Brandon burst onto the private platform, his chest heaving as he gulped in air. He bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Elise's soft chuckle broke the silence. "Welcome back, superstar."
Brandon looked up, still panting. "I thought I'd never be able to escape the crowd."
Joyce's excitement was palpable as she bounded over to Brandon, her fist connecting with his arm in a playful punch.
"I never knew you could sing like that and that song omg, that was like the best song I've ever heard~ Ever."
Brandon winced, rubbing the spot where Joyce had hit him.
"So, we cool now?"
Joyce's gaze flicked to Elise, seeking her friend's approval.
Elise covered her mouth gracefully, another chuckle escaping her lips.
"You're forgiven, but never pull that stunt again."
Rising to his full height, Brandon flashed a smile.
"Did you like the song I wrote for you?"
'Ed, Stormzy forgive me~ But I ain't sorry! Wahahah~' he thought, feeling much less guilty than he should.
Elise's heart raced as she watched Brandon catch his breath.
His performance had left her reeling, emotions she'd long suppressed bubbling to the surface.
'Get it together,' she scolded herself, her inner voice as sharp as ice.
But as Brandon's eyes locked with hers, that ice began to melt, replaced by a familiar flutter in her chest.
She'd harbored these feelings for years, with Brandon too much of blockhead to notice.
Now, here he was, dedicating a song to her in front of everyone.
'It doesn't mean anything,' she reasoned.
'He's probably just trying to get back in everyone's good graces.'
Yet, a small part of her dared to hope.
The way he'd looked at her during the performance, the raw emotion in his voice – it felt so real.
Joyce, still buzzing with excitement, bounced on her toes and clapped her hands.
"Of course she loved it! We all did! Oh my god, Brandon, you're going to be a superstar!"
Her enthusiasm broke the tension, saving Elise from her awkward silence. Elise's cheeks flushed, grateful for the interruption.
Devon pushed past Joyce, his eyes wide with admiration.
"Yo, B!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with excitement.
"That was... that was... sick doesn't even begin to cover it, man! You're not just my idol now, you're like... you're like a rap GOD! Fo' real, fo' real!'"
He clasped his hands together, pleading.
"You gotta teach me to rap like that. And maybe write some songs for me? Please?"
Brandon chuckled, caught off guard by Devon's sudden change in attitude.
"Uh, thanks, Dev. I'll think about it."
Joyce rolled her eyes and shoved Devon aside.
"Oh, stop it. You're embarrassing yourself." She turned back to Brandon, her curiosity piqued. "So, what's the name of that amazing song? It's gonna be a hit, I just know it!"
Brandon's gaze flicked to Elise, a mischievous glint in his eye. He winked at her, causing her heart to skip a beat.
"The Shape of You," he replied, his voice low and smooth.
Elise's breath caught in her throat.
She struggled to maintain her composure, her usual cold demeanor slipping away under Brandon's intense gaze.
Brandon's gaze swept across the platform, suddenly realizing someone was missing.
"Speaking of the song, where's Pierre?"
As if on cue, Pierre burst onto the platform, chest heaving and hair disheveled.
" Huff~ Huff~ The crowds gone wild! I almost didn't make it out."
Brandon patted him on the back, grinning.
"You were an awesome MC out there, man."
"So, did you get a recording of the performance?" Brandon asked.
"Hah, you know me so well," Pierre chuckled, draping an arm over Brandon's shoulders. "I got a staff to record the whole thing!"
He fished out his phone, fingers flying across the screen.
A soft 'ding' sounded from Brandon's pocket.
He nodded, satisfied. "Is there a private room here where I can make a call in quiet?"
Pierre's brow furrowed.
"What for?"
"I need to get the song copyrighted ASAP," Brandon replied, his tone serious.
As Pierre directed him to a nearby cabin, memories flooded Brandon's mind. Countless times in his past life, he'd watched helplessly as his songs and lyrics were stolen, claimed by others who had more clout or connections.
The bitterness of those moments still stung, even in this new reality.
'Not this time,' Brandon thought, his jaw clenching so hard he could hear his teeth grind.
The ghosts of past betrayals and stolen songs swirled around him, fueling his determination.
'I won't be the voiceless genius in the shadows again. This is my second chance, my moment in the spotlight, and I'll be damned if I let anyone steal it from me.'
He could almost hear the echoes of arguments past, the frustration of fighting a losing battle against industry bigwigs who saw him as nothing more than a voiceless workhorse.
But now, things were different.
'This time, it's my turn to do the stealing Muahaha~!,' Brandon joked in his mind.
He stepped into the quiet cabin, his fingers pulling up his mother's number.
Ring… Ring…
The phone rang twice before Annie's warm voice filled the line.
"Hello, darling. Is everything alright?"
"Hey, Mom. Yeah, everything's great. I just sent you a clip of my latest performance. Did you get it?"
There was a brief pause, followed by the faint sound of a video playing in the background.
Brandon waited, his heart racing with anticipation.
"Oh, my goodness!" Annie's voice was a symphony of pride, excitement, and a hint of disbelief.
"Brandon, darling, that was... that was..."
She paused, searching for words grand enough to capture her feelings.
"That was absolutely incredible!"
"I had always hoped one of you kids would inherit my talent, but this... this is something else entirely."
Brandon couldn't help but smile at his mother's enthusiasm.
"Thanks, Mom. Listen, I need your help with something important."
"Of course, dear. What is it?"
"I need to get the two songs I've performed so far copyrighted. Can you help me with that?"
Annie's tone shifted to one of approval.
"I'm impressed dear. It's good to see you thinking ahead and protecting your work. You know, in this industry, you can never be too careful."
"Exactly," Brandon agreed, relieved that she understood.
"I don't want to take any chances."
"You're absolutely right, darling. I'll tell you what – I'll arrange for our record label to assist you going forward. They'll handle all the paperwork for your future works and make sure everything is properly registered and protected."
Brandon let out a sigh of relief. "That would be perfect, Mom. Thank you so much."
"It's my pleasure, dear. I'm just so proud of you for taking your music seriously and thinking about the business side of things too. Muahh!"