She Used to Be the Sweetest Girl(22)

Standing next to Carissa, who was rapping along with Mel and moving her hands like she was in a rap video, Brix looked on with lust in her eyes. She wasn't sure if it was the liquor that had her feeling this way or the way Shemel’s dreads swung around wildly as he hyped the crowd up. Licking her lips, she started to sway to the beat. Since she didn't know the lyrics, she just focused on his lips as he spat into the mic.



"Okay, bitch! I see you representing for yo man," Carissa said jokingly. Little did she know, in Brix's mind, she was doing just that. Taking the last sip from her second drink, she sat the cup down and leaned over to whisper in Lexi's ear.



"How does she know all the words?" she asked smiling. She was tipsy as hell and on the verge of being drunk.



"This mixtape has been out for a while. The words are really catchy if you just listen to ‘em over and over," Lexi replied, bobbing her head. Unlike Brix, she knew who Shemel was way before he became well known. He and her brother used to play on the same AAU team back in the day. She would have never thought lil Mel would be slanging dope and rapping about it years later.



"It just seems so hard to remember," Brix said laughing. "Maybe I'll have him teach me."



Lexi looked wide-eyed at Brix's statement and shook her head. She knew her friend was definitely drunk talking like that. Just earlier this week, he wasn't her type. Now she wanted to learn his lyrics like she was a fan. Lexi wouldn't blast her out right now though. She'd save that for tomorrow, once the alcohol wore off.



The DJ began to play his latest song that he uploaded to YouTube just the day before. The video was already at ten thousand views and was definitely going to receive more after tonight. Mel’s promo team had put in work the last twenty-four hours to make sure the song was heard before tonight’s show. By the looks of the crowd, their hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed.



On the other side of the club, Reilyn and her group of friends stood in VIP, watching her "man" perform. She had been to plenty of his shows and wouldn't dare miss one, regardless of if they were fucking around or not. Taking a sip from her champagne flute, Reilyn swayed her hips to the beat.



"Girl, who in the hell is Mel down there rapping to?" her friend Neka asked.



Squinting her eyes to get a better look, Reilyn shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure, but we sure as hell about to find out."



Getting all her crew’s attention, they filed out of the VIP section like they just walked off the runway. Slightly pushing people out of her and her crew’s way, Rei made it to the stage just when Mel was motioning for Brix to come on stage with him.



"No the hell he didn't," Reilyn said in disbelief.



"Yes the hell he did," Neka said, chuckling. She low-key had a thing for Mel, but Reilyn just had to have him. Neka was stuck with messing with one of his cousins, but she didn't care. As long as she could be around Young Mel, she was good.



Shaking her head no, Brix tried stepping out of the random spotlight that was shining down on her. Shemel had his hand out as he rapped to her, wanting to pull her on stage.



"You better get yo ass up there and claim your man," Carissa said, pushing her toward the stage steps. Looking back over her shoulder, Brix flipped her off and climbed the steps. She was nervous as hell, but the alcohol gave her that liquid courage she needed to get through this.



Grabbing Mel's hand, she let him lead her to the middle of the stage. "Don't look in the crowd. Don't look in the crowd," she whispered to herself. She knew if she looked out and saw all those people, she'd freeze up. Her being somewhat shy and not big on huge crowds had her stomach doing backflips.



"Aw shit. Young Mel done got him a bad one up here. What y'all think fellas?" the DJ asked as he let the beat play. All the niggas started clapping and if you listened closely, you could hear females sucking their teeth.



"She ain't even all that," some chick hollered out from the crowd.



Brix looked toward the crowd and fluffed her hair. She knew she was pretty; that's why the female felt the need to address her.



"I’m sure she looks way better than you ma. I'd chill if I were you," Mel said, calling the girl out. Everyone in the crowd began laughing.



Removing her hand from his embrace, Brix wiped them on her jeans. The heat from the lights and the nervousness she felt had her palms sweaty. In her mind, she couldn’t believe she was doing this, but it was too late now. Leaning over to whisper in her ear, Mel told her to relax and that he had her.



The DJ turned the music back up and Mel began to rap along with the lyrics. Looking down at Brix, Shemel grinned. He didn’t plan on pulling her up on stage, or anyone else for that matter. After seeing her front and center, showing love, he said fuck it and pulled her up there with him anyway. The glossy look in her eyes let him know she was either slightly tipsy or drunk. Brix smiled wide as he tugged on a strand of her hair. Mel was feeling the liquor as well and had to touch a part of her.