Nic Maraj - FUll.

            I remember it like it was just yesterday…I was walking down the street to the subway in Manhattan spitting a 16 to CJ, I had dreams of being a rapper someday. But, he never got to hear the rest because I got distracted by this girl who bumped into me. She seemed like she was in a rush running down the steps to catch the Q train to Flatbush. On the way she seemed to have dropped something that looked like a notebook. So, I picked it up and I ain’t really wanna look through it so I read the cover, it read: Nic Maraj. I was guessing that was her name. I then tried running after her. I looked around the platform and saw her rushing onto the train, so I darted in there after her. I looked around and there wasn’t a seat in sight. Good thing the next stop she didn’t get off I looked around the subway and found her, I stood in front of her and she looked up at me with the rudest expression on her face. Then she spoke:

“What do you want?” She said looking up at me then looking back down.

“You dropped something outside…” I replied, she started going through all her stuff searching for what I had.

“Give it back.” She simply stated in a tone neither nice nor rude.

“Ouch…I’d be nice to someone who had something of yours that’s been nothing but nice to you…”

“I don’t even know you…so give me my book back and we can get on with our lives” I didn’t want this to be the last time I saw her so the train stopped at the next stop, I slipped her my number and ran off just in time for the door to close. I called up CJ and let him know what just went down, I left him in Manhattan and I was now one stop before Flatbush. I hopped right back on the Manhattan bound train to get him.

            I remember getting a call as soon as I got home so I figured this little book was important, I still hadn’t opened it yet. Our conversation was pretty straight forward:

“It’s the girl from the train, I need my book and I’d like it ASAP please”

“Can I get your name first”

“My name is Onika but everyone calls me Nicki, anything else?”

“Well, my name is Aubrey but I go by Drake, thanks for asking.”

“Isn’t that a girl’s name…?”

“No, it’s unisex thank you. But here’s how you’ll get your book back”

“Black mail? Oh wow, what are we 14?”

“Why are you so angry, what’s so important about this book?”

“If you MUST know Aubrey, it’s my raps”

“You write and rap? Wow, so do I. We’ve got something in common”

We were in silence for quite a while when she spoke again...

“So…what do you want from me? A quick hit? Cause I’m not like that. Money? Don’t have much of that”

“It’s not even like that…I wanna get to you know, know you better…”

“For what, I’m nothing special at all really, my life is in shambles, it’s always been in shambles”

“Can we…can we just talk? Hang out somewhere? Then I’ll give you your book back”

“Fine…times, place, when and where?”

“…I don’t know, we can go to wherever you’d feel most comfortable”

“Do you like west Indian foods…?”

“If you do, I do. We’ll meet on the subway at the stop?”

“It’s a spot I go to in Queens, just get off the train at the stop I’ll be outside”

“When are we doing this?”

“Tomorrow…I don’t have to work so we’ll do it tomorrow”

“So…we walking to this place?”

“No, I have a car we’ll take. See you then Aubrey.” *click*

I called her back, she hadn’t told me the time and she called me Aubrey, I figured on purpose.

“Yes, Drake?” – I guess not.

“You didn’t say a time…”

“7:00 get on the subway to Queens, be outside around 8”

“Oh…okay”

            I was looking forward to seeing her…she seemed like my ideal type of girl…I don’t know how that was possible without me even knowing her yet. But I wanted to get to know her and keep getting to know her…

The Next Day.

            I got off the subway and walked up the steps with her book in hand. I hadn’t read it yet, I was holding off. I’d get her to show me what was in the book tonight. Surprisingly, she greeted me as I walked over to her car.

“Get in” she said…so maybe it wasn’t the warmest greeting but at least she spoke.

“Hi to you too” I replied looking over at her. She had on bamboo earrings and black straight hair with a snap back on. She was wearing a tight fitted t-shirt and I couldn’t help but direct my attention to her plump…breast. I worked my eyes down to her ripped blue jeans then to her air maxes on her feet. When I looked up she was staring at me.

“What are you looking at…?” She started laughing, the cutest laugh I’ve ever heard…she seemed to be warming up.

“You’re gorgeous…” I said looking into her eyes, which soon pulled me into a stare.

“Uh…um, thank you” She said smiling and starting the car up…

“You’re welcome…”

‘Well…we should get going?” she said driving off.

            Once we arrived at the food place we went inside and ordered, we had to wait about 10mins for everything to get prepared then we took it to her house in the South-Side of Queens.

            Nicki flicked on the lights of a very tiny apartment fit for just her, paintings scattered around, A.C. blasting she kicked off her shoes and threw her keys on the table. I wasn’t expecting to come to her house but I didn’t complain. She went back into what I guess was her room for a second and came out changed. She had her hair up in a ponytail and pajama pants along with a white t shirt, she didn’t seem to be wearing a bra because I could see her…never mind. She plopped down on the couch I had sat on next to me and grabbed her food and dug in. So I did the same. The girl could eat! She was beginning to be more and more perfect…

            She finished eating and ran to grab a napkin she handed me one wiped her mouth and put her leftovers in her fridge.

“So…what exactly do you wanna talk about?”

“I just wanna get to know you better…I don’t have very many female friends and I like something about you…” I started the conversation and we sat there and talked about each other for hours. I almost forgot I actually came to give her the book.

“So…let’s talk about this” I said pulling the book out of this bag I was carrying.

“Geez, what about it?” She asked.

“What’s in it?” I asked. She just shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s…it’s my book of raps…I write…I already told you that” she said.

“So, you rap and you write your own stuff?” I said still holding the book, I was afraid that she’d take it away if I gave it back to her, and kick me out.

“Let me see, she said holding her hand out for the book” I stared at her and  I think she got what I was trying to say by doing that because she gave me a glare
.

“I’m not gonna take it and kick you out Aubrey.” So I handed her the book and she started spitting stuff to me.

“They call me Nicholas

Style defined as ridiculous

I beg your pardon, meet me at the Garden

#1 draft, I'm New York's pick

& I don't lose like them dudes

On the New York Knicks

(Check it)

I'm overseas rockin' hella capris

I'm in the West Indies eatin' delicacies

I tell 'em, they want Kane like Erica? Please

Brotha your money young like that nigga Jeezy

These broke rappers always rappin' bout a pink truck

I'm only happy when I'm hoppin' out the Brinks truck

And I don't need a 16, I got a sentence

I goes in on a fucker like an entrance

These old bitches better change they dentures

When I get in the game they gon' play the benches

Fuck your friendship, pay attention

Bitch get at me, I'mma pay my henchmen”

            I was in awe…my dream girl was sitting right across from me. I was just staring, she stopped.

“I’ve…I’ve got 2 more verses for that one I’m working on it though…”

“That was dope as fuck Nicki” She started blushing.

“Spit me something…” Oh shit, I was pretty good with freestyles but I wanted it to be perfect like hers.

“Freestyle?” I asked hoping she’d say no.

“No…since I didn’t do a freestyle…you got something written down?” I reached in my back pocket and found the piece of paper I had been writing for a while. It never let my jean pocket while it was in the wash or the dryer so I don’t know what the hell the words looked like, but I pulled it out and started.

“Lately I don't know about the friends that I hang with

I'm nervous round my boys, it depends on their anguish

Depends on if they saving all the tops on pepsi

With dreams of seeing girls topless on jet skis

Depends on what they do to achieve that

Robbing r&b singers, 'specially if they know where the keys at

'specially if they know where they girl live

Get the info, leave with ya money man, thats how the world is

Thats how niggas puttin they dirt down

Streets are seedy I call em sesame

Its earnie and bert's town

'specially when these young'ns get turned down for work opportunities

Next week same place'll get burnt down

Coincidink? not likely not a chance

How can we be so aware of these problems and not advance?

At least start put a bid in, its hard just to fit in

A lot of people only play they part when they spittin

But I don't think that they understood

They using this darkness for penetration in the hood

I took the ivory way in and yes I'm glad that keenan could

Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good good good”

“Whoa…that’s dope I guess” she smirked, hinting that she thought hers was better.

“I really like hanging out with you Nicki…” I started.

“This is our first time…but yeah, you’re cool and turned out not to be a freaking creep.” She smiled; she had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

“Well…I better get going”

“It’s 11:00 at night Drake…”

“Well…I’ma a big boy, I’ll be fine Nicki, thanks though”

“That’s not why I said it…but you’re more than welcome to stay until morning…”

“Okay…if, if you’re comfortable” I said being sure.

“It’s fine, I’ll get you some blankets then I’m going to bed…we can do more spitting in the morning…” She brought the blankets out and I laid there on her couch. Never would I have thought this would be happening…she warmed up so quickly, we had a connection already and I was confused as to how but I liked it.

 --------

            When I woke up Nicki was in her kitchen cooking breakfast and blasting reggae. I walked into the kitchen and saw her dancing while flipping bacon. She didn’t notice me there but when she looked up and saw me she smiled.

“Sorry, I loveeeeee reggae” she said putting bacon on the two plates sitting before her.

“Same here…” I said sitting at her kitchen table which only consisted of 2 chairs so I guess she didn’t have people over for meals often. I looked at the table and her book of raps lie there, so I picked it up and started looking through it, she glared at me but didn’t stop me.

“Why must you be so nosey?” She asked before grabbing the plates and sitting mine before me and sitting down and pulling hers closer to her.

            I looked all the way to the front and looked at her first couple of raps, I went to page 4 and laid it down and started reading it she glanced over and looked at what I was reading her eyes grew wide.

“Is this a bad one…or?” I asked. She shook her head yes.

“It’s just reallllllllly bad; it was one of my first so yeah…” she said taking a bite of her eggs.

            I read it out loud:

“I must confess,

I love you like dudes love breasts

They just mad ‘cause when I choose, I choose the best

I never settle for less,

I must say you got impeccable taste

Flossy, bossy, got a hell of a face

And you? You take the cake

The sex is insane

that’s why I take the pain

And when we finish, watch some Major Payne

With stupid as Damon Wayans

Who in love like us?

That’s why I get out the coupe

And squeeze like 2

Niggas disrespect again

I’ll breathe back through

You know I can’t control my temper

Get buck for you

Fuck with who? Nigga I fucks with you…”

           

“Okay…okay stop reading I hate that rap.” She started giggling and hiding her face in embarrassment.

“This isn’t bad for it being your first attempt to be like ‘hey, I’m gonna do this’ It’s really not…” I reassured her before taking her hands from her face and staring into her eyes once again, wondering if I should make the move…I did it, I kissed her lips and pulled away she broke into a smile.

“I…I think I’ll wash the dishes really quick…get in the shower and all that and I can drive you to the subway…” she said before hoping up and taking our plates to the sink.

“Oh…okay, sounds good, I’ll just be over here” I said pointing to the living room before heading back over there. 10mins later Nicki was walking into her room and walking back out with a towel and into her bathroom.

            15 mins later Nicki was walking into her bedroom wrapped in the pink towel she carried in her hand out of her room prior to her shower. She smiled at me and locked her door. 10mins later she walked out of her bedroom in some khaki colored pants and a tank top and the same bamboos from yesterday.

“Ready to go Drizz?” she asked me, I was confused by the name but I didn’t say anything, but she could tell by my face.

“Oh…yeah I’m gonna call you that now, it’s short for Drizzy…I’ll tell you why that’s your nickname in the near future”

So that meant we would see each other again. I didn’t wanna burst with excitement too soon so I just smiled and spoke:

“I’ll be looking forward to that…”

            Once we were at the subway station she walked me down the steps and stood behind the entrance.

“Hope this won’t be the last I see of you Nic Maraj” she smirked at me using the name she used as her rapping name.

“We’ve got eachother’s numbers…I’m sure you won’t leave me alone” she joked.

“You got mad jokes on the other side Nic!” I shouted to her she smiled.

“What…ever Drake” she said before turning around and starting to walk away. But I shouted after her.

“Hey! I’m serious, I’d love to see or hear from you again…”

“It won’t be…talk to you soon”

---------

            CJ, Noah and I sat my mom’s basement playing video games when I received a call. It had been a week since I was at Nicki’s. I was happy to hear from her, I wasn’t planning on calling her so soon because I didn’t wanna seem clingy. I excused himself and walked into my bedroom.

“Hello?” Nicki’s voice chimed through the phone.

“Hey, good hearing from you…”

“Yeah…I thought you would’ve called me by now” she giggled.

“I didn’t wanna seem…ya know, clingy” I smiled, knowing she couldn’t see it.

“So…what’s up?” She asked changing the subject.

“Not much, at my place with my friends…” I hadn’t told Nicki much about myself well, I told her enough but I left out a lot of major details like the fact that I lived in Toronto…in my mother’s basement.

“Let’s hangout sometime soon!” Great…guess now would be a good time to tell her I was only in NY for that week for my father’s show…

“Nicki…I have something I should probably tell you…” I trailed off.

“What is it?” she asked hesitantly.

“I don’t live in New York…I live in Canada and I was only there for a week while my father was there doing a couple shows then he flew me back here and…” I started before getting cut off.

“So…you don’t live here but you made an effort to get to know me before you up and leave?” She asked sternly.

“It’s not like we’ll never see each other again Nicki…”

“How am I supposed to get up to Toronto to see you? How are you supposed to get down here to NY to see me?”

“Nicki…I really don’t wanna lose you…we were beginning to be such great friends…and I just, I’ll figure something out…we’ll see each other again”

“Oh, whatever Drake, better hurry up because you’ve kinda just lost me” she said before hanging up the phone.

Nicki

            Drake and I were starting such a great friendship…I looked at him as like a little brother since he was a tad younger than I was…but that nigga just decided to leave out a major detail…WE’D ONLY BE FRIENDS FOR A WEEK! I mean maybe I’m over exaggerating…we could still be friends but that’d be a week ass friendship. I don’t even have a fucking passport yet to get to Canada so how does he expect this to happen properly.

“Nicki open up, it’s Candice” I walked over to my front door and opened it
.

“What’s up Candi?” I asked her acting like there wasn’t bullshit racking my brain.

“What’s wrong?” She asked always knowing when I had stuff on my mind.

“Nothing…I asked you what’s up, so what’s up?”

“I’m good…you seem like you’ve got shit on your mind so spill.” She said plopping down on my couch.

“Nothing…well, okay, you know that boy I met, Drake? Well turns out he wasn’t here for like good he lives in Canada…”

“You mean the boy who eased his way into that book that you never let anyone else see?” she said squinting.

“Well…yeah him, he said he’d fly here and I’d fly there every once in a while, but he’s doing way too much for a friendship…”

“Maybe he likes you Nic…” she said smiling.

“No, stop I doubt it…I mean I’m not spending money on flights to Canada to see a “friend” that I barely even know much about…”

“It could be a good experience…”

“I don’t have the M O N E Y, Red Lobster waitressing only pays but so much…I’ll pass. I’ll just focus on jump starting my raping career, because that’s…that’s what I wanna do”

------

3 Years Later

“Now Nic, I really want you to consider signing this thing, I’d love to have you in the group and on the label…” Lil Wayne said handing Nicki a contract in a folder that was labeled YMCMB in red letters. The two walked onto Wayne’s tour bus from his show on his I Am Music Tour and headed to the hotel.

“I will Wayne…just give me some time, I’d be honored to be in the group but I wanna think a little…”

“You might as well sign the shit now…you already rep us like you wit us forreal”

“Oh shutup” Nicki said pushing Wayne and having a seat next to Mack Maine.

“Hey Mack” Nicki said smiling up at him.

“Fuck you smiling for Barbie?” Mack said laughing.

“Y’all niggas stay playing with me…” Nicki said crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

“Like you playing with that contract and not signing the shit?” Mack said laughing again.

“You know what…when are we gonna be at this hotel Wayne?”

“Like another five minutes, I’on fuckin know” He said taking a sip from his Styrofoam cup and laughing.

            When they reached the hotel Nicki grabbed her bag and headed inside to the front desk where Wayne handed out keys to everyone. He told them at tomorrow’s show a guy by the name of Drake would be joining them; he was getting stuff in place first. He also told them another little boy a little older than Lil Chuckee would be in the group too, just not participating on the tour by the name of Lil Twist. Nicki got a room alone and Chuckee roomed with a guy by the name of Tyga.

“Well, I don’t know about you niggas but I’m tired Nicki said waving off and heading for the elevator” She was tired and also kind of worried. She hadn’t heard the name Drake in years…since she had stopped contacting him all together. She headed up to her room, bathed and laid in bed.

----------

“Morning team” Wayne’s raspy voice projected in the bus as they all gathered in in destination for their next tour stop. Drake would be joining them before the headed off onto the highway.

“Morning” They all said in unison. Just as the all spoke and Wayne took his attention off them there was a knock at the door, all the voices quieted. Nicki’s heart started beating faster and faster. What if that’s Drake? How will he react when he sees me? How will I react when I see him? How is this all gonna work out smoothly? What if he hates my guts? What if he doesn’t even remember who I am? Questions began flooding her mind.

            Nicki glanced down at her blackberry and texted her best friend Safaree to distract her from what was going on before her. Just as she glanced up she heard the door open and Drake walked through, immediately locking a stare upon her.

“Nicki?” he shouted. “Shit” Nicki said under her breath.

“Nicki Maraj?” Drake said saying her name again before stepping closer to her. By now the whole bus was interested in what was going to take place.

“Hi…um, hi Drake” Nicki spoke shockingly.

“Wow…thought I’d never see you again…considering you cut me off completely…”

“We…we don’t have to talk about this right now, I’d rather not talk about this right now…”

“Aight…aight….” Drake said before walking back to the back of the bus to set his bags down.

“Wait…who the hell is Nicki Maraj? I coulda swore Wayne told us your name was Nicki MINAJ” Chuckee spoke matter-of-factly. Mack smacked him upside his head.

“MACK!” Nicki shouted when she saw him.

“It’s alright…my real name is Onika Maraj aka Nicki Maraj. I’ve already told you guys this…I changed my rapping name to Minaj to catch attention a few years back…” Nicki explained.

“I just thought you liked girls or some shit” Chuckee said shrugging and getting smacked again by Mack. Streetz and Tyga broke out in laughter. Wayne was speaking with Drake in the back.

“Yo…how you know Nic?” He asked.

“I was in NY with my dad a few years back…I ran into her and I made and effort to you know, be her friend or whatever. But I ended up leaving and heading back to T-Dot and I didn’t tell her nor did I tell her that I didn’t live in New York…she didn’t take it well because I made such an effort to be her friend then I up and left”

“That’s some complicated shit…y’all gotta find time to talk that out, don’t want it to affect anyone you know…” Wayne said.

“Yeah…I understand…nice seeing you again though” Drake said dapping and hugging Wayne.

“Yeah same…let’s get this motherfucker moving though, niggas got a show to get to tomorrow in my hometown!” Wayne shouted walking to the front of the bus. Drake followed behind him shortly and sat next to Gudda who was a human wall between him and Nicki who was talking to Gudda as Drake arrived next to them.

“Yo…y’all could be brothers and sisters, you know that?” Jae called from the other side of the bus at Gudda and Nicki.

“Oh word?” Nicki said looking at Millz than back at Gudda. Staring him in the face examining the features, then Gudda spoke. “Yo, we twins or some shit Nic.”

“I’ve always wanted a twin brother” Nicki joked. Drake laughed which let everyone know he was there. So, Streetz spoke up.

“Yo, yellow skin. What’s good with you and Barbie?” Drake seemed to be disturbed a little by the question. He sat there for a second.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“Yeah, what do you mean?” Nicki said chiming in.

“Y’all little whatever it was earlier when Drizzy walked on the bus” Nicki smiled at the name Drizzy. She gave me a while ago…he actually kept it a consistent name.

“See girly over there smiling” Mack said.

“I’m not smiling because anything happened between us because nothing did and if something did it wouldn’t be your business anyways now would it be?” Nicki said getting smart and smiling.

“Y’all hella nosey, if you must know Nic and I were friends a while back. She cut me off though”

“I did not fucking cut you off! You didn’t tell me you lived all the way in Toronto before making and effort to get close to me.”

“I didn’t think it was a big detail in the beginning Nicki…”

“Oh…ya didn’t Drake?” Nicki said getting irritated.

“We have many ways to keep in touch when we’re long distance”

“We aren’t in a freaking relationship! Why should I?”

“Well if you were so mad about us not being friends you should’ve kept in touch!” Drake barked.

“Oh, what the fuck ever Drake, you could’ve UGHHH” Nicki said before getting up and walking off the bus. Luckily they were at a rest stop. She walked outside and called TT, one of her best friends.

“What’s up Nic?” Tyesha’s voice boomed through the phone.

“I don’t…I don’t know…” Nicki said before she began speaking fast and ranting into the phone.

“Onika…hold up…what’s going on?” Tyesha said.

“So, you know how I’m on tour with Lil Wayne and Young Money or whatever? Guess who is here?” Nicki started.

“Drake is here! Like of all the places in the world how did he end up with me?”

“Drake, Drake? Ya boo thing from a few years back, Drake?” Tyesha asked
 shockingly.

“Yeah…and he’s wasn’t nor will he ever be my ‘boo thing’” Nicki said.

“Well…you guys need to go talk that stuff out cause you had a good friendship…too good to let go” Tyesha said.

“You’re so good at telling me the truth when it’s not what I wanna hear…”

“Love you Nic” Tyesha laughed.

“Love you too, bye” Nicki said.

            Nicki walked back onto the bus and grabbed her salad out of the fridge and sat down in the booth that was accompanied by a table. Little did she know all eyes were on her.

“What…” she spoke taking a forkful of lettuce to the mouth.

“Nothing…nothing” The boys said going back to what they were previously doing.

“Right…” Nicki said looking up and locking eyes with Drake.

-------

            The team shortly arrived at the W hotel in New Orleans where they’d stay for the night until the show the next day. Wayne’s manager headed to the front desk and got the room keys, he brought them back out and handed them out to everyone. Everyone got their own room except Chuckee who had to room with Drake this time and Shanell who roomed with Nicki this time. They headed inside the hotel and up to their rooms, each were on the same floor which made things easier.

            Nicki and Shanell were on their way to their room. They reached the door and Nicki slid in the key and turned the knob she sat her things down and plopped on the bed. Shanell turned on the TV and they started getting settled.

Shanell was heading to take a shower and asked Nicki something.

“Hey, Nic, do you mind going to get some ice from the machine while I shower?” she asked.

“No, of course” Nicki grabbed the ice container and headed out the door grabbing a key.

            Nicki was walking down the hallway when she turned the corner for the ice machine and saw Drake walking out of his room. He saw her too and started walking towards her.

“Oh great.” Nicki said to herself and attempted to turn around but Drake grabbed her arm.

“Nicki wait…” He started.

“What Drake?” Nicki asked.

“Can we just talk? Come here.” Drake said pulling Nicki gently into a near housekeeping closet. He turned on the light and locked the door.

“What do you want, what do we possibly need to talk about?” Nicki asked rudely.

“Us…” Drake started, looking into her eyes.

“What do you mean US? There is no “US”, we were friends. Not all friendships work out, what do we need to talk about?” Nicki asked irritated.

“We didn’t end on good terms…I want us to be cool since we’ll be label mates…I think we can be good friends again, ya know? I really didn’t think I’d hurt you by leaving back then.” Drake said.

“Go on…”

“Uh…and you didn’t seem like you were into the same thing I wanted out of the relationship so I didn’t think it’d matter to you if I left and didn’t tell you, or if I told you I lived in Toronto…”

“What do you mean the same things out of the ‘relationship’? Sex? I thought I told you, you’d never get that from me” Nicki said crossing her arms across her chest.

“No…no…no, definitely not that. Ugh, I didn’t wanna say this but, I wanted to be with you girl…ever since I first laid eyes on you. That’s why I made such an effort to be friends…” Drake said being more and more vulnerable by the second.

“What bullshit that is Drake.” Nicki said trying to walk out of the closet.

“But I’m telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Please, I don’t wanna lose you again. I mean we don’t have to be a couple I get that, I don’t mind but…I at least wanna be on good terms…I don’t wanna work with someone that doesn’t want anything to do with me, it’s be awkward. I’m sorry for everything.” Drake said.

Nicki let down her guard and stopped being so stubborn and spoke. “Okay Drake, I forgive you. And yes, we can be friends.”

“Seriously?” Drake beamed.

“Yes…now goodnight” Nicki said turning to leave the closet. Drake sat that for a while thinking. She doesn’t wanna be with me but she’ll be friends…this is a good start.