Intoxicated || An Eminem Fanfiction

Chapter 15

Marshall POV

I sat on the stool at the bar of Denaun's pool room watching Denaun and Joseph- I mean Alec played a game of pool.

For real though, the resemblance is uncanny.

We had been talking shop since Alec was also in the music industry, he was a sound technician who also dabbled in producing.

He was unusually cool about it, he didn't try shoving his beats in my face like most did, kinda just mentioned his job and that it was a side gig and then left it at that.

"Man, I have to tell you, I was at your concert last weekend and it was dope, well they're always dope"

I silently cheered since I was agonizing over how I would manage to bring it up in conversation.

"Yeah? Well man glad you liked it, have you been to many?"

"My cousin Leila and I always hit them up, we have done since your first, my cousin Tommy, Laila's older brother was a fan of yours since day one" He said nonchalantly with a shrug as he knocked the balls with his pool cue "We use to go to the hip hop shop just to watch you, we started to bring Leila when she was old enough, Tommy always had an ear for beats and rhymes, the day he bought Infinite over he said this is it, he swore you were gonna be the next big thing, and man, was he right"

A tingling sensation ran up my spine at the mention of the hip-hop shop.

The confusion of the whole situation still clouded me.

Why?

Leila's clear distaste for me was evident but it almost seemed like she had originally been quite the fan.

"Man that's dope, so you really have been around for the whole ride of Shady?" Denaun said with a chuckle "Wheres Tommy? We'll invite him round, show some appreciation, right Marshall?"

"Sure man, definitely bring him, he was right after all" I said with a chuckle.

"He would have loved that, I'm sure" Alec said leaning on his pool stick, strange expression then it's moved to looking disappointed "but he passed in 2007"

I frowned, letting the words settle in my mind as I thought I had misheard.

"Sorry to hear that man"

I nodded "That's rough man, I'm sorry for your loss"

"Thanks, I appreciate it" Alec nodded "It's actually why it's important to Leila that we attend your concerts, it's tradition, something she and Tommy use to share, along with me, but those two, man they came from hell, and your music is what was the glue that kept them together and alive"

"You know it's funny..." I said still confused, sure the reason behind why I saw her at my concert made sense, but the fact she seemed to dislike me and fucked with me that didn't "She doesn't seem to like me that much for someone that was a fan"

"Leila is... Complicated" He sighed "She's lived a rough life, alcoholic parents, my uncle use to beat her mom, she didn't always hate men, but I don't know, after her 21st birthday something happened, and she kinda morphed into a man-hating monster"

"No shit, she's uh... I mean I've had a few run-ins"

"I would guess by your facial expression it's been more than a few times" Alex said with a chuckle.

"She rejected Marshall you know" Denaun said joining him.

"Man like I said at the party, if you enjoy having a clear mental state, steer clear, she destroys men for a living"

I snorted "What makes you think I'm interested in pursuing her still?"

Alec shook his head and simply let out a loud laugh turning to Denaun with a gesture of him nodding in my direction "He doesn't know he's already fucked right?"

"He ain't got the best track record with women, he doesn't even know if they're hot or cold most of the time"

I shook my head, "The slander I'm hearing from the mouth of my best friend right now is unbelievable"

He shrugged "Truth hurts, I ain't sorry that your woman reader is broke"

"Just if she ever invites you over, don't fall for it" Alec said with a snort, swigging from his bottle.

I felt my body stiffen and the images of me going down on her then kicked out with my clothes and shoes in my hands flooded my mind.

"I...uh... Sure, I won't"

Alec looked at me with his head slightly tilted, as if he was reading my uncomfortable energy, before cracking up again.

"Dawg, you didn't"

"Didn't what? I don't know what you're talking about" I said clearing my throat, trying to keep my nervous stutter at bay.

This dude was good at reading people, what the fuck.

Denaun looked between us confused "What are you talking about? Don't fall for what"

Alec was shaking his head "Don't worry about it, I guess I just underestimated my cousin, I mean shit, I knew that woman was badass enough to bring many men to their knees, but you of all people?.... Mr. misogyny? Damn, Lala got the gift of the game for sure"

"Man ain't shit like that happened" I said snorting, turning to get another coke out of the drinks fridge.

"You hooked up with Leila man?" Denaun asked still confused "You didn't tell me"

"Oh he didn't hook up with her" Alec said shrugging, hitting another ball into a pocket "He got used then kicked out"

I glared at him as he started to laugh once he realized what Alec was saying "Oh shit, what she get you to do fool, hit it and quit it?"

"Nah, you see from what I've been told she literally brings a man to their knees, and asks if they're hungry"

"DAMMMMNNNNNN YOU GOT FINESSED DAWG" Denaun yelled and then fell backward he laughed so hard.

"You got it"

"Man shut the fuck up"

"Alec, dawg, Marshall doesn't do that with women he ain't in serious relationships with"

"Man shut up" I snorted, ready to leave, this whole information session had turned to shit and now I was the butt of the joke.

"Don't let it get to you man," Alec said slapping my shoulder "Itsu what she does to prove she's in control, it's her, not you man"

"Man you weren't the one standing on the other fuckin side of that door after getting kicked the fuck out with lock jar and your clothes shoved in your arms on the fuckin street"

"Maybe next time give her VIP tickets" Alec cackled, leaning on the pool stick.

"You know what, fuck you both, it ain't funny, I was played"

"Understatement" Alec snorted "Listen to me man, come on"

I rolled my eyes "Don't tell her we've spoken about her, for fuck sakes"

"I'll take it to the grave dawg" He laughed "Ay but listen, she ain't all that bad when you get to know the real her, she just got wall after wall up protecting herself, this toxic bullshit she does, it's kinda a defense mechanism now, it's so deep-rooted it's hard to get past"

I shrugged "I ain't playing to that game again"

Alec threw his head back and laughed again.

"Man, it's too late, you already are and don't even know it"