Dodging Angels
Slide
Notes: This story is fairly similar to Dysfunctional, which is why I ultimately decided to go with Jennie so this didn't seem like you were reading the exact same story.
Rating: M (language)
Wrd Cnt: 1k+
Chapter Song: Slide by Calvin Harris, Migos, Frank Ocean
Summary: Jennie Kim is a Hip-hop artist that dropped out of highschool to help her mother with her little sister, Rachelle. She's only been in the game for a few years but is critically acclaimed. Her no nonsense and closed off attitude falters when she's forced to fake date uptight and picky superstar, Y/N.
Y/N, an all around successful R&B singer, is desperately looking for that one hit song that will top the charts and give her that Grammy and she won't stop until she gets it. That is until her label teams her up with three time Grammy nominated Hip-hop artist, Jennie Kim.
Jennie sat back in her desk chair with a sigh. She had recently ventured into helping produce her own music and now she gets why everyone told her not to.
It was grade A hard.
She frowned. She hadn't gotten to where she was now, because things were "hard". That simply wasn't the way she was raised. Daughter of immigrant parents, she always had to make sure she was on her grind.
"You're huffing and puffing is destroying the vibe of my jamming session." Jennie's bestfriend said from her seat on the couch in the studio.
Jennie rolled her eyes and spoke without facing the guitarist, "You're not even supposed to be in here, Lalisa. Don't you have a band to lead? Or groupies to fuck? Whatever it is you rockstar girls do..."
Jennie could practically feel the woman's infuriating smirk on the back of her neck.
"Would you believe me if I said I ran out of groupies to fuck?"
"Yes. Because in case you haven't noticed, you're a whore."
"Oh, Nini. You wound me. You're just mad that I get to sing about sex and actually partake in it at the same time." Lisa strums a particularly annoyingly good riff on her Lake Placid Blue Fender Stratocaster.
"I have sex." Jennie finally turned around and grumbled.
Lisa looked up from beneath the cloth hood of her leather jacket and laughed, "No you absolutely do not. Look, I get it. You're a rapper. It's your whole schtick. Fuck bitches. Get money. It's okay if you're a virgin, Jen Jen."
Jennie threw her pen at Lisa, who easily dodged it, "I'm not a virgin and you know that."
Lisa rolled her eyes. Of course she knew that. Her and Jennie had been friends since highschool. Way before they were ever famous. Jennie was the first person Lisa told about her first time. 15 minutes after it had occurred even.
"Look, all I'm saying is, if you talk about it, be about it. GO FUCK SOMEBODY. And maybe then, you'll stop being so frustrated all the time."
Jennie resorted to just ignoring the guitarist. She turned back toward the vast soundboard. She ran a hand through her long, raven hair. Releasing a breath, she pressed play.
She doesn't notice the door behind her open. Nor does she notice the look of surprise on the intruder's face. So, when her producer places a hand on her shoulder, she just about jumps out of her skin.
"What the fuck, Teddy?! Do you need a fucking bell or something?" Jennie placed a hand over her heart dramatically. She silently willed the rapid beating of the organ to slow.
Lisa could be heard chuckling to herself in the background.
The large man chuckled lowly in his throat. "Oops. Sorry, J. I thought you heard me come in." He sat down heavily in the nearest rolling chair.
"You know I didn't." Jennie rolled her eyes harshly. She proceeded to ignore the man not wanting to lose her train of thought.
"Is this the song you've been working on by yourself? It sounds pretty good. I'm surprised." He pressed play on the song again.
"Ah thanks for the vote of confidence. And it doesn't sound pretty good yet. It sounds okay. It still needs something." The brunette ran her hands down her face in exhaustion.
She had been working on this song for weeks now. This particular work session had started at six in the morning and lasted from then til seven in the evening with very minimal breaks. For at least five of those 12 hours, Jennie had been trying to work out the last thing this song really needed. Well, other than vocals.
"Did you ask Lisa?"
"I'll be damned if I have to give her anymore composing credits. Don't like the idea of her thinking that I value her input."
"I love you too, Jennie Kim!"
"Hmm. I think I see your problem. You mind if I give it a go?" Jennie gestured to the sound board with a flourish, "Be my guest."
Teddy only nodded.
Jennie watched as Teddy flitted around the studio. Practically prancing to different controls. It was amusing to see such a large man float like a butterfly in the small room.
Jennie pulled her phone out of her back pocket. She logged into Instagram. She quickly takes a boomerang shot of the room, making sure to mute the story even though Teddy had headphones on. She posted it with the caption 'Back at it again'.
She made sure to take a particularly unflattering picture of Lisa and post it also.
Teddy danced in his seat a little. After flipping one more control he smiled and passed the headphones to Jennie.
The woman didn't even get 30 seconds into the song before she took off the headphones, paused the playback, sat back into her chair with her legs crossed, and hands clamped together in her lap.
"There's something wrong with you."
Teddy let out a rumble of a laugh, "You like it?"
"Like it? Oof. You, my friend, are an evil genius. I think we've got a hit on our hands." Teddy continuously patted Jennie on the back excitedly.
"What the fuck, Teddy? What happened to me paying you off to give her a shit song?" Lisa groaned. Somehow, still playing her guitar.
They both ignored her.
"Hey, why'd you come in here in the first place? Don't you have other artists to work with? I mean, I know I'm your favorite but-"
"Oh don't flatter yourself, Kim. I'm on break right now and came to get you because Joel asked for you." Teddy explained nonchalantly.
"Joel asked for me and you're just now telling me? Jesus, Teddy. You know how he gets. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jennie grabs her belongings and practically sprints down the hall. Lisa taking it upon herself to follow her. She had nothing else to do all day anyway.
"...What do you mean 'We're are giving you a song to sing with a nobody'?"
"Actually, I didn't say 'A nobody'. I said Jennie Kim. I'm surprised you haven't heard of her. She's a three-time Grammy nominated artist, Y/N."
"Oh! Suddenly, I'm not that opposed. You should've led off with that, Irene. I would've agreed sooner." You smiled at your manager.
"Yeah, well it never mattered. This was the label's decision. You never really had a choice." Irene smiled back at her.
You pouted, "Wait. Did you say Grammy nominated? Hmm, nah. That simply won't work. I need Grammy winn-"
Irene rolled her eyes so hard she swore she saw the inside of her skull for a hot second, "And how many times have you been nominated, Y/N?"
"..Zero. Alright, touche. Fair point. I understand. Fine, I'll work with her, but I still don't like the idea of being forced to work with her." You uncrossed your arms and slouched.
"I know, Kiddo. Look at it this way, you might finally be able to get that recognition you deserve so much." Irene gave you a pat on the knee.
Boy, did that woman deserve a raise after working with your difficult ass, you thought. You knew you could be sort of a diva at times, mostly when it came to your career. Irene Bae was the only one in the whole managerial firm that could actually keep up with you. You were beyond grateful for her.
"Well it's great that we got that over with, because she should be here in like three seconds."
"Irene! What the hell? Why didn't you warn me? I look like...actually I look great. Nevermind." You sat back in your chair with a relaxed breath, admiring your well put together lazy look of crop top and sweat pants with plaid shirt tied around the waist.
"Sorry, Babe. They only told me this morning and the meeting had already been scheduled by then. Plus, you've been in the studio all day. I don't bother you in the studio." Irene explained only feeling a slight bit of remorse.
The door opens to reveal a tall man wearing an expertly tailored suit and a well-practiced smile. What looks to be this Jennie girl enters behind him, not dressed nearly as put together, but she didn't look like a bum either. Her face isn't nearly as friendly. And another woman slightly taller than Jennie, that looked vaguely familiar to you followed behind her.
"Hello, Ms. Bae, Ms. Y/LN. I'm Joel McIntyre, and this is my client, Jennie Kim, and her friend-slash-composer, Lisa Manoban. I believe we have a meeting to start." The five sit at the round conference table in the medium sized room.
You discreetly check out the woman across from you. She's cute despite the frowning thing she's got going on, you decide. And so is her friend.
You still aren't too keen on working with her, but at least she's easy on the eyes you supposed.
"Alright, let's get started, shall we?"
