I stepped out of the recording booth and grabbed the water Ben handed to me. After taking huge gulps, I threw the empty bottle on him and went to collapse on the unoccupied space next to him on the couch. I was on a row with my constant visits to the studio since shit continued piling up on my mind recently and I had to let 'em all out into a few songs and guaranteed hits.

"Mane with the way you going, you 'bout to drop albums in a short period of time," Ben told me what I already knew.

"I know," I clenched my jaw as I strolled through some of the feeds from Theshaderoom about Jania and the goofy nigga she been hanging out with. "She bet not bring that thing near my son." I mumbled to myself as I continuously scrolled, but deep down I knew that wasn't my specific reason for being pissed.

I would chuckle dryly and zoom in to the picture that had the goof's hands all over her and the way her face seemed to light up, I couldn't help but think whether she was ever truly that happy with me and these thoughts only brought up anger and pent up frustrations to rise within me. Why the fuck did I still feel that way towards her.

Maeve's contact name blocked my view when her call came in and just like that I forgot what almost had me tight for a minute. "Hey Ken." I smiled at her meek ass tone.

"S'up Prof, you done studying for today?" I ran my hand over my face and relaxed more into the couch.

"Yes and I wanted to check up on you to know how you're doing, are you still at the studio?"

"I'm good, just got done recording my last song for the night 'boutta leave inna' minute."

"Oh okay, I figured you might be feeling stressed out and tired from all the extra time you've been spending at the studio lately and I, uh, I wanted to, um.." Maeve trailed off trying to find words to put together. I chuckled loudly and I bet her cheeks got red as a muhfucka when I did that. She continued, "Ken stop, but okay. Would you like to go somewhere or do something that can help take your mind off of what you're so stressed about. It's so obvious that you're not yourself and I wanna help."

I sighed deeply, "What tips you off mama."

"You've been a bit distant lately and I know it's not because of me since I did nothing but I feel your energy isn't the way it used to be but you don't have to be explanatory to me, I just wanna help with it." I knew she was right, I was indeed stressed with pent up emotions that I wasn't willing to express but rather channeled all of it into my songs and lyrics.

For those who knew me, they'd figure it was one of my phases again that I shut down for a while and they right but Maeve would be the first person to give enough fucks 'bout me to try and 'ease it' without even tryna' be sexual.

Sighing again, I replied, "Forreal you right. And I'm tryna' see you if I could tonight I would but I know you prolly' tired so let's fix it for tomorrow, pick you up at 4 how's that?"

"Yea I'm okay with that, I'll let you go now please try and eat something if you haven't. I'm sure your system must be filled with that nasty purple drink again with your words slurring a bit." I laughed at how she sounded referring to lean.

"A'ight I will, I still got leftover of the food you sent me days back I'm gon' be good, cuz I got you that's sure." I purposely made my voice lower at the end knowing how it gets her oblivious ass all bothered.

"O-Okay good night."

"Night mama." I hung up and soon my smile disappeared like it never came when my screen brought me back the media's news on Jania again. I powered the screen off and slipped it in my pocket before grabbing my jacket off the arm of the couch. "A'ight i'mma head out." I dapped up the producer, engineer and Ben as I exited the studio room.

I was about hopping into my car when Ben called out to me and I stopped and waited for him to approach. "S'up,"

"Say, i'on wanna make it seem like I'm nosy and all'at but you my nigga and I'on want you doing the wrong shit when you not thinking straight." I shut the door and leaned against the driver's side with my arms folded giving Ben maximum attention as he continued, "I'm gon' put this short I seen you going through NeNe updates on the Shaderoom and I know that look you had from a mile away, you still got feelings for her, I saw it but if you not sure on who you wanna be with just yet then don't fool Maeve bruh."

"You ain't never loved nobody like you did Jania in the past but y'all split for a reason cuz y'all ways ain't match. I seen how you change when Maeve got involved and I like her for you bruh, she's rare, don't lose her if you feelin' her already. NeNe moved on you should do the same with someone better. Just looking out for you." I nodded and we did our handshake and side hug.

"I needed that 'preciate it bruh."

"Anytime just think it all through, feel me?"

We exchanged a few more words before I got in my car and sped off heading to my next destination. Minutes later I pulled up in the driveway, switched the gear to park and hopped out. I rang the doorbell twice and she opened the door in only a shirt that I remembered all too well as mine and a confused face.

Smacking my teeth, I pushed her back inside and kicked the door shut behind me before roughly pulling her body against mine by her neck and slipped my tongue inside her mouth as my grip on her neck tightened, only loosened when she started hitting my chest to stop.

"What? You scared huh? Wasn't scared when you was posted up on the gram with that bitch earlier, were you?" I told her with taunt as the familiar look of fear overtook her expression. "If I ask you again I'm ripping your throat out, Jania. You wasn't scared right?"

She shook her head hesitantly and whimpered when I pushed her to the floor, unbuckling my belt and said, "Go on show me how much of a ho' you can be and if you wake up my son, I'm whooping yo' ass till the sun come up."

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