CTRL

College Drop-Out

     "Solana I want you to be realistic honey it's a one in a million chance that you'll become this famous singer you're throwing your education away to be." I rolled my eyes as I paced the floor letting what my mom said go in one ear and out the other.

   "Ma can you just believe in me for once? Everyone says I'm good and I can make it except for you." I pointed both hands in the direction she was sitting in.

  "Well let me see" she rubs her chin with her index finger and looks like she's thinking. " Is everyone giving you a million dollar contract? Nope I didn't think so, but you have a full ride to one of the best schools here in New York and you want to throw it all away for a pipe dream?" She shook her head in disappointment and got up walking into the kitchen.

   I wiped the tears that fell from my eyes and put on my coat leaving her house without another word.

I walked the couple of blocks I needed to so I could get to the restaurant I worked at part time as a pianist. The pay was alright and I was able to take care of myself and that was enough for me for now.

   When I walked in I punched the clock and placed my things in the break room. The building was packed tonight but maybe it's because it was close to Valentine's Day and everyone who had the money wanted to celebrate early. As I was making my way past the office I heard my manager going off on the phone.

  "No tell Ray to get off the coke and maybe he can dream about performing here again!" He slammed the phone on the hook and let out an agitated sigh.

  "Aye Allen you alright? Ray quit again?" I asked him as I pushed the door open a little.

  "Yeah and all these people came to see some live entertainment but this dumb fuck won't lay off the drugs." He rubbed his face.

  "I could perform tonight you know if you like me or if they like me you could keep me full time as your entertainment for the evening." I suggested.

  He folded his thin pink lips into his mouth and thought over my suggestion then nodded.

  "You better not disappoint me tonight Solana." He pointed at me and I nodded in excitement.

   I walked to the stage and stood behind the curtain and said a short prayer before opening them and having all eyes on me. I walked over to the piano and Shawna who usually set up Ray's microphone came and set mine up for me.

   "Good evening everyone, My name is Solana Rowe and I'll be your entertainment for this evening." I spoke softly into the mic.

   I began playing Dangerously In Love by Beyoncé on my piano and then I started to let the lyrics flow out of my soul as if they were waves on an ocean. People had began to stand from their tables and dance slowly with their loved ones while I sang my heart out.

     By then end of the night I had already covered five songs and my throats was done for the evening. Allen came over to the piano and patted my shoulder with a satisfying smile on his face.

  "I hope your schedule is clear for the rest of this week. Come by my office before you leave so I can give you Ray's schedule and song selections." He said before walking away.
     
    My smile touched both ears, I was beyond happy at how the night took a turn for the best after the afternoon I had. Maybe this college dropout is closer to become an international super star after all.

    I cleaned the piano then grabbed my coat and walked to Allen's office to get my new schedule before leaving into the snowy night.

   I walked to the subway to catch the train back to Brooklyn where my  apartment was in the middle of the hood. I didn't even care because I got to come home with tips out the ass and a new promotion. I walked into my building passing the neighborhood drug dealer Rashawn and his friends Skeet, and Boogie.

  "You just gonna walk past me like that Sizza!" He called me by the nickname he gave me since he claims I cut his heart out. I chuckled  and turned around.

  "Hello Rashawn, Skeet, and Boogie." I waved with a big smile on my face.

  "You happy to see daddy I see." He laughed dapping his boys up.

  "I need you to be daddy when my rent is due and I get off from work and need a ride home too with ya dead beat ass." I laughed making Skeet laugh as well. When he didn't respond I took that as my cue to be on my way up the staircase to the third floor and finally get to my door.

   When I got inside I took my shoes off placing them by the door and taking off my uniform placing it on the back of my couch. I grabbed my phone off the table where I had accidentally left it this morning and checked it seeing I had a couple tags on Facebook from my performance. I walked to the bathroom and stripped from my clothes and turning on the shower.

The next day I sat on my couch almost all day bored. I looked at the time and it was only two thirty and I knew exactly what would have made the time go by faster. I ran to my room and grabbed my key board and my phone and set them up in the living room and began singing a lingering melody that was in my head. Once I found the proper keys I started to play it and sing random words.

  "20 something blah blah blah praying my 20 somethings don't kill me." I mumbled  "I ain't got nothing running from love, wish you were hereeeeee."

  
   I sat there writing lyrics and music for the song until I was almost late to my train that would take me to work. When I got in Allen was in the kitchen cursing out the cooks for whatever so I just clocked in and set myself up to perform covers tonight. When I looked out at the crowd it was only a couple of people and majority of them were young so I decided to cover some Chris Brown, and Trey Song tonight.

   "Good evening everyone my name is Solana Rowe and I'll be your entertainment for the evening."

   

A|N

   Please COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS, vote and again COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS I wanna know how y'all feel about it cause I'm a little insecure about my writing sometimes 😂