𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

"we have a lot to prepare in the upcoming months for dani's album and tour, i was thinking that we start with north america dates and see how the ticket reception is going before deciding on booking overseas venues, right dani...dani?"

i continued to twirl a curly strand with my finger absentmindedly, fixating on a hole in the wall in front of me. physically i was in the meeting but mentally and spiritually i was in outer space.

"dani?" a male voice cut sharply through my daydreaming, causing me to snap back to my physical reality. my eyes focus on dante which despite his left eyebrow being sternly raised, his eyes remained compassionate. "are you listening?"

"sorry my bad," i mumbled, sitting up slightly from my slouched position. i placed both of my hands in front of me on the table to stop myself from fidgeting.

"did you hear what we said about your tour locations?" dante repeated patiently as i shook my head, brushing a hand through my hair in confusion.

"nah, run it back to the last point." i waved my hand dismissively. i didn't take my medication today since it ran out and i have been running low on the will to concentrate all morning. it was especially unfortunate since i had three meetings in a row since 9am.

"we were considering only booking venues in north america so we can leave time to see how the tickets sell before we book the europe sets, how are you feeling about that?" michael my tour manager explains.

"yea, sounds cool."  i say as i rub a hand over my face before nodding in approval. dante glances over his colleagues before setting his gaze on me. i smiled quickly grateful that he got the memo that i was mentally out of it.

"how about we conclude the meeting here today, keep me in the loop when the venues start responding back michael, and nicky make sure to not book dani for any gigs until after the release of her single." dante says as he packs his things together.

everyone murmurs quick responses before exiting the meeting room, leaving me and dante alone.

"that was deadass the longest mornin' of my life." i groaned as i leaned back into the chair, my head falling backwards in annoyance.

"yes well let's go and pick up your medication before your sluggish energy transfers to me." dante teased, earning an eye roll from me. i get up from my chair and gather my bottled water and empty box of tastykakes.

i strolled closely behind dante as he lead us out of the building and to his car. i opened the front door to the passenger seat and sat down excitedly, like a kid going to disneyland. operating without my meds made life go so slow and made me feel burdensome.

on the way there, dante went through my schedule through the week, which included finalising the track list for my album, something i was not looking forward to since some unfinished songs may be cut out of the final album. i was planning on making dante drop me off straight after collecting my meds to the studio to try and finish one or two more songs before the deadline.

i turned in the seat to stare out of the window, my elbow leaning against the slim window ledge. my mind couldn't help but wander back to the same place it has been taking me all morning.

back to her.

i expected to see her at the grammy's and tried to go to the extent of convincing myself that it wasn't a big deal. ever since i blew up from my song with raye, i have been gaining a massive wave of mainstream attention, every artist's dream of course. i am more than grateful but it meant that i was being pushed out of my comfort zone a lot and was expected to do more promotions, appear at big events and do a shit ton of interviews and networking. sometimes i missed my safe haven of just having to do one interview for the sake of it and focusing on attending gigs where i can truly connect with my fans.

but since i have been blowing up with each release, my team insists i become more "social media friendly" which has resulted in me attending high profile events at least every month. when i heard that i was nominated in the category of best new artist for the grammy's, i couldn't believe it at first. we celebrated all night until the next morning. i have been in the industry for nearly a decade now and the fact that i'm finally being recognised for my passion is something i used to pray every night for. music really makes up the dna of my soul, i would do this shit for life.

i knew that now that my team was pushing me out there more, me and skai would bump into each other every now and again since these type of things are her playground but when i saw her in person for the first time in four years, i felt my heart drop out of my chest. i have been struggling to conceptualise the correct words on how i feel, i just can't label such a complex  emotion.

its crazy how you can go from knowing every inch of someone's soul to becoming strangers, all in the same lifetime.

the last time she spoke to me she was screaming at the top of her lungs, pain holding her vocal cords captive on a phone call when we called it quits. all for us to act polite and cordial as if we didn't have history in a bathroom at a grammy's after party four years later.

crazy how life can turn out to be sometimes.

her face kept on flashing in my mind. she was always fucking gorgeous, this was not something i could shy away from acknowledging. i always was, and probably always will be extremely attracted to the girl.

skai's face was a work of art, all high cheekbones and smooth, brown luminous skin. her light brown eyes were almond-shaped and expressive. i couldn't help but be drawn to that smile of hers, as i every time i glanced over at her at the party yesterday, my eyes always fell on her lips. those full lips, often glossed to perfection, curved into a knowing smile that seemed to have a strange hold on me. it had a mix of warmth and mystery.

the way she looked that night...

i shook my head aggressively as if it would shake the thoughts out of my mind. dante pulled up to the parking lot of the pharmacy and i refocused my attention to the present moment since i had a lot to do today.

***

the studio felt like a sanctuary, a dimly lit haven where the outside world melted away, one of the reasons i loved being in the studio so much, the real world felt so far away. the soundproofed walls was covered in signatures and graffiti which held the small room together in an intimate way. the air was thick with the scent of burning sage and the faint, sweet aroma of cannabis, mingling with the metallic tang of the recording equipment.

i sat at the centre of the room, feeling a mix of command and relaxation wash over me. my long, curly hair that usually framed my face, was tied back into a messy bun on top of my head. i was wearing a loose-fitting hoodie and ripped jeans, the causal fit was a stark contrast to the electrifying energy i felt coursing through me. being surrounded by my crew, music and cannabis really brought me back to life.

some of the crew lounged on worn-out leather couches, their heads nodding to the beat, while others stood, lost in their own worlds, eyes closed as they absorbed the music. trenice was playing the track that she have been working on lately. i listened intently, as i knew that she would ask for my feedback.

i leaned back in my chair, eyes closed, letting the music wash over me. my fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, matching the rhythm. opening my eyes, i caught ralphy's gaze. he gave me a nod, his smile wide and genuine. we didn't need words; the vibe was everything.

"let's run it back," I said, my voice smooth and commanding. the room sprang into action as sebastian rewound the track. 

for a heartbeat, the room was silent before the beat dropped again, even more powerful than before. i stood up, moving to the centre of the room, feeling the energy surge through me. i began to freestyle to the empty unfinished parts of the track, the words flowing effortlessly, each line more potent than the last. my voice, husky and low, intertwined with the music, creating an atmosphere that was both hypnotic and electric.

the other members fed off my energy, joining in with ad-libs and harmonies, our voices blending seamlessly. it was a moment of pure synergy, each of us contributing to something bigger than ourselves. my eyes were alive with passion, my movements fluid and confident, embodying the spirit of the music.

the track finished once again, trenice's harmonious voice can be heard ending the song perfectly on the song. i rubbed treee's shoulders in excitement as the others started to hype her up.

"you guys, this is a straight up banger!" i howled as treee starts cheesing up. i dap up my crew member before the others engulf treee to show their approval. i was especially proud that treee was finally getting back to releasing more music and getting out of her comfort zone.

"thanks you guys, honestly." treee says as she rubs her chin. "i'm thinking of calling it when i get lonely, but dani what are you thinkin'?"

"man," i began, my voice steady and thoughtful. "that was fire. you got somethin' really unique going on here." i saw a flicker of relief in their eyes, but i wasn't finished. "your flow is tight, and i love how you played with the beat. it's got this crazy energy that grabs you right from the start."

i paused, letting my words sink in before continuing. "but," i said, leaning forward a little, "i think you can push it even further. there were a few spots where your delivery felt a bit rushed. you know, like you were tryin' to cram in too many words at once. don't be afraid to let some lines breathe. give the beat some space to shine and let your words hit harder."

treee nodded, absorbing the feedback. i saw her processing everything, and i could tell that she was already thinking about how to make the adjustments.

treee grinned, the tension in their shoulders easing. "thanks, shake. i appreciate it."

"anytime," i replied with a fist bump. "we're all here to lift each other up and make each other better. just keep grinding, and you're gonna go far."

the studio was more than just a place to record music; it was a space where dreams were woven into reality.

𓏲𝄢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝!