voice carrying over the hum of activity.

"what's up man," i replied, dapping him up.

i flew in a couple of my 070 screw members to support me during the music video. travis was in a great mood, joking around with everyone and socialising. malick who is especially his biggest fan, was gushing over him so much that i had to send him on an alcohol errand before he did too much.

"you ready?" i ask as i walk backwards, glancing over at travis.

"hell yeah. we're about to kick off this intro scene. you've seen the setup?"

"yeah, it looks dope man. everythin's on point," I said, nodding appreciatively.

"what's the plan for today?" i asked as i turned towards our creative director dave meyers. working with travis was a dream, especially with filming this music video since we both had a unique artistic approach to music videos. working alongside dave really finished it off.

"alright, so we're starting with a cinematic intro. i want it to feel epic, you know? big visuals, intense vibes," dave explained, gesturing towards the setup. "you'll be in the scene where travis make his entrance."

"i'm all in," i said, trying to sound enthusiastic despite the tension gnawing at me. the video was a huge deal, and i was determined to keep my personal frustrations in check.

as the crew got ready, i found myself glancing at my phone every few minutes, half-expecting a message from skai. the events from the night before—seeing her with that friend, us ignoring each other since—had left a sour taste. i couldn't shake the feeling of irritation.

during one of the breaks, travis and I were sitting on the edge of the set, casually chatting and having a smoke break.

"man, i gotta ask," travis said, taking a sip of his drink, his blunt in his unoccupied hand. "what genre do you think you're in? i feel like your sound is so unique to you and there's nothing like it in the mainstream or anywhere really."

i let out a short laugh, smoke leaving my lips. "i don't know myself. i don't really like puttin' myself into a box, but i would say my primary genre is hip hop for sure."

"ah, i get it," travis said, nodding sympathetically before a taking a long drag of his blunt. "that's dope, your stuff is amazing honestly."

"thank you, really. same for you that's why i wanted you on the single." i replied, feeling warmth from a huge mainstream artist like travis. i used to listen to his music a lot when he first went viral, it was crazy that i was now causally speaking to him.

"well you got my number, so anytime you're in LA or houston, holla at me." travis said, patting me on the back.

"for sure man," i said, grinning.

"look bro, i'm having this event tomorrow, it'll be lowkey, just people vibing." he explains, looking at me with his usual low eyes, almost as if there was no soul behind it. "you should swing by for real, it'll be lit. "

"oh word?" i said smiling as i put out my blunt. "i'll come by, no problem."

"sweet!" he says, dapping me up before pulling me into a side hug. we return back inside. the rest of the shoot went smoothly and as the sun dipped below the horizon, the shoot wrapped up, and i was left with the task of sorting through my thoughts.

***

the karaoke bar had been rented out exclusively for travis scott's after-party, creating an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere. as i entered with ralphy, trenice, and malick, we were immediately greeted by the bright lights of the bar.

the dimly lit space was filled with plush leather sofas, a fully stocked bar, and several private karaoke rooms. neon lights flickered in sync with the beats of the music, casting a colourful glow over the crowd. the air was thick with all types of smoke.

the room buzzed with the energy of producers, rappers as well as random influencers and models who all mingling effortlessly, the lines between celebrity and friend blurred in this exclusive setting. the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and colognes, mingling with the aroma of gourmet appetizers being passed around by waitstaff.

laughter and animated conversations filled the air, blending with the occasional burst of a karaoke performance from one of the rooms. travis, dressed in his signature street style, was at the centre of it all, holding court with a group of friends and fans, his infectious charisma setting the tone for the night as he sang along to his song thank god .

"this place is lit," ralphy said, his eyes scanning the room with excitement. "travis always knows how to throw a party."

"no doubt," i agreed, feeling a bit more at ease as i took in the familiar faces and the carefree vibe. trenice and malick had already started moving towards the bar, eager to grab drinks and join in the fun.

travis called me over and i dapped everyone up as i went around the circle. when travis offered me some of his drink i politely declined, shivering almost as looked down at the full cup of lean in one hand.

the sight of drugs never failed to make me feel sick, a violent reminder of my old destructive ways. i couldn't help but feel my mind flash back to some of the darkest of times, when i was living in a scene where the healthy shit seemed so far but drugs was no further than my room or my car. the party continued in full swing, with people taking their turns to perform a song on the karaoke machine.

then, the energy in the room shifted subtly as skai walked in, accompanied by sza. both exuded attention immediately. travis yelled their names as he jogged over to them, clearly high as hell. he engulfed the two women in a hug at the same time. damn, travis i owe you an apology, i wasn't familiar with your game.

our eyes met briefly the moment she spotted me before she looked away, her jaw set in a stubborn line. i felt a pang of frustration mixed with something deeper—an unspoken tension that had been building ever since our last encounter.

skai looked stunning, of course. she had an effortless charm about her, a way of people drawing in with her warmth and genuine interest. it was one of the things that had always attracted me to her, even back when we were together.

sza whispered something in skai's ear that made her smile, a genuine, heart-stopping smile that reminded me why this was all so complicated.

i tore my gaze away, focusing on the conversation with ralphy, but my attention kept drifting back to skai. every laugh, every movement she made seemed to draw me in, despite my best efforts to ignore it. it also didn't help that the girl is bi, was she flirting with that producer over there or am i tripping?

"you good?" ralphy asked, nudging me with his elbow.

"yea, i'm fine," i lied, taking a sip of my drink to mask my unease. trenice looks over at where skai is and waves her over.

"yo skai!" she calls out, her voice cutting through the din. i closed my eyes in irritation, treee couldn't read a room even if her life depended on it.

skai glanced over and made her way to where we were. i couldn't help but notice how she carefully avoided looking in my direction. it was frustrating, this dance we were doing, pretending as if the other didn't exist while being hyper-aware of each other's presence.

"hey, how are y'all?" she says cheerfully as she sit next to treee, who was the furthest away from me. now this is just childish. i couldn't help but suck my teeth and slouch back into the sofa, my irritation becomes harder to hide.

"you've gotta try this drink," trenice said, handing her a brightly coloured cocktail. "it's amazing."

skai took a sip, her eyes lighting up. "oh wow, that's really good! what's in it?"

"no idea i just picked it up," trenice laughed. "but it's strong, so pace yourself."

skai's interactions with my friends were light and easy, full of shared jokes and animated conversation. i felt a pang of jealousy and annoyance as i half watched her. it was ridiculous, really. we had agreed to be friends, but seeing her so comfortable with everyone else while giving me the cold shoulder was getting under my skin.

as the night went on, i decided to confront her. i wasn't fond of her childish behaviour. without overthinking it, i got up and pointed to the door.

"step outside with me real quick." i said, trying to keep my voice steady. everyone looked to see skai's reaction which remained unreadable before looking at me.

"sure." i led her outside, opening the door for her to pass through and we walked away from the noise and the crowd.

the cool night air was a welcome contrast to the stuffy, heated atmosphere inside. we found a quiet corner on the other side of the street, the sounds of the paris faintly in the background. i leaned against the wall as i gazed towards skai.

"what is this about, dani?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

i took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "are you kidding me right now skai?" i asked, trying to keep my frustration in check. "what is going on with you, and what did i do to offend you?"

she looked at me, her expression guarded. "what do you want me to say dani, i felt weird at the tiffany event, and i was put off."

"you've been put off what exactly?" i asked, raking a hand through my hair as i gazed down at her intently.

"us. what even are we?" skai asks bitterly, turning her body away from me slightly. "i don't know how to explain it dani. i saw jasmine for the first time in a while, and it's all weird, you're dating her and i just don't think that we can friends. just the way jasmine looked at me yesterday, it's all unnecessary drama that i'm really not interested in entertaining."

i listened silently. not knowing how to feel about anything. my friendship with skai was confusing, which in the end wasn't really a friendship due our undeniable chemistry, or the fact that despite knowing that we should cut contact and go our separate ways, i felt a selfish urge not to. but i wasn't going to chase skai either. if she didn't want to speak to me then i won't beg her, my pride won't allow it.

"alright." i simply said, my hands clenching into a fist without realizing it. skai looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. her face scrunching up. i wasn't quite clear if it was confusion or anger, maybe a mix of both.

"that's all you've got to say? i just told you all that and you give me is an alright ?" she asks, using my jersey accent to place emphasis on the alright. if the moment wasn't so tense, i might have laughed.

"but skai, what do you want me to say? you say that you don't want unnecessary drama, then you act the way you did with yo friend, thinkin' i wouldn't notice?" i asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

"what was i doing exactly, i was enjoying the evening with my friend. what is it to you anyways." she quips. i make a scoffing sound before looking away and nodded slightly, my lips pursed in amusement despite my irritation.

"you know what skai, you're so right as always. what is it to me?" i asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm, shrugging my shoulders. she opened her mouth to respond, but i beat her to it. "and you know what else you're right about, us being friends. what are we doin' here?"

"dani, i'm so over this hot and cold, on and off bullshit. so you know what, go on then, walk off and enjoy the rest of your night."

"no you can go, we really have nothin' else to talk about." i said, remaining unmoved from my position against the wall.

"ok." she says, glaring at me before she turns around to walk back to the venue. i watched her carefully as she suddenly turned on heel back towards me, an accusatory finger pointing back at me. "you're so fucking irritating dani! you come and talk to me and i feel like you messing with my head!"

"how?" i asked, not even trying to come across as nonchalant but i can see her anger rise by my lack of responses.

"you're so confusing and i feel like you're fucking with me. i hate it so much." she said, her voice slightly raised.

"it takes two to tango. your behaviour today also fucked with my head. but hey, let's always put the blame on dani," i pushed myself off the wall, stepping closer to her. i was growing tired of people putting all the blame on me, first jasmine and now skai. i'm over it. "look, i'm sorry that we have history and it ended up fuckin' us both over. but you know damn well we both had a part to play in this mess."

"i know," she said, running her hands through her hair in frustration. when her hand dropped, she looked up at me with pure vulnerability. i hadn't seen this expression in years, and nostalgia washed over me. suddenly, i wanted to ease the nerves inside her.

but it wasn't my place nor responsibility.

"i kept talking with you even when i knew i shouldn't have because none of this shit is innocent. i feel like my heart is about to burst every time i think of you, dani. and i don't know what to do. i just keep finding myself coming back to you," she whispered, her eyes becoming glossy. my breath sharpened as her words sank in.

she let out a deep breath before she turned around once again, but i couldn't let her go. without thinking, i grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me. swiftly, our bodies collided and i held her in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body against mine as we stood in the secluded corner, the city's sounds a distant murmur.

"don't go." i whispered into her hair, the scent of her shampoo flooding my senses.

"i hate seeing you with her and i feel so fucking bad about it." she said, her voice muffled into my jumper.

"i hated seeing you acting like that at the tiffany party as well." i confessed, feeling a weight lifting of my shoulder by saying aloud. "but i don't feel bad about it."

i felt a dry chuckle escape her lips as it vibrated against me. we stood still, not wanting to let the other go. right now it was clear that we have hit a crossroad. i couldn't keep this up. it wasn't fair on jasmine, skai or myself. we were really playing a losing game.

skai unwraps her arms around me and i step back to look at her. her full lips was trembling slightly as she stared up at me, the light brown orbs in her eyes glowing underneath the moon. i couldn't help but feel a pull to her lips, but i knew better to not act upon my urges.

"you're in a relationship with my ex-friend. and for that, i need to let you go dani. because what i'm feeling right now isn't for a friend," she concluded, her voice hoarse as if she were about to cry again. i felt my heart shatter as she gave me one final look before turning and walking away.

this time, i truly let her go. even though it was for the best that we don't stay as friends, why did it feel so wrong?

𓏲𝄢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 !