Short Story: Backstage Pass {Part 1}

“I’m going home,” Nicki tried to walk out of the room but Maya stepped in front of the door. She eyed Nicki and tried to hold in her laugh.

“I don’t know why you’re so nervous. We’ve been practicing weeks for this,” she shook her head. Nicki tried to breathe in and out but failed horribly.

“It’s out first live TV performance. I know I’m gonna mess up,” she groaned as she sat on the couch in their dressing room. Emery walked in the room and sighed when she saw Nicki.

“I know your ass ain’t scared. You are not about to back out of this. It’s our first live TV performance, not to mention that it’s the BET awards. I’ve spent years in front of my TV making fun of people who mess up. We are not about to be that group,” she pulled Nicki up.

“But there are so many celebrities and we’re opening the award show. Do you know how nerve racking that is? I just graduated high school a couple of months ago and now I’m opening an award show,” she took a few deep breaths and calmed down a bit.

“You’re the baby of the group. I’ve been out of high school for three years and Emery has for two. I know it’s a lot to take in but calm down,” Maya told Nicki just as they heard a knock.

“We’re ready for you,” someone said from the door.

“You ready?” Emery eyed Nicki.

“Born ready,” she put on her signature smirk and walked out of the dressing room. Drake took a few more pictures before walking in the building.

“I hate the red carpet man,” he groaned before walking to his seat.

“You’ve been saying that for the past five years,” Noah shook his head at him. They go through the same routine at every award show. Drake only shows up to the shows that he wants to and tonight he’s nominated six times for his sixth album.

“Who’s opening?” He eyed the stage.

“A new girl group called Music’s Trinity,” he informed him. Drake scrunched up his face at the answer. Since when are girl groups back?

“You know if they’re good or not?” He asked Noah.

“They call them the sexiest group since Destiny’s Child,” Noah smirked as the lights dimmed. There was a bunch of smoke before a girl popped up. Her name flashed on the screen in the back and it said Maya. Another girl popped up and it said Emery. The last girl popped up and she got the most cheers. Drake couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Her name flashed and it said Nicki. They nailed their performance and had everyone on their feet the whole time. Drake wished that their performance lasted longer just so he could stare at Nicki.

“I’m bout to head backstage to get ready,” he told Noah.

“You’re leaving ten minutes early. I know you tryna holla at shorty,” he smirked.

“Man shut up,” Drake shook his head with a smile before heading backstage. He decided to stop by Music’s Trinity’s dressing room just to congratulate them. He knocked on the door and Maya answered. Her eyes went wide as she stared at Drake in shock.

“You’re Drake,” she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Yeah I am last time I checked,” he chuckled at her.

“Um come in,” she quickly moved aside and let him in. He looked around but didn’t spot Nicki. “Oh I’m Maya, that’s Emery, and the one back there on the phone is Nicki,” she pointed to them. Drake looked over to the couch and saw Nicki on the couch talking on her phone. She glanced over at him before responding to whoever she was talking to.

“You girls did amazing. I haven’t seen a group that good since Destiny’s Child,” he understood why they opened the show. They were truly a talented group.

“Wow, that’s an amazing compliment coming from you,” Maya couldn’t snap out of her state of shock.

“Excuse her, she does this with any big celebrity,” Emery cut in for her. Nicki hung up and stood before sliding her phone in her back pocket. She walked over and smiled at Drake.

“Hi I’m Nicki,” she extended her hand.

“I’m Drake,” he shook her hand while she smirked slightly.

“I know who you are,” she let out a small giggle.

“I was just telling your girls that you guys were amazing,” he couldn’t believe how beautiful she was.

“Aw that’s so sweet, thank you,” she loved compliments from artist that she admired. It just shows that the hard work paid off.

“Well I’m about to go get ready to perform but I wish you all the best tonight with your awards,” he glanced one more time at Nicki and she still wore that smirk. Once he left, Maya went off.

“Oh my god! Nicki he was so into you,” she exclaimed.

“I think you’re just seeing things,” Nicki brushed it off as they changed into their dresses. They went back into the audience just in time to see Drake perform. Nicki always enjoyed his music and respected his humble personality. Then it came the moment that Music Trinity was waiting for; the group category. They had some tough competition and Nicki had it set in her mind that they wouldn’t win. Drake and Kelly Rowland walked onstage to present the award.

“This is my favorite category because I started in a group. This year we have some amazing girl and boy groups,” she said. The nominees were rolling as Maya and Emery grabbed Nicki’s hands. Her heart started beating faster as Drake opened the envelope.

“And the winner is……Music’s Trinity!” He announced. They all shot up and hugged each other before walking on stage. Nicki hugged Kelly and then Drake. “I knew y’all would win,” he whispered in her ear and passed her the award. She shot him a smirk before walking up to the mic. Nicki lost a bet that they made if they won and got stuck talking.

“Hi, wow. This is our first award ever and it makes it better that it’s BET. We would like to thank everyone who made this possible and our fans. We thank god for this moment because this is amazing. Thank you so much,” she smiled before they walked backstage. “How’d you know we would win?” She turned to Drake.

“After your performance, they would be dumb if they didn’t pick you guys,” he complimented them once again.

“Thank you,” she eyed him one last time before walking away with her group. She was grateful for this wonderful night and felt like she was living a dream.

~~~

“Hello?” Nicki called out through the house. Nicki thought it was about time to pay her family a visit since she hasn’t been home in three weeks. “Daddy!” She smiled once she saw her father and he wrapped her in a hug.

“Hey baby girl,” he kissed her head before letting go. She looked towards the stairs and saw her fifteen year old brother, Drew.

“Wassup Nic,” he walked over and hugged her before her mom rushed out and hugged her.

“Okay, I know I haven’t been home in a while but it’s not like it’s been years. It hasn’t even been a month,” she joked before they all went and sat around in the living room.

“So how does it feel to win an award?” Drew looked at her. She let out a wide smile just at the memory of last night.

“It feels amazing. Last night still feels like a dream and I can’t believe that we won,” she beamed. She noticed her dad not smiling and she scrunched up her face. “What’s wrong?” He was usually happy for her so what changed?

“Who was that guy that was with Kelly?” He questioned. Nicki thought back to what he was saying and a light bulb went off in her head.

“Oh that’s Drake,” she spoke.

“He’s like the best rapper out there right now,” Drew nodded before grabbing the remote to flip the channel.

“He hugged you longer than the other girls,” her dad wouldn’t let it go. He was very protective over Nicki because she was the only girl and for some other personal reasons.

“He just told me that he knew that we would win,” she shrugged it off. She thought he was sweet but obviously her dad automatically thinks the worst in guys.

“Aye, this is him Dad,” Drew pointed to the TV as one of Drake’s videos popped up. Nicki groaned because he couldn’t have picked a worst video.

“A guy like that hugged you for that long?” Her dad got angrier.

“Dad please stop. I just met him last night and I doubt I’ll ever see him again,” she pleaded.

“Alright,” he would let it go for now. Nicki wasn’t the only one being questioned constantly. Drake stopped by his Mom’s house and regretted it once he saw that his whole family was over there.

“So who was that girl that you hugged a little too long?” His Aunt eyed him.

“She’s a girl in Music’s Trinity,” he sighed. He knew that they wouldn’t let this go.

“Is she your girlfriend Aubrey?” Raven teased. Raven was his seven year old sister. His Mom adopted her five years ago back when Drake was eighteen.

“No she’s not. You all know that I don’t date chicks in the industry,” he shook his head. Everyone in the industry was fake and he learned that the hard way. He felt like Nicki was different but he didn’t know her enough to figure her out. He does know that she always has that damn smirk on her face. He only spent a few minutes with her but the smirk wouldn’t drop from her face.

“She’s pretty Aubrey,” his mom commented.

“Don’t get them started Ma. She’s just some girl,” he was sick of the questioning.

“She’s not some girl. She’s in Music’s Trinity! They are my idols!” Raven exclaimed.

“They are?” He never knew that she was into their music. There hasn’t been a good girl group in a while so he can see why she would look up to them.

“Yep and I’m gonna meet them one day,” she looked very determined.

“I’m sure you will,” he smirked. He had the perfect idea for her birthday now that he knows this.

~~~

“I just have to grab my bag from the studio and then I’ll be right out,” Nicki promised the girls before running in. She forgot it in the studio and they had to get to rehearsal for the VMAS. She rushed in and grabbed her bag before walking out. She wasn’t looking where she was going so she ran into a hard body and almost fell back but he gripped her waist. He helped her steady herself before she backed away. “Sorry about that,” she looked up and locked eyes with Drake.

“You should really start looking where you’re going,” he smirked.

“I needed to get my bag before I had to go to rehearsal,” she explained. Drake couldn’t stop staring at her and Nicki started to notice. A smirk appeared on her face and that snapped him out of his daze.

“What’s up with you and that smirk?” He eyed her. She looked at him in shock because she didn’t even know what he was talking about.

“What smirk?” She scrunched up her eyebrows.

“It’s just something I noticed about you. I’m pretty good a reading people so I picked up on it,” he shrugged.

“And just what can you see Mr. Graham?” She tilted her head to the side.

“I can see that you hide most of your emotions behind that smirk. It’s almost like you’ve been hurt to the point where you just don’t wanna show them anymore. You don’t want someone to take advantage of your emotions so you made that smirk your poker face so no one will ever know how you truly feel,” he observed her as she opened her mouth but then closed it.

“You’re really good at that,” she whispered. It was like he was seeing a different side of her. It’s almost like all her bricks were broken down but as quickly as he broke them down, she put them up again. “Well I have to go but I’ll see you around,” she put on her signature smirk and left quickly. I’ll see her again for sure.

~~~

“We’re early,” Noah told Drake as they walked into the building where the VMAS were being held. He needed to rehearse today but he wanted to come early.

“It’s chill, I can just watch the artists before me,” he shrugged.

“I see what you’re doing,” Noah shook his head as they sat in the audience. Music’s Trinity was rehearsing and Drake just wanted to see Nicki again. It’s been about a week and the VMAS were this weekend.

“So you want me on the left?” Nicki looked towards the girls.

“You should start in the middle and then switch when Maya’s part comes on,” Emery told her. They went through the song again and by the end, it was perfect. Nicki spotted Drake in the audience and smirked at him.

“There goes that damn smirk,” Drake mumbled.

“What are you talking about?” Noah looked over at him.

“She always smirks, it’s like her poker face,” he pointed out.

“Damn, you’ve been studying this girl so much to the point where you can tell something like that about her? You’ve only known her for a little under two weeks,” Noah has never seen Drake like this.

“She’s a very complex person and I’m just interested to see what made her like that,” he spoke before getting up. Nicki hopped down from the stage and met Drake halfway.

“Spying on my performance Mr. Graham?” She eyed him.

“Naw I just came early,” he brushed it off.

“Really? You came almost an hour early?” She crossed her arms and raised a brow.

“So I might have wanted to see a lil something. You guys never fail to amaze me,” he complimented her.

“Do you always throw out this many compliments to everyone or is it just me?” She smirked.

“There goes that smirk,” he looked at her as her smirk fell.

“I really hate that you noticed that,” she didn’t like people learning too much about her. She hasn’t even known him long and he already can read her better than anyone she knows.

“You hate that I can tell when you’re feeling some type of way? Look, I may be overstepping my boundaries but why do you hide your emotions?” He truly wanted to know.

“You are overstepping your boundaries but it’s fine. It’s a long story Drake and I never want to explain it,” she shook her head.

“You don’t have to tell me but you can’t always hide how you’re feeling. Someone else may catch on,” he spoke as she kept her eyes trained on him. She couldn’t understand how he read her so well.

“How do you do it? How can you possibly read me that well when I don’t even show my emotions?” She scrunched up her face.

“Your face might not show emotions but your body language does and your voice. You tend to have a shaky voice when I call you out on something and that shows that you’re scared. You’re scared that I’m gonna figure you out. The thought of letting someone in terrifies you, doesn’t it?” He looked down at her and she nodded slowly.

“Drake! We’re ready for you,” Noah called out to him.

“I’ll see you around,” she said and for once, he didn’t see a smirk. He saw her nervous expression as she walked passed him. She might not like it but he’s determined to figure her out. He wants to break down that brick wall to help her in any way that he can.

~~~

“We killed it!” Maya exclaimed as they celebrated in their dressing room at the VMAS. They won three awards and nailed their performance. Nicki was still stuck on how well Drake could read her. She saw his performance and he did amazing. He won all six of the awards that he was nominated for.

“You ready to go?” Emery looked over at Nicki.

“Um y’all can head to the car. I gotta do something but I’ll be out in a minute,” she told them before walking out of the room. She walked down a few doors before knocking on Drake’s dressing room. Noah opened the door and chuckled when he saw her.

“Aye Drake!” He called out while opening the door wider so she could walk inside.

“What?” Drake walked out of the bathroom and looked at Nicki in shock. “Hey,” he smiled slightly. Noah walked out to give them some privacy.

“Hey,” she stood still and stared at him.

“Are you trying to read me now?” He eyed her.

“No, I’m still stuck on what you said. I truly don’t get how you know me this well. Can you read everybody like that?” She questioned.

“Naw, I never was really that interested. I don’t know why but your smirk held my interest. It made me want to see what’s behind this whole persona you have; who’s really behind Nicki from Music’s Trinity,” he walked closer to her.

“Well you can start by calling me Onika,” she offered.

“Onika? Is that you’re real name?” He saw her nod and then he smiled. “That’s beautiful name. Since we’re talking birth names, you can call me Aubrey,” he saw her chuckle.

“I knew your first name already. You’re kind of big around Hollywood,” she grinned.

“I’m just giving you permission now,” he returned the grin.

“It’s nice to officially meet you Aubrey,” she held out her hand.

“It’s nice to officially meet you too Onika,” he shook it while they held each other’s gaze.

“Here,” she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone before handing it to him. “I think you’ll need my number if you’re trying to get to know me,” she started to smirk but stopped herself. He shot her a smile before putting his number in and sending a text to himself so he’d have hers. “Are you sure you really wanna see behind this persona? It might not be pretty,” she gave him another chance to back out.

“I’m certain,” he walked up to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’ll call you,” he whispered before they pulled away.

“I’ll be waiting,” she gave him a genuine smile before leaving.

I'm just pulling out some of my old stuff that I never posted or finished. I might rewrite some of my other stories on here because I haven't touched most of them in years.