CHAPTER FIFTEEN
getting heated

Jamal

next day

Tory's livestream had everyone talking. He had given the fans a sneak peek of him and Hakeem's new song, and they were dying to hear the full version. He and Hakeem were trying to get the song released asap.

They were in the studio, getting ready to record the whole thing. "You ready?"

Hakeem nodded. "I am. But I gotta admit, I'm a little salty that Tory revealed our song and not me."

"We can do our own livestream. It's not a big deal."

"Let's get to it then."

They played the music and got in the booth. Jamal sang his verses with so much emotion, and got to the chorus part. He sang in a high pitch while looking at Hakeem, and he was smiling.

JAMAL :

No matter what, you know I'm here forever
No matter what, I know you're here forever
We've been through the storm and we're still together
We're back together now as one
It's you and me over everything

The beat stopped, and a gentle piano played in the background.

JAMAL :

Leave it all behind, no more wasting time
Too focused, the worst's behind us now
Made it through the fight, finally got it right
This is what I've been waiting for practically my whole life

The beat changed for Hakeem's part, and Jamal prayed he didn't start with that Andre mess again.

HAKEEM :

See I always stayed down for my bros
Because loyalty is all I know
Down to ride for em, and I won't lose control even when we hit bumps in the road

We get money on our own, and treat it like baseball and bring it back home
No king kong, but we strong
So just like the bank, better leave us alone

Like we car shopping, swear we've been through a whole lot
We swerved around all the road blocks
I put my family over everything like hot sauce on the stove top

Don't want me to retaliate
Mess with nobody related
I roll for my bros
You know for my folks, I'm going as hard as the pavement

If they need anything, then I got em
Promise all of their problems, my problems
I can always tell one thing about em
They hold me down, even when I'm at rock bottom

Through it all, when I fall
They pick me up like a phone call
No pretend, all my kin
We going for the win like a long ball

Jamal looked at Hakeem in complete shock after that. "Holy shit."

Hakeem smiled. "You liked that?"

"Hell yeah, I liked that! That was way better than that Andre mess you were rapping about."

Hakeem's smile faded. "You know he needs to be exposed, right?"

"No he doesn't. What happened is between us, not the world. We need to stop inviting the world into our beef."

Hakeem nodded. "Yeah, you right."

"Good. Let's finish the rest."

They were about to, but Gram came in. "Oh, my bad. I didn't know the circus was in town."

Hakeem dissed him. "That's funny because you're the clown."

"Then what are you?"

Jamal was already agitated. "Can you leave, Gram?"

"Or I can stay and listen to those lame ass bars Hakeem was spitting."

"Must not be lame if you wanna listen," Jamal retorted.

Gram snickered at Hakeem. "Damn. He speak for you all the time?"

"I don't need anyone speaking for me because you ain't scaring nothing!"

"I might not scare you, but I'mma for sure scare Tiana when I whip out this d-"

Hakeem was about to go buck wild on Gram. Jamal had to hold him back. "Stop! Y'all ain't about to be fighting in the studio!"

Gram put his hands up. "Aye, I'm chilling. He's pressed."

"You need to chill somewhere else! We're busy!"

But Gram made himself comfortable.

Jamal rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's record the rest."

Hakeem objected while fuming at Gram. "Na. Run my part back."

"Hakeem-"

"Run it back!"

Jamal gave in. "Okay."

He exited the booth to start the music, but Gram said, "Oh, I'll do the honors. Go back in there, sentimental lover boy." He played the music, and Jamal glared at him as he got back in the booth. Who the fuck was he calling a sentimental lover boy?

Hakeem rapped his part, and he was going even harder now. Jamal knew it was because he was trying to show off. Gram laughed and cut off the music.

Jamal was annoyed. "Dude!"

Gram laughed hard. "I'm sorry, but he's a whole ass lie. You don't go hard for your bros. Y'all was just fighting."

"That's none of your damn business!" Hakeem spat.

"Maybe if your ass stayed off of Instagram, it wouldn't be my business."

"You are a walking Instagram, goofy!" Hakeem fired back.

Gram stood up now. "Yeah, that's right. I am. I'm popping and you ain't."

"But no one knows who you are..." Hakeem said.

"I got more followers than you and your brother combined. Fuck is you saying?" Gram responded.

Jamal grabbed his stuff and walked out while they argued because he didn't have the patience for this nonsense at all. 

Royalty

Andre stopped by the house again, which was why Royalty had left. He wanted to talk to her, but she was pretty sure she had told him to only talk to her at Empire. What didn't he understand?

She believed Andre wanted to talk about Blake, which was the last thing she wanted to do. It was bad enough Blake was stalking her. That was why she looked around nervously while walking because he could be watching right now.

She guessed he was because he was calling her. Of course she didn't answer; she was too scared to. But Blake texted her, saying she should answer or it was going to be worse.

She answered. "Hello?"

"Wow. You actually answered."

"I didn't have a choice."

Blake sounded happy. "Well, it's nice to hear your voice. It's been a while."

"Has it been? You were in my room," Ro pointed out.

Blake confessed. "Yes I was. You never told me if you liked the gift."

"What I'd like is for you to leave me alone."

"I can't do that. I want you back, babe."

That made her rage. "I'm not your babe! I will never be your babe again, Blake!"

"Because of fucking Heather?!"

"That's exactly why! You decided to downgrade, so that's on you!"

"That kiss was only payback, babe."

"I'm not your fucking babe!"

Blake spoke sinisterly now. "Alright, then. Be done with me. But if I can't have you, no one can." Right after he said that, a gunshot sounded through the air, startling everyone nearby. Was that Blake?

Royalty wasn't about to stay and find out, so she ran her ass home before Blake's crazy ass shot her too.