fortydust // j. // brockhampton

𝔣𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫

Harley twirled a drumstick between her fingers before lightly tapping the cymbals with both hands. She was in her element, downstairs in Fortydust's basement, focusing on creating a new beat for Loverboy. Not only did they have to figure out the production, verses, themes, and music videos for their work with Brockhampton, but they had a whole album of their own to flesh out. Harley was suddenly super stressed out about getting it done, although most of the album was already completed.

All day she'd moved under the questioning gazes of her friends while Joba was still on her mind. All of the time. And right now she was trying to get her frustration out while making progress. Harley quickly hit each drum twice with alternating strokes before switching it up. Then she went back and forth between the Snare, High Tom, and Floor Tom in quick motions, liking how the sounds switched from high to low so suddenly. Harley could easily follow intricate patterns of drumming since she'd grown up playing. Which was why she was the most confident in her drumming skills.

Eventually she sped up her drumming pattern, alternating between the Hightom, Floor Tom, and Mid Tom before adding the cymbals every now and then. By the time she was done, Harley was slightly sweaty but felt a little more relaxed. She grabbed her sweat rag, scrubbed at her face, and then walked upstairs.

"Where have you been?" Trinity asked when she walked into the kitchen for a water. "Drumming," Harley took a swig of water, "Why?" "No," Trinity tapped her temple lightly, "Up here." "I still don't get what you're asking me." "Yes you do. Just tell me what you've been thinking about all day." "Nothing. At all. I'm just a little stressed about Loverboy, that's all. Just drop it." And she was scared of her feelings for someone who was just supposed to be a hookup. She was strong. Harley didn't need anyone or any type of romantic relationship in her life right now.

"Ok seriously, you're like zoned out and shit-oh my god are you on something?" "Trinity," Harkey's eyes bugged out of her head, "Jesus no, stop! I'm just out of it right now. I'm stressed." "Okay fine." "Just leave me alone." Harley said harshly. Trinity eyed her as they sat in silence for the next few minutes before Harley asked, "Do you want a quesadilla?" Trinity really liked when she made those and she was hoping it was some kind of peace offering. "Sure." Trinity said quietly, looking down at her purple nails.

"What are you mad at me now?" "No." "Yes you are, talk to me." "I've been asking you to talk to me for the past two days." Trinity finally spit back, clenching her jaw. Trinity rarely got mad and it took a lot for her to snap. Which made Harley suddenly feel extremely guilty. "I'm sorry." "Yeah I am too," Trinity began to get up, "I'm sorry that I actually care about you." "No wait, Trin," Harley grabbed her wrist to stop her, "It's not about that. I really appreciate you checking up on me and always being my rock."

"Then what is it about, Harley? Because you seem to be pushing all of us away right now." Harley scrubbed at her face, clearly frustrated, before saying, "I can't explain it. That's why. It's not that I don't want to, I just c-can't." "You can't or you don't want to?" "Both," Harley whispered, "You know that I always have to be confident and shit. You know that best out of anyone in the entire fucking world."

"I do. But I still try to help. You know that I always need to help people. You know that best out of everyone in this world." She repeated Harley's words. "Am I being a bitch?" Harley whispered and Trinity laughed suddenly. "Yeah. Yes you are." "I know I am," Harley winced, "I'm stressed with Loverboy and Brockhampton. And now I'm doubting myself on top of that." "Which you haven't done since Cat." "Right." Harley blew out a breath.

Trinity sat back down, making Harley feel slightly better as she leaned over the counter to get a better view of her. "Does it have to do with someone?" Trinity asked quietly and Harley bit her lip. "No." "You were this out of it when Cat cheated on you," And then Trinity paused. "Don't tell me you got back together with her and something happened. "No, no, no. Woah, no way. I'm not that fucked up." Trinity let out a deep breath before nodding. "Okay good. Cause she really screwed you up." "Yet she's really hot." "Hot but an asshole. Not a good combo." "Clearly." Harley reached out to get two flour quesadillas, beef, seasoning, pepper jack cheese, an onion, and a few different color peppers.