Fireworks 3 and 4

Fireworks: Forever Chapter Ten

    This is a bad idea. This is, like, a really bad idea. Mia sat in Drake's living room with her hands primly folded in her lap. 

    During their conversation, he'd stopped in mid-sentence to answer the door himself. When he returned, he wasn't alone. 

    A beautiful, brown-skinned beauty with thick, elbow-length hair followed him into the room. Shades covered her eyes but did little to hide her identity when the cute, pert nose and glossy set of full lips was still visible. Cargo pants sat low on exposed hips. A crop top, designer sneakers, and a copious amount of jewelry completed the look. "Oh my God, Mia!" SZA ran over to her just as Mia stood to greet her. The powerhouse of a singer didn't hesitate in hugging her. "You're even prettier in person, oh my God. How haven't we hung out yet?"

    "It's crazy," Mia agreed, hugging her back with her eyes glued to Drake. She pulled out of the embrace and tucked long strands of curly hair behind one ear. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

    "Honestly, me visiting Drake's estate kind of plays into the story," SZA said with a wave of her hand. "And all three of us can't be seen eating together at a restaurant. It would throw everything off. Coming here just made sense."

    "Riiiiiight." Mia nodded, trying to kill the nervousness she felt. The nervousness was stubborn and only increased in intensity. She gestured to the armchairs flanking the couch. "Please. Make yourself comfortable."

    "Aren't you an adorable hostess?" SZA teased lightheartedly before taking a seat.

    Drake sat next to Mia and slung an arm across her shoulders. "This industry bullshit is new to Mia," he explained to SZA. "I tried my best to explain it to her...but do you remember how you felt when everything was first explained to you?"

    "Like I'd just signed up for a lifetime's worth of bullshit," SZA said with a nod. "Yeah. It's hard to make sense out of something that doesn't make sense."

    "Why do you go along with it?" Mia asked without hesitation.

    SZA squirmed a bit in the chair, for the first time appearing uncomfortable. "In my case, they eased me into it in a way that felt harmless. Just small things, presented to me as playing with the public. I do get a kick out of that...playing around with the media and with my fans sometimes. Check to see who's really paying attention, you know? Change up my answers to things, just to see if anyone catches on...and just because at the end of the day, some of those questions are none of anyone's business. What the labels are doing now...it feels different than anything they've requested in the past."

    "But you're still going to go along with it?" Mia pressed.

    SZA shrugged. "Pretend to date Drake? I've dated him before and I know him. It would just feel like hanging out with an old friend."

    Trying to hide her annoyance, Mia wrapped her arms around herself. She could feel Drake's eyes on her, and it gave her the feeling of being examined under a microscope. 

    Tilting her head to the side, SZA shifted a glance to Drake, then back to Mia. "You don't want to go along with it."

    "I don't," Mia confirmed. "It's crazy to me that one request from these guys and everyone, the biggest names in entertainment, just fold and do what's asked of them. Who are these guys?"

    "Some of the scariest motherfuckers you'll ever meet in your life," SZA answered readily. She laughed and shook her head. "You really don't know what you'd be up against. All three of us were lucky with the storylines we were given. A quick, easy infidelity storyline. That's nothing compared to some artists. Some were tasked with shit like getting caught being drunk and disorderly in public - have it recorded and leaked, just to get people talking. Getting into a very real fight with another artist in public, to the point of real injury. Drake and I make nice for a few months, get pictured together, pretend to make out a bit, and that's it."