Heavy On It !

Pride Cost More

Nicki POV

I had everything I'd worked for.

The power. The applause. The money. The name that opened doors. The Family.

Everything I thought would complete me. The things I thought would make me forget what I gave up.

Who I hurt to get here.
Who I had to pretend to be.

                 ••• Flashback 2008 •••

The studio was empty, just me and the engineer as the beat echoed through the room. I scribbled lyrics in my notepad, then scratched them out when it didn't hit hard enough.

Just then Wayne entered the room, his normal entourage trailing behind him. But there was a fresh face among them, someone I've never seen with him before. My breath caught as I watched her walk in, time slowed around her. Our eyes met, the temperature in the room shifted, raising without warning.

"Yo, Nic." Wayne voice pulled my attention from her.

I snapped out of my trance, standing to hug the man who changed my life.

"How it's comin'?" he asked, referring to the song.

I shrug, "still tryna get it together."

"Don't start that overthinkin' shit," he said, rolling his eyes, already knowing how particular I was about my verses.

"I'm not," I pout. "It's just not ready yet."

He didn't believe me for a second. He knew I was sitting on a verse that could clear the entire song by itself.

"Lemme hear what you got," the engineer played the verse. Still rough. Not even the official cut. Likely to change. Still, Wayne bobbed along. Sparking his blunt as my voice filled the room.

                             •••

Wayne is in the booth now, perfecting his flow with every take.

I moved to the couch beside the girl. It was silent between us at first, I stole glances at her when she wasn't looking. I don't know why, something about her kept pulling my attention.

She broke the silence, "I'm not a rapper or anything," her voice was hushed, like a secret being shared only between me and her. "But I think your verse is fire."

Something in my chest fluttered, a warmth spreading upwards like it had nowhere else to go. "You think so?"

She nodded. "Absolutely. You're the only female voice on it. I think you do well speaking from the female perspective."

A smile pulled at the corners of my lips, heat flushing my cheeks, then my ears. Something strange is happening to me. Why is my body responding like I've never had a compliment before?

"Thanks," I said, a small tremble in my voice. Barely noticeable, but I noticed.

"I'm Y/N." She stuck out her hand, and I met her halfway.

Her grip was warm, steady. Our hands lingered a second longer than necessary, neither of us pulling away right away. I felt it again, that flutter in my chest, sharper this time, settling low before spreading.

She smiled, small and genuine, like she felt it too. Her thumb brushed lightly against my knuckles before she finally let go.

"I'm Nicki."