5. Gossip & Lies

Harmony's P.O.V.

September, 1999

"I mean... I don't know, Harmony. I'm not comfortable about this. Like at all to be honest. Back when I first told you things about Marshall, in confidence, may I add, I didn't think that you would actually like... use what I had told you in your songs, so um. Yeah, I don't know about this like I said."

Seated across from me in the booth of a small diner, our breakfast menus in our hands as we are both scanning through them absent-mindedly, Kessia Alvarez, Em's former mistress fidgets slightly, looking up and glancing warily about her as though she somehow expects for the white boy to pop up any second now, just materialize from thin air.

The Brazilian girl's once beautiful skin is dull somewhat, and her hair, always immaculate and cut into a short stylish bob is now all over the place.

"Bitch please," I giggle lightly tossing my menu aside and waving one of the waiters over to place my order. "You knew," I smile sweetly at Kessia who rolls her eyes at me in exasperation. "Of course you knew."

The waiteress now approaching us, both of us quickly place our orders, the girl then collects our menus and walks away.

The tension in the small booth remaining pretty much the same as Kessia huffs out, her accent coming out stronger than usual because of how upset she supposedly is, "Like... Why are you even doing this, sis? I mean, what's even your angle in this? What is your motive?"

Absent-mindedly messing with the wrapper from the lollipop I was sucking on earlier, I then look up at her and shrug.

"Just cause," I say honestly. "Shit is literally fun to me."

Causing for the Brazilian girl to quickly shake her head.

"No see, I don't buy it. You must have something personal against Marshall," she points her index finger of one of her hands at me, the expression on her face turning accusatory like. "You absolutely have to," she adds. "Because nobody just does something like this, nobody just... goes after a completely random person for no reason."

Smiling, I mess around with my long hair, tossing it over my shoulder and noting some random dude staring at me from across the restaurant, likely either recognizing me or just plain finding me attractive.

He's sort of cute actually...

"Why not though?" I ask Kessia out loud, taking a sip from my water glass. "Cause isn't it what the white boy do as well? Going after random people for no reason?"

"So... you are after him because of that? Has he like... mentioned somebody you actually know in one of his songs, or do you for some reason feel the need to..."

"Girl please, I don't care about any of that. And no Em has never mentioned anybody I actually know. I just, well... I thought it would be a fun thing to do, call him out and all. But he keeps on responding to me. So now it's become this whole thing. It's exciting, you know?" I smile again, and Kessia's eyes widen.

"You might be just as crazy as him," she mutters, nervously messing with the tips of her short hair.

"And you seem like you are scared of him," I observe, noting her erratic movements and the way her eyes keep on darting about. "Why?"

Kessia scoffs then, right before a short nervous laugh escapes her lips before she starts to speak again but stops once the waitress appears with our food, placing steaming hot plates filled with eggs, bacon and waffles in front of us.

Once she walks away, Kessia snatches a piece of bacon of hers, chewing quickly.

"Damn girl, you act like you haven't eaten in weeks," I smirk, calmly picking up my own fork and scooping some of my scrambled eggs with it.

"My money's been real tight lately, you know what I mean?" She's quick to respond then, and I roll my eyes, opening my purse and searching for my wallet in it. Quickly peeling a few $20 bills I toss them across the table.

"Here doll. That's your tip."

Scurrying like a rodent, the girl is quick to snatch up the money and stuff it in her cleavage before actually answering my question from earlier.

"Sis, hell yes, I'm scared of Marshall, and you would be too to be honest. If you really knew him that is. Dude is like... unhinged," Kessia whispers dramatically, and I smile.

There it is again.

Maybe I'm a bit deranged myself.

Maybe something is like seriously and fundamentally wrong with me.

But the more I hear from random people about how the white boy is absolutely insane... the more it sort of... intrigues me and turns me on.

Maybe I need help.

Like professional help.

But would I ever sign up to get it?

Probably not.

"Tell me more," grabbing a syrup bottle from the table, I sprinkle some on my waffles.

Kessia looks doubtfully at me, simingly contemplating something.

"Girl, what?" I ask her with somewhat of an attitude, cause I honestly do not care for all of the dramatics right now. Just spill it out.

"Before I even say anything, Harmony," the Brazilian chick then sighs, looking down. "I do have to admit to something to you first."

"What is it?"

"Well um... I might've... um... I might've exaggerated before. More like downplayed actually, now that I think about it, about some of the things I've previously told you about him. Things you've used in your songs."

"Like what?"

"Well mainly like... his dick size and how fast he finishes."

Quickly contemplating to myself I let out a laugh once the realization of what this girl is trying to tell me fully hits me.

"Okay, babes. So you was basically being a scorned ex a little bit. It's cool, I get that. Happens to the best of us," I shrug, not really caring if what she had previously told me about Em was true or not. Those rhymes I had put together about him still sounded good regardless.

"I haven't lied about the part where I told you he begged me not to leave him though!!" Kessia then says passionately, defensive even, her short hair whipping around her face. "Like... he really did! He was in love with me, he wanted me around him, that part was true. It's just that... it was always that Kim!! She threatened him with their daughter, told him she was gonna take her away, so of course he chose HER at the end of the day. Marshall hates his wife. He's cried to me multiple times, like literally cried, actual tears in his eyes and everything. He would tell me how much he hated her, how much he wanted to leave, but he couldn't. Because of their kid. That man absolutely adores his daughter, he does. If anything, that's his weak spot right there actually. If you REALLY wanna mess with him, then you might as well say something about Hailie."

Not even having to contemplate, I firmly shake my head.

"Girl no. Even I wouldn't stoop this low. I don't talk about children. Or somebody's totally innocent family members."

"Your sister Serenity, she's an innocent one though, isn't she?" Kessia is quick to poke at me then, causing me to quickly look up at her. "And Marshall had talked about her. In that diss where he had gone after your whole group, I mean. He called her a cheap hoe," she whispers, and before anybody even knows what's happening, I'm already on her, leaping across the table, fingers squeezing tightly at the Brazilian girl's delicate throat.

"Don't fucking mention my baby sister, you get it?" I ask her sweetly, my tone sharply contrasting with my actions, then I quickly compose myself and let go, settling back into my seat and daintily fixing my hair like nothing's ever happened.

Kessia stares at me from across the table, her eyes wide as she gasps for air. She then coughs a little, gulping down hard.

But she doesn't say anything else again about Serenity, which is a very wise decision on her part.

Because I truthfully do not play about my little sister at all, just like Em apparently doesn't play about his daughter.

---

Wasn't sure if I should even include this chapter tbh. Just wanted for Kessia to make a cameo lol

R.I.P. to her BTW. Despite of how she's portrayed mostly unfavorably in this chapter, I don't actually have anything against her. Like I respect and honor the dead and all.  Just needed to write her this way for the sake of the story 🤷🏾‍♀️