#do I think Nicky should’ve been in the bottom I mean yeah probably

[lady-assnali]

WAIT THEY LET NICKY GO THAT EARLY?!?!?!?!

How. HOW. like maybe I’m biased because I came into it loving her but like. Uh?!

Wow I missed a lot missing this season huh. Why is this the one season I didn’t watch live?!?!

[scornedlove]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

ROBYN

I called Mel to blow off some steam, but her phone was going straight to voicemail. To say I was boiling was an understatement. Half an hour later, I found myself asking for a shot of whiskey at the nearest bar. Some place that probably hadn’t had a new customer in weeks. 

“I’ll take a water with lemon” John stated, his eyes roaming the dark room. The place was small, yet cold and unfamiliar. There wasn’t many people here, but you could tell the few present were regulars.  

“Thanks for coming in with me, I know this ain’t in ya job description” I sighed, trying my hardest not to dump all my problems on him.

“I’m just glad you got up out the house. I was beginning to think you replaced me” 

“You know better than that! You ain’t getting rid of me that easy” I chuckled in surprise. I tossed back my shot and motioned for the bartender to refill me, wasting no time to toss that one back too.

“This whiskey’s not gonna have you trying to throw bottles upside my head again is it?”

“I promise I’ll behave myself” I crossed my heart with my right hand. “Sometimes, I get so worked up and I just need to take the edge off. Whiskey helps.”

“Don’t let this shit be your go to” he advised, glancing over his shoulder to see who walked in when the door opened.

“Shopping is my go to, Mary Jane is definitely the runner up, but this shit easily takes third place.” I admitted, nonchalantly. “Everybody needs an outlet”  

“You gonna have to find some better outlets. I know it’s hard, but I’ve been where you are before and it ain’t a pretty place. I’m not going to sit back and watch you spiral downhill.”

“Eh, to each their own. I’m sure you got your outlets.” I shrugged, before requesting another refill and quickly gulping it down. John just shook his head and looked back at the door as a couple of people walked out. I loved how alert he always was, it made me feel safe. Safe enough, to order another shot.

“Can you at least slow down?” he demanded rather than asked. “Ain’t no way yo tolerance that high.”

“Boy please! I am Bajan, we can hold our liquor.” I teased, starting to feel myself. The whiskey had my temperature rising, so I slid my jacket down on to the stool. The bartender placed my refill in front of me, this time flashing his dingy smile while his eyes burned a hole in my chest. 

“Thanks, we’ll let you know if we need anything else” John practically yelled to snap him from his daze.

“Sorry man. We don’t get models in here often” he apologized before tending to the other couple at the bar.

“Bullshit” I blurted before falling into giggles. “I know I look like shit today, but that was a good save”

“You ready? Cause I’m ready to get up outta here.” John stood, with his mind made up. He’s never bossed me around before and oddly enough, it was turning me on.

“Wait, just let me get-”

“You’ve had enough, let’s go.” he ordered, looking down at me. I was beginning to imagine his dark skin on mine and realized he was right. It had to be the liquor taking over, so I shook the thought away and stood like he requested. 

 "Yeah, you’re right, I uh, need to do some shopping anyway.” I stammered, leaving a few twenty's on the counter before leading the way out. 

The ride to the mall was awkward. I rolled and smoked an entire blunt to myself on the way. I could tell John was pissed, but I didn’t understand why or even cared to ask. I’m sick of people trying to give me advice I didn’t ask for. I’m grown as hell and if I want to get fucked up in the middle of the day on a Monday, then that’s what I’ll do. 

“I know how long these trips can be and I don’t want you to feel rushed, just give me a call when you’re ready” he stated, once we reached the mall entrance.

“Don’t even worry about it. Thanks for the ride, enjoy the rest of your day” I added, jumping out the back seat before he’d even come to a complete stop. I didn’t want to be around his bad energy, that shit was contagious. I’ll just have to take a cab home. I’d much rather ride with a stranger than be judged.

Turns out John was right. I spent much more time shopping than I expected. There wasn’t much traffic and I enjoyed not having to wait in lines.  I treated myself to new clothes, shoes, earrings, and a new purse. Everything I wanted was in stock and I had many of the stores to myself. Apparently I picked a good day to splurge because I spent well over forty grand.

After shopping, I ordered some Chinese food and found a little corner to myself in the food court. I was so happy about the leopard print Louboutin booties I found, I had to put them on before I even touched my food. Something about leopard print made me feel sexy and I needed that feeling now.

I slipped my flats off and smiled as the softness of the booties welcomed my feet. They made me feel so good, I forgot about my bad day. I started to devour my food as if all the appetite I was missing all week suddenly appeared from nowhere. When I was done, I wasted no time getting in line at the ice cream shoppe. 

I sat down again, taking my time and enjoying my chocolate chip, double dip cone a little too much. I was in heaven, oblivious to my surroundings. A weird feeling crept over me and I felt like I was being watched. My eyes shot up for a quick scan and immediately locked on the culprit. Christopher fucking Brown.

I stared back for what seemed like forever, but he wasn’t letting up so I decided to show out. If he thought he couldn’t stop looking before, he wouldn’t know what to do when I made him wish he were the ice cream. 

“I knew my eyes weren’t deceiving me” a smooth baritone caught me off guard in the middle of my act. I sighed deeply before locking eyes with the one night stand I was supposed to never see again. 

“Today has got to be my lucky day” he grinned.

“Hey Stranger” I smirked, swallowing the big ass frog in my throat. I should’ve put my ice cream down, but I couldn’t. I just took bites instead of licks while he eyeballed my lips.

“Nah, call me Rocky” he pleaded, his eyes roaming with no shame. Fuck I thought to myself, realizing I left my favorite black leather jacket at the bar. My nipples were at full attention and an apparent distraction, so I crossed my arms. 

“I thought we agree-”

“You really want me to treat you like a stranger after the way I had your body feeling the last time you saw me?” he asked, inviting himself to sit in front of me. 

“We agreed to no names”

“Who are you shopping with, if you don’t mind me asking?” he quizzed, checking out my table full of bags.

“Damn you nosy” I frowned, shaking my head. “Who you here with?”

“Shit, I’m here with you. I just wanna know who about to be pissed when your plans change up.”

“How my plans change up?” I giggled, loving his persistence.

“I got somewhere I wanna take you”

“Boy you don’t even know me”

“I know what you taste like. You gonna let me taste you again?” he asked wetting his lips before biting the bottom one and slowly letting it out. Flashbacks of his lips on my body sent shivers down my spine. Before I could even respond, I could see Chris approaching at record speed with Nicki on his tail. 

CHRIS

“Thank you for getting me out the house today” Nicki smiled, taking a bite from her huge, soft pretzel. “This is exactly what I needed!”

“Me too” I mumbled between bites of my pretzel dog. I was glad I was feeling better than I had the day before, but I still felt crappy. Yesterday I laid around with a hang over from hell, but when Nicki called today I had to pull my shit together. 

“I’m so glad Sam will be home for good today. All I can ever think about is what if he misses our baby’s birth”

“Aren’t you due next month?”

“Yeah, but look how fat I am! There’s no way I can hold this baby for another month!” she stood up and turned sideways for me to see her silhouette. 

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be back to yourself in no time. You’re having a healthy baby. That’s the important part.” I stressed and her face immediately dropped in shame.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-”

“Sorry for what?”

“Complaining. I’m grateful for this entire experience. I just wish Sam could’ve found a closer job sooner, but it’s done now and I’m soooo grateful” she beamed as her phone vibrated on the table. “Speak of the devil.”

“Tell him I said what up” I laughed at her girlish demeanor while she spoke with her husband. Somehow they pulled through their long distance relationship, even with the hormone roller coaster. I was happy for them.

“So are you spending Thanksgiving in Texas with Tae now that Mama got her own thing going on?” Nicki quizzed after hanging up with Sam. I hadn’t told her it was over with me and Tae yet, I was hoping to avoid this conversation altogether.

“Nah. You know me, I like to make my rounds. Are you cooking? I’m tryna come get one of your plates!”

“Noooo Chris! Holidays show a girl how serious you are about her. You gotta at least try to go see her, it’s important!”

“Well, sh-”

“Robyn”

“No, it’s not about Rob-”

“No, I was saying, is that Robyn?” she nodded across the food court towards the ice cream shoppe. Sure enough, Robyn was standing in line with three bags on one arm and her wallet in hand as she waited to order.

“Damn, she looks good” I blurted under my breath. I didn’t know where we stood since the last time we spoke, so I definitely wasn’t going over there.

“That hair looks so good on her. When’s the last time ya’ll talked?” 

“Not long ago, and it wasn’t pleasant” I answered honestly, unable to take my eyes from her as she paid and grabbed her ice cream from the cashier. She quickly found an empty table, set her things down, and began to devour her ice cream in the most seductive way. On top of that, the dress she wore revealed every curve and way too much skin. 

When she sat down, her eyes met mine. She refused to break eye contact and began to lick her ice cream with a flat tongue, curving it around the top. She winked at me, then opened her mouth wide before sucking her ice cream from the top, clearly giving me a show.

“So ya’ll cool or not?” Nicki’s voice snatched me back to attention. My head snapped in her direction to see if she was seeing what I was but she was preoccupied with her phone. When I looked back at Robyn, there was someone else sitting in front of her, blocking my view. 

This guy must’ve been enjoying the same show I was, too bad he didn’t stand a chance. Rob’s the kind of girl that doesn’t even give a guy two seconds if he’s not worth it, which made me wonder why this guy was still sitting there. 

“I don’t know. Let’s go say wassup” I suggested as Nicki tossed the last of her food in her mouth, then followed me towards Robyn.

As we approached her, a huge smile spread across her face and she waved in our direction. I wasn’t sure what to expect but my nerves relaxed a bit. 

“Oh my God! Look at you!” Robyn shrieked, jumping up to hug Nicki.

“No bitch, look at you! I was just telling Chris how bomb this haircut is on you!” Nicki returned the love. I tried to get a word in, but Robyn turned her back to me and proceeded to talk to Nic like I wasn’t even there.

“I can’t believe you almost done cooking the munchkin already!” She squealed, rubbing Nicki’s belly. 

“Yes girl, exactly 28 more days!”

“Boy or girl?”

“We don’t know yet, we wanted a surprise”. They went back and forth for what seemed like forever, paying me no mind. I waited patiently until Robyn attempted to leave with the random guy without speaking to me. She tried to walk by me so I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me, catching her off guard.

“So you just gonna ignore me?” I asked, glaring into her shocked expression. It took a second of thought but to my surprise, she shook her head no, so I wasted no time leading the way to an empty table for a little privacy.

“How you been?” I began, instantly pissing her off.

“What you mean How I been?” she mimicked rolling her eyes. “What do you want Christopher?”

“I ran into Rayven last night..you wanna tell me what’s going on?”

"Wow, you pulled me to the side to ask about Rayven?” she asked, with slanted eyes. 

“No, that’s not wh-”

“Fuck you Christopher. I should beat your ass like I did her” she frowned, attempting to walk off. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me again, with a little more force this time.

“Have you been drinking?” I asked, trying to smell it on her breath but only smelling the ice cream. “Who’s this guy your with? Do you know him?”

“Mind the business you chose over me. I ain’t yo woman.” she spat, before returning to the lucky punk waiting for her. Those words hurt like daggers but I was more embarrassed than anything.  

“I guess it’s safe to say ya’ll not cool” Nicki spoke, breaking the silence on the ride home.

“I don’t know Nic, I think I really messed up this time”

“Ah hell, what you do now?” she shook her head in frustration as I caught her up on my cursed love life. 

“Can I be brutally honest with you?” she asked, raising her brow as she stared me in the face.

“That’s all I’m asking”

“You sound confused as fuck! At the end of the day, who do you love?

“I can’t even lie. I love them both”

“Who do you want to be with....like forever”

“I don’t know”

“Well that’s your problem. You gotta figure out what you want” she shook her head in disbelief.

“It’s not that easy. See with Tae I have this clean slate, well almost clean. Distance is the only problem. “

“Which is a pretty big problem” she pointed out. 

“But with Rob there’s so much chemistry, history, love... it would be hard to come back from what we been through”

“Well if you put it like that, do you want hard as shit or hard as fuck?” she teased, cracking herself up. 

“Thanks for the lovely advice”

“I can’t help you bro, you on your own!”

“I can see that!”

“Nah, but for real, every time I’ve seen you and Tae together you seem happy as hell. I mean head over heels, you stay cheesing like a damn girl, and treating her like a princess. But when you talk about Robyn you seem unsure and even kind of depressed. I’m sure it’s because of the accident, and everything else that happened but aren’t you ready to put all of that behind you?”

“Put Robyn behind me? “I sighed, giving it deep thought. It wasn’t like she was fucking with me anyhow. After seeing her today I was even more confused than before. 

“That situation is out of your hands at this point. I’m sorry, but it’s clear to me that Rob ain’t fucking with you bro. I can tell you’re not really taking Tae serious because you’re hoping Rob comes around. That’s bullshit and you definitely owe Tae an apology. Start there and just see where everything else goes.” she suggested, as she kicked her shoes off and kicked her feet up on the dash.

“That girl don’t want to talk to me”

“Of course not, you gotta go bigger than a phone call”

“Like what?”

“Like go see her. Go spend Thanksgiving with her! Have you ever been to her place? She’s been to your crib, your galleries, and met all your people. Ya’ll been together long enough, it’s time for you to meet the family. Matter of fact, you should pop up on her!”

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” I grinned, realizing how right she was. It was obvious I hadn’t been putting in much effort and that’s probably why she keeps one foot in the door and the other out. She just needs a grand gesture to know how important she is to me.

With Nic’s help, I came up with the perfect plan to get us back on track. Thanksgiving was less than a week away, so I wasted no time booking my flight and a room near her salon. All I had to do was show up and speak my peace. How hard could that be?

[totallypathet]

Episode Four

Okay so first things first, I love a ball. I'm just not that psyched when they do them so early on in the season, because it feels so overwhelming when there's 12 queens doing 3 looks each, there's just sooo much to process! Having said all that, I do absolutely adore the ball challenges because it shows us so much about each queen. It's always interesting watching their creative processes and how they think. My favourites in the ball challenges are the ones who really *KimChi voice* embrace the materials. I just find it so boring when they just sort of glue stuff to corsets and don't really incorporate the materials of the challenge. So having said that, let's get into it!

1. Aiden Zhane

Miss Aiden... after the runways the only thing I had to say about Aiden was "really girl?".

She put so little effort into that third outfit. She put less effort into that that Derrick Berry put into the book ball. It was basic, bitch, don't come at it like "well I have a simple aesthetic" simplicity is not low effort. Simplicity is not basic. Simplicity is Gigi Goode's Lady Baller look. It was simple; but it was perfectly fitted, it was a fully realised concept, the fabric choices were perfect - it's simple, but it's effective, it's beautiful, and it's a story. That fucking corset was terrible, and she should've lipsynced for that alone. Her Lady Baller look was cute, I liked the reference, but I've seen it before. Her Basketball wife was horrific. I own that dress, and it's cheap and tacky. Speaking of cheap and tacky, can we talk about that black wig she wore with her third look?! Like don't get me wrong, I'm so glad that she's wearing a different fucking wig finally, but that wig came straight out of a bag and she put it on her head. It had that awful cheap synthetic shine, and I can't believe noone mentioned it.

She's so unpolished and I feel like she just doesn't even care. Shes like Shangie season 2 except not even 10% as charming or likeable. I am so ready for her to leave, and the fact that she's survived 2 eliminations already is beyond me.

2. Brita

Almost everything I've just written above about Aiden Zhane could also apply to Brita. I really really don't like her attitude. She's coming across so bitter and so cocky at the same time - and what's even worse is that I've seen no talent from her to justify her attitude at all!

This week was not a good week for Brita, and honestly I think she should have gone home. I actually really liked her Lady Baller look, it was a clever concept, it was immediately recognisable and it was styled well. The fact that her other two looks were utterly shocking makes me think that that first look was entirely the work of a designer and she had no input whatsoever. The second look?? Where she was like "oh it's an adaptation of Kim K's Met Gala look??? Delusional. Girl, it looked so fucking cheap, it didn't fit that well, and it was ugly ugly ugly. Kim K would never.

All of that pales in comparison to the third look. What was that? Honestly, what the fuck was that? It was so badly made, it looked ugly, it was unrecogniseable, and it was just a catastrophe. I was humiliated for her when she walked out in it. Her lipsyn also wasn't that good. She should be next to leave after Aiden Zhane.

3. Crystal Methyd

Listen, I love Crystal. What the fuck was she wearing for her Basketball Wife look? Choices. Other than that little blip, Crystal made me so happy this week!! He Lady Baller look was perfect, it was exactly the level of fun and quirky I wanted from Crystal, she totally sold me that 80s bowling fantasy! And then her third look!!!! The Carmen Miranda reference was perfect, that dress fit her impeccably, and it moved beautifully! I think she's going to just go from strength to strength and I am so excited to watch her! I never know what she's going to be wearing when she comes around the corner and I love it. Strong night for Crystal!

4. Gigi Goode

I mean, you handed Gigi Goode a design challenge and expected her not to win??? She sold me every look this week, and I loved it. She gave me 3 distinct and recognisable characters, and her presentation of each one was totally different, that's talent. I don't have all that much to say about Gigi this week, because it was all said on the show. She killed it, I think she's going all the way and I cant wait to see what she pulls out next.

5. Heidi N Closet

LET 👏 HEIDI 👏 KEEP 👏 HER 👏 NAME! I'm still so mad about that and I'm not over it. Heidi had a bit of a slip this week for me. Not nearly enough to deserve being in the bottom (especially not next to Aiden and Brita), but it wasn't a great week for her. Her first look was really ill fitting and unfortunate, but I do respect that she took the golf ball and club out on the runway, props can be unpredictable. The second look was cute, but it was just cute, and her third look... wow. I get what she was going for, that very high fashion androgyny, but...that green and that purple... someone put in that gif of Chrissie Teigen 😬😬. I'm glad this happened when there were enough people for her to fall middle of the pack, because she deserves better than to go home for some shoddy looks. But honestly, I do hate when queens go on this show and say "I don't know how to sew, I've only ever made one garment", you know you're coming on the show!!! Learn some sewing basics!! Make some dresses!! You know there's going to be sewing challenges, prepare yourself!!

6. Jackie Cox

Jackie Cox 😍😍😍 Jackie should absolutely have been top 3 this week!! Every. Single. Look. Was. Stunning. Her references were on point. Her shapes were gorgeous. Her presentations were perfect. Her characters were all recognisably different. But all the looks were recognisably Jackie. Jackie was Robbed. She gave me my whole life this week.

7. Jaida Essence Hall

Jaida was absolutely gorgeous this week! Her face is always stunning, but she brought it with her outfits too! And the third outfit was probably my favourite of the week, she knows her body, she understand her shapes and you know what it was nicely executed. I think Jaida is super solid and I don't think a whole lot in this competition is going to phase her.

8. Jan

Jan was also robbed!! I'm still thinking about her Basketball Wife look, how perfect was that! It was exactly what you would see a Basketball Wife wearing, at a Basketball Game. So on point. And the Janel bag? Iconic.

Her Lady Baller look was absolutely what I wanted from her as well! It was made of footballs! (I refuse to say soccer balls, I'm not American) And then she dribbled a football down the runway! In heels! Stunning.

Her third look was couture, high fashion, and so distinctive from her other 2 looks. Honestly top 3 should have been Jan, Jackie and Gigi. You can't change my mind.

9. Nicky Doll

This was a great week for Nicky! Which, to be fair, was to be expected in a fashion challenge. But she did a fabulous job! I think her Lady Baller was my favourite of all the Lady Baller looks. The makeup was perfect, the wig was stunning - also I challenge anyone to clock Nicky Doll's wigs! It's so strange that out of drag she has dark hair and it looks stunning, but when in drag she's mostly a blonde and it's so perfect on her. The gilet she wore for her second look was stunning, and I loved her styling. That third look?! Iconic. It was like the high fashion baby of Roxxxy Andrews' Sugar Ball look, and Yvie Oddly's Farm to Fashion look. I loved it. I love her. I think she has a really great personality too! I don't get what the judges are saying about her not having any personality. I really hope she pulls it out next week - I already know her runway is going to be perfect!

10. Rock M Sakura

Oh my baby Rock! She didn't deserve to be bottom 2 this week. Everything she did was just a tiny bit off. Her pads were a little weird this week, I'm not sure what happened there, but that did throw me off when she was walking. Her Lady Ballers look was great! I didn't get the judges critiques about it not being enough! If she'd have worn something elaborate on the bottom, they would have said it was too much - which is exactly the critique she got for her third look! I do agree that her second look was a little bit pedestrian. I actually lived her third look though! It was over the top, but that's Rock M's style! And the way she styles it was gorgeous. I liked that it wasn't a complete dress, it looked really sculptural and architectural. The fact that she went home and Aiden Zhane was safe is so beyond me. Robbed. Also she is a better performer than Brita, she just struggled with that dress, which is such a shame. I'm glad they really let us get to know her before she left though, she's not just going to be that "oh yeah her" queen who shows up at the finale.

11. Widow Von Du

I like Widow so much, but I don't know that she's going to go all the way at the moment. I really really really want her to pull it out next week! She was so amazing that first week, and since then she's just sort of coasted for me. Her looks this week were just okay. Her first look was really stunning, but the cheap horse stick prop made it look costumey, which is such a shame. Her second look was pretty, but it swallowed her up a bit, I felt like it was wearing her. Her third look I actually really liked but omg those shoes. What was she thinking. It ruined the whole thing for me. I really want her to succeed and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her next week!

There is one other thing I'd like to say about this week, which is that the Miss Trunchbull look that walked itself down the runway was incredible. If anyone knows the designer of that look, please let me know, because they deserve recognition for how great that look was.

Edit: @rattlethosestars let me know the designer of the look is Florence D'Lee, who you can follow on instagram here!

Otherwise, that's all for the breakdown this week! I am so looking forward to "Gay's Anatomy" next week, I feel like it could be such a entertaining challenge!

[honeycombcal]

Clichés - C.H. (Pt. 2)

Pairing: Calum Hood x Reader

Words: 3576

Warnings: Language, slight mention of anxiety

AN: Here it is, part 2! I hope you guys enjoy it, I wanted to add a little bit of angst but of course end with fluff fluff f l u f f. I hope the ending doesn’t seem rushed, it’s almost 3 in the morning when I’m posting this lmao. If you like this, I take requests if you have any! xx (gif does not belong to me, credits go to whoever made it)

Part 1 Part 3

“You gotta wear it,” Brittany urged, thrusting the article of clothing toward you once more.

You huffed, pulling your bottom lip into your mouth and lightly pressing your teeth down. You looked it over again, the black bodysuit sparking nerves in your stomach. The front plunged lower than anything else you owned, the back nonexistent. You never went out so you didn’t have any ‘going out’ clothes other than this one piece, and you began to wonder what the hell you were thinking buying it in the first place.

“I don’t know, Britt,” you muttered, taking the bodysuit in your hands. It was a soft material, and you remember feeling comfortable and, surprisingly, confident in it when you had tried it on in the store. It hugged your body in all the right places, and the dark washed, ripped jeans you had bought to tuck it into made you feel like a runway model. Looking at the piece of cloth now, you felt your confidence level sinking to the floor.

“I don’t want him to get the wrong idea,” you continued, making Brittany scoff.

“What idea? That you’re hot and totally in love with him?” she teased, flopping down onto your bed. You groaned, rolling your eyes at your roommate.

“Not in love with him!” you retorted, throwing the bodysuit at her and rushing to your adjoining bathroom before she could whip it back at you.

You glanced at your reflection in the mirror, almost not recognizing the girl- no, woman- looking back at you. Her hair was curled into perfect, glossy waves. Her eyes were smokey and not hidden by her normal big glasses. She glowed in a way you hadn’t seen before.

“It’ll be a miracle if he even recognizes me,” you called to her, fidgeting with your hair. You hear your roommate chuckle before she pads into your bathroom, looking at you in the mirror.

“You look amazing, but I think he’s into you for more than just your looks. Humor me and wear the bodysuit. You can always bring a sweater to throw over it if you start to feel uncomfortable,” she spoke softly, her eyes meeting yours. You pursed your lips before finally relenting, nodding and going back into your bedroom to get dressed.

Your phone buzzed on your bedside table, catching your attention as you pulled your jeans up, wiggling around to get them to sit on your hips just right. You pulled the zipper up as you walked to your phone where it charged, bringing the button through its slit as you bent your head to read the text that had popped up on the screen.

Calum Hood: just checking in to make sure you don’t ditch tonight to study how paint dries… see you soon x

You couldn’t help but snort at the first half of his text, and swoon at the ‘x’ he’d signed it with. You wanted to scold yourself for getting so worked up over a boy, but Calum Hood just wasn’t like any other boy.

“Don’t make me drag you up there because I will,” Brittany threatened, turning in the driver’s seat to give you a pointed look.

Dread was slowly starting to flood your stomach as you looked over Britt’s shoulder to the house. Some people were milling about outside in the yard, some were playing a game of beer pong on the porch, but it was clear that the inside of the house was packed. Your tongue darted out to wet your lips, your mouth all of a sudden feeling very dry.

“I can’t do this,” you breathe, your panic stricken eyes meeting your roommate’s now soft ones. Brittany placed her hands on your bare shoulders.

“Hey, yes you can. You are smart, and beautiful, and more than capable of going into some dumb party,” she reassured you. You swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in your throat as your gaze shifted back towards the grey house.

“Why can’t you come with me,” you whined, which earned you a giggle from Brittany.

“I actually have studying I have to do so that chem test doesn’t kick my ass on Monday. I believe in you, and if you’re still freaked out after 20 minutes, call me and I’ll come right back. Okay?” she spoke softly, ducking her head to get you to meet her eyes. You bit the inside of your cheek and nodded slowly.

“Deep breaths,” she encouraged, taking a deep breath herself so that you would do the same. You both took three deep breaths before you opened the door.

“Be safe, have fun! Love you!” Britt chirped, making you smile and blow her a kiss before shutting the car door. She waited for you to follow the path up to the house before driving off.

Your eyes darted to the people outside, even though you knew you wouldn’t know anyone. You were caught off guard when you heard a low whistle, your head whipping to the general direction that you heard it. You were used to being invisible, and you didn’t mind it. You fidgeted with your jacket, having opted for a red suede one rather than a boring cardigan. Your booties clicked on the pavement as you approached the house, the bass of the music growing increasingly louder. You lingered by the door, hesitating, before turning the doorknob.

The temperature inside the house was sweltering compared to the frigid air outside. You shut the door, eyes wide as you took everything in. To your right was the living room, packed with bodies and smelling of alcohol and- was that weed? The hallway in front of you lead to what you assumed would be the kitchen, and the stairs to your left must lead to where the bedrooms are. You were beginning to wonder why the hell you hadn’t texted Calum to let him know you were here. You wandered into the living room, glancing around the faces you didn’t recognize in hopes of seeing him.

Your heart began to race as anxious thoughts started to flood your mind. You chewed on your lip as you pushed through everyone, making your way into the dining room where it looked like people were playing some other kind of drinking game you didn’t know. You tried desperately to control your rapid breathing, turning to go back into the living room when you saw him.

He looked amazing. The simple black t-shirt he wore seemed to strain against his biceps, his tattoos a stark contrast to his golden skin. His black jeans were tight, showcasing his muscular legs. His dark hair looked softer than ever, the curls resting against his forehead. His long fingers were wrapped around a red solo cup, and he was laughing at something someone said. You looked to see it was Hemmings, from the soccer game. He caught your gaze almost immediately, making your face heat as he nudged Calum. Cal’s eyebrows raised before turning in your direction, doing a double take before his eyes widened just enough for you to notice. His plump lips parted slightly, his dark eyes scanning your body before you finally mustered enough courage to join them.

“Hey,” you breathed, feeling awkward and out of place. Calum gave you a smile, one that made your heart almost beat of your chest.

“Y/N, wow, I almost didn’t recognize you! You look amazing,” he praised, wrapping his arms around you. You returned his hug and rested your head in the crook of his neck, his scent making you feel at home.

“Yeah well, I’m already so far out of my comfort zone I thought I might as well switch it up a little bit,” you giggled, pulling away. Calum chuckled.

“Oh, Y/N, this is Luke Hemmings, my teammate and one of my roommates,” Calum introduced you to the blonde boy, seemingly remembering his friend was still standing there.

“Hemmings, yeah, that was a nice assist you had today,” you smiled, hoping to impress the guys on your terminology. It seemed to work, as Luke’s eyebrows shot up.

“Hey thanks, I’m actually kinda surprised you know what that is,” Luke chuckled.

“You should’ve heard her at the game, she was yelling about that douchebag holding my jersey!” Calum chimed in, making you blush.

“Well, I had to study something today,” you shrugged, making the guys laugh.

“I’ll have to test your knowledge some other time, then,” Calum teased, winking at you. You pursed your lips but nodded, going along with it. Your knowledge of soccer was still limited, but you were hoping you had enough time to learn more before Calum grilled you about it.

“Hey, Cal, you always said you can never hear anything the crowd yells. Remember that one time, that guy was heckling-” Luke started, Calum’s death glare promptly cutting him off. You felt your face heat at the fact that Calum had heard you during his game, but you decided to let him off easy.

“So, how many other guys live here?” you asked, remembering that Calum had said that Luke was one of his roommates.

“Two others, Michael and Ashton. They should be around here somewhere-”

“Cal!” a high pitched voice called, interrupting him. A beautiful girl bounced to his side, her eyes gleaming as she caught Calum’s attention, her hands wrapping around his bicep.

“Hey, Nicki-” Calum started to greet her, but she grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the stairs.

“Come with me,” she insisted, giving him a beautiful smile.

It felt like your heart had sank to your stomach. Did you actually think that Calum was interested in you romantically? He was way out of your league; you were just some girl he sat next to in class. He probably just felt bad for you and that’s why he invited you out tonight.

Calum glanced at Luke before looking at you, his eyes searching your face. You tried your best to smile at him, nodding that it was okay. He still seemed reluctant as Nicki practically dragged him away.

“That should be interesting,” Luke huffed, bringing his cup to his lips. Your gaze shifted from where Calum had just been to Luke.

“What do you mean?” you asked, hoping you weren’t coming off as nosy.

“Nicki’s his ex,” Luke sighed, his face scrunching up to show his distaste of the beautiful girl.

“Oh,” was all you could manage, your heart all the way in the basement now.

“She’s psycho. They broke up around the beginning of the semester but she won’t leave him alone,” he gossiped, your eyebrows raising at the information.

“Why’d they break up?” You didn’t care if you were coming off nosy now,

“She cheated on him with some football player. He can’t stand her but for some reason she just keeps showing up. Probably doesn’t help that he still hooks up with her every now and then,” Luke muttered, downing the rest of his drink. You felt your mouth pop open at that last sentence, feeling your heart shatter into pieces.

“I’m gonna go get a refill, you want anything?” he asked you, oblivious to the heartbreak he had just inflicted on you. You merely shook your head, not able to speak before Luke went off to the kitchen.

You stood there, in that crowded room, feeling utterly alone. The boy you had come here to see, the one that you had fallen so hard for over these past few months, had been pulled upstairs by his ex right in front of you. You were mortified. Unshed tears began to burn your eyes, your throat dry. It felt as though the walls were closing in on you; people kept brushing against you, some softly and some with more force, sending your senses into overdrive. You had to get out of here.

You pushed your way through the crowd, making your way to the door. You slammed it shut behind you, the cool air welcoming on your burning skin. You ignored the stares the party goers outside gave you, rushing down the path toward the street and beginning to walk. You should probably call Brittany, but you didn’t want to have to tell her what happened. You recognized where you were on campus, and you knew there were a slew of bars and shops just up the street.

You hugged your arms around yourself, the wind unforgiving. Your mind raced, a million thoughts jumbled around in your brain. Why had he invited you out tonight? Why had he given you his jersey to wear? Was he just being friendly and you took it the wrong way? You felt like an idiot. You had always worn your heart on your sleeve, and it had always bitten you in the ass; this time was clearly no different.

You had made it into town, your eyes scanning the storefronts. One caught your eye, a neon sign in cursive blinking “The Lib”. You decided to check it out, opening the door. A bell tinkled somewhere, an alert that someone was here. You’d never heard of this place before, your eyes scanning the small bar. A red, almost pink, glow was cast inside and the wall to your right was lined with books. Further down the wall was where a quaint bar was nestled, a small woman standing behind it cleaning some glasses. The left wall had all kinds of posters and pieces of art decorating it, a stage adorning the back corner. They must have live music in here some nights, but tonight was dead. You were the only person there, so you approached the bar slowly.

“Hiya hun, what can I get ya?” the woman asked you, her smile warm and inviting. Her wavy dirty blonde hair was cut into a stylish bob, framing her face perfectly. She had delicate features, and she reminded you of a pixie. You liked her immediately.

“Can I get a vodka sprite?” you asked, showing her your ID. She waved you away and nodded, beginning to make your drink.

“What brings you in all by your lonesome on a Saturday night?” she inquired, seemingly genuine. You sighed, taking a seat at the bar.

“Clichés,” you muttered, making her eyebrows raise as she handed you your drink.

“What do you mean?” she cocked her head, leaning her elbows on the bar.

“This guy is way out of my league and I should’ve known better,” you gave her the short version, taking a sip of your drink and wincing.

“Out of your league? I’m sorry, but have ya looked in the mirror lately?! You are stunning,” she complimented, making you smile.

“I don’t always look like this,” you laughed. If only she could see you during the week. She scoffed, going to wipe the bar down on the opposite end.

“I didn't catch your name?” you asked her, and she gave you a friendly smile.

“Mickie. I own the bar,” she told you. You nodded in appreciation.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Y/N. I really love how you incorporated the book wall,” you tell her earnestly. This could easily become one of your new favorite spots.

“Well I’m glad someone does! I just love everything nerdy I guess, so having a book wall and a bunch of art and live music just felt right to me,” she shrugged, coming back down to stand in front of you.

“I’m a nerd right there with ya,” you giggled, making her smile.

The bell chimed overhead, signaling that someone else was here. You looked to the door and felt your heart in your throat as Calum walked towards you.

“Thought I’d find you here,” he breathed. You glanced at Mickie as she looked at Calum and back at you.

“I’ll be in the back if you need anything,” she told you, giving you some privacy. You nodded, going to take another sip of your drink before you remembered she hadn’t charged you.

“Wait! How much-?”

“On the house!” she called over her shoulder.

Calum settled in on the stool next to you, his body facing you as you faced the bar.

“How’d you know I’d be here?” you murmured, fiddling with your straw.

“I played a gig with my band here last week. Reminded me of you,” he responded softly, making your insides liquify. He’s in a band? Is there anything he can’t do?

“Why’d you run off?” he asked, and you could feel his gaze searching your face. You rolled your lips into your mouth, head dropping to stare at your lap.

“You seemed otherwise… preoccupied. And I didn’t know anyone else,” you shrugged, trying to come off as nonchalant. You stole a glance at Calum, his face full of concern.

“I definitely wouldn’t say I was preoccupied… more like ambushed,” he chuckled, but stopped once you didn’t join in.

“It’s okay, Luke told me,” you reassured, leaning forward to take a long sip of your drink. You could feel your body warming thanks to the drink, your tolerance practically nonexistent.

“Luke told you what?” Calum prompted, searching your face.

“About Nicki. And you. You and Nicki. It’s okay, I don’t want to interfere-” you began, but Calum quickly shut you down.

“Woah woah woah, okay, slow down. Clearly he had more to drink than I thought,” Calum huffed, you finally deciding to meet his gaze.

“There is no ‘me and Nicki’. She cheated on me before school started, I broke up with her, we hooked up once a few days after, and that was that. She always shows up to parties that I’m at and it drives me up the fucking wall,” he explained, unknowingly piecing your heart back together.

“I’m pretty sure she tells people that we still mess around to keep other girls from talking to me. But you’re not just any girl,” he continued, taking your hand. Your heart, now fully repaired, threatened to beat right out of your chest.

“I love that you are so lowkey. You keep to yourself, and it’s adorable, but there’s so much… innocence to it, for lack of a better word. You’re untouched by all the shitty drama that goes on in my life, and you’re just… like a breath of fresh air,” he breathed the last part. You felt your lips tug into a smile at his words.

“I’ve loved getting to know you these past few months. I’ve loved spending time with you, learning what you like and dislike, and pretending that I need your notes,” he winks before continuing. “I love that you went so far out of your comfort zone tonight, and I loved seeing you in my jersey at the game. You look beautiful tonight, but I love seeing you in your glasses too.”

“Where are you going with this, Hood?” you breathed, unsure if this was real life or if you had picked up a romance book off of the shelves of The Lib and were reading that instead. Calum chuckled, squeezing your hand.

“Nicki is no one you should worry about. She saw me talking to you and tried to scare you off, which I guess worked, but I wasn’t gonna let her win. I really like you, Y/N,” he admitted, his free hand coming up to brush your cheek. You felt your breath catch in your throat, time seemingly standing still.

“You do?” you squeaked, his face breaking out in a grin that made the skin around his eyes crinkle.

“I don’t know how to make it any more obvious,” he teased, making you giggle.

“I’m book smart, but I never said anything about street smart,” you fired back, making him chuckle.

“I’ll have to tutor you sometime,” he shrugged.

“If you could find time in your busy schedule, I would be so honored,” you pretended to swoon, his eyes narrowing but a smirk played on his plump lips.

“You wanna chill here the rest of the night?” he asked, his thumb rubbing circles absentmindedly on your hand. You gave him a soft smile and nodded, loving the atmosphere of the empty bar more than any packed party.

“On one condition,” he stated.

“Yeah?”

“You have to come to the rest of my soccer games this season,” he gave you a shy smile. 

“I wouldn’t dream of missing them.”

Something shifted in the expression on Calum’s face, and before you knew it, he was leaning in closer to you. Your eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his soft lips to yours, his hands coming up to hold your face. It was a soft kiss, nothing rushed or sensual about it, but it was perfect.

He pulled away, and if everything in the bar wasn’t already washed in a red glow, you would’ve sworn that his cheeks were tinted pink. You gave him a reassuring smile, leaning back to kiss his cheek as Mickie appeared from the back.

“Hey, Cal,” she greeted him, your eyes widening.

“What? He’s amazing at the piano, and a killer bassist,” she shrugs, making you giggle and Calum laugh. You made a mental note to ask when his next gig was so you could go to all of those as well.

You were typically a homebody, but with Calum, you could feel that all beginning to change. And you had no complaints, thankful for the cliché that seemed to work out in your favor just like in the books that lined the walls.

taglist: @rexorangecouny @flowerchild8341 @therainydays4

[soyoureviewhiphoptoo]

Soundtrack of the Week 29/06/2017

Here we are, back again. I’ve gotten quite a bit of positive feedback regarding the first SOTW segment from last week so I am glad to bring you more. We have got quite a few stuff to get through so for the second time, here is the Soundtrack of the Week (issa long one)

Vince Staples- Big Fish Theory  Released June 23, 2017 Label:  Def Jam Recordings, ARTium Recordings and Blacksmith Records

I said it last week, I was looking forward to the release of this album and I was ready to listen to it all week. But that was not the case and I shall expand.

Big Fish Theory is the second studio album by Long Beach M.C. Vince Staples. Known more for blunt honesty over dark raps beats, Staples goes off into the opposite direction for this album. This album is filled with EDM and Electronica instrumentation that has been mixed with the G-Funk sound. Staples puts himself in a new lane, setting himself aside from his fellow young rappers with this level of experimentation and risk-taking (I mean, a majority of new age rappers sound too similar in terms of beat selection and vocals. Very few of them experiment with their sound.) Vince Staples has put out an interesting LP that I would recommend people to listen to just to give a taste of a different hip-hop sound.

RATINGS

Concept: 3/5 Production: 4/5 Lyrical Content: 4/5 Flow and Delivery: 3.8/5 Repeatability: 4/5 Did I enjoy this project? Yes I did Songs to Recommend? Big Fish, Bagbak, 745, Yeah Right and Crabs In A Bucket

Final Rating: 3.8/5

Vince Staples- Big Fish The second single off this album, with Vince Staples, briefly talking about how far his life has come since finding major success as a rapper. The song features Juicy J on the hook which really brings the whole song together.

DJ Khaled- Grateful Released: June 23, 2017 Label:  We the Best Music Group and Epic Records

A baby that is not even a year old is not only the executive producer for one of the most anticipated albums of 2017 but has become a pop culture icon...isn’t that just wonderful?

Anyway, DJ Khaled released his tenth studio album this past week (10 albums! This was a shock to me, I’ll admit) and after listening to Major Key, the album he released last year, I decided to give this a listen. With the release of the singles Shining featuring Beyonce and Jay-Z, I’m the One featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne and To The Max featuring Drake...let’s just say my anticipation began to diminish. Beyonce was quite good on Shining but Jay-Z didn’t really blow me away with his verse (and you see as you scroll down why that is weird). The novelty of I’m the One wears off very quickly (and that is with me liking Quavo and Chano’s verses). Finally To the Max...oh my god. That song was so bad. The instrumental sounds like an accelerated clusterf*ck with Drake’s verses sounding like a poor man's Child’s Play, of the Views album (and I dislike that song already). Point blank...the song is TRASH.

Which is a shame because Asahd looks so cute on the cover art. He should've known better than to accept those Drake vocals. In fact, the song has actually disappeared from streaming services here in the UK.

Thankfully, the release of Wild Thoughts featuring Rhianna and Bryson Tiller (AKA, the song that will join the likes of Bad and Boujee and Magnolia as one of the most overplayed songs of this year), brought me back around. I love the song but I feel like I’ve heard it a million times already and it's only a couple weeks old. As for the album itself...it was interesting. The remaining 18 songs offer a strong mixture of urban styles, with a star-studded feature list. There were many songs that I loved from artists I do not usually latch onto. There were a few occasions where I thought certain hooks should have been done differently (Travis Scott and Future have the most features on this album and do a majority of the hooks. There were times I felt that they should’ve swapped positions on songs they were doing) and there were times I thought artists would have been great on other songs (For instance, one of my favourite songs, I Can’t Even Lie, features Future and Nicki Minaj but I felt that Big Sean would have had an amazing verse on there) but I suppose that is the effect of a Khaled album. All this considered, Grateful is a worth a listen and if you do listen, I definitely recommend to take the songs you like and run with them.

RATINGS

Concept: 2/5 Production: 3.8/5 Lyrical Content: 3/5 Flow and Delivery: 3/5 Repeatability: 3/5 Did I enjoy this project? I did in small parts Songs to Recommend? Wild Thoughts, I Can’t Even Lie, Major Bag Alert, Good Man, Billy Ocean, Iced Out My Arms and On Everything.

Final Rating: 2.9/5

DJ Khaled- On Everything Featuring Travis Scott, Rick Ross and Big Sean A good ole’ braggadocious rap song...you can’t really go wrong with that. Although, I did think Future would compliment this song better than Travis and everyone is reaching when it comes to Big Sean’s verse as they are assuming it is a Kendrick diss (When it probably wasn’t).

At the end of last week’s SOTV, I briefly mentioned the upcoming Jay-Z album that I am ecstatic about. Hov was one of the very first artists I was exposed to as a child and I gravitated toward him instantly. There was a period of time where I stopped listening to him (around the time Blueprint 3 came out and people loved talking about him being the leader of the Illuminati, which is stupid in hindsight) and I just wasn’t interested in him anymore. The release of Watch the Throne and Magna Carta...Holy Grail, however, brought me right on back. While those two albums were not acclaimed as his best work, they brought back the adoration I had for the man. So much so that I decided to listen to his older work. Needless to say, it was the best decision I ever made. So, the next two additions of this week’s SOTW are two of my favourite Jay-Z albums

Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt Released: June 25, 1996 Label:  Roc-A-Fella Records and Priority Records

This past Sunday was the 21st anniversary of Reasonable Doubt so I decided to put this on and give it a revisit. Like I said before, my birth year, 1996 was a year where many great rap albums came out. This is definitely one of them.

Filled with Mafioso rap themes, Jay-Z displays impressive lyrical dexterity while he speaks about street hustling, being a rapper and the lavish lifestyles that both can present. Hov literally oozes with confidence as he speaks on experiences with complete honesty. While there are others who try to stunt and pretend they live this particular lifestyle, Jay speaks on it in such a way that makes it clear that this was his life, that he had no choice but to deal drugs and yet it becomes ingrained into his lifestyle and he depends on this life...maybe even enjoys it. There are others who like to act like gangsta rappers but are not about that life, Jay-Z makes it sound authentic on Reasonable Doubt. 

What truly adds to the album is the production. No thrashing synths or deep basslines. Just a smooth jazz sound that compliments the mafioso lyrics. It almost leads me to believe that this would be the style of music Don Corleone would listen to in his office.

Here is a fun fact for you. On December 4, 2013, the day of his 44th birthday, Jay-Z released a ranking of all 12 of his studio albums on his website lifeandtimes.com. Guess which album was number 1? None other than Reasonable Doubt. It is very hard to disagree with the Jiggaman.

RATINGS

Concept: 5/5 Production: 4.5/5 Lyrical Content: 5/5 Flow and Delivery: 5/5 Repeatability: 4.5/5 Did I enjoy this project? I did...a lot Songs to Recommend? Can’t Knock The Hustle, Politics as Usual, Brooklyn’s Finest, Dead Presidents II, D’Evils, Can I Live, Friend or Foe and Cashmere Thoughts

Final Rating: 4.8/5

Jay-Z- Dead Presidents and Dead Presidents II  Two versions, Three verses each, One of the GOAT rap songs. That’s all I need to say

Jay-Z- The Blueprint Released: September 11, 2001 Label:  Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings

I will say this bluntly...there is not one bad song on this album. Top to bottom, The Blueprint is a perfect Jay-Z album. From the very first track, with trumpets blaring out, giving Jay a hero’s welcome as he proclaims that “The Ruler’s Back”. The second song on this album was Takeover, highly regarded one of the greatest diss tracks of all time and the song that really kicked off one of biggest rap feuds with fellow New York rapper, Nas. He has one of the most epic collaborations EVER with Eminem on Renegade (one of my favourite songs ever)...I could just fanboy over all 15 songs on this album.

While he is lyrically at the top of his game, finding ways to make you laugh, inflate your confidence and even make you feel emotional, this album is possibly is the best Jay project to listen to from a production standpoint. Thanks to the efforts of Kanye West, Just Blaze and (the seemingly underrated or underappreciated) Bink, The Blueprint delivers with memorable instrumentation that was groundbreaking at the time, bringing music sampling back into the mainstream. This is the album that helped solidify Just Blaze and Kanye West as great producers. Considering all the songs both men have produced...that’s a strong distinction. 

While Jay-Z himself said that The Blueprint comes in second place to Reasonable Doubt, I can say that I prefer The Blueprint. As cliche as this sounds, I listen to Reasonable Doubt and I FEEL The Blueprint. It’s a true debate figuring out which one is better. Either way, I say you should listen to both.

RATINGS

Concept: 4/5 Production: 5/5 Lyrical Content: 5/5 Flow and Delivery: 5/5 Repeatability: 5/5 Did I enjoy this project? More than you can believe Songs to Recommend? I think it is easier to just say “listen to the whole album”

Final Rating: 4.8/5

Jay-Z- Renegade Featuring Eminem I could have put Takeover, Heart of the City, The Ruler’s Back, Song Cry or any other song from this album but THIS is the one for me. Just four verses from two of the GOATs of Hip Hop. Their respective second verses are legendary.

So this has been my Soundtrack of the Week. While I did enjoy Grateful and Big Fish Theory, Jay-Z took over the week for me (see what I did there?). Listening to two of his very best albums puts me in high hopes for 4:44 which is being released tomorrow (June 30, 2017). I even registered for Tidal...that’s how much I want to listen to the album and how much I respect Jay. Interestingly, Calvin Harris is also releasing his album tomorrow and while I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to one of his albums, quite a few of the songs he’s released this year (like Slide Featuring Migos and Frank Ocean) have caught my interest. (Also Iggy Azalea is releasing an album...yeah, she still makes music)

Where will 4:44 rank among Jay’s discography?