Chapter Two
Lucious Lyon stood in his bedroom staring at the pictures that filled his dresser. The majority of them were his but one belonged to his now fiancee, Anika Calhoun. Anika was young in the photo, around fifteen, and she had a bright smile on her face as a young man had his arm slung over her shoulder as he had a smirk on his. The two both held up honer roll certificates.
"Baby, who is this in this picture with you?"
Anika came out of the bathroom wearing a robe and stared at the photo in question. She picked up the photo and sighed as memories of Marquel flooded her mind.
"That's my twin brother."
"Brother? Twin? Why am I just finding out about this?"
Anika sighed as she put the picture down.
"Because I don't like talking about him."
Lucious put his hands on her arms and began rubbing them up and down.
"What did he do to you?"
Anika shook her head. "He didn't do anything. When we were in high school he got into a big argument with my mother and left. I saw him a few times after that but eventually he just stopped calling."
Lucious nodded as Anika just stared at the picture.
Next Day
After leaving his family in New Orleans Marquel's music career failed to take off. Instead of admitting defeat and going back he ran and hid.
With no high school diploma there wasn't much he could do but he managed to get a job at a ranch in Upstate New York where he groomed horses. In exchange for working there he was given a small salary and the couple who owned the ranch allowed him to use their spare room granted he did some house chores as well.
There he met Puma who claimed to have written songs for Lucious Lyon. No one ever called him out on it but Marquel started up a quick friendship with the man hoping he'd write a song for him.
Puma sighed as he waved to a group driving away from the ranch. While they pulled away a black SUV pulled up and a familiar face stepped out.
"Well look at what we got here."
Lucious smirked as he approached the songwriter.
"It's good to see you again Puma."
The man laughed. "A lot of people been calling me that name lately. Tried so hard to lose it and it just keeps coming back. What brings you all the way out here."
"I'm looking for someone, goes by the name Marquel."
Puma nodded. "I know him but the question is why do you want him?"
"I'm reuniting him with his family now can you tell me where he is?"
Puma nodded his head motioning for Lucious to follow him. The two men stopped at a barn where a young man was brushing a horse's mane.
He stood around six feet and his hair was still up in a high top fade and he wore a pair of. old blue jeans and a worn out white t-shirt. He had his ear buds in as he sung a few words that Lucious recognized.
I hope you learn to make it on your own
And if you love yourself just know you'll never be alone
I hope that you get everything you want and that you chose
I hope that it's the realest thing that you ever know
Hope you get the pretty girls that's pretty at everything
Million dollar cribs havin' million dollar dreams
And when you get it all just remember one thing
Remember one thing, that one man could change the world
That one man could change the world
All I, all I wanted was a hundred million dollars and a bad chick
Imagined this so much some nights it felt like that I had it
Back on the mattress, starin' at the ceilin' tryna connect the dots
But its hard makin' those attachments
I'm talkin' dreamin' so hard, some nights it felt like draft day
You know? My - my mans used to flip them bags
Outside the crib like it was trash day
No Kim K, but he bagged yay (Ye)
But when you're gettin' fast money, slow down, don't crash
With all the drive in the world, swear you still need gas
Look, think about it, close your eyes, dream about it
Tell your team about it, go make million dollar schemes about it
Success is on the way, I feel it in the distance
Used to look up at the stars
And be like, "Ain't too much that's different"
I be shinin', they be shinin', get your one shot don't you miss it
What you know bout' wakin' up every day like you on a mission?
Lucious walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. Marquel took his headphones out as Lucious sung the next part.
And I hope you learn to make it on your own
And if you love yourself just know you'll never be alone
I hope that you get everything you want and that you chose
I hope that it's the realest thing that you ever know
Hope you get the pretty girls, that's pretty and everything
Million dollar cribs havin' million dollar dreams
And when you get it all just remember one thing
Remember one thing, one man could change the world
One man could change the world
Marquel looked at the music mogul in shock.
"How do you know those words?"
Lucious smirked. "Well not only did you just sing them but I learned them from the same person who taught you."
Marquel sighed. "Anika."
"Yup."
Marquel hung his head, suddenly finding the ground very interesting. Lucious put a hand on his shoulder.
"She misses you. Every time you come up I can see it in her face. Why don't you come with me and we can go on and see her."
Marquel shook his head. "Sorry I can't do it."
Lucious sighed and looked at Puma who nodded.
"Well if you change your mind we're having a little get together tomorrow. It's gonna be just my family so it'd be nice for Anika to have someone there for her."
He handed Marquel a paper with a address on it and left leaving him alone with Puma.
"Why don't you wanna go see your sister?"
Marquel shook his head. "I can't, not after I abandoned her."
"You left because you couldn't stay in that environment."
"You don't understand. My mother was controlling to me but she was extremely demanding for Anika. Every thing mom told Anika to do she did it and if she failed there were consequences. I took a lot of pressure off of her by just being me but I saw it on her face every time I visited. That women was driving her crazy and I left her alone."
Puma sighed. "Well here's your chance to make up for it. And if you want I'll even write a song for you."
Marquel looked up at Puma.
"You serious?"
Puma nodded. "Of course but your gonna help. The key to song writhing is using your own personal experiences. It doesn't work otherwise."
Marquel nodded with a big smile on his face.
Next Day
The entire Lyon was gathered at a restaurant as Lucious announced his engagement to Anika. Apparently Cookie Lyon, who had recently been released from prison, was under the impression that she and Lucious were going to rekindle their relationship but here hopes were quickly dashed.
"Why the hell am I here then Lucious!"
"Because I wanted you to share this moment with us. You are still apart of this family. In fact I've prepared a special musical surprise for us."
"I don't give a damn about your musical surprise!"
Cookie turned to leave but bumped into someone.
"Wow, really know how to make a guy feel welcomed."
Cookie looked up into the eyes of Marquel who had a smirk on his face. There was a gasp heard as Anika's silverware clattered against her plate making her twin laugh.
Marquel traded in his farm clothes for a purple camo t-shirt, black jeans and a black Supreme headband. He also had a great backpack.
"Sup lil sis."
Anika was quickly out of her seat and embraced Marquel in a hug. Their embrace lasted quite some time but Anika ended it When she latched onto his ear and gave it a sharp tug.
"You said you'd be back before I even noticed. Well guess what, I noticed!"
Marquel groaned in pain but his hand shot out and grabbed her elbow and applied light pressure on to the joint.
Anika stretched in pain but held onto his ear.
"Let go of me!"
"You first. I always tell you bout touching my ears!"
The two siblings kept bickering but the loud chuckle from Lucious made them stop.
"I'm sorry to ruin this moment but y'all two are just too much."
Anika grumbled as she let go of his ear and Marquel let go of her elbow.
"Well Marquel glad you could make."
Lucious walked over to him and they shook hands.
"What changed your mind?"
Marquel shrugged. "Puma talked me into."
Cookie perked up at this. "Wait you know Puma?"
Marquel nodded. "Yeah he's a good friend. Even helped me write a new song just for my sister."
Anika smiled. "You write me a song?"
"Yeah. Stayed up all night writhing it and then I had to mix up a new beat for it but I think it came out good."
Lucious smirked. "Well why don't you play it for us."
Marquel nodded as he spotted a keyboard at the front of the restaurant.
He sat down at it and hooked his laptop up to it as the Lyon family gathered around him.
"So it's not one hundred percent done but here's what I got so far."
He hit a few keys on his laptop as the beat started and he began to the piano.
I've been workin' like I've never been
I struggle every day but I just can't let the devil in
And if I knew back then what I know right now
What I know right now
I'd be better than I've ever been, better than I've ever been
You ever wonder what it all really means?
Heart full of dreams, I know I'mma do it, get it by any means
Serving food for the thought like it's rock to the fiends
I said this shit for years boy, this life ain't what it seems
Sayin' that you can't just solidifies that you never will
Said you would, said you could, but you ain't got the skill
You gotta climb the highest mountain to master the hill
You gotta climb over your ego to master your will
Gave up on your dreams for a suit and a pension
God damn, I hope you're here for the intervention
You say you would if you had the money, don't make me mention
That it'll cost you nothin' but time for you to pay attention
Now don't get me wrong
I know there's people out there hatin' on ya
And it feel like your self-esteem is breakin' on ya
All they ever seem to do is hate when you speak
They spend seven days preyin' on the weak
I know the world sleepin' on ya like a sedative
Talk all you want about me homie, I'mma let it live
Hater this, hater that, say I sound repetitive
Hatin' in your blood, you was born to be negative
Never been
I struggle every day but I just can't let the devil in
And if I knew back then what I know right now
What I know right now
I'd be better than I've ever been, better than I've ever been
This is dedicated to everyone that never made it
And the people that persevered even though they was hated
They had a dream and a vision that they follow like a religion
But on the real the road to success is prone to collision
And every now and then something happens that's unexpected
Like that newborn in your life because you fuckin' unprotected
And I swear nobody perfect, hell I know I ain't
Yeah I know this verse is heaven sent but I'm far from a saint
Live a life with no complaints, tryna do just what I can
Learn from my father's mistakes and become a better man
Now plant a seed and watch 'em grow, teach 'em everything I know
Show him how to fight his battles and always go toe to toe
And this I know cause I been high, low, right, wrong
But I had to do it all just so I could write this song
I spit knowledge like the listener is my only son
And grip the mic like I'm at war and it's my only gun
Sometimes this journey to the top can be a lonely one
Yeah, and this victory lap a lonely run
While my hometown screamin' you the chosen one
Tellin' myself, don't choke, don't be the frozen one
I've been workin' like I've never been
I struggle every day but I just can't let the devil in
And if I knew back then what I know right now
What I know right you
I'd be better than I've ever been, better than I've ever been
When he finished the entire family clapped for him, even Hakeem.
"Yo man that was actually pretty dope."
Marquel nodded as Hakeem gave him a high five.
"Pretty dope, that was amazing!"
Jamal's praise made Marquel smile as Anika gave him a hug.
Lucious stared at the two for awhile before smirking.
"I've got an idea, how would you like to become an Empire artist?"
"Are you serious?"
Lucious nodded. "Very. I can have a contract drawn up in the morning and you can be in the studio tomorrow. What do you say?"
Marquel looked at his sister who was shaking in excitement.
"I'm in."
Anika squealed and gave him another bone crushing hug that made everyone but Cookie smile. Instead she huffed and left the restaurant.
Anika let go of her brother before grabbing his ear again.
"And what the hell are you talking bout when you said newborn! You better not have gotten someone pregnant!"
Marquel laughed not bothered by the sharp pain his ear was in.
"We've got a lot to talk about."
And Done!
So this chapter might be a little poorly written but it's just so I can get the ball rolling, not trying to get backed up in my stories so the next one will defiantly be better.
Also if you've read any of my other stories you probably already know that I've decided to join the U.S. Air force and I'm proud to say that I've officially enlisted as an active duty member. I already have my ship date for basic and I'll give you guys a heads up But until then I'll keep working on all of my stories.
P.S.- I'm a OKC fan and the Warriors eliminated us and then lost the same way we did so... FUCK STEPH CURRY! Congrats to the Cleveland Cavaliers!
As always read, follow, favorite and review! Duces!
