It took about a week before anything happened with Song Wars.
I tried not to go to Savanna's house too much during that time. Showing up every day would start to look strange, especially with Seven around. She was Gia's friend, which meant she already knew me. It also meant she paid attention.
So I stayed home more that week.
Most nights I was in my room with my laptop open, YouTube playing in the background while I messed around in FL Studio.
One night I was laying on my bed watching random videos when my phone buzzed.
I almost ignored it.
Then I saw the subject line.
Song Wars Selection.
I opened it.
Congratulations. You have been selected. Your first prompt is a remix of any song you choose.
I smiled immediately.
That was probably the easiest prompt they could have given me.
* * *
I opened my playlist and started digging through music.
Nineties R&B. Early two thousands. Songs with real melodies and strong hooks.
I spent hours just listening.
Eventually I grabbed my keys and went for a drive.
The Z always helped me think.
Windows down. Music loud. Just driving and letting songs play.
I listened to everything from The Isley Brothers to Destiny's Child.
I was looking for something with space in it. Something I could flip into something new.
* * *
While I was out driving, Zen called.
I answered on speaker.
He asked if I was busy.
I told him I was just driving.
He said he had a quick run for me.
Forty five minutes. Small box.
I asked what the pay was.
He said five.
Five thousand.
I told him to send the address.
Easy money was still easy money.
I made the delivery and drove back home thinking about the competition the whole time.
Music on one side of my brain. Crime on the other.
* * *
When I got back to the house I already knew what I wanted to do.
I was not making one song.
I was making two.
The first beat started with a sample from The Isley Brothers. Contagious.
The groove was already strong so I rebuilt the drums around it and added bass underneath.
It took about two days to finish.
The second track started with Destiny's Child.
Say My Name.
I chopped the vocals differently and stretched the hook.
Then I layered heavier drums under it.
This one felt bigger.
More emotional.
I kept playing them back to back on the speakers.
* * *
I had one day left before the submission deadline.
The competition required everyone to join a Discord call when the songs went live.
Webcam on. Mic on. Judges watching everything.
So before I locked in my decision I sent both tracks out.
Gia got them first.
Then Savanna.
Then Cassie and Kat.
I leaned back in my chair and waited.
* * *
Kat texted first.
She said both were good but the Destiny's Child remix made you feel something.
Savanna replied next.
She told me I knew what I was doing with that music and picked the same song.
Cassie said the same thing.
Gia agreed with them.
I looked at the messages for a moment.
Four votes.
All the same choice.
That answered it.
* * *
I played the final track one more time and leaned back in my chair.
The drums hit. The sample rolled in. The hook landed exactly where it needed to.
For a moment I pictured the livestream.
The judges listening.
The chat scrolling.
People voting.
Eight thousand dollars.
A week ago this was just a random video I clicked on.
Now I was actually part of it.
* * *
My brother had a strange ability to move between worlds without slowing down. One day he was running deliveries for people who should not exist in normal life. The next day he was in his bedroom trying to win a music competition on the internet. To him both of those things felt normal. That was the part that scared me.
I exported the final file and saved it in the submission folder.
Tomorrow morning I would upload it and join the Discord call.
I closed the laptop and looked around my room.
The keyboard. The monitors. Cables everywhere.
It was messy but it worked.
My phone buzzed again.
It was Savanna.
You better win that.
I smiled and set the phone down.
We would see.