' 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡 ' › D. SWING

18.

Once I dropped the news that La'Shawn was no longer in the group, Chonita and Radiah weren't too happy about it since it was their friend and Melissa was more concerned as to who we would be replacing her with.

Today, the girls were meeting Mary for the first time and I was excited since her sound would add something unique to the group. Sure she was a powerhouse but her vocal presentation was soulful and raw, unlike any other singer I've met since I've been in New York.

I had told K-Ci, JoJo, and Dalvin about the change but I have yet to tell Donald because I rarely saw him much anymore. He was always busy riding his motorcycle and spending time with some female he says he's dating. I haven't met her yet but apparently he was pretty in love with her since she was able to keep him away from work days at a time. Though I didn't know her, I already didn't like her. Not because she was dating my ex but simply because she was cutting into time we could've been using to work on the album. The guys hadn't even figured out a name for it and didn't feel right making decisions like that without Donald involved. So due to the fact that he was absent, I was actually beginning to work on a demo project for the girls. Me and Melissa had songs written and were now spending most of our time trying to come up with a beat to sing it to. It wasn't something I was used to—producing, that is.  But somebody had to do it.

Chonita and Radiah sat on the couch whispering amongst each other while I worked on the soundboard and Melissa sat beside me touching up on some lyrics.

"Hey, what's up? Hope I'm not late", a familiar voice said, causing me to turn around in my chair to see Mary heading toward me with a clear plastic backpack on her shoulder wearing a white and black crop top, black high-waisted jeans, and white adidas with black stripes. Her hair was styled and cut at shoulder length in a bright shade of blonde with some low-lights while round shades rested upon her face.

"Nah, girl. You're good. We're still working on the beat", I replied with a smile. I could tell she was nervous but I gave a reassuring look and continued, "Why don't you take a seat by me and Melissa?" She nodded and sat down in the empty chair on the other side of me, leaning forward to look past me at Melissa.

"What's up? I'm Mary."

Melissa smiled and nodded her head, holding up the peace sign, "Yo. My name's Melissa." I let them interact with each other while I got up to go to the piano beginning to play a song I had originally written for Donald in response to My Phone called Where Are You Now. I started to play the chords and singing.

"Love, my love
I regret the day you went away
I was too young to understand my
love
But now I realize my mistakes."

They all paused on what they were doing to listen and I hadn't even realized that's their eyes were on me.

"Where, where are you now?
Now that I'm ready to
Ready to love you the way you
loved me then.
Where are you now?
Do you still think of me?
Or does your heart belong to
someone else's?"

They all had fell in with harmonies, creating a sound that couldn't be fabricated.

Mary walked over to the piano, standing beside me as she read from the paper I had positioned in front of me, singing the second verse.

"Love, oh my love
Wonder sometimes were you just a
dream.
I sit in the dark
wondering if our paths
will ever cross again.
Oh Lord I need to know.
I sit and wonder."

The way she sung the lyrics with such pain brought back the emotions I had felt when I was writing it and I knew the other girls felt it, too. Mary had a gift. A gift to connect with everyone and make them feel what she sang.