"I need you at every important show in New York City, we're flying you out to LA for the BET experience a few weeks from now, you still got some street cred I just need to see you hustling. The single hit, I know it doesn't seem like much-" Flex continues but he's cut off by Trevon. 

"Doesn't seem like nothin man." Trev fans off. 

"I understand that but you're comparing it to people who been out here promoting and working their ass off for the past 2 years. You just got out of jail, you released a song and it already hit 5k listens in 2 days. That's a lot for an artist starting out." Flex encourages. 

Trev clenches his jaw and sticks his hands in his pockets. 

"Yea babe, that really is a lot for two days. It takes people years to get 5k on soundcloud." I add in. 

"I know, I'm just so hungry for it now. Wasted enough time in there." He shrugs. 

"And that shows. I need you to keep that hunger and keep writing so we can release the mixtape." Flex speaks with his hands elaborating every word. 

I wrap my arms around Trev's waist and pucker my lips for a kiss. He looks down at me and kisses my forehead instead. I sigh unsatisfied. 

Flex walks to the door of the conference room and looks down the hall. 

"Where is this man? We been waiting in this conference room for 20 minutes." Flex's face looks unsettled. Mac was late for our little meeting. A meeting that I suggested. I had told Mac all about Trevon, but Flex told him even more. Flex will be the reason Trevon goes anywhere, hell- he's the reason I'm in my own position. 

Aside from the fact that Trevon's single didn't make more listens on the first 2 days, he was stressed about something else. In the past 12 hours, he hasn't been completely himself and even though a part of it may be due to music, there was another reason. Something I would have to pry out of him when we were alone. 

I release my arms from him as I hear footsteps walking to the conference room .

"You're about to meet your idol. Doesn't that make you even a little happier?" I question looking at his estranged and upset face. 

"Yea, I'm a little nervous." Trevon licks his lips and wipes his hands on his pants. 

"Don't be, he's mad cool." I smile. I smile remembering the first time I met Mac, how nervous I was, how I couldn't believe he was standing right in front of me, how he smelled alcohol on me and hated what I was wearing. It's highly unlikely that Trev could make a worse first impression than that. He had very little to worry about. 

I remember signing the record deal in this very room with Casey and Blaco and everyone sitting around me. It feels so long ago but it hasn't been much over a year and a few months. 

"There he is. Finally." Flex says looking at his wrist as if he was wearing a watch. 

Mac walks in with dark jeans and a black top, his face looks bothered and he walks like he is in a rush. I've never seen him like this, so high strung and intense. If this was the first time I was meeting him I would probably be scared shitless. 

"Good evening, everyone, it's been a long day." His voice is course and quiet. 

Wassup Mac, haven't seen you in a minute." I greet, extending my arms for a hug. He hugs back. 

"We gotta talk later, Chanel. About a lot of things." It sounds like a warning, I take it as a warning. I don't reply because my attempt to soften him up before he meets Trevon dwindles before me. 

He approaches Trevon and looks down at him like he is his own son. 

"This is Trevon, the kid I been telling you about. Great potential, good drive, unique flow." Flex interjects. 

"Right, right." Mac outstretches his hand and Trevon shakes it firmly. 

"Nice to meet you Trevon." Mac says with such a small smile that I wonder if I imagined a smile on his face or if he really did it. 

"Likewise, nice to meet you too. I'm a big fan of your work." Trevon says politely. 

"Thank you." Mac says. 

Mac turns to Flex and shrugs. "So what can I do for the Flex dream team today?"

We all take a seat around the conference table and I sit on Trevon's right, Flex on his left and Mac across from the three of us. 

"I'm taking Trev under my wing, but I wanted him to meet you face to face. I sent over some of his latest material and I want you to listen to it and give him feedback. I also wanted you to meet him because he is literally YOU, 20 years ago. Just came out of jail for bullshit, good head on his shoulders, hungry for what's next." Flex finishes. 

The entire time Flex is speaking, Mac's eyes remains set on Trevon's face. I cant read Mac's expression but underneath the table I could feel Trevon's leg shaking in a frenzy. It vibrates against mine. I rest my hand on his knee and he settles into my touch. 

"Hm." Mac chuckles and gives a half smile. It disappears slowly. 

" I do see myself in you Trevon. Everything down to the way you're sitting in that chair." Mac finally says. The room is quiet, so quiet that you can hear me shift in my seat. 

"Raised by a single Mother?" He questions. 

"Yes sir." Trevon answers. 

"You don't gotta call me sir, call me Mac." Mac corrects. "Any siblings?" 

"Yea, a little sister." He responds. 

"How old?" Mac asks. 

"She just turned 8." He states. The image of her big brown eyes and dark skin with her puff sneaks itself into my head. 

"How old were you when you started working to take care of her?" Mac questioned. 

"I was about 14." Trevon looks down briefly then to the side of the room." The memories were harsh, I remember him working while we were all having fun, it was normal not to see him around for some time but I was always happy when he returned. 

"What jobs were you working?" Mac continues. 

"My uncle used to work at the car spot so I was fixing cars with him, changing pieces, washing windows on the street. Lil shit like that." Trevon's jaw clenches as he looks directly into Mac's eyes now. 

Mac is silent. His face is hard but there is something in his eyes that communicates with Trev and suddenly Flex and I are locked out of the conversation, even though we are hearing all of it. There was something happening that we couldn't see. 

"Where's your Father?" Mac leans back in his chair. 

Trevon shrugs. 

"How was school?" Mac blink. Trevon blinks. 

"I made it to graduation and into college but I left." He responds. 

"Sold anything?" Mac cringes as the question leaves his mouth. 

"Yea... but Flex pulled me out of that before it got bad." Trevon rubs the back of his neck and his leg begins shaking again. A different kind of anxiety. 

Mac shakes his head and rubs his eyes. When his hands move from his face, his eyes are red and watery, he sighs as if he is trying to contain every emotion in the book.

"Excuse me." Mac breathes. He pushes his chair out, gets up, and leaves through the same door he entered. 

I stay frozen and look at Flex who has his jaw clenched, a tear rolls down his nose and he clears his throat and swallows. I look away. Trevon is tearing and I only know because his breathing is jagged. A few moments pass and I feel Trevon's hands slide through mine. I use my thumb to caress his finger. 

Mac returns and takes his seat across from us. 

"Man, forgive me. I don't know if I'm like this because it's been a long stressful day-" Mac laughs and we laugh with him. 

"Or if I'm just an emotional ass nigga. But talking to you is like talking to myself. Everything is the exact same. It's like i'm looking into a mirror. I know what you been through, if nobody else understands I will always understand. I was raising and supporting my little brother when I was 13, making sure Ma was good, putting food on the table. My mother was on crack though, we got taken away from her a few times. One day i'll sit you down and we will talk about everything cause. I see myself in you dog. Real shit. Tore a nigga up for a second." 

We laugh again. 

Trevon sniffles. 

"You luck you had Flex lookin out for you cause this wasn't how the story was gon end man. This the best ending to have but if you ain't have somebody lookin out for yo ass, it would have been a done deal. Same with me. I need you to take that drive, that hunger you have and put it into your music. I need you to go hard for brothers out there who ain't make it out yet. Brothers who don't have that one person to pull them out, that one girl to get they head straight." Mac motions to me for the first time the entire meeting. 

"I'm gonna mentor the shit out you, if Flex wasn't already planning on signing you to his label, I would have probably scooped you up just off of your circumstances. And not even because of that pity shit, ain't no pity party. Only because based on what you told me, you have a story to tell. And THAT is rap. Fuck what anyone else says. That is rap. Take all the legends, all they did was tell they story, tell they circumstances." 

Trevon nods and a tear drop rolls down his chin and hits my hand. 

"To even hear you say that to me is crazy. I looked up to you as a lil kid, to hear you would even consider signing me is insane right now." He shakes his head. 

"Trevon, you got a story to tell. I already heard the tapes, I just ain't say nothin, I wanted to see you and read you first. Your lyricism is on point, your flow is sick, I'm lookin at you right now and everything is so real, so fresh. Flex said you were rappin since you were around 12." Mac glances at Flex. 

Trevon nods his head. "Yea now n then." 

"Don't be humble. " Flex smiles at Trevon then looks back to Mac. "He was good at 12, spittin lyrics better than most of these rappers out here now. I used to call him Prodigy." 

"Prodigy..." Mac strokes his chin with his hand. 

"I like it." He says finally. 

"Do you like it?" Mac poses the question to Trevon. 

"I love it." He smiles that half smile with that dimple. 

"Alright Prodigy, you found yourself a Mentor." Mac says reaching his hand across the table. 

Trevon shakes it firmly but gets up from the table after letting his hand go. He walks around to Mac and Mac gets up quickly and pulls him into a big bear hug. 

______________________________________________

"What kind of date is this, Trev?" I ask annoyed but completely entertained. 

"Wait, wait, wait. Shut ya damn mouth and wait." He laughs. 

I sit on the carpet of the Albany apartment with a blindfold tied securely over my eyes. I can hear Trev running around the kitchen, dropping silverware now and then, burning himself with the hot pot. He told me he had a surprise for me when I got in and it's been pretty much downhill from there. 

"Baby, come here. I just wanna kiss you." I say in my soft voice. 

"Woman! Let me do somethin nice for you, damn." His voice still comes from the kitchen. I chuckle and adjust the way i am sitting on the carpet. I realize there is some sort of blanket underneath me. 

"What is he doing?" I say to myself. 

A few more minutes pass until finally Trevon is on the carpet across from me. I hear silverware clanking on a plate. 

"Open your mouth." He commands nicely. 

"Damn, just like that? You don't waste time." I joke inappropriately.

"Open ya mouth, nasty." 

I do as told, and even before the food hits my tongue, the smell of it claims me. 

A warm piece of meat is placed on my tongue. It is juicy and tender and well spiced. I chew amazed. 

"Mmm steak?" I question. 

"Yea, you like that. Don't you? Ain't know ya man know how to cook." He brags. 

I chew until the steak is gone. 

"Wow baby. That was really good." I say surprised. 

"Open." He commands again. 

"Can I take off my blindfold now?" I question first. 

"No. Open." He commands. 

I open my mouth, eager. It was a busy day, I hadn't taken time to eat since breakfast. 

Another piece of steak is placed on my tongue. This piece seems to taste even better than the first. I moan as the flavor takes over all my senses. 

"Open." He tells me again. Buttery mashed potatoes fill my mouth next. 

"Mmmm." I swallow. 

"Lean forward." He tells me. I do as ordered and feel a light kisses on my lips. 

"Ooo, almost as good as the steak." I compliment. 

"Almost." He repeats. 

He pulls my head to his and kisses me one more time before untying my blindfold. 

As I regain my vision, the dark apartment, lit by candles to the side of us greet me. We sit on a picnic blanket and a picnic basket stands beside us. The half eaten steak with two empty wine glasses stare at me. 

"Wow, baby. This is really sweet." I blush like I never have before, and I know my cheeks will soon hurt from smiling so hard. 

Trevon pulls a bottle of red wine from the picnic basket. He opens it wit a pop, then pours a generous amount into both our glasses. 

"Tryna get me liquored up, huh?" I tease. 

"There's a lot i'm tryna do tonight. He mumbles to me quietly and I can feel the warmth between my legs. 

"Finish your dinner." He sips the wine and looks at me with low eyes. 

A part of me is afraid to finish and a part of me is thrilled. 

I eat carefully. 

"Prodigy." I moan. 

He chuckles dry. 

"Is that what I'm gonna have to put up with? Girls all over you? Prodigy, prodigy. He's so sexy. Zaddy Prodigy." I say in my squeaky annoying voice. 

"What you gon be jealous?" He questions. 

I lean in for a kiss. 

"Nah, you know better than to give in to that." I say warningly. He kisses me twice. 

"I do." He confirms. "I was talking to Mac, he says we can't let people know we're together. It's bad for press and all that." 

"Yea, Flex told me the same thing." I roll my eyes. 

"I don't want anyone to know." He confesses. 

My heart falls and I stop eating. 

"Let me explain." He says quickly before I can speak. 

"If they find out we are together than I'm going to become known as Chanel's boyfriend, not Prodigy. I gotta make my name first. Can't have my fame connected to you in anyway." He cautions. "Gimme kiss." He says innocently after. 

I sip my wine and stare him in the eyes. I set my wine glass down and clear my throat. 

"You don't agree with that?" He questions. 

I shrug. I do agree, I just don't like the thought of keeping us a secret but it did make sense in terms of Trevon's career. 

"What are you gonna tell these girls that are about to be on you?" I question sad. 

"That I have a girl. I'm just not gonna say who." He answers softly. "Now come gimme my kiss." He says again. 

"I don't feel like kissing you right now." I mumble, finishing my wine. 

"Hold up, who told you that you have a choice?" Trev crawls quickly to my side of the blanket and holds me down playfully. 

"Nooo!" I scream laughing. 

He places kisses all over my face and neck. 

"Ahhh! Your lips are greasy!" I scream. 

"Should have gave me the kiss when I said gimme kiss! We wouldn't bein this predicament."

"Oooo listen to Prodigy and all his big words. Oh, Prodigy! You're so talented. You're so brave!" I say in my squeaky voice again. I bellow in laughter and this time he joins me.