EJShaun.com

Aliyah ate her lamb skewers as neatly as she could. She regretted bringing along so many. Her fingers didn’t want to stay clean. Kelvin plucked the pieces of meat off with his teeth, having the same problem. Neither noticed the other as they walked through the hall.

At the start of the tour, Aliyah thought they’d run out of things to talk about. Most guys just wanted to see her bedroom. By the second floor, Kelvin was asking about every movie prop and work of art she owned. She laughed at his enthusiasm. His favorite prop was the ax in her game room. She played a small role as a gladiator not too long ago. He liked how she looked in leather armor.

In the entrance hall, they did a few laps around the upper floor. Kelvin asked her question after question about Triple Flip, and she was happy to reminisce. The chandelier lit the interior with a soft glow that imitated candlelight. The rich timber reflected the warmth.

Tiffany caught up to them while they circled. She pulled Aliyah aside to show her something on her tablet. It wasn’t dire, but they turned their backs to him, nonetheless. She spoke in a whisper, clacking her nails on the screen. Her ponytail tumbled behind her in an opulent French braid.

He cut in front of her before she walked away. It took everybody by surprise. He winced at himself for doing it. Tiffany adjusted her suitcoat to hide her irritation. The boy fidgeted more than usual.

“I just wanted to let you know,” he said, “I found an article about our meet-and-greet. It didn’t exactly paint anyone in a good light.”

Tiffany clicked back into her tablet. “The lucky fan one?” she asked, shifting her weight.

It annoyed her how he said it, like she didn’t already know. Part of her job was tracking the tabloids and internet buzz. She played nice for her client’s sake. At least his concern seemed genuine.

“We caught that earlier this week,” she said, “It’s nothing. I appreciate you saying something, though.”

“So, it’s cool?”

She simpered without looking up. “Yeah, it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Tiffany excused herself after that. Kelvin breathed a sigh of relief in her absence. He and Aliyah continued down the hallway once they were alone again. She nudged him with her elbow to say thanks.

“Yeah, we keep an eye on that publisher. It ain’t a big deal.”

“That’s good. When my buddy found it, I about died.”

Aliyah stopped suddenly and squinted at him. “Your buddy found it?”

Kelvin froze in the middle of the hallway. He spun around, stumbled. His face flushed pale as he tried to apologize.

“I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you. I skate with these two guys— They’re old friends. They asked me about the signing. Things kinda slipped.”

She narrowed her eyes. The longer she stared, the more he rambled. She didn’t doubt his story. She just imagined things slipped a lot with him. And that could be a problem.

“They won’t say anything. I’ll make sure of it. They’re not into Hollywood like that. They don’t even use social media, except for skating.”

She put her hand up to stop him. “It’s fine, Kelvin. Like I said, it ain’t a big deal. I just need you to be open with me. Communication is key on my team. Understand?”

He nodded, breathing another sigh of relief. He missed how she included him on her team just then. She might’ve missed it herself. Things slipped for her sometimes, too. Before anybody realized, she shoved him and changed the subject.

“Hey, you wanna see my favorite part of the house?”

“Oh, absolutely.”

Outside, downtown Los Angeles shined in the distance. The bustling city illuminated the night with brilliant highways and shimmering skyscrapers. A layer of smog glowed along the horizon, capturing the energy of the city. With the clouds that evening, the reds radiated like a dim sunset.

A few people were enjoying the view when they arrived. At the back of the house, a grand balcony extended over the cliff. The magazine called it a marvel of lumber and woodwork. The railing had the same luster as the banister. Potted plants sat in the corners while tables and chairs furnished the open areas. Each set came with a giant green umbrella, and every piece went with the theme.

The people on the balcony headed inside as soon as Aliyah walked out. She thanked them with a nod. They left without saying a word.

The two ended up in her favorite corner. He gawked at the city with goosebumps running down his arms. She liked how she impressed him. He was cute under all that hair. His upturned nose gave him a strong profile.

“This is incredible,” he said, leaning over the rail on his elbows, “What’s your best memory, from right here?”

“The night I moved in. I stood here and screamed until I couldn’t. A neighbor’s dog started barking at me.”

“That’s beautiful. Sounds like me after our meet-and-greet.”

She smiled then scooted closer. The memory of her house stung as she thought about it. Bills were piling up, and she needed a job.

“Can I ask you something?” she said, “Like, straight up, cutting through everything?”

“Of course. I ain’t got nothing to hide.”

“Why do you like me so much? You know, with guys my age, it’s usually obvious, but I ain’t getting that from you.”

He smirked then hung his head. “Yeah, no, it’s still that, but… I don’t know. You just hit at the right place, right time, I guess.”

“Come on, now.” She bumped into him. “That’s not an answer.”

He chuckled, looking at the city once more. “Nah, you’re right. It’s just kinda heavy. That’s all.”

He snickered like he was trying to mask the pain. It didn’t fool anybody. He even fidgeted less.

“I suppose,” he said, “If there was going to be someone to tell, right?” He cleared his throat. “Well, when I was eleven, my mom left my dad and ran off with another guy. She’s pretty abusive and hit him a lot, so I think he was happy to see her go. It still messed him up, though. I started rapping around then, trying to cope with it. It didn’t really help. I was just reminding myself of the bad, you know? My dad took me to Too Many Sibs after my mom got pregnant. Looking back, I think he did it as a joke. He’s pretty passive aggressive like that. When I saw you, I don’t know, something just clicked. Any time I was hurting, I started rapping about you, and things got better.”

Listening to him pulled her in opposite directions. One side felt the weight of his past, heavy and dense. The other felt a rush of hope.It wasn’t the first time she’d inspired a fan; however, it was the first time a fan inspired her.

“That’s really what all this was about.” He itched his nose, sniffling. “Rapping at your signing, I was just hoping to reach you, the real you, and share it. Say thanks.”

Her eyes welled up. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t think you have to say anything. Not with a view like this.”

While they admired the city, another group stepped onto the balcony. They all shushed one another once they saw Aliyah. They turned back inside before the door shut behind them.

It was a rule that evening that nobody was to bother them. Tiffany hated the idea, but Aliyah said she couldn’t have the distractions. Her focus needed to be on him. She figured her problem lately was her confidence, and a longtime fan might help her restore it.

“You know,” she said, “You don’t have to battle Aja if you don’t want to. I can talk to her for you.”

“Oh, absolutely not. I want to do it. I never thought I’d have the chance. Besides, she’s probably in my top five.”

“Really? Big Aja Je fan?”

“Oh yeah. Nothing compared to Aliyah Gavins, but…”

She laughed as the flutter in her stomach returned. She liked how he said her name. The boy was full of surprises. She couldn’t wait to see him battle.