𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐲 - 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝.

𝐈𝐈

˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩ °∘

SEA GREEN EYES roam over the slightly crumpled piece of paper filled with rushed, messy writing in blue ink.

"this is fuckin' brilliant, calais."

cj hasn't even finished reading yet. his long index finger is still making way down the paper as he mutters what i've written in awe and says things like, "so, so good.." in between.

a smile breaks out on my face in response.

"𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝'𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧..." he mumbles, "wow. you've got something right here, man."

"you think so?" i ask softly, my voice sounding unusually fragile.

it'd taken me months to complete this one song. months. it was the glue that was going to hold my album together, so i had to be diligent to convey what was in my head through rhymes.

he finally looks up into my chocolate brown orbs, full of gratitude and debonair, and smiles. "you're just a little genius, aren't you? this project's about to be everything. i can feel it."

i drink in everything he's saying and bask in it, because it's right. music is everything. it's so full of life and the beauty of it is that it can be interpreted in more ways than one.

it's deeper than just words on a melody.

"thanks ceej," i say as a nice little feeling of relief washes over me.

it's like this most days in the studio after trying to get something down pat for quite some time.

this last year, the studio's basically been home. i've seen the same set of yamaha equipment more than i've seen my own bed — and it's definitely worth it.

"this is, legit, one of the best songs you've written. i'm thinkin' this has to be the first song on your album. how d'you feel 'bout that?"

"the intro?"

"yep. it's got everything an intro needs. and the tempo kinda sets the tone for the whole thing, too."

i smile, "yeah, okay. i like the sound of that."

"great," he sighs, straightening out the paper, "good. i know you're tired though, kid. go get yourself home."

"yeah? finally!" i exclaim, grinning.

"don't be too excited!" he chuckles as i'm taking a sip of my water.

"i get to watch match of the day, live. i think i'm allowed to be a teensy-weensy bit excited." i laugh, gathering my stuff in my bag.

and i can't lie, it takes all the remaining energy out of me. but home's calling.

a couple minutes later, i'm driving through the streets of manchester. the last song that plays before i pull into my driveway is j. cole's 'love yourz', so i finish humming along to it before getting out of my car.

it's ten eighteen and i'm tired, and i haven't seen the comfort of my home in three days, but i'm content.

now, where's the remote so i can rewatch man united beat spurs?

✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ
✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ

ᴅᴇʙᴜᴛ ᴇᴘ

𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀:

𝟬𝟬𝟭 — MANCHESTER.
𝟬𝟬𝟮 — THE WORLD'S WAYS.
𝟬𝟬𝟯 — THREE POINTS.
𝟬𝟬𝟰 — UNITED.
𝟬𝟬𝟱 — LIONESS.
𝟬𝟬𝟲 — DEAR EFFORTS.
𝟬𝟬𝟳 — ROSE FROM THE STREETS.