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Aliyah joined her manager outside the studio, shutting the door behind them. The music fell silent with the click of the latch. The highway hummed nearby and filtered through the broken windows. A couple cars honked. The bustle echoed through the empty warehouse.

“I can’t believe you,” Tiffany said, refusing to look at her client. She sounded more hurt than anything. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this mad at you. You’ve never gone behind my back before. And for a guy. Worse, a fan? You’re not only jeopardizing your new role here, Babe, but you could be throwing away your whole career.”

Aliyah smoothed out the wrinkles in her shorts. “I don’t think it’s quite that bad, Tiff. I recognized the risk. I do. I just think he’s worth it. Having a fan in my life— I don’t know, it’s really helped me cut through the noise. And he’s been more than good about keeping things quiet. Boy has not said one thing. To anyone.”

“Except Brian,” Tiffany whispered to herself.

Aliyah scratched her brow and ignored the comment. “I’m sorry I lied. I shouldn’t have snuck off like this. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just felt I owed him, and I didn’t think you’d understand.”

Tiffany wiped away a tear. “You owed him?” she asked over her shoulder, “For what?”

Aliyah straightened her shirt then took a deep breath. “After that personal day I took, we started texting. I know I told you some of this already, but there was a video he sent me. I was in a really bad place, and I needed to hear something good. Like, about my acting. He ended up filming himself just spilling about something I hardly knew I did. It really hit. It was super cute, and kind of clumsy. He doesn’t hold back, you know? It’s hard to admit, but if it wasn’t for that video, I doubt I would’ve done so well these last few weeks. In fact, if it wasn’t for him, I doubt I’d even have a job to jeopardize.”

Tiffany faced her, wiping away another tear. “I’m just worried. You two are so close now. I just don’t see this ending in anything other than a meltdown. For both of you.”

Aliyah swallowed the lump in her throat. “Look, nothing’s changed. You want me to drift when the job starts, I’ll drift when the job starts. Until then, though, I don’t wanna think about it. He’s fun, Tiff, and I need that right now.”

“And what if it’s too late by then? The boy already loves you. What if he becomes obsessed? I just don’t want another guy bawling outside our gate.”

Aliyah accidentally snickered.

“Did you just laugh at that?”

“I’m sorry. I imagined him rapping for me. Like, in front of the cameras. It could be a good idea for Aja’s video.”

“That’s not funny, Babe. Take this seriously. We don’t want another stalker, do we? That messed everyone up last time.”

She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Her manager wasn’t wrong. She just didn’t want to admit it. Maybe she was getting too close.

“Let’s reinstate our nightly meetings.”

“Are you serious? I don’t need them, Li. You do.”

“I know. They are for me. I want to include Kelvin, too, when he’s around. I want you to get to know him better, at least as my manager. You can grill him yourself then if anything comes up.”

Tiffany folded her arms. A bead of sweat trickled down her brow. “Fine,” she said through her teeth, “But if you ever do something like this again, I will boot the guy myself, you hear me?”

“Fair enough,” she whispered as a shiver ran up her spine. She hated to see her best friend so angry. “Now, could you please return to your appointment, so I can return to mine?”

The two women hugged before they said their goodbyes. In their relationship, they always made a point to end any discussion, good or bad, as friends. Aliyah waited in the hall to watch her leave. Afterward, she took a moment to collect herself, wiping away a tear.

Inside the studio, everybody turned to her to see how it went. She put on a smile and raised her hands like it was no big deal. One of Aja’s songs played overhead. When things settled, the producer switched on another instrumental, picking up where they left off.

Aja and Kelvin were still in the booth. Aliyah smiled for real once she saw him. He looked like a puppy in the window. She headed for the lounge area, gesturing for him to come out. He removed his headset right away.

“Everything okay?” he asked from the door.

“How about you hang out with me now? Let Aja work a little.”

“Work?” His voice cracked. “She’s recording? Like, her new album?”

Aliyah sat on the couch across from her bodyguards. Kelvin hurried over at once. She nodded to the spot beside her, but like a dope, he sat with a full cushion between them. She smacked his arm to get him to scoot closer. Aja’s bodyguard lounged on the sofa beside them, snoring.

“So, what else you got going on today?” he asked.

“A couple work things, if you wanna tag along.”

“Absolutely. But, like, am I allowed?”

“You are if I say you are.”

He giggled. “Right. Obviously.” His hair fell in his face.

Aliyah grabbed his arm and put it around her. “What do you think about a haircut later? You’ve been pretty shaggy since we met.”

“Yeah, no, I was thinking I was due.”

“Cool. I got a style in mind, so, we’ll see what we can do.”

Scene 5: Their Vacation