𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐲 - 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝.

𝐈𝐕

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THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY what i'm seeing is real. not on a random sunday morning in december where it's just touching ten a.m.

so i give my eyes a quick rub, and reopen them. but it hasn't disappeared.

so, no, i'm not dreaming. the figures are there in black and white — all two hundred thousand of them — and it really stuns me into silence.

"the streams are going up by the minute, marns!" kelis squeals from the opposing end of the phone. "i'm so fucking proud of you."

"this ain't a prank is it?" i say, almost crying. "it's literally been twenty-four hours, lis. and all seven songs are getting streamed."

"how could it be a prank you dickhead? 'course they're getting listened to, calo. you're some type of musical prodigy; i've been saying this for the longest. it won't be long now 'til you get your brit award."

"you're still banging on about that? first kairo, now you?" i chuckle.

"what can i say? we're psychic." she giggles, "and i won't stop saying it 'til you do! the uk needs more females on the scene."

"very true."

"how d'you write like that anyways?"

"i— i dunno," i breathe, speechless.

"i wish i could. instead i just sit still and look pretty in front of cameras."

"do you know how hard it is to be photogenic, lis?" i scoff. "out of all hundred and thirty-three pictures you took of me last week, only one made it on the TL."

"and i was fuming! those pictures looked good, man. you're just picky."

"yeah, let's agree to disagree on that one."

"anyways," she changes the subject, "everyone's loving ROSE FROM THE STREETS! fucking stormzy was playing it on his fucking story!"

"i know, man," i sigh in bliss. "i can't believe it."

"you've only just gone and blown overnight. i'm just waiting for NOT3S and J HUS to notice you."

i chuckle, "you and your love for hus."

"what's not to love about him? and anyways, i said not3s too. he is so se—"

"okay kelis! how've you just took a whole u-turn from the topic of the conversation?"

"wait a minute— speaking of u-turns, i gotta ask you something."

"and she's done it again," i roll my eyes playfully.

"no, seriously."

"what you need?"

"oh, nothing big. just, uh, haha-" she laughs nervously, "towriteyouupareferencetomyboss."

"huh?"

she sighs, "i need to write you up a reference to my boss. can i?"

"...why would you need to do that?"

"cause he's gonna need it if you're gonna cover my shift for me. duh!" she laughs nervously again.

"oh for fuck sake, kelis lopez. you've already done it, haven't you?"

"well, yeah, but—"

"fucking hell!"

"but only 'cause kairo said no! and you're the only other person i know with a blacked out car."

"you work for uber black on a zero hour contract. you don't even have to put a shift in!"

"yeah, but i need a bit of money in my pocket before i go to germany! i can't drive people 'round the city and run errands."

"i can't just give you some money?"

"no! i'm not taking out of anyone's pocket when i could just get it from my wages."

i huff, "so what's he said then? your boss?"

"he said it's fine as long as you have a license, have never had an accident and a car that fits the requirements of uber black."

"does mine?"

"what, does your triple black range rover with tinted windows and black rims fit the requirements of uber black?" she says sarcastically.

i roll my eyes, "shut up. it's basically uber lux but with black cars. these passengers wanna be driven about in bentley's."

"i've got a jeep, calo. and loads of passengers select my car."

"yeah, a 2019 jeep grand cherokee! they're literally limited edition."

"so is your range rover velar r-dynamic!"

"no it's n—"

"there's only, like, three of those in black. and you've got a black number plate — i don't even know why this is an argument."

"okay but still. i don't like random people in my car."

"you could drive mine? i'll drive yours for the day."

"no way! no fucking way, you'll crash."

"i knew you'd say that," she chuckles. "i put you on the spot, so i'm sorry. but it's a good experience. it's only for wednesday as well, so you won't be missing any football and you don't have a studio sesh."

"you know what? fine. i'll do it."

"don't say that like you had a choice," she laughs.

"oh really? cause i could say i'm not doing it right now."

"but you won't. as much as you want to, but you won't. 'cause that's just the type of person you are."

"i hate that you're right." i frown.

"and i love you to pieces! congrats on the music, babe. i'll swing by later, okay? just to give you an idea of what it's like."

"okay." i sigh.

"bye love!" she squeals before ending the call.

𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧.

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