5 || All Of The Lights (Feat. Rihanna)

                                    

                                          
MY BED SHAKES AS the heavy bass rhythm vibrates through the metal frame.
"Really, Jalen?" I mumble as I roll over in my sheets. My eyes squint open to see that the pillows are stacked up in some sort of wall around me and half of the blankets from the bed are on the floor. 
I put my hands on my head and squeeze my temple. 
God, my head hurts.
And my throat is so scratchy. 
I look at the bedside table, only to see that there's no cup of water there. It takes a solid five minutes before I build up the will to even move.
I swing my legs off the bed and search for some clothes. The bright light from outside is blinding. It takes me a while to find my jeans among the clothing haphazardly thrown on the floor from the night before. 
When I'm finally certain I'm not going to accidentally flash Jalen, I go out to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Morning, sleeping beauty." He yells over the music. "You look like shit."
I grab the nearest pillow from the couch and throw it at him. It hits the wall a good two feet away.
"And your aim is shit too."
"Jalen, why the hell is the music so loud? It's too early." I blink slowly at him, my eyes still adjusting to the day.
"Well, first off, it's 1:30 in the afternoon. Not my fault you slept so long. And two, I'm listening to Kanye at the sound level that Kanye needs to be listened at. You're just a little person that can't hold your drink, and that ain't my fault either."
"1:30! Are you serious?" I walk into the kitchen and look at the time on the microwave, only to affirm Jalen's statement. 
"Yea, you better hurry up. You're gonna be late for your fake date." 
"What?" I feel the flush creeping up on my face. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't think I don't notice you go to the café around this time almost every day. You've been doing it for the past week. I ain't dumb Indi." A corner of his mouth turns up. "You do you. Go live your best fantasy life. I'm not judging!"
His grin widens and he knows he has me cornered. But considering my drunk Google search last night, this conversation feels even more embarrassing. So instead of answering him I just turn to the cabinet and grab a cup for water, filling it up slowly so I don't have to look him in the eyes.
Instead of prodding me more, Jalen reaches for his phone to change the song. A familiar beat with blaring french horns begins to come through the speakers.
"Wait, is this...This song is so old, why are – "

                            
                              
                                
                                
                              
                            
                            
                          
With perfect timing, Jalen lunges toward the window and pulls all the curtains open. He sings loudly along with the song.
ALL - OF - THE - LIGHTS
Turn up the lights in here baby.
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this.
The light from outside pours into the room, causing dark splotches to coat my vision. My head pounds with a jarring pain and I drop to the floor behind the counter to shield myself from the bright sun.