Mezmorized

Inspired by Wiz Khalifa song, Mezmorized.

 

The faint smell of weed lingered in Jay’s Harlem apartment, mixing with the low hum of Wiz Khalifa’s The Thrill playing through the speakers.  Jay sat on the edge of the worn leather couch, his gold chain catching the slanted sunlight cutting through the blinds.  The smoke from the spliff in his hand swirled upward, curling lazily toward the ceiling before dissipating. Jay sat back, a smirk tugging at his lips as he passed the blunt to Devin, who took it without looking up.  Devin’s eyes were glued to a scuff mark on the hardwood floor, his shoulders slumped forward like he was carrying a weight he couldn’t put down. “Man,” Devin muttered, barely lifting his head as he took a long pull.  Smoke billowed from his lips in a slow, resigned exhale. “I still can’t believe it.” Jay leaned back into the couch, stretching his arms along the top like a king surveying his domain. His grin widened. “What you can’t believe?” Devin shook his head, finally looking up at Jay, his face caught somewhere between frustration and regret. “Lost my main bitch, bro.  Just like that.” Jay’s laugh broke the tension in the room, warm and familiar. He adjusted his chain, the gold flashing in the sunlight.  “Dead ass? Thought y’all were solid.” Devin sighed, his shoulders slumping as he leaned back. He passed the spliff to Jay, avoiding his gaze. “She went through my phone while I was asleep. Hit my DMs. It was…” He shook his head, like he still couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “It was crazy in there.” Jay leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Crazy how?” Devin hesitated, rubbing a hand over his head before finally meeting Jay’s gaze. “Man, it was wild. Heart eyes everywhere.  Kissy faces.  Plans to link.  Even a couple of audio messages.  It was… it was nasty.” Jay leaned forward, a grin spreading across his face.  He slapped his hand on his thigh, laughing. “Hold up, my nigga. How’d she even get your password?” Devin gave him a sheepish look. “We had each other’s passwords, you know… trust shit.” Jay shook his head, his laughter spilling out again, bright and rich. “So you out here doing all this dirt, but still gave her your password?  And then left all that shit just sitting there in plain sight? Not even in a separate account, or locked folder.. or something?” Devin chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I know. I dumbed out.” Jay took a pull from the spliff, shaking his head in disbelief. “You a wild nigga.” He exhaled a steady stream of smoke. Devin paused for a moment, his jaw clenching. “I’m almost sure she was cheating too though, b. I just can’t prove it.” Jay handed the spliff back, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully, with a kind of detached curiosity.  “My nigga, instead of worryin’ about who that bitch is fucking, why don’t you get you some money?” Devin smirked faintly, while taking another pull. Jay nodded, his grin widening. “I got a party coming up. I want you on the decks.” Devin’s smirk turned into a full smile, a flicker of life returning to his eyes. “Why not do both?” he joked, making Jay laugh again. As the song on the speakers shifted to One Way, Jay let his head fall back, eyes closed, soaking in the moment. Smoke curled through the air, mingling with the slow beat of Wiz’s voice. This was life—the hustle, the music, and the bitches.

 

***

 

The sun dipped low over the Manhattan skyline, painting the rooftop in shades of gold and pink.  The rooftop pulsed with energy, a sea of bodies moving to the rhythm of Jay’s set.  He stood behind the DJ booth like a conductor, guiding the crowd through each transition, his fingers flying across the controls as he shifted effortlessly between rap, R&B, Dancehall, Afrobeats, and Soca. Jay’s philosophy was simple, a good DJ didn’t just play music. A good DJ set the tone for the night, giving people an excuse to let loose, to laugh, to flirt, and to leave with someone they couldn’t stop thinking about.  Judging by the way the dance floor was moving, he was doing his job. He scanned the crowd, his eyes flicking across familiar faces and new ones.  That’s when he saw her, a pretty brown-skinned girl standing in the middle of the dance floor with her friends.  Her dark locks framed her face perfectly, catching the last light of the sunset.  She moved with a kind of quiet confidence, her hips swaying to the rhythm, her smile playful and deliberate. And then, she looked at him. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Jay felt the crowd fall away.  She smiled at him, slow and mischievous, like she knew exactly what she was doing.  Jay’s lips pulled into a smirk, the corners of his mouth twitching as he felt his heart quicken. Got damn, this bitch is fine, he thought, his fingers automatically queuing up the next track. He transitioned into Pretty Girl Team by Alkaline, his eyes never leaving hers.  She caught the beat immediately, rolling her hips in time with the music, her body moving like liquid.  She wasn’t dancing with her friends anymore. No, this was for him.  Jay felt the heat rise in his chest as she moved, her eyes still locked on his.  He smirked, adjusting the controls as he let the song play out. But then a guy stepped up behind her, resting his hands lightly on her waist.  She glanced over at her friends, who gave her a nod of approval.  With a final, lingering glance at Jay, she turned her attention to the guy behind her, melting into the rhythm of the dance. Jay leaned back, his grin deepening. Got damn, that bitch was sexy as fuck. As he lined up his next track, he caught a glimpse of Devin moving through the crowd, weaving between bodies on his way to the DJ booth.  Jay felt a surge of pride.  He’d killed his set tonight, no way Devin was topping that. As Devin passed the final crowd of people, Jay noticed Marcus step into his path, his grin wide and toothy, his shoulders rolling back like he was trying too hard to look relaxed.  Marcus extended his hand, pulling Devin in for a dap, but the way he leaned in felt invasive, like he was trying to crowd Devin’s space.  His lips curled into a smile that showed too much teeth, the kind of smile that wasn’t warm, it was sharp, almost predatory. Devin’s body language shifted immediately. His shoulders stiffened, his hands dropping to his sides.  Even though Jay couldn’t hear whatever Marcus said to Devin, the tension was loud enough to read.  Devin’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line. Mack appeared a moment later, his camera slung over his shoulder.  He stepped into the space between them, placing a hand lightly on Devin’s shoulder.  Mack kept a calm demeanor, his head nodding toward the stage as he gestured for Devin to move on.  Marcus stepped back, the smirk still plastered on his face as he watched Devin walk away. Jay frowned slightly, his fingers pausing on the controls. What the fuck was that? he thought, watching the scene unfold.  He made a mental note to ask Devin about it later.

 

***

 

Jay finished his set with a flourish, the crowd’s cheers ringing in his ears as he stepped off the stage, watching Devin take over.  He moved to the edge of the dance floor, taking in the scene, already feeling the high of a job well done. Jay’s eyebrow shot up by the time Devin reached his third song.  The transitions were clean, smooth as hell, and the crowd was already reacting.  Devin didn’t just step up tonight, he leveled up. Every track was a hit, each one flowing seamlessly into the next, and the girls on the floor were eating it up.  Jay chuckled to himself, shaking his head. Okay, okay. I got some competition tonight. As Slow Motion by Juvenile blasted through the speakers, Jay watched as bodies moved in perfect rhythm, the energy of the song washing over the crowd.  That’s when he saw her again.  The brown-skinned girl from earlier was right in front of him now, her smile lighting up the space between them. Without a word, she walked up to him, her hips swaying with the beat, and turned around and started slowly grinding her waist into Jay.  He couldn’t help but grin, as he stepped up to match her every move. My nigga, he thought, believing Devin had played this song just for him.

 

***

 

Jay felt her body press against him, the sway of her hips falling perfectly in sync with the beat.  Her hair brushed his chest as she dipped low, her movements confident and deliberate.  Jay slid his hands lightly onto her waist, keeping the rhythm with her as if they’d been dancing together for years. For three songs straight, neither of them spoke.  They didn’t need to.  The music filled the space between them, and the heat of their bodies said everything else.  As How Do U Want It by Tupac faded out, Jay leaned in close, his voice low against her ear. “What’s your name?” She turned her head slightly, her lips brushing past his ear as she answered, “Debbie.” Jay’s lips curved into a smile as he leaned in closer, his breath brushing her neck. “Nice to meet you, Debbie. I’m Jay.” She tilted her head back slightly to meet his gaze, a playful glint in her eye. “I know,” she said, her voice smooth and confident. “We follow each other on IG.” Jay pulled back just enough to get a good look at her, raising an eyebrow as he chuckled. “Oh, word? I knew you looked familiar.” Debbie smirked, tilting her head to the side with a light laugh. “Suuuure,” she teased, her tone laced with sarcasm. Jay shook his head, his grin widening as the laughter rumbled low in his chest. “You want a drink?” Debbie leaned in close again, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, “Yeah, lead the way.” Jay nodded, placing a gentle hand on the small of her back as he guided her off the dance floor.  The heat of her body lingered under his fingertips, her scent, sweet, with a hint of something floral, wrapping around him like a drug.  As they weaved through the crowd, he leaned toward her. “We’re heading to my section, but the bottles ain’t out yet.  Gonna have to wait.” Debbie glanced up at him, her lips curling into that same flirtatious smile she’d been wearing all night. “I don’t mind waiting,” she said, her voice light and teasing.  Jay caught himself staring at her for a moment too long, his thoughts slipping. Why is everything she does so got damn sexy? he thought, feeling the warmth rise in his chest. They reached his section, and Jay immediately spotted the bottles chilling in the ice buckets, two Casamigos, two Henny, all unopened. A wave of confusion crossed his face until one of the bottle girls approached with a grin. “Your boy Devin ordered them before going to the stage,” she explained. “Said he knew you wouldn’t want to wait for the bottles to come.” Jay’s grin returned as he shook his head. “My nigga,” he said loudly, with a big grin, making a mental note to thank Devin later. He turned back to Debbie, motioning for her to take a seat on the plush couch.  She slid in smoothly, crossing one leg over the other as she watched him with that same steady, flirtatious gaze.  Jay grabbed a bottle of Casamigos, cracking it open with practiced ease. “What you drinking?” he asked. “Casamigos and pineapple,” she replied, her tone casual but her smile inviting. Jay raised his eyebrows, impressed. “That’s my drink of choice too.  You got good taste.” Debbie tilted her head slightly, smirking. “So do you,” she said, her voice dropping just enough to send a chill down Jay’s spine. They clinked glasses, the ice in their cups chiming softly as they both took a sip.  Jay leaned back into the couch, his body turned toward hers, his hand resting lightly on her thigh. “So, what you doing after this?” he asked, keeping his voice low and inviting. Debbie shrugged, glancing around the rooftop as if the answer were floating somewhere in the crowd. “My friends are somewhere around here, I don’t know what the plan is yet… but,” she paused, turning back to him, her smile softening into something a little more intimate, “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.” Jay felt the weight of her hand as it rested on his chest, her fingers tracing small, deliberate circles. Her voice dropped even lower as she leaned in close. “What about you?” she asked, her breath warm against his ear. Jay smiled, tilting his head just enough to meet her eyes. “I’m doing whatever you doing, shorty.” Debbie’s lips curled into a slow grin. “Oh yea? I like the sound of that.” Before Jay could respond, she leaned back slightly, her hand still resting on his chest. “Mind if I invite my girls to the section?” she asked. Jay shrugged, his grin easy. “How many?” “Just two.” Jay nodded. “Sure.” Debbie reached for her phone, tapping out a quick message before tucking it back into her bag.  Jay leaned into the couch, taking another sip of his drink as the DJ transitioned into a slower R&B track.  For the first time that night, he let himself relax.

 

***

 

Jay didn’t notice Debbie’s friends at first, he was too focused on the way she was leaning into him, her thigh pressing against his, her hand resting lightly on his.  But when she looked up and smiled, turning her head toward the approaching figures, he followed her gaze. “My girls are here,” Debbie said, standing slightly as she motioned toward them. “This is Kristie, and this is Cindy.” Jay stood up, extending a hand to each of them in greeting as they slid into the section.  Kristie, tall with a wide, friendly smile, nodded at Jay as she sat down.  Cindy, shorter but no less confident, gave him a quick once-over before settling into her spot.  Jay grabbed the bottle of Casamigos and started pouring their drinks, making sure everyone was set up before sitting back down next to Debbie. Not long after, Devin arrived with Ty and three girls trailing behind them.  Ty was all smiles, his easygoing demeanor instantly warmed up the vibe in the section as he dapped up Jay.  The girls Devin brought with him filed into the open spots on the couch, laughing and chatting as they got comfortable. The energy in the section was electric, the conversation flowing easily as the bottles made their rounds.  By the time they hit the third round of shots, the music felt like it was pumping directly through Jay’s veins.  Ty cracked the Henny pouring out generous shots, while Jay did the same with the Casamigos. “Shot o’clock!” Ty announced, lifting his glass high.  The group cheered, clinking glasses before throwing their heads back to down the liquor. As the shot settled, the girls Devin brought stood up, laughing and announcing that they were heading to the bathroom.  Devin leaned back into the couch, his eyes landing on Cindy. “Yo, what you doing here?” he asked, his tone more curious than confrontational. Cindy glanced at him, raising an eyebrow before nodding toward Debbie with her chin. “My friend met your friend,” she said, her tone light with humor. Devin looked like he was about to ask something else, but Cindy cut him off with a small laugh, shaking her head. “My nigga. Whatever you and Tiana got going on is none of my business.” She leaned back, taking a slow sip of her drink, her expression calm and amused. Devin blinked, his lips twitching into a small smirk. “Dead ass?” he asked. Cindy nodded, her voice light. “Dead ass.” Devin leaned back, his smirk widening as he looked between Jay and Debbie. “By the way, you’re welcome.” Jay and Debbie exchanged a glance, confused. “For what?” Jay asked. “Slow Motion,” Devin said, gesturing between the two of them with his drink. “I set y’all up.” Debbie let out a laugh, shaking her head as she turned to Jay. “This started way before Slow motion,” she said, her eyes locking with his.  She held his gaze for a moment longer, while Jay added, “Facts.” Jay turned, raising his glass toward Devin. “Yea bro, believe it or not, our first dance was during my set.” Debbie laughed softly, nodding. “Facts.” Devin frowned, looking between them like he was trying to piece together a puzzle, but he let it go, leaning back with a shrug and taking a sip of his drink.

 

***

 

The rooftop party had wound down, leaving behind the familiar energy of the let out. The crowd had thinned, but small groups lingered by the exits, their laughter and conversations spilling into the humid night air. Jay stood near the railing, looking out at the glowing Manhattan skyline as Devin approached him. “You tryna smoke?” Devin asked, nodding toward the small group of girls he’d been hanging with. Jay turned his head slightly, catching sight of Debbie standing about 20 feet away with her friends. She was laughing, her body language relaxed but magnetic, her presence pulling at him like gravity. “Nah, not tonight, my boy,” Jay said, his eyes still fixed on Debbie. Devin followed his gaze, smirking when he saw who Jay was looking at. “Oh word? You leaving with them? What y’all on?” “They talking about getting food,” Jay replied. “She got two friends, you tryna fuck with it?” Devin shook his head, laughing. “Nahhh, that’s Tiana’s people, bro” Jay chuckled. “Oh yeah, I forgot.” Devin clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. “Yea, Me and Ty about to go fuck with these bitches though.  I’ll holla at you later, my nigga.” Jay dapped him up, watching as Devin headed back toward his crew.  When he turned back toward Debbie, he noticed her friends hugging her goodbye.  They walked off a moment later, leaving Debbie standing alone.  Well, this is a good sign, he thought. He walked over to her, his stride confident as her eyes lifted to meet his. “Your friends coming back?” he asked, hoping for a no. Debbie smiled, the corners of her mouth pulling up into something soft and seductive. “Nope,” she said. “I’ll catch up with them later.” She tilted her head slightly, her voice dropping to a low murmur. “What you trying to do?” Jay smirked, licking his lips. “You,” he said, the word leaving his mouth like a promise. Debbie let out a soft laugh, her smile widening. “Oh, we’re going to get to that… but we have all night.” Her voice softened further as she added, “Let’s get some food first though.  A bitch is hungry.” Jay laughed, nodding. “Of course. A nigga is hungry too. There’s a diner by my crib.” “That works,” Debbie replied, her smile warm as they began walking toward his car.

 

***

 

Jay opened the car door for her, stepping to the side as she slid in smoothly.  She looked up at him, her lips curving into a playful smile. “I love a gentleman,” she teased softly. Jay grinned, closing the door behind her before walking around to the driver’s side. “I was raised right,” he said as he climbed in. He turned the key in the ignition, and the soft hum of the engine mingled with the first notes of an Afrobeats playlist flowing through the speakers.  The smooth, rhythmic beat of Burna Boy’s Last Last filled the car, blending perfectly with the city night outside.  Jay turned the volume knob, keeping it low enough for conversation, though the music gave the car a relaxed and sensual vibe. From the backseat, he grabbed a bag containing his rolling tools, a grinder, rolling papers, and a small tray.  Setting them on his lap, he started to prep, but Debbie reached over, her fingers brushing his thigh, and his dick, on her way to grabbing the materials. “Oops,” she said, her lips pulling into a mischievous grin as she glanced at him. Jay smirked, his voice low and teasing. “Oh, I don’t mind.” Debbie laughed softly, setting the tray on her lap as Jay pulled out of the parking spot. “I’ll roll,” she said, glancing at him as she opened the grinder.  “I’ll start when you get on the highway.” Jay nodded, his grip steady on the wheel.  As the music played, his eyes flicked over to her occasionally, admiring her beauty.  When they hit the highway, she got to rolling, her fingers moving quickly, her movements precise.  Jay couldn’t help but watch her as she licked the edge of the paper, sealing it with a smooth flick of her tongue. “Jay, watch the road,” Debbie said with a laugh, catching his glance. “Not me!” “I can’t help it,” he said, turning his eyes back to the road. “You over there looking sexy as fuck rolling that shit.” Debbie let out a soft laugh. “Well, I’m done now, so you can focus.” She lit the spliff, inhaling deeply before coughing lightly, and passed it to Jay. Jay glanced at Debbie while taking a pull. “You want some water?” he asked, motioning to the bottle in the cup holder. Debbie nodded, grabbing the bottle and taking a sip.  As Jay exhaled, his eyes flicked to the spliff in his hand.  “Oh, you nice with this,” he said, nodding approvingly. Debbie set the water bottle down, leaning slightly toward him. “Yeah, I work all types of magic with my mouth and hands,” she said, her voice dripping with suggestion as her hand slid across the middle console, brushing against his dick. Jay inhaled sharply, the spliff still in his hand.  “And you were just telling me to pay attention.” Debbie laughed softly, her fingers lingering before pulling back. “Well, I could stop if you want me to.” Jay reached for her hand, pulling it back gently. “Nahhh, don’t stop. I could multitask.” Her laughter bubbled up again, soft and warm. “You’re wild,” she said, leaning back into her seat. “But nah, you should pay attention, we already lit.” Jay groaned, shaking his head as he turned his focus back to the road. “Damn, I never should’ve said anything.” “Don’t worry, boo,” Debbie said, her voice low and soothing. She reached for his hand, guiding it to her thigh, her fingers resting lightly on top of his. “Like I said earlier, we got all night.” Jay let his hand settle on her thigh as he took another pull from the spliff, the tension in the car simmering just below the surface.  The steady rhythm of the Afrobeats playlist hummed through the speakers, the beat of Davido’s Fall filling the space between them.  Debbie waved off the spliff when he offered it to her again, and he nodded, exhaling smoothly, letting the smoke drift toward the cracked window. As they cruised down the highway, the city lights flashed across Debbie’s face, highlighting the soft curve of her lips as she rested her head against the seat.  The playlist shifted to Wizkid’s Essence, its sensual beat pouring through the speakers.  Debbie perked up immediately, a wide smile spreading across her face. “Oh, this is my shit,” she said, her voice light and excited as she turned the volume up just a little. Her head started moving to the beat, her locks bouncing with every sway. Jay glanced over, his grin widening as he took her in. “Oh yeah?” he asked, his tone playful. “Hell yeah,” Debbie replied, her voice almost a purr as she turned her attention back to him. “Yo, you really got good taste, Jay.” Jay let out a low chuckle, his hand giving her thigh a light squeeze. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” The playlist carried them forward, Essence blending seamlessly into the next track as the car hummed along the smooth highway.  The night ahead felt wide open, charged with possibility, and Jay couldn’t shake the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.