Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

February 6, 1992

~Tia's P.O.V~

"I think number Ms. Angela Bassett would play a great Betty Shabazz. She's perfect for the role." I spoke to Spike Lee while we were packing up.

"I agree, she's perfect for the role."

"I can't believe Denzel had his child try for a role. That kid can really act!" I said.

"Just like his father! Earnest Lee Thompson got the role for Sidney. He was made for it, he did great."

I smiled, "He did, that's a Midwesterner for you. He representing Gary, Indiana like a champ!"

"You saying it like you from there." Spike laughed.

"That's because I am."

"Really?"

"Yes sir, born and raised!" I laughed.

"You sound like you're from down south." Tanya Lewis almost Lee said to me. I thought they were married because he said they were but they're just engaged. Beautiful couple!

"I get that a lot, even back at home." I shrugged.

"That's because you do!" Spike Lee reasoned.

"Ehh, I don't hear it." I shrugged again.

We finished packing up and went our separate ways. "See you guys tomorrow!" I waved.

"You too!" Spike Lee and almost 'Mrs,' Lee said in unison.

I made it outside and hailed a cab. I noticed it was the same older guy from last time.

"Oh, hey! How're you, sir?" I exclaimed.

"I'm fine, young lady. How might you be?" He asked looking through the mirror at me.

"Couldn't be better." I smiled.

"Good to hear. Where to?"

I told him to take me to the studio. I'm going to the studio because Tupac wanted me to come, though it'll be a bit earlier than he would expect. I know he's there so it's fine. The cab driver was telling me another one of his stories from back in the day.

"They called me Shorty back in Harlem. I was the mack, had the best clothes and all, Malcolm and me both."

I thought about what he said, "You mean Malcolm Little? As in Malcolm X?"

"Yes, that one. We were into a lot of things back then, things we shouldn't have been in."

I knew I knew the name Jarvis from somewhere! Mrs. Little told me a few stories that Malcolm X told her. "Wow! That's you? I knew I heard that name before."

"Mmhm, that's me. I called Malcolm, Little Red because of his hair, but it was changed to Detroit Red." He chuckled, "Malcolm and I were like peas in a pod. That is until we were sentenced."

"For larceny, right?" I asked.

"Yes, for a whole decade. They put more years because of they were angry that we were dealing with white women. Right before the arrest Malcolm had a perm in his head and they shut off all the water. He ended up having to dunk his head in the toilet!" He laughed out loud, and I joined in shaking my head.

"Wow!"

"When he came out he was a changed man. I got back into the things before but eventually gave my life to Christ. While Malcolm became Muslim. He came a long way. When he was assassinated I was devastated."

"I'm sorry," I said sympathetically.

"You did nothing, I'm just glad someone apart of the youth is willing to listen to a old man." He chuckled.

"I love listening to stories told by elders, they are the best storytellers and most wise." I replied.

"Yes we are, young miss."

"Say, can I have your number? I'm actually working on a film about Malcolm X and I would LOVE to use your story. That's where I just came from."

"Sure, I would love to! Is this your first film?" He asked looking in the mirror at me then back at the road ahead.

"Thank you, and no sir. This is actually my third film."

"Really? What are they called?"

"There's 'The Five Heartbeats' and my most recent one called 'Juice'."

"I've heard my grand children speaking about that 'Juice' movie, and my wife and I enjoyed 'The Five Heartbeats' film. It was great."

"Thank you." I said bowing my head smiling and lifting it back up.

"How'd you get into this business, you look a bit young?"

"That's because I am, I'm nineteen almost twenty years of age. My high school teacher helped me get my foot in the door." I explained to him.

"That was nice of him."

"Yes. Yes, it was. I'm very appreciative about him, he always joked and said when I make it make sure I mention him but without mentioning his name." I laughed, and he soon joined in.

After a while we made it to my destination. He wrote down his number and handed it to me. "Thank you, sir. Have a nice day and I'll be in contact with you very soon."

"I'll be looking out. The best time to call me is six to nine at night. Then, I'm off the clock and afterwards I'm asleep."

"Okay, thanks again!" I said exiting the car, and closing the door. I waved, he waved back, and drove off. I entered the building and walked up to the front desk lady.

"Hey, back so soon?" The front desk clerk asked.

"Yes," I smiled.

"For DeVanté?" She asked.

"No, I'm here for Tupac." I replied.

She looked down at the list, then looked back up. "He's in studio room 4B."

"Thank you!" She wrote my name down and I walked pass the elevator and made my way up the stairs.

I knocked on the door, and looked over to the one I figure Dalvin and them are in. DeVanté said he'd be at the studio around this time. I believe they're always come back to the same room. I knocked again, but this time a little harder. Is he going to open or what? The door opened and revealed that same heavyset guy from the other day. The one that spoke to Tupac for a long time while I waited in the car. Not only that, but as soon as he opened the door there was a heavy cloud of smoke that exited the room.

"Whatsup? Who you?" He said breathing heavily, like he was out of breath.

"Tia?" He asked me, then turned around, "Y'all niggas know a Tia?" Someone else repeated the question. A Tia? I kind of frowned at that, I'm not an animal.

"That's for me!" I heard Tupac yell.

"Come on in then." The heavyset guy motioned for me to enter.

I stepped in, and my eyes automatically began to water from all the smoke. I started coughing some, because I'm not used to being around all this smoke. Heck of people in this studio room. A few guys and mostly half naked women.

"Wassup? Why you here so early?" Tupac asked coming out the booth, with a shirtless sweaty body, once I came into view.

"Just came from watching these auditions, and we finished earlier than expected." I shrugged.

"Word? That's dope, come give me a hug!" He exclaimed holding his arms out.

"Yeah," I answered half hugging him, because of all the sweat. I hate sweat, especially other people's sweat. He noticed and pulled me in all the way.

"Now what? It's all on you now." He laughed, I pulled away, smacking my lips, softly hitting him.

"Gon' head and take a seat."

I looked around wondering where because the couches were occupied at the moment. This is awkward, these women and men really feel comfortable with being in a studio room where people are in various corners doing God knows what to each other. Oh my goodness, did I just see a ding-a-ling!? In real life time!? My eyes widened.

"What's wrong?" Tupac asked, noticing my widened eyes. What's wrong? What's wrong!? Tuhh, a lot.

"I- umm- uhh, there's nowhere to sit..." I replied awkwardly.

"Sit in my seat," he pointed to a chair in front of the control area.

"K." I replied and walked towards the chair.

I sat my briefcase down beside it, took off my coat and backpack/purse and sat down. I sat my coat across my lap and my backpack/ purse on top of it. Tupac stood right behind the chair I was sitting in.

"Yo, I'm sorry about all of this. Had I known I had to share studio rooms with these folks I wouldn't have invited you, because it ain't your type of scene. You good?" Tupac said leaning down over my shoulder near my ear.

"Peachy," I replied.

He stood back up straight."I'm finna lay down this last verse and then we can go. You cool with that?"

"Yeah," I smiled up at him.

"Aye, you with feds shorty?" The long faced dude that was with Tupac the other day as well asked.

"Naww, she ain't with no feds, Puff!" Tupac laughed.

"I mean she look like she work with them and all. She got a turtleneck and a briefcase. Who you then?"

"I do film." I briefly replied.

"Oh? Well, let's get this party started then." The Puff dude said towards me. The heck is is talking about.

"Chill, it ain't that kind of film." Tupac said pushing his hand out, and I finally caught on.

"What do you do then?"

"The regular type of film. One's like 'Juice'." I answered.

"Word? That's you? That shit was dope, I was at the premiere and whatnot. That movie is slammin'!"

"Thanks," I smiled at him.

"Okay, well let me lay this last verse." Tupac said clapping his hand together, and walking back into the booth. I noticed it was another guy in the booth as well.

"Play the track," Tupac said through the speaker.

🎶Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier
Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier
Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter🎶

"And, uh, to all the ladies havin' babies on they own
I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin' all alone
Daddy's long gone and he left you by your lonesome-"

Similar to my mother and my grandmothers son. I don't understand why he was never there, and never will. I feel as if some things I endured as well as my older brother through childhood could have been avoided if he was around.

🎶'Cause ain't nothin' worse than when your son
Wants to know why his daddy don't love him no mo'
You can't complain, you was dealt this hell of a hand
Without a man, feelin' helpless
Because there's too many things for you to deal with
Dyin' inside, but outside you're lookin' fearless
While the tears is rollin' down your cheeks
You're steady hopin' things don't all fall this week-🎶

My grandmothers son blamed my brother for him not being around. How was it his fault? I don't know, he just didn't want to MAN up. When my brother came home that day from school, after confronting my grandmothers son about not being in our lives, but taking care of other peoples children who weren't his, I was heartbroken when he explained it to my mother. That was the first time I ever seen my brother with that look in his eyes. I broke down, watching my mother and brother break down. Though I was only about five at the time I understood it all. Heck I understood a lot even back then. I was pretty aware of things being said.

I always thought a man would never want me because my father didn't. So when I got older, I kind of craved for a males attention. So much, that the first boy that approached me in highschool, I dated. He was a senior and I was a freshman, that was all wrong. To top it off he just wasn't my type. Shouldn't no girl at that age be dating no senior, because we have different focuses. He want sex and I wanted love. He'd try things with me, I was say refuse, because I wasn't into those things. I'm so glad I never gave it to him though. I still got it, and ain't planning on giving it away no time soon.

We dated for almost a year, from the end of freshman year to almost the end of sophomore year. He broke up with me about twenty day before our anniversary, and I never understood why. He broke my heart, cried a lot, and I gained a bunch of weight because of it. At the end of summer is when I made that change I've mentioned before. The one about me losing weight and pushing away hair chemicals and the heat. We ended up back together when junior year started for not even a month, and broke up again. I cried a bit, but that second time on the next day I said F ol' dude. He didn't deserve me! He was my first kiss and first boyfriend.

"Yo, y'all together?" The long faced dude who goes by Puff asked me.

"No, we aren't." I shook my head.

"Y'all fucking?"

"Excuse me?" I squinted my eyes at him, swiveling my chair around to face him.

"I said are y'all fucking?"

"No, I heard what you said the first time. I just wanted to know why are you asking such a question. I don't know you and vice versa. That's mad disrespectful." I said adding a bit of hostility to my voice.

"It's just a question. You gon' answer IT?" The heavyset dude asked.

"Not that it's any of y'all business, but no. We aren't." I said to them both just so they could get off of my case.

"But, huh, please, you got to keep your head up." Tupac finished the lyrics.

"Wassup then?" One of the other males asked me trying to mack. I just ignored him, and turned back towards the booth.

"Y'all leave the girl alone, she just got here." The guy from beside me working on the controls said turning around.

"Yo, was that good?" Tupac asked through the mic.

"Yeah, you done." The dude working the area replied back.

Tupac walked out the booth with the other guy who was in there with him singing behind him.

"Yo, you ready?" He said wiping the sweat off his body.

"Yes, I am." I quickly stood up putting on my coat and purse, then picked my briefcase up off the floor. I'm pissed off, how can people be so disrespectful!?

"I see," he laughed and me rushing. Tupac put on a shirt and grabbed his coat from the rack near the door.

"Imma catch y'all ugly niggas later." Tupac said opening up the door. I deeply inhaled, FRESH SMOKELESS AIR! As soon as we opened it we heard yelling. We both looked in the direction and it just so happens to be K-Ci and them.

"Yo, K-Ci shut up! Dal, chill the fuck out." I recognized that as the voice of JoJo.

"Nahh, FUCK that nigga! You been real reckless lately with your words. I on't know what's going on with you but we finna fix this shit RIGHT NOW!" Now THAT was Dalvin.

"Lemme try and DE- ESCALATE this." Tupac said.

"They do this all the time, ain't nothing new." I laughed as we made our way towards the opened studio room door.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Y'all good?" Tupac asked.

DeVanté turned around and gave us a look that basically asked 'Does it look like we good?' I noticed the others from the room I came from was behind me. I heard the heavyset guys breathing and his belly was slightly touching me.

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

Dalvin, JoJo, K-Ci and I were in the studio recording a new song that Dalvin wrote for our next album. Me, I don't like to go to the studio until all of our music is completely written out. The reason is simply because that's more money out of our pockets.

"Aye, K-Ci? Put a little 'UMPHH' in it!" I said through the mic, pausing the tape.

🎶Let's be alone
I wanna hear you moan🎶

"Baby!" K-Ci sung a little to loud, and his voice cracked.

"Yo, cut!" I yelled through the mic, having to pause the tape again. "I said put a little UMPH in it NOT yell. Do it smoothe! I know your throat is hurting from that! Drink some water." I laughed at the ending and so did JoJo and Dal.

K-Ci came out the booth taking off his sweat stained shirt. "Shut y'all asses up! Damn, it's hot as hell in this bitch!" He grabbed water bottle out the mini fridge in the corner and downed it. He opened the studio room door attempting to get more air.

"That's what happens when you sing too hard!" Dalvin butted in causing Jojo and I to laugh.

"I know you ain't talking about singing. Don't forget that Tionne has the manliest voice of TLC, and to top it off the bitch CAN'T sing." K-Ci threw back at Dalvin, hurled over in laughter. My whole face changed because I knew it was about to be some shit.

"Every now I get a little crazy." K-Ci sung in a rough voice sounding like a old man.

"Fuck you say!?" Dalvin said lifting his right eyebrow, standing up.

"Man, you heard me. UNAPOLOGETIC!" K-CI smirked folding his arms, and put emphasis on unapologetic. JoJo and I looked at each other wide eyed and stood up.

"Yo, man it ain't got to go down like that." I said pushing Dalvin back.

Dalvin pointed over my shoulder. "Nahh, FUCK that nigga! You been real reckless lately with your words. I on't know what's going on with you but we finna fix this shit RIGHT NOW!"

"Yo, K-Ci shut up! Dal, chill the fuck out." JoJo semi yelled standing in front of K-Ci.

'Pac, and some other niggas entered the room. I'm guessing they heard all of the yelling.

"What's going on?" Tia asked.

"Y'all good?" Tupac asked. I turned around and gave them a look that basically asked 'Does it look like we good?'

"Nigga I was just jivin'! Fuck you getting so mad for? Yo uptight ass." K-Ci shrugged his shoulders.

"Everybody don't play the like you K-Ci! That's your problem! You always playing, though it didn't seem like you was playing, neck bone built body ass!" Dalvin said backing down but still riled up.

K-Ci pointed at Dalvin and I. "Y'all DeGrate brothers too sensitive about these broads."

"Hold on now," I said turning to face K-Ci. "You ain't fin' to come at us like that! We ain't did shit to yo ass, I ain't even said much to yo ass besides about the track! I suggest you get to steppin' before I lose my cool too."

"Whatever," K-Ci waved us off, grabbed his things. All the people at the door moved over so he could exit.

"This shit getting way out of hand!" I said sitting back down, with my elbows near my knees playing with my fingers.

"This ain't nothing new." JoJo said, "We ALWAYS argued, even when we met. Hell K-Ci even pulled a gun on Dalvin, here." He pointed at Dalvin.

"Yeah, but that wasn't that serious." I replied.

"Not THAT serious? Nigga there was a gun involved!" JoJo laughed.

"K-Ci didn't even know how to use it though."

"That's more of a reason for it being serious!"

"You right! But ehh," I shrugged.

"Man, what?" Dalvin asked me. "I could have gotten shot and possibly killed. I was shaking in my damn boots. Before then I ain't even seen a gun, and especially one pointing at me!" Dalvin laughed at the memory. I just shook my head.

"Yeah," I said rubbing both my hands on my face a bit frustrated.

See? This is why I like to wait until all songs are written. We just wasted studio time we paid for. We already splitting shit four ways, we still got money but damn! I don't like wasting my time and my money at the same time.

"You alright," I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Tia.

"I'm chill." I said in a monotone voice.

"Doesn't sound like it." She softly replied.

"Mmhm, I'm finna go." I said standing up which caused her hand to fall off my shoulder.

"Imma catch y'all later," I grabbed my things and walked out.

When I made it into my car I turned it on to warm it up, and picked up my mobile phone and clicked a saved number. I waited for then to answer.

"Yo, Toya?" I said through the speaker.

"Yes, DeVanté?" Toya replied.

"I'm on my way to yo crib, be ready."

"Okay, baby." She said in a sultry voice.

I hung up, lit a blunt and drove off to my destination. I ain't had sex in damn near two months straight. The closest thing to intimacy with another person was in January when I got head from that stank badussy bitch. All I know is I got a lot of stress and tension built up that I'm about to let out. ALL OF IT.

I pulled up to Toya's apartment building, grabbed a few condoms, and made my way to the elevator to her apartment. When I made it to her door it opened without me knocking. I looked down at her body, and she was dressed in some pink lingerie. I looked at her face and it started to turn into Tia's, I blinked hard shaking my head, and saw Tia- Toya again. I can't catch a fucking break! Can I? During the whole thing all I saw was Tia face, which mad eme go even harder. Even during my last and best climax of today I called out her name. That lead me to be kicked out. But, fuck it I got my nut all three of 'em, I'm good now.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: School is beating my butt, I'm overwhelmed with assignments! 😩😩 I promise I'll update whenever I can y'all.

Word Count: 3,770

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