G.L.A (Ghetto Love Affair)

(I) What the Fuck Just Happened?!

All Makani wanted was to get her merchandise signed. She'd spent over a decade collecting it all and now that she paid for her inclusive backstage meet and greet passes, she was determined to get them signed. First things first, she had a sea of women trying to get drafted to wade through.

Taking a large gulp of her liquid courage, Makani threw her shoulders back and made her way over to where the two men were lounging. They were surrounded but she came here with a purpose. Throwing a ponytail out her face, she swaggered over and held the bundle tightly in her arms. 

"Well, hello there" Chris smirked eyeing her from head to toe appraisingly
"Hi. I really don't wanna kill your vibe so, I'm not gonna take much o' your time. I've been a fan for years and I honestly only got the meet and greet pass to get this stuff signed. I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind?"

Chris was first to move. 

"Let's go over there. There's a empty table and it'll make this easier", he smirked gesturing to a table in the corner to the far right by some satin curtain covered windows. 

Makani beamed happily and followed his sweeping gesture indicating to walk ahead of him. This was the best of luck! He was actually going to sign all of her stuff! She lay everything carefully on the table since some of them were pretty old and she didn't want to mess up any of her originals. Makani fiddled through her left ponytail by the scrunchie for a minute before fishing out a red sharpie. Chris had long since sat and was watching her with an amused smirk playing on his lips. 

"There we go!"

In realizing he'd been entertained by her antics, Makani's eyes went wide and she let out a nervous laugh at the scrutiny. 

"Weird artist habit"
"Nah I get it"

He flipped his hat off his head between them with two flicks of his wrist so she could see the inside. When she pushed up onto the balls of her feet, Makani realized the clip on the side wasn't an embellishment but him tucking a mechanical pencil attachment and lead refill into the slot. 

"I'm stealing that", she admitted with a quirked brow as she looked back up at him and slipped her pen between her fingers.
"Have at it", he laughed.

He waved over to the bar and signaled for a round of drinks for them. 

"Did you want anything specific?"
"Not really. S'all gonna get me drunk", she drawled with a shrug
"Heard that", he laughed heartily taking the round from the shot girl who was shooting Makani a pissy side eye.
"I'm taking too much of your time", she sighed with a roll of the eye as she ignored the multitude of eyes glaring holes into her back.
"I think everybody in here has paid for my time, including you. You good", he shrugged taking the CD she handed him.

It was his debut album and it was obvious it'd been her original copy. Cute. 

"What's ya favorite track on this one?"
"Is that a trick question?", she quipped with a brow raised suspiciously.
"Indulging a curiosity is how I like to think about it"

She didn't hesitate. 

"Winner" 

He hummed thoughtfully but said nothing further as he picked up her glass and offered it to her. Makani happily took it, needing the distraction and downed the whole thing, trying to refrain from screaming like she wanted to. She was expecting a picture or two not one on one time where he was picking her brain about his discography. When the glass was empty she smacked her lips, pleased with the strong flavor and reached for a second. When he reached the WordUp! poster of his at 16 in a white tanktop, his mouth pouted but his jaw was set hard as he threw up a sign with his right hand, he snickered. Makani had to move closer to peek over his shoulder and see why.