Fireworks 1 and 2

Chapter One

    Mia Thomas had to commend herself. She was most likely the best friend ever. Seated beside her on a passenger flight to Toronto were the two best friends she'd ever had, Brianna Taylor and Desirae Rodriguez. For the past few years, they'd talked about going to OVOFest, a two-day concert event hosted and funded by popular rapper/singer/actor, Drake. Her two friends were huge Drake fans. She could acknowledge that he was talented and attractive. She even listened to his music sometimes, but she in no way considered herself a fan. She didn't follow his social media accounts or Google facts about him. His photo wasn't the wallpaper image on her cell phone.

    Even though she wouldn't necessarily consider herself a fan, her friends were two proud fans. From his voice, to his lyrics, to his looks, they couldn't get enough of the man. Bri and Desirae had talked about attending the OVOFest event for years, but life had always gotten in the way. Their schedules never seemed to line up, or their finances (or lack thereof) prevented them from being able to attend.

    Within the past several months, Mia's financial status had improved significantly. She wasn't rich by any means, but a lot of important executives and artists in the music industry were taking notice of her songwriting talent. It took years of writing, posting her original songs on video streaming sites, and reaching out to viewers on multiple social media networks, but in February, a record label executive contacted her in the comment section of one of her YouTube videos. The rest was history. That soon became the first of many offers rolling in. That was in February, and now it was July 31st.

    Mia gazed out of the plane window. A sea of clouds stretched out as far as her eyes could see. Any minute now, the plane would start to land.

    She reached into the color block designer purse stationed on her lap and withdrew a compact mirror. She flipped the mirror open and inspected her appearance. A pretty, but tired reflection greeted her. Her almond-shaped brown eyes, slender arched brows, small nose, and full lips were complemented by beautiful brown skin that she could thank her African-American father and Venezuelan mother for.

    She'd styled her naturally long, black hair into a stylish topknot. That was where her stylishness ended. She'd opted to dress for comfort for the long flight from San Antonio, Texas, to Toronto, Canada. Her comfort outfit consisted of a loose gray sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder, a black tank top underneath it, jeans, and sneakers. Her friends wore similar comfort outfits, Desirae opting for leggings instead of jeans.

    The captain announced over the speakers that the plane would soon land. Bri, who'd been sleeping soundly beside Mia, cracked open her eyes and stretched as much as the confined space would allow her. "Are we there yet?" she muttered, sitting up straight in her seat and touching the top of her hair. "Ugh, my hair is a damn mess. I just got it relaxed yesterday." She snatched the compact mirror out of Mia's hands. After inspecting her mocha brown complexion, she promptly started repairing her hair.

    Desirae surveyed Bri's hair and laughed a moment before thinking to check on her own hair. Her wavy dark brown hair had survived the five and a half-hour flight without much damage.

    The plane landed. They retrieved their carry-on luggage and filed off the plane with the rest of the passengers. Toronto Pearson International Airport was extremely busy, no doubt partially due to the fact that Caribana (a festival celebrating Caribbean culture) and OVOFest were occurring this week.

    Three hours and a car rental later, they opened the door to their hotel suite. Their mouths dropped open in unison. Their suite was decked out in colorful modern furniture, with stunning floor-to-ceiling windows lining the far wall. A large flat-screen television was the centerpiece of the room, mounted on the wall and facing an assortment of black and gray L-shaped couches.

    Bri and Desirae crossed the threshold of the suite and immediately ran to the long hallway attached to the living, no doubt to intending to claim their favorite bedrooms. Mia entered the suite, hearing the soft click of the hotel suite door closing at her back. The suite came equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, complete with dishware and silverware. She passed the kitchen, walked through the living room, and realized that one of the floor-to-ceiling windows was actually a patio door. The patio door led out to a spacious balcony that spanned the entire length of the hotel suite.

    Mia stood, holding onto the balcony railing and looking out over the beautiful skyline of Toronto. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the city. She was only outside for a few minutes when she heard Desirae and Bri talking behind her. They joined her on the balcony.

    "The plan for the week is what?" Mia asked them over her shoulder.

    "Find Drake and seduce him," Bri said without hesitation.

    Desirae made a dismissive sound with her mouth. "You have a boyfriend so you won't be seducing anyone," the sassy Latina said with a flip of her hair.

    Bri rolled her eyes, but didn't argue that point.

    "The plan," Mia said, answering her own question, "is for us to shop, go sightseeing, go to some kickass concerts, and dance the nights away."

    They all screamed in excitement.

    Bri climbed up on the short balcony ledge, gripping the railing, and shouted, "We're in Toronto!"

    Desirae and Mia joined in, hugging each other and squealing enthusiastically.