New Balance | Jhené Aiko

Chapter 1_Lead Singer

Lead Singer ~

Nicole's POV

"Just breathe Nikki breathe, every thang is gonna be aight." My best friend Rebecca comforted me, I did exactly what she said, and took a deep breath and let out a sigh that I'm ready.

"Okay I'm good." I nodded, as I shake my arms to avoid all the bad things that might happen. Rebecca grabbed my shoulder and encouraged me, "Go out there and show them what this real bitch could do." I chuckled as I nodded, "Aight I need to go now."

We exchanged good luck hugs, and I went up to stage, meeting the gazed audience, I felt a tingle of nerve running down my arm, all of a sudden my stomach start to churn. Holy Shit this is gonna turn out so terrible, I could just feel it.

I walked up to the microphone, I put my lips closer to the microphone and........

By the way, Sup name is Nicole Johnson, moved to Detroit about a year ago, live with my troubled mom Mariah, in the ghetto neighborhood. My ma works for some rich dude, as a sex slave, her salary is embarrassingly lower than mine, so she leaves me to pay all the rents and bills. Yup I know it's a total bullshit, I some how despise her even though she's the one who gave birth to me.

As for me, I'm a highschool student, who works at a fucking local bar as a backstage singer, but miraculously I was promoted to be the lead singer, cause the one before me actually got fired, cause........never mind its a long ass story. Anyway this was the reason why I was feeling so uptight, this was actually my first ever performance as a lead singer, and being in front of a few audience and feeling this edgy was just not a good preliminary, it was just to hard to prevent the tension.

Anyway about my highschool life, I'm completely oblivious about it, cause I'm not that kind of person, that stay focused about being popular, or worry about how invisible I am. It's a school, you came here to learn, not a social interacting place. With is as my motto I always ace my tests, I also had a scholarship, but refused it, cause I just wanna be a fucking artist. Its just all in my head, but it ain't possible, cause you know, 'mama problems'

I got a best bitch, who always ride or die with me, who is called by the name Rebecca, she's been my best friend ever since I moved here. She being same as me, living poor in the same ghetto neighborhood, are in desperate need to avoid this relative poverty. As for Rebecca having really good acting skills and supportive parents, could really turn into something big, but I still don't get it why she won't use this big opportunity.

Anyways, as for me being promoted as a lead singer, I have to cover my face with expensive make-up and wear on extravagant dresses, which of course ain't mine. So here I am right now in the stage, about sing one of my favorite songs, after my partner finishes his course. Holy shit his already done, hope nothing goes wrong..........

" So find me skipping stones,
Yeah, washed up rocks,
Holding out for, something I can't force
What am I missing? "

Not bad as I thought it would be, but who knows it might end up terrible...

"I've gone for miles and miles in search of the right direction,
I long to figure out, but I keep on forgetting,
All of the lessons that I've learned
How many bridges have I burned?
When did I go missing, somewhere in the distance? So find me skipping..... "

I sighed in relief, when we were done by the performance. A smile made upon my mouth, by the cheery applauses from the audiences, making me even smile more. We both took a bow and went our ways, I got Rebecca cheering like a white girl, who just got engaged, making me giggle. She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug, "You really killed it out there, I'm so proud of you."

I hugged her back saying, "Well it was not bad as I thought it you be, White girl."

She let go from the hug, wrinkling her eyebrows and said clutching her waist, "I ain't no acting like a white bitch."

I glanced at her, putting on the 'really' face expression and then mimicked her action, she did when I came down from the stage.

She rolled her eyes, "Ya, ya whatever, don't get all arrogant on me, after you had a great performance."

I wrinkled my eyebrows, cause what she just said, does not even make any sense, cause there was no arrogance sentiment in me, Rebecca herself, acknowledged what she just said, doesn't even make any sense. She waved her hands, gesturing to forget what she just said,"Never mind what I just said.", I chuckled nodding at her concede.

She licked the bottom lip, reminding herself, she needed to tell me something, even though she didn't say anything, I can tell by her whole face statement, she said,"By the way, there's something you should know... ", I nodded as a sign for her to continue.

"Well a prominent guy, told his not so prominent son, to come here to Detroit, to work on his challenge that his father requested him to do." She says.

I asked, "What is the challenge all about."

She retorted, "Well you know, to find a person, with a talented voice like yours." She smiles at me, nudging my arm.

I asked, trying to suppress my smile, "Do you know whose son is it."

She responded rubbing her chin, "Well I'm thinking its Bobbi Kingston's son."

My eyes lit up, when I heard the name, of the all time legend Bobbi Kingston, I don't really know who his son is, but what I do really care is, his son is coming here to find, talented people!

I squealed, "Oh God, I hope he finds me out of all the great people out here, but you sure its him, cause girl you already turn my hope up."

"Girl stop worrying who the guys father might be, I'll make sure he tries to come to this bar, while you just practice on the song 'Remember' and you take the
stage, and girl people will be on their knees." She says, I smiled at her encouraging speech, pulling her into hug, and whispered gushingly, "Thank you so much."

She hugged back, rubbing my back, "You earned Nikki.'

We pulled back from the hug, She said, taking a glimpse at her watch, "We should go now, its getting late."

I asked, before proceeding to the changing room, "One more time, how did you get all this info."

She said waving her phone playfully, "We live in a world, that is ruled by the internet."

I can't help, but laugh at that, cause damn straight its true.

A/N  I worked my ass off to complete this chapter, I know its kinda short, but you'll see what I bring for the next chapter. I need at least five vote and comment, to continue....... The picture on the top is Nicole performing at the bar.

BeStan 🔜