Welcome to Brinkwood

[Year: 2X94]

[Event: Moving To Brinkwood]

Finishing with packing my suitcase, I looked at my old room one last time and smiled. I closed my eyes and walked off, closing my old bedroom door one last time. I walked to the main office of my old apartment and dropped off my key.

"It's gonna be a bit sad without you here, Xavier." The receptionist said and smiled sadly at me.

"I know, but I got to move on to bigger and better things. This career isn't gonna make itself and I'm certainly not going to grow if I sit in one spot my entire life." I said and smiled.

"I know...I hope you come back to visit sometime. You should come perform for us sometime in the near future, yeah?" She said.

"For sure." I said and lightly tapped the desk. "I'll catch you later."

The receptionist waved at me and smiled as I walked off. I walked toward my car and loaded up the last of my luggage then got in. I turned the engine and connected my phone to the Bluetooth then began playing one of my songs. I pressed a button and a tray opened then a blunt rolled forward.

"Goodbye, Frontage Creek." I said and drove off.

As I drove down the highway, one of my friends called me and I pressed another button then a digital screen appeared on the side. He looked at me and chuckled.

"Smoking that pressure while driving bro? Do you not care about your safety?" He asked.

"What's good, Rich. And yeah, I'm smoking that pressure." I chuckled and kept focusing on the road.

"I heard you were coming to Brinkwood. Shits about to get crazy now. No more are the days where we have to digital call for a studio session! We making it big now! You coming to the big city now, my guy!" Rich said and chuckled.

"Yessir! It's over, we're truly going to take Gaia by storm now! I'm already prepared for the first session." I said and smiled.

"Oh yeah, over you seen the news lately? Shits been getting crazy in the music industry lately. Mofos getting arrested and shit, big artists like Lo Draco and Revelations mysteriously disappearing after their new songs dropped and shit. It's getting crazy for what's happening." Rich said.

"Yeah I heard. I want no ties in that shit. Imma just stay in my lane and cruise on the path of the riches." I said and set down my blunt then the tray closed.

"Damn straight. I can't lose you like how we lost Jordan. Can't be making foolish mistakes, and under no circumstances can we get in any more beefs my guy! You're still number one target of that fool Reed." Rich said.

"Yeah I know bro. Aye, imma hit you later. Getting into the area with no reception." I said.

"Gotchu bro." Rich said.

After hanging up, I sighed a bit and sat back in my seat because of the traffic. I closed my eyes and exhaled softly.

...

...

...

Hours pass as I was still on the road, but suddenly a wave of relief washed over me as I noticed the sign reading Brinkwood. I looked around the big city of Brinkwood and smiled. I noticed my new apartment complex and turned into it then parked my car in the parking lot.

I got out and walked toward the front office then walked toward the desk. I noticed a few people looking at me as they immediately recognized me.

"Yooo...It's Lucid Kush. He's actually here in Brinkwood..." A woman said in awe.

"Kush! I love you music man!" A guy said as he hurried over to me. "Can I have an autograph?"

I looked at the man and smiled at him. "Yeah sure man."

He held out a CD case of my album and I signed it with a marker he provided. He nodded and gave me a hand shake. I watched as he hurried off then got my key from the new receptionist. I walked back outside and noticed multiple fans outside, excited to see me.

"Hey! Hey, you crazy fans! Let the guy rest! He drove hours to get here!" Rich said as he pushed his way through the crowd.

A woman leaned against her balcony and watched me and Rich. She tilted her head a bit and smiled. "The famous Lucid Kush...and his producer Dope Richie. I can actually hear their art in person now... Let's see what all this hype is all about..~"

Rich helped me move my luggage into my new apartment and once we got it all inside, we sat on the couch that was already inside then sighed.

Rich looked at me and sat up. "You're here now man, welcome to Brinkwood."

I chuckled and looked at the ceiling. "I wouldn't have guessed I had this many fans in the area. Thanks for the rescue bro."

"Don't even mention it. Aye there are many famous artists in this very complex. I'm sure you know the names of Autumn, Requium, and Genesis?" Rich said.

"Mmm..." I shrugged and looked at Rich. "Not really. Maybe like one of their songs."

"Nah man, you gotta listen to their shit. Autumn is known as the Queen of RnB, Requium is known as the Edge Queen, and Genesis is all about Pop. They are under some deep waters though, the government has been on their asses but their music always hits like top TEN each time they drop a song. They are really huge around here man." Rich said and stood up.

I watched him then heard a knock on my door. I stood up and grunted softly. "Time to meet the first neighbor."

I walked toward the door and opened the door. I noticed a woman standing in front of me with a container in her hands. I stared at her and felt my cheeks heat up. She looked at me with a welcoming smile.

Her beauty was radiant. From her curly brown hair, to her chocolate brown eyes and her natural caramel skin complexion...all the way down to her beautiful figure. I was caught in her beauty...

"Hey.." She chuckled softly.

"Hey..." I responded. "Uh, come in!"

The woman smiled at me and walked in as I moved aside. I closed the door and looked at Rich. He acted cool and looked around at the empty walls. I walked toward the woman and cleared my throat.

"I hear you're new around here." The woman said and looked at me.

"Yeah I am.." I said and looked at the container. "I can take that off your hands if you want."

"Sure. It's for you anyway, as a welcome gift. It's just some cookies I baked while you were moving in. The name's Autumn by the way." She said and handed me the container.

"Xavier." I said as I took the container from her hands.

"I've heard a few of your tracks and I gotta say, you're pretty good..~ Your wordplay and your flow is something extraordinary. I like it." Autumn said and smiled.

"Thank you." I smiled and walked toward the kitchen. "I wish I could return the compliment, but the only track I've heard from you was Lost In Nowhere."

Autumn followed me and held her hands behind her back. "That's actually my best song. Over 30 million streams, it was the song that started major controversy with me..~"

Rich watched us and looked at his phone. "Yo bro! I gotta bounce real quick! Meet me in my studio later today!"

"Alright, be safe!" I said to Rich.

Autumn looked back at Rich and smiled. "He's your producer huh? Dope Richie right?"

I nodded and set the container on the counter. "We've known each other damn there our entire lives since childhood. That's my main mans right there. I scratch his back, he scratches mine."

"It must be nice having a personal producer huh? Most producers I've met, I've lost contact with over my coming up." Autumn said and placed her hands on the counter.

I looked at Autumn and just couldn't take my eyes off her. "Can I just say...that you're really beautiful.."

Autumn tilted her head a bit and smiled at me. "Thank you..~ You're rather handsome yourself..~ How about I show you around the city and grab some lunch? My treat."

"You sure? I don't want to hassle you on the first meeting." I said.

"It's no issue. Us large artists have to stick together after all." Autumn said, remaining eye contact with me.

'Damn she's good at eye contact. She applies that pressure for real...' I thought to myself.

"Alright, I'm down." I smiled.

"C'mon, I know a great spot." Autumn said and walked off.

I followed her and together we left my unit then used the elevator to get down. We walked outside and toward her car.

"No way, Autumn and Lucid Kush together already..? They have to know each other.." A guy said as he noticed us.

"This guy moves fast doesn't he..?" A woman said.

Autumn and I got into her car then she started it and drove off.

...

...

...

Autumn parked her car in front of a diner named Bronze Eatery. We got out and walked toward the building. I held the door open for her and she smiled at me as she walked inside. I walked in after her and looked around.

"Hey, Dave." Autumn greeted as she walked toward the counter.

"Yo, Autumn. What the fuck? Is that Lucid Kush?!" Dave asked in complete awe as he looked at me.

"Yeah, I'm showing him around as he just moved here. I had to take him to the best place to eat around to start off the round." Autumn smiled.

"Yo, Kush, I'm a huge fan of your work! Can get an autograph man?" Dave said and smiled at me.

"Sure man." I said and signed his hat.

"Let's go..! An official signature from THE Lucid Kush." Dave celebrated.

"Ahem." Autumn cleared her throat.

"Oh right, I still have a job to do. What can I get you two?" Dave asked.

"The usual for me." Autumn said.

"I'll get the number six." I said.

"Gotcha." Dave said and placed down two cups. "We'll have it out in no time."

Autumn nodded and grabbed the cups and handed one to me. I took the cup and followed her to the drink dispenser. We got our drinks and chose a table to sit at.

"So what are you up here for exactly?" Autumn asked then took a sip from her drink.

"Just looking to better my career y'know. Where I was, I couldn't really get to where I wanted, so I had to move to the big city." I answered.

"Brinkwood is rather large and most of the big competitions and artists are here. You chose the right city, if you want I can help you find your footing. You are a big artist, but you're not a BIG artist y'know. Brinkwood is make or break." Autumn said.

"I'm aware, taken your controversy and all that. I know you aren't the only one. I'm curious about that though. What's Lost In Nowhere about?" I asked.

Autumn looked down and played with her straw a bit. "It's about the feeling of being lost in a society where no one understands you or how you truly feel. It feels like when you're speaking out about certain topics, you either get locked up or executed. It sucks y'know?"

"I understand that feeling. I lost one of my homeboys because of him speaking out." I said and looked at Autumn.

"Is that why you don't really venture out with your music?" Autumn asked.

"Basically yeah." I said and chuckled softly. "I'd rather stay in my own lane and be safe than to just...die because I have an opinion."

Autumn stared at me and smiled. "That's fair...I don't blame you. When you're in the eyes of the government because of your music, you're already treading on thin ice. But your music is like the serenity this world needs within this corruption. It's like you're in a trance, you're just chill you know what I mean?" Autumn laughed a bit.

"Nah I get it." I chuckled. "Honestly when I make my music I'm literally baked, but I like to release positive and chill energy. So much negative going on, it's time for a change of pace y'know."

"I get it...that's why I like your music so much..~ It's...so nice..." Autumn said and smiled at me.

I smiled back at Autumn. It felt like we had some form of connection. I actually wanted to know her more. I wanted to know her story...