A line of lawn chairs and sleeping bags extended down the edge of the mall.
Ed slowed down as he passed by the group of people. He felt almost sorry for all of them, they were so consumed by corporate greed that they lined up like cattle due for slaughter just to get a new pair of sneakers. What fools. If they were really as influential in the rap game as they believed themselves to be, they wouldn't have to wait in line for Jordans, they'd get them sent over personally by Nike.
Normally, Ed avoided the mall during Jordan release time. People would gawk at him, ask him for a photo, and he didn't want that. He just wanted to get through a day of shopping without any drama, was that so much to ask for?
He was at the mall today to pick up Kanye's latest album, Easter Yeezus, and if the mood struck him, maybe some new clothes for secret Bloodsukkaz show over the weekend. He knew the clothes didn't matter as much as the rhymes, but he had to be looking fresh to death if the group had any hope of being signed to a big label.
There were only two names in the Forks rap game, the Bloodsukkaz and the Wold Pack, and Ed would hardly count the Wolf Pack as part of the Forks scene. They mostly operated on La Push reservation, doing shows at native events and probably children's birthday parties. They occasionally came into Forks to start drama with Ed's squad but that was it.
The Bloodsukkaz were keeping a low profile this week, they didn't want any beef during their show. They didn't want the Wolf Pack coming to disrupt what might very well be the show of their careers. The last time the Wolf Pack showed up, two people ended up in the hospital with gunshot wounds.
"Droppin' a new track at the Place Friday?" Big P asked when Ed entered Big P's records.
Ed shrugged noncommittally, "I dunno G. You'll have to come and see."
"Alright I see you," Big P laughed, "Got your releases for you right here."
Big P pushed a stack of three CDs from around the register. He then walked Ed through his three additions to the order. They were good additions, Ed appreciated Big P's thoughts and feelings on upcoming artists. Ed was always looking for someone new to get into. He called it, "spreading the love."
"See you at the Place," Big P said as Ed made his way out of the store, "Throw me something fresh."
"You got it," Ed nodded.
Ed walked back by the sneaker line on his way out. It was at least thirty people longer than it had been when he came in. He chuckled and shook his head. All this for a pair of sneakers that were only slightly different than the last. For people who dropped mixtapes all about the struggle of living under the poverty line, they sure had nice $200 shoes.
"Hey pale face!"
Ed stopped in his tracks. He knew that voice. It was Jacob Black, part of the Wolf Pack. And if Jacob was here, so was the entire crew. Why did they always have to come and ruin a perfectly good day?
"What is it, dog boy?" Ed turned around and walked to the end of the sneaker line where the Wolf Pack had made themselves comfortable.
"I heard you're doing a show down at the Place Friday night."
Dammit. They knew. Who had told them? Probably Bella, Ed's total drama baby mama. She couldn't choose between Ed and Jacob, so she decided on both, while she sucked as much child support from Ed as she possibly could.
"Yeah, jealous?"
Jacob puffed out his chest, "No. But we will be down there."
"You have to pay to get in."
It was a low blow, but a blow nonetheless. There was a reason they did birthday parties.
"We'll be there, pale boy," Jacob threatened, "You better watch your back."
"You can watch mine, too," Ed said as he turned away and walked back to his car leaving the Wolf Pack to stew over the interaction for the next three hours.