Fireworks 1 and 2

Jungle: Chapter Fifty-Two

    On that stage, Mia discovered a side of herself that she hadn't known was there. All her life, she had preferred to stay behind the camera, out of the limelight. Instead of seeking out attention, she used to evade it. But standing on the stage, even when she sang backup for Drake's other tracks, an alter ego started to develop - a side of her that basked in the spotlight and attention from adoring fans. While he rapped, she stood at the front of the stage and grabbed the hands of audience members. There was an immense amount of freedom as to what she could do. She could engage the fans, or she could dance on her man while he entertained the crowd, or she could dance on her own while singing out his lyrics.

    When she was onstage performing with him, she felt invincible. In this day and age, the media was all about power couples. Is this what it felt like to be a power couple? Is this how Beyonce and Jay felt every day of their lives? As if the world was theirs for the taking?

    After getting to know Drake and seeing the effect he had on his fans, and even the effect he had on his haters, she'd quickly gone from feeling lukewarm about him as an artist to feeling like he was larger than life. But for the first time, on this night and on this stage, she didn't feel like she was just his protege. Tonight, she felt like his equal. Sure, her bank account and net worth in no way matched his, and her name wasn't quite as well known yet, but she felt like she was holding her own while performing next to undoubtedly one of the most anticipated acts in North America.

    During the intermission, he changed clothes and checked his phone while chugging down water in the dressing room area.

    She was too amped to check her phone; she was even too amped to sit down, so she remained standing.

    He glanced up at her with an amused expression on his face. "Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.

    "The crowd is amazing," she told him, turning towards the full-length mirror and adjusting the skirt of her outfit.

    "It's definitely a good crowd," he agreed. "And they're loving you. When you commit, you're a natural on the stage." His eyes were on her as he spoke the words.

    She beamed at his reflection in the mirror. Then, she turned and walked over to him.

    He stared up at her with a lopsided grin.

    With a flirty smile, she leaned down and grabbed his cell phone out of his hands. "You're always on this."

    "What would you rather me be on?"

    "You have to ask?" She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. His phone vibrated in her hand, but they both ignored it. With the distant chanting of the crowd in their ears, they shared a loving kiss.

    His arms went around her waist and following the kiss, he laid his head on her chest.

    She ran a hand over his fresh fade, cradling his head against her chest.

    The door to the dressing room cracked open and an average height, brown-skinned woman with a short haircut poked her head in. "I don't mean to interrupt, but can I have a quick word?"

    Drake turned his head to the side, but didn't raise his head from Mia's chest. "Ange?"

    The woman smiled and opened the door wider. People were walking back and forth behind her in the hall outside of the dressing room. "Is it okay if I come in?"

    He lifted his head. "Yeah, of course," he said, beckoning to her.

    She entered the room and turned to close the door. Chubbs, who was standing outside of the dressing room keeping guard over it, beat her to the punch and closed the door for her. With a surprised look, she said, "O-kay," and turned back around to face Drake. "How have you been?"

    "I've been good."

    Mia was looking at him expectantly.

    He gestured to the woman. "Mia, this is Angie Ange. She runs D.C."

    Angie waved a hand with manicured stiletto nails. "Stop it."

    Laughing, he said, "She's a radio personality here in D.C. 93.9, right? WKYS?"

    She nodded and crossed the room. "You've always had the best memory," she told him, extending a hand to Mia. "And you're none other than Mia Thomas. The entire hip hop world is gushing nothing but praise for you."

    "Thank you," Mia said, accepting the woman's hand and looking over her army green blazer, white tank, and army green slacks.

    Angie turned to Drake. "I know this is very last-minute - we usually plan something with you in advance. But we were hoping that you could talk to us for a bit after the show."

    Drake rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, keeping one arm secure around Mia's waist. "Ah...I do have an appearance at Opera after this," he told her. "And it's, like...right after this."

    "We don't need long," Angie said quickly. "Just a few minutes. We'll fill the rest with audience reactions to the performance."

    "I could probably spare a few minutes, yeah."

    "You both are amazing to watch, by the way," Angie said, smiling warmly. "I'm going to head back out there, I just...wanted to check with you to see if we could talk to you for a quick minute after the show."

    "Sure, sure, of course," Drake said.

    Mia waited for Angie to leave, then kissed the tip of his nose. "We're amazing to watch," she told him.

    He laughed. "You liked that, huh?"

    "Tonight, while I was watching you perform, I got so turned on."

    His thick brows shot up. "Yeah?"

    She nibbled on his earlobe and said, "You're so sexy when you perform, I swear to God."

    "So are you," he returned, tugging on the waistband of her skirt. "I was tempted to run across that stage and tear this off of you."

    "Not in front of your fans," she exclaimed with a mock gasp.

    He nuzzled her neck. "Can I check my phone now?"

    She shook her head firmly. "No. What do you need to check it for? I'm right here."

    He slid his other arm around her and squeezed her tight. "We have to get back out there, and I'd like to check it before we go back out."

    Squirming on his lap, she whined, "But I was just getting comfortable."

    "Don't tease me, baby girl," he warned her with a playful look in his eyes. He gently pried his phone from her hand. "I'm not afraid to make those people wait. I've done it before."

    She bounced off his lap.

    The door to the dressing room opened again. This time, it was Chubbs. "The crowd is getting anxious, man."

    "I'm coming," Drake told him, standing up from the couch. Gripping his phone in one hand, he stretched his arms over his head and started to head towards the door.

    "Wait," Mia called out to him, not budging from her spot near the couch.

    His steps slowed and he turned, a single brow raised in askance. "Yeah?"

    She pouted at him.

    A smile stretched across his face and he returned to her with his trademark, long dick swagger that she loved so much. Then his arms were around her again, and he was kissing her with the sound of an eager audience at his back. Whenever he kissed her, his lips always felt impossibly soft and this time was no exception. He ended the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. "Are you ready to go out there and conquer?"

    "I'm ready," she assured him.

    He pulled back from her and held out his hand.

    She took it and followed him, leaving the sanctity of the dressing room behind. The sound of the chanting crowd grew louder as he led the way back to the stage, where their love would continue to be displayed - front and center.