The journey of two different individuals as they navigate the world of social media fame and professional basketball in, "The Influence."
Dearra Taylor x Klay Thompson
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nobody Gets Me - SZA
2 Months Later...
Dearra posed in front of the camera as the photographer snapped the pictures with extensive precision. She kept her posture clean and simple, so the pictures would come out smooth and require minimum editing.
"Give me face!" The photographer said over the music that played. Dearra laughed at the comment giving the best off guard photo.
Dearra was modeling for the brand, Exotic Fashion, which was Dess's newest clothing line. Dearra was extremely proud and happy for her best friend to have made such an accomplishment. She watched her start this business with just an idea, and to now be a part of the execution was only a blessing. Dearra was going to be included in the launch that was happening later on.
It had been about two months since the argument with Klay, and she was still healing mentally and emotionally. Dess and Jayda recommended that Dearra make a consultation with a nearby therapist and De took the advice.
Since then, she has been expressing and working through her past traumas to become a better, and loving person. Dearra felt like she was making real progress by talking with a psychological professional. Her mind often wandered back to Klay, and she wondered how their relationship would've prospered had she sought help earlier.
To tell the truth, she missed Klay with every ounce of her body. She had become used to the stranger, and for it all to be snatched away in minutes hurt. To hear his voice again, she watched his recent post-game interviews, and she looked through her camera gallery every once in a while at the pictures they'd taken. Her favorite was the one of him sleeping on the floor with Rocco. On days when her therapy session was focused on him, she would sit in her car rereading their messages.
Her therapist advised her to delete every trace of him, but she couldn't, not that easily. The six months they spent together were the best she had in a long time. As much as she missed him, she avoided interaction by any means possible.
Dess and JP had thrown an adult pajama party, but since Klay was going to be there, Dearra made up the excuse of having the flu. She knew one day she would have to speak to him again, but she wasn't ready for that just yet.
"Okay, I think that's a wrap." Dess said, and the crew began to disperse and pack their belongings. Dearra stepped away from the platform and made her way towards the energetic friend.
They wrapped each other in a tight hug and Dearra once tensed body was relaxed now, and Dess didn't fail to notice this. She knew her best friend was still aching, and all she could do was try to alleviate the pain as much as possible.
"You okay, mama?" Dess asked, as they pulled apart. Dearra sighed and dropped her shoulders, "Honestly, I don't know."
"Just me and you against the world." Dess replied with a sorry expression.
