“Okay, let’s see if we can give her something she can’t say no to,” the lead singer said as she cued the band to play something else. “Justin, play us something.”
The lead singer and the backup vocals crooned. “Myyyy lovveee, do you… ever… dreammm of.”
By the time they sang through the first verse, a microphone was in Charlie’s hand, and a spotlight was on her. She smiled as she joined in softly.
“My loveee, do you…ever…dreammm of, candy-coatedddd rainnnnndrops.”
“Good girl,” Justin whispered in her ear as she rolled her eyes and blushed, then joined the band on stage. Charlie’s rangewas ridiculous. She flipped the entire scale of the classic. If she didn’t know how to do anything else, Charlie could find a note and pick it out of thin air. Her musical inclination was top tier. For the first time in a week, she felt free of worry, free of angst and sadness. On this tiny stage, she released it all, and she was having fun. The lead singer beckoned her.
“Alright now, Ms. Charlie, let’s see if you remember this one,” she said. The band transitioned effortlessly into another hit.
“Don’t walk awayyyy boy…” Charlie sang.
“I’m not gon’ hurtttt you,” the woman sang back.
Charlie laughed and then went into the first verse. This was a test of her musical history. They were cutting to songs Charlie had heard playing in her mom’s house back in the day.
“Tell me if you want me to, give you all my time. I wanna make it good for youuuu.”
The crowd cheered as the band playedGroove Theory.Groove Theorytransformed to Brandy, and Charlie was singing about being down. There wasn’t a song they could play that Charlie wouldn’t make her own. Her skill was honed, and it was obvious. The crowd was singing right along with Charlie, hyping her up so loudly, standing out of their seats, snapping their fingers, catching their groove. Charlie laughed, as she handed the microphone back so the band could get back to their set. She had caused enough distraction. She remembered the days when no one knew her name. Now, she was a recognizable artist. She would never claim to be famous, but people thought of her talent when they saw her, and she had to admit that it was Demi who had made sure of that. He had changed her life from the very first hello.
“Give my girl a hand, ladies and gentlemen,” the singer said.
Charlie lit up as the crowded club showed her love.
She sat through the rest of the show, thoroughly enjoying her time. It was truly what she needed. She had been worried allweek about the negative emotions pulsing through her body. Nothing had felt good. She hadn’t held down a bite to eat since DJ’s death, and all she did was worry. She had cried her days away and let anxiety keep her up at night. She couldn’t help but wonder what this energy was doing to her baby. No amount of sage or meditating could clear what was haunting her. Nothing could impact a woman like a man who was supposed to be her man switching his energy. She and Demi had a flow. Their cadence was passionate and steady. He had been a consistent source of stability for her soul, and suddenly, things were different. Things were unstable, which made her mentally break down. She was overthinking everything, and it was debilitating.
It made her feel like she couldn’t breathe. Her every function had become dependent on Demi, and Charlie felt lost without him, like her days held no purpose. She knew now that there was a such thing as being too in love. She had been through hell in her lifetime, but no fire had ever felt like this. This waiting. This sitting on a nigga’s back burner was torture because she had no idea when he would be back. His actions were threatening to burn their house down, but Charlie was the only one in it. He was under another woman’s roof, caring for her and providing for her needs, while Charlie was suffering.
Just thinking about it ruined her mood. She sat and enjoyed Justin’s entire set, and once it was over, he came to her table.
“It’s been a long time,” Justin said. They hadn’t seen one another in years.
“I’m really sorry about what happened,” she replied.
“You sorry for another person’s actions?” he asked. “You weren’t responsible for that. You still with him?”
Charlie stared down at her hands and the huge diamond ring she was wearing. His eyes followed.
“You’re too good for him, Charles,” Justin said, shaking his head. The old nickname made her cringe. It felt inappropriate.
“Don’t do that,” Charlie replied softly. “You don’t know him.”
“You right,” Justin admitted. “Once upon a time, I thought I knew you, though, and the girl I knew would never be possessed by anyone. I guess I was wrong.”
Charlie shook her head because she knew he held some reasonable resentments toward Demi. “He doesn’t possess me. You make it seem like I’m trapped. I want him. I know he flew off the handle with you. That’s not who he is with me.”
“Then explain why I see fear in you. I’ve known you for a while, Charles. That fear wasn’t there before,” Justin said.
“The only thing I fear is losing that man. You don’t see me being afraid because I’m with him. I’m terrified to be without him. I’m pregnant, and I’m terrified to do this alone. That’s what you see,” Charlie defended.
“Look, what you got going on ain’t my business. You ain’t got to explain shit to me. I just hope you’re okay. You were my friend, and I overstepped back then. It didn’t take an ass-whooping to regret the way I pushed up on you. I lost a good friend over a mistake, and I apologize to you,” Justin said. “I knew you weren’t into me like that, and I still went for it. I don’t care for your dude, but I respect you. I just hope you’re happy.”
Charlie hadn’t known how much she needed to hear this or how much she missed Justin until this moment.
“I really appreciate that, Justin. And I’m so sorry you were hurt over me.”
“Don’t even mention it again,” Justin said. “The past is the past. Come here.”
