Write & Run | Urban

2nd

After dinner, I decided to take a walk to Penn's Landing with Aaliyah. We talked for almost two hours. Of course we veered off of the topic of Rock, though. Who would want to talk about him for anything more than fifteen minutes?

As we trudged up the bridge I glanced at the familiar graffiti and stickers, occasionally spotting a new one or two. The early summer night was calm and cloudless. The lights from ships across the Delaware twinkled as we neared the bright gates to the pier.

"So when did you get into songwriting?" Aaliyah asked as we descended to the waterfront.

"They put me in creative writing in freshman year to fulfill my elective credit requirement and it just sort of took off from there. My teacher started encouraging me to share my work and enter contests and stuff like that. Next thing I knew, everybody in Constitution knew I how great of a writer I was." I chuckled. "Made a whole lot of money writing essays for people that year."

"Damn, that sounds cool as hell."

"Yeah, I guess it was for a while. When I look back, I really don't see what everyone thought was so great. I mean, it's so damn cringey. Now I have a better handle on things but, sheesh." We laughed, taking a seat on one of the benches right in front of the water.

"We are really close to this water. Like I could just reach down and touch. Aren't they afraid of people jumping in here?"

"Anyone with any type of sense knows this is not a river for swimming." I laughed. "So what's up with that makeup thing?"

"Oh man, makeup is my passion. I swear it is. I could spend the rest of my life making up new looks. I wanna start my own, though, you know? But I feel like the industry is flooded." I nodded. "And who doesn't own a makeup brand or weave line nowadays?"

"That shouldn't stop you though. I mean consider my career. People take great joy in being able to say they wrote all their lyrics, they ain't use no ghostwriters, they made it up all by themselves. And then there are singers like partynextdoor whose is so famous for writing his own songs that other actually popular singers use him too. Like, who am I to compete with partynextdoor? Not to mention you get like np credit. What singer get on stage and thanks a songwriter for writing that single that just won them an award? Everything path is difficult. That don't mean you don't keep walking."

We stared out at the river in silence for a while. The waves breaking against the pier and occasional pedestrians chatting and walking by along with just the sounds of the city soothed me. I always loved coming down here. Whether it be a date or just for inspiration, I'd come here for any reason. It's always so peaceful, it doesn't even seem like you're blocks from center city here. I love my city and this spot just reminds me that we aren't just all about violence and anger as we are portrayed.

"Can I be honest with you?" Aaliyah spoke up.

"I'd be annoyed if you weren't."

"This whole time..I just can't help but wonder..did you fuck Rock?"

It wasn't like I didn't see the questing spinning around her forehead like a message on a blimp. So it didn't shock me at all. I looked at her anxious face, trying to decide whether it was really any of her business to being knowing. But then I realized I didn't owe her anything to be sparing her feelings, so I shrugged. "Yeah." I answered nonchalantly.

She bit her lip before replying, "you ever think about doing it again?"

"Well he pays me now, so, that's a no."

This time she pursed her lips before looking back out at the water. "I don't know what I was thinking," she shook her head. "It's not like he'd want to anyway."

That. That shocked me. I don't know where she would get that conclusion because, like seriously, has she actually looked at me? I'm not sure if that was supposed to be an insult or not, but I'm not taking too kindly to it. "Hol' up, shawty. Now slow ya roll. You might want to reword that."

"I mean, that's the simplest way I can put it. I just don't think he'd wanna fuck you again."

"Sis, I don't know where you get this idea from, but this is Rock you're speaking on. You honestly think that, one, it is acceptable to say something that could only be taken negatively from you, and two, that Rock's hoe ass wouldn't wanna fuck me. That's really wild to me."

"Look at you." She was referring to the casual outfit I wore. Somehow my loose gray tank crop top, navy Adidas joggers, baby pink reebok classics, and heart shaped bamboo earring meant I didn't make the cut. But I was boutta put a cut in her face.

I balled up my face, trying to hold back my fist . "Shawty you boutta get your feelings hurt real quick."

"I doubt it."

I bit my lip, nodding my head. Whipping out my rose gold Iphone 6s, tapping the home button and immediately unlocking it. I opened the phone app and tapped "rocky☄️" in my call log and facetimed him.

"Asalaams," Rock answered. Only his hairline was visible in the call, classic philly nigga facetime angle.

"You trynna fuck?"

The camera instantly was on his full face, "Real rap? Right now?"

I saw Aaliyah's face drop and I couldn't help but laugh right in her face. I get being honest and not biting your tongue, I truly do. But there's a line between honesty and being rude as fuck. She obviously has not perfected the art, and it won't go unpunished. "Nah, I just wanted bid," I stood up and began to make my exit. "Make sure you call ya girlfriend an uber yo."

"That bitch not my fuckin' girl. Don't even play me like that." We both heard the girl scoff from Rock's loud ass mouth.

"You coulda at least waited till I was more than four feet away from the jawn."

"Really couldn't. You coming back to the studio?"

"Nah, I'm tired ashit. I'm going home, Rocky."

"You an' that nut ass nickname, bro."

"Byeee," I chuckled before hanging up and calling my ride.

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Hey y'all! I know I ain't speak in the first part (my bad I'm rude I just ain't wanna fuck up the aesthetic) but I hope you guys are enjoying this. I been thinking on this story and about writing period. I really hope you guys stay for the ride and enjoy this as much as I do. Feel free to leave your thoughts! I got some shit in store for y'all so keep reading. 🌟
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