' 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡 ' › D. SWING

11.

— DEVANTÈ.
| ' a week later. '

"Yo, run that back?", I requested as I stood in the booth with Rhonda and Dalvin sitting at the soundboard next to Uncle Charles while Derek and K-Ci stood behind them, watching me. Rhonda nodded over at Dalvin who did as I requested, allowing me to try it again since I had messed up previously. "Baby, won't you slide down... Make me make crazy sounds... Baby, come on get down... Let's do it all, let's do it all. Maybe then I'll slide down... Make you make crazy sounds. Baby, come on get down. Let's do it all, let's do it all ", I sang into the mic, sounding a lot better than last time. I nodded with approval, starting to take off the headphones but Rhonda spoke into the intercom, "Whoa, whoa. What are you doing? You still gotta' record the harmonies, D."

"Huh?", I asked, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. "I thought JoJo was gon' come in and do the high shit. What you—."

She shook her head, "JoJo's not here, D. And besides, this is your song and you barely get to be heard. Take advantage of this opportunity. This is your chance to prove that you have talent and you're not just some fill-in who produces for the group like people think you are."

"I don't know, Rho...My voice is deeper now. I'm down for doin' tenor and bass but... soprano? I just—", I began to say but she interrupted me.

Rolling her eyes, she leaned her mouth closer to the mic, "Nigga, put the damn headphones on." Removing her finger from the button to speak into the intercom, she said something to Dalvin and he nodded, Derek smiling brightly behind them and K-Ci frowning, mumbling to himself before the music began to play once again.

I sighed, putting the headphones on as she demanded, waiting for the proper time to come in before I sang in a higher octave, "Baby, won't you sli-." I began to cough from the strain and itch in my throat while cupping my fist over my mouth as I did so. I could see K-Ci and Dalvin laughing as they looked at me, Rhonda giving them a look from the corner of her eye and Derek trying his best not to join them. I kissed my teeth, shaking my head, "Yeah, this ain't gon' work. I can't go that high."

"Yes you can. Quit bullshitting and do it. Prove them and yourself wrong. Come on, D", Rho instructed as she pressed down on the intercom once again.

She just don't know when to quit. I huffed, waving her off and she played the track back and this time, I tried a bit harder. And nearly died.

"I don't think he can do this, Rhonda. You pushin' him a lil' too hard, don't you think? I mean, he just got back into the studio", Dalvin said to Rhonda as I snuck out of the booth to grab a bottle of water, gulping large amount of it down to soothe my burning throat.

Rhonda rolled my head, "And who's fault is that? His. His ass should've been here putting in work like the Donald we grew up with. Not this lazy ass DeVantè he's created. Ever since he changed his name it's like he changed, too. We gotta' instill that drive back into him and if that means pushing him too hard then that's what the hell I'm gonna' do, Dalvin."

"Damn. Usually I would be turned off by bossy women but this is actually quite sexy. You still up for that date?", K-Ci inquired, smirking over at Rhonda and I could feel a rush of heat flowing through my body as I glared at him, lowering the water bottle from my lips. Rhonda opened her mouth to speak but once her eyes had averted over to me, she closed it. K-Ci followed her gaze and released a laugh, shaking his head, "Ah, here we go. Don't even trip, D. I was just playin'."

A smile gradually revealed itself as I nodded my head, keeping my eyes on Rhonda, "Just playin'? Since when did y'all start playin' like that? This is new to me."