"Wake up" // JJ

3) Smile

Do you ever have that feeling where you literally believe you're about to die? Nothing around you matters apart from your increasingly beating heart, the ringing in your ears and the lack of oxygen in your lungs. It feels like you're being transferred into another universe or as if you're watching yourself but from a third person view, everything feels like a dream. This is exactly what Althea King was feeling as she stood backstage, a microphone held in her hands as they anxiously shook.

'' I-I can't d-do this'' She whispered to herself, her stutter making an appearance for the first time in a while as hundreds of fans ,who were not hers, screamed in the distance. Many people didn't understand how Althea could feel this sort of anxiety when she played in front of people with her own band. However, those crowds were 20 people at max, who happened to be either deep in conversation or drunk and payed no attention to their performance. Now, she was currently waiting to preform infront of around 500 people, all of which had no idea about who she was, they were here for KSI, not her.

"You're going to walk on at the same time as JJ, you'll be preforming the opening song with him. Try to ignore the screams, the music will be played through your ear piece and try to go along with any dances JJ happens to do'' The same man who she met in the line explained to her. However, everything he said was just mumbled as her whole focus was on the screaming crowed.

''great' she mumbled to herself as she did manage to catch the last of his sentence. Not only did she have to remember all the words of her given verse, control her stutter on stage, focus on not falling on her face and now she had added 'keep up with JJ's dancing' to her mental list.

Her eyes widened as the music started to play, signalling for her, JJ, Trippie Redd and P money to enter the stage. Instead, she just stood there, unable to move.

"go!"  The man from outside ushered her onto the stage, his hands gently pushing her back.

"no, please! theres too many people" she tried to fight back, trying her hardest to get passed him. However, he was a lot stronger than she was. She hadn't exactly agreed to do this. JJ's manager had already shoved a microphone into her hand before she even had time to agree, now here she stood, fighting with a member of Staff to try her hardest not to step foot on the stage.

she gave a small squeal as she was pushed fully onto the stage, just as the words "I love Trippie Redd" was played. She squinted a little due to how bright the stage lights were before looking across the stage, the others were already there, jumping up and down to the music before Trippie started to sing. She stood there awkwardly, mostly staying to the back, but she could still be seen by everybody in the audience.

"what the fuck am I doing here" she thought to herself as she watched JJ rap his verse. He turned around and made eye contact with her just before he finished. Before she knew it, he was standing in front of her.

"you're Tobi's replacement?" he asked, but it was more of a statement.

She gave a small nod, unsure of how to act or what to say. Instead she just moved a few of her dreadlocks from her face.

"Aight cool" he nodded, his breathing heavy from just jumping around. "just try not to focus on the crowd, pretend everyone is naked" he told her, laughing at his own joke. "Try and follow these moves whilst the Corus plays" he quickly added, ushering her to move to a spot near him on the stage. He danced a few simple moves that she followed before it was her time to rap. 

Bucket of water, chuck it and splash.
Thats an old school wake up call, had to get up and dash.
everyday I work hard
get my cake and I'm like kipling.

As each sentenced she rapped, she started to get more confident, a smile appearing on her face slowly. Surprisingly for her, the crowd was cheering and jumping along as she preformed.

And you know I'm big bro
So I save a slice for my siblings
And I'm a grateful son so, I'll save for my dad and mom
And I'll save for a rainy day as well, 'cause it always comes
When I look back at how far we actually come, man, it's incredible
But I'm still tryna stack my cake and get my P's and I don't mean edible

By the end of her verse she was fully jumping and dancing to the music, her confidence that boosted dramatically. By the end of the entire song she was shaking her dreads and jumping around with JJ, the crowd going insane for everyone on the stage.

"That was sick!" JJ shouted through his microphone. "Give it up for our special guest" he added and the crowd screamed.

"whats your name?"  He asked Althea, the microphone being held away from his mouth so only they could hear what he was saying.

"Althea king" she smiled, panting a little from being out of breath.

"Thank you for saving my show" He said thankfully before going back to the crowd.

"Anytime" she replied, but he had already returned back to his audience. She had a huge smile on her face as she ran back off stage.