บท 26: Pizza
The soft hum of the convenience store's neon lights cast a gentle glow over the asphalt parking lot as Arell sat perched on the hood of his car. With his legs dangling over the edge and his back against the windshield, he leaned back comfortably, his phone cradled in his hands.
Arell took a deep breath, letting the cool breeze wash over him as he scrolled through Twitter on his phone. His thumb moved with practiced ease, swiping past tweets.
As he scrolled, snippets of conversations and reactions to his latest music video filled his screen.
"@ATLBuzz:" Arell Rose drops official video for popping song "Loyalty Ties".
"@MicTheFreestyler:" I like the concept of the video but the execution is a bit rough around the edges. Keep working, you've got potential.
"@Whatsamapi:" Wait…why is this video actually fire???? Arell you did not need to drop this kind of heat.
"@TrackTrender:" 'Loyalty Ties' by Arell Rose is definitely going on repeat. Such a vibe! If you haven't checked out the video yet, you're missing out. Trust me, it's worth it! 💯
"@Jackson_Bare:" NGL, wasn't sure what to expect from Arell Rose but 'Loyalty Ties' exceeded all my expectations. This dude's got talent for days. Can't wait to see what else he's got cooking up.
"@Trueborn192:" @Jackson_Bare He said under another post that he was dropping two songs soon, so look out for that.
"@BeatsByDre:" Just watched this Arell guys video. Major props. This track is pure 🔥 @RichHomieQuan I swear he'd sound good on that beat you showed me the other day.
"@ATLRadioHeat:" Loyalty Ties by Arell Rose just hit our airwaves and it's straight fire! Atlanta, tune in now to catch the hottest tracks, including this one. Arell, you're making the city proud with this banger!
"@Hyuga_Tobirama:" Just watched Arell Rose's 'Loyalty Ties' video and it's definitely got potential. Love the energy and vibe, but you should consider experimenting with different camera angles, shots, and movements also you should definitely consider upgrading your equipment, some of the shots would have been way better if you had the right equipment.
Arell paused, considering the feedback. He typed a thoughtful reply: "Thanks for the feedback, @Hyuga_Tobirama appreciate you recognizing the potential. Definitely taking notes on the camera angles/equipment."
As he went to continue his scrolling, Arell looked up to see Geoffrey approaching, a warm smile on his face. He quickly pocketed his phone and slid off the hood of his car, returning the smile.
"Hey, Geoffrey," Arell greeted, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Geoffrey walked forward, not missing a beat. "Arell, I wanted to let you know that we've wrapped up the other scenes for today."
Arell paused, a tinge of surprise flickering across his features. "Already? But I thought we had more to shoot."
Geoffrey nodded, confirming Arell's suspicion. "We did, but we managed to get everything done ahead of schedule. We're in a good place with the footage."
A sense of relief washed over Arell, mixed with anticipation. "That's great to hear," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "I can't wait to see how it all turns out. When do you think we'll drop it, today or tomorrow?"
Geoffrey's expression turned thoughtful as he considered the timeline. "Actually, we're planning to finish editing it today," he revealed, a note of excitement in his voice. "We won't have to do much complex editing so it should be done in a jiff."
Geoffrey clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll head out with Darius and Noah to start editing the video. Maya was asking for you, by the way. She's right there." Geoffrey gestured vaguely across the parking lot.
Arell's smile faltered slightly. "Thanks, Geoffrey," he said, taking a moment to contemplate his next move. "I'll catch up with Maya now."
As Geoffrey disappeared around the corner, Arell spotted Maya leaning impatiently against a parked car on the other side of the lot. He shoved his phone in his pocket and started to make his way over.
Maya's eyes lit up as she saw him approaching. "Arell, there you are."
Arell reached Maya, his smile returning with a hint of apprehension. "Yeah, Geoffrey said you needed me. What's up?"
Maya crossed her arms, her playful demeanour replaced by a touch of seriousness "So," Maya continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "when are you thinking of hitting the studio?"
Arell chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "The studio, huh? Yeah, I was just about to head over there actually."
Internally, Arell winced. He had other plans, the most important being his date with Aisha, he had no intention to be in the studio consistently in the coming days, especially not with someone he was unfamiliar with.
"Great!" Maya beamed, seemingly oblivious to his internal debate. "I have a feeling inspiration might be striking tonight. We could brainstorm some new song ideas, get a head start on an album even."
Arell forced a smile. "Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe not tonight though, I've got a few things I need to wrap up first. But soon, how about this weekend?"
He knew suggesting the weekend might be a stretch but proposing a timeframe would hopefully appease Maya for now.
Maya's smile faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered. "Of course, of course," she said, her voice dripping with feigned understanding. "Hey, Arell, I get it. But you know, having someone like me around could really elevate your game. I mean, imagine the possibilities if we collaborated more closely."
Arell listened to Maya's enthusiastic proposal, feeling the weight of her expectations settling on his shoulders. He knew he had to navigate this conversation carefully, not wanting to commit to anything he wasn't ready for.
He needed to convey his gratitude while also gently setting boundaries. "And I definitely value your input. Collaborating more closely could be beneficial, I agree."
Maya's smile widened, encouraged by his response. "Exactly!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "Imagine what we could accomplish together."
Arell nodded, choosing his words with care. "Absolutely. I just need a little time to wrap up some other commitments first."
He hoped Maya would understand his need for flexibility and respect his other obligations.
Maya's smile faltered momentarily, but she quickly masked her disappointment. "Of course, Arell," she said, her tone more subdued but still supportive. "I understand. We'll sync up and see where we can take things."
Relief washed over Arell like a cool wave. "Sounds good," he agreed, hoping to steer the conversation away from collaboration and towards a smoother exit. "Maybe we can chat more about it over the weekend? I'd love to hear your ideas then."
He flashed her a genuine smile, hoping it would convey his sincerity. "But for now," he continued, "I do have those things to wrap up. You know how it is."
He wasn't sure if Maya fully bought it, but she seemed to accept it for now. "Alright, alright," she conceded, a playful glint returning to her eyes.
Arell chuckled. "I'll speak to you later, Maya."
With a final wave, he turned and headed towards his car, his phone clutched tightly in his hand.
As Arell settled back onto the hood of his car, he couldn't shake off the lingering tension from his conversation with Maya. He hoped he hadn't disappointed her too much, but he knew he needed to prioritize his own schedule and boundaries.
As he pondered his next move, a familiar figure caught his eye. Kenny, was striding purposefully across the parking lot towards him. Arell's face lit up with a genuine smile at the sight of him.
Kenny approached with a grin, his footsteps echoing. "Arell, what's good?"
Arell greeted him with a nod, a sense of relief washing over him at the sight of his friend. "Just winding down. Geoffrey told me we wrapped up early."
Kenny nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. We knocked out those scenes quicker than expected."
Arell chuckled, appreciating the change of pace. "Definitely a nice surprise."
As they chatted, Kenny filled Arell in on the plans for the evening. "Geoffrey and the rest of em' are heading out to start editing the video. Said they want to get a head start on it tonight."
Arell nodded in understanding. "Sounds like a plan. I trust they'll work their magic with the footage."
Kenny grinned. "No doubt about it. Those guys are pros. You up for grabbing a bite to eat? I'm starving."
Arell's stomach rumbled in agreement, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. "Definitely. I could go for some pizza or something."
Kenny nodded in agreement. "Pizza it is, then. My treat."
Arell raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Feeling generous today, huh?"
Kenny shrugged with a grin. "Why not? Consider it a celebration for wrapping up another shoot."
"Hey, speaking of wrapping things up," Kenny began, pausing for a moment before continuing, "did you get the payment for 'Loyalty Ties' yet? It's been out for almost three weeks now, right?"
Arell considered Kenny's question for a moment. "Yeah, actually," he replied, relieved to confirm. "We got around $6,000 so far from the streams and downloads. Geoffrey had just told me earlier today actually."
"That's a good chunk of change," Kenny said, impressed. "Though, six thousand for three weeks isn't bad at all, especially considering it's your first song. You should be proud, man."
A wave of satisfaction washed over Arell. "Thanks, Kenny," he said, genuinely appreciative of his friend's encouragement. "It's definitely a good start. There are a few other streaming sites that haven't paid out yet, so hopefully that number will climb even higher soon."
Kenny nodded. "For sure. And with the Blue Balenciaga dropping, that should give the song another boost. Who knows, maybe it'll go viral and really blow things up for you."
Arell chuckled at Kenny's optimism. "Maybe, man. One can hope." Arell glanced around the parking lot, realizing that Malik and Devon were nowhere to be seen. He furrowed his brows in confusion and turned back to Kenny.
"Where'd Malik and Devon go?" he asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.
Kenny shrugged casually. "Oh, they got an Uber and headed out as soon as we wrapped up their scenes. Probably had some other plans or something."
Arell nodded in understanding, though a part of him wished they could all celebrate together after finishing their shoot. "Got it," he replied, accepting Kenny's explanation.
As they were about to head towards their cars, Arell noticed something out of the corner of his eye. On the passenger seat of his car, his Glock was clearly visible. As he opened the door he quickly grabbed the gun and shoved it into the glove compartment.
As he looked up, he froze. Kenny was on the other side of the car with the door open, a look of amusement on his face.
"What?" Arell asked, his tone laced with confusion.
Kenny chuckled. "What are you doing? You're acting all paranoid. You gotta' relax bro, its a normal night, you don't need to have your gun on the seat."
Arell let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He forced a smile. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm just a little jumpy."
Kenny nodded. "Yeah, I hear you. Let's go get that pizza."
With that, they climbed into the car and pulled out of the parking lot. Arell glanced at the glove compartment where his gun was hidden, a pang of guilt hitting him. He knew Kenny was right. He needed to relax and enjoy his evening. But a small part of him couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be careful.
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Began another story, its about owning Brighton Football club, I'm open to doing a different story instead, I'm not familiar with American Football so don't ask.
Is the story pace good?
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