Rookie (Eminem Fanfic)

Showtime

The plane ride to Japan was twelve hours long. I had to get up at 4AM to board and slept most of the way. Upon arriving, the girls and I were transported directly to the venue and to the dressing room to get our hair and makeup done. I chose several red extensions to have permanently laced into my hair for the next few weeks and my outfit was a bubblegum pink tank top and tight black, leather pants with boots. The makeup artist placed a deep burgundy-pink shadow upon my eyelids and lined the corners with gold glitter. I peer in the mirror at my reflection. I look like a Rockstar.

The girls and I had been practicing in LA for weeks and the moment is about to be here. I have not taken a stage since before I had Nevaeh. I had a slight case of nerves, but I know what I'm capable of. I wear a black jacket over my tank top which I plan to peel off as soon as the heat of the adrenaline filled show hits me. I drank a red bull to become energetic and started to dance around and do some jumping jacks. The time has come...

My show begins with 7 dancers to entertain the crowd with a few bars from a hit upbeat song from our second album. Classic! The set contains an upper level with railings. I rise in this elevator contraption so I'm above everyone on the stage and as I begin to sing, I gradually take steps down a flight of stairs until I meet the main stage. Halfway down the stairs, I removed my jacket as I begin to feel comfortable amongst my fans. The lights hit me and then they hit Jess on the drums, DJ Queen scratching the beats, and Macy on the keyboard who bring the music to life. The fans love us. They will always be here for me.

I am center stage, and the lights are shining on me. Music is universal. Music is happiness. Music can reach your soul and bring you hope. It is my job as a channel to bring these words and these vibrations through me to convey my message to the audience and inspire them in their daily lives. It is so much deeper than just a pretty girl singing a catchy tune. After my opener, I take this time to introduce the group and I slow it down by singing one of the new ballads I've been working on. I take advantage of the opportunity to thank my fans for their support and understanding of my life becoming a bit hectic these past few years, but I'm back! I'm going to pick up right where I left off just me, my bandmates, and my baby girl. I'm going to be fine.

I dance with a male dancer for a few bars and display his rippled muscular arms grabbed around me and get a little friendly up top on the railings for a song or two to appeal to my male fans. I don't really have any good songs about love because I write all my own material. I've never been in love personally. I've had relationships, but I've never had a ride or die. I've never had someone to feel comfortable with. My only love songs are about heartbreak and lies.

When my concert concluded, my fans cheers erupted, and I think it may be the most satisfied I have ever been with a performance. We all chattered as we made our way backstage, wiping the glistening perspiration from our bodies. Macy and Jess are the party girls of the bunch and found some guys to hang out with and go drink. Queen and I declined and made our way to the hotel balcony to puff a joint before we called it a night. I was now alone in my hotel room, but I am still far too excited to sleep. I flipped through some channels before my brain started screaming Call him! I was still in the clothes I performed in but put my jacket back on as to not seem totally desperate. I pressed FaceTime and he answered right away!

"Yo, how you doin?"

Marshall was walking down a hallway and then entered an office, closing the door. He was wearing gray sweats and a T-shirt.

"Oh, my bad. Where are you?" I asked.

"I'm back in Detroit. It's 10 AM. I just took my kids to school and now I'm at work."

"Shit, I'm sorry. I can let you go if you're busy."

"Nah, it's cool. I wanna hear how the show went."

I laughed a little. "It was fucking awesome!"

"Yeah? Nice glittery eyes."

"Yeah, it was crazy. I have some exciting stuff going on in my show. You can probably catch it on YouTube, like, right now."

"Yeah? Ima look it up tonight. Ima look it up and be like, "Yo, I was just in the studio wit this chick!"

I started laughing uncontrollably.

"Speaking of which, I got some shit that I want your voice on. I wanna work some more with you once you get done this leg of tour." He told me.

"Yeah, we can do that."

"If you're still talking to me till then."

"Why wouldn't I be talking to you?" I asked.

"Cuz I might annoy you till then. I can be really fucking annoying." He had a serious demeanor. "Just kidding."

"Oh ok."

"I'm not actually kidding. I'm annoying as fuck."

I couldn't tell if he was serious. He is hard to read. My eyes widened, and I nodded, fucking weirdo.

Marshall gave a half smile.

"Anyway, what's your show like? How do you open?" He asked.

"I open with How I Live and then I play some of my new shit. I end with a medley from my first album and then I encore with Rapture and that's when all the pyro and shit go off. And confetti falls from the sky. The fans love it and I love it too." I told him fondly.

"How nervous were you going out there after so long of being outta the spotlight?"

"I was nervous, I ain't gonna lie. But when those lights hit me and I felt that heat...it was all over."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I had to do the same thing, it's incredible." (silence for a few seconds) "How did you get discovered Ray?"

"I'm from Brooklyn, but I would scrape up some change for the train to go over to the touristy spots in Manhattan. I used to be a street performer and put a hat down for money. When I was 17, I was discovered by a producer who invited me to a studio to record. I lied and told them I was 20." I laughed at the recollection.

"You wrote The Rapture at age 17?" Marshall was impressed.

"No, I wrote The Rapture at age 16. That's why I lied. I didn't think they would believe me."

"Holy shit! What a story!"

"I know." I smiled fondly at the memory. "How did you get discovered Marshall?"

"I came in second at the rap Olympics and then Dre got a hold of my demo and flew me out to LA."

"That must have been devastating to come in second place."

"It was traumatic. I could have cried." He told me.

"Aww." I let out a sympathetic laugh.

"Look Ray, I gotta go, but I could call you back later tonight."

"Sounds good, goodnight Marshall."

"Yeah, it's lunchtime here Ray!"

"Oops." I laughed.

"Talk to you tonight." He smiled back.

We talked for over an hour! It may be morning it Detroit, but it's now 2AM over in Japan. There's a jacuzzi tub in the other room calling my name. I need to strip down and disappear into a land of aromatic hydrotherapy and fantasize about my newfound friend, Marshall Mathers.