Caught Me Dreaming

By Sophia Jenkins

Shanisha "Neeci" Lee is a star…in her head. Right now she's still a struggling singer in Baltimore, trying to find her big break. In the meantime, she is struggling, working a dead-end job, with a beat up car and a rundown apartment. Her luck begins to change when she gets a gig at the Coffee Cat Club that has the potential to change her life. But just when she gets excited, she runs into him: Sha'quan Long, a gorgeous man, whom she was once burned by. Unfortunately, they are forced together, which begins a series of events that turn their hate into potential love. As they try to figure out which it is, they both find themselves in a position to make their dreams come true or have them turn into nightmares. Will Neeci sing the sweet song of love and salvation, or will they both end up singing the blues?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophia Jenkins
• Release date: Jan 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781516378685

Book preview

Chapter One

Ugh! Another day, another dead end. I just left out of yet another meeting with another record label, who loved my voice and my look but didn’t think I was the right fit for them.

Damn! I’m so sick of this shit! I think.

I know I have the talent, but no one wants to take me seriously, just because when you put Neeci Lee in Google the only things that come up are my social media and my YouTube channel. So, what, I don’t have the experience? I have the chops.

Whatever! Let me introduce myself, in case you didn’t know. My name is Shanisha Lee, but everybody calls me Neeci. I’m B-more born and bred, and I am a star in the making. Just as soon as these clowns realize that I’m the next big thing.

See, I could be up there with Rihanna and the like. All I need is the financial backing, and I’ll be set. Unfortunately, these dumb-ass labels in Baltimore don’t know a good thing when it’s staring them in the face. I don’t see how. I’m a young, fine, thick chick; plenty easy on the eyes. Got a fierce, short, sharp cut in my dark brown hair. I spent four and a half years at Morgan State University to make sure I was the full package.

See, I got a deal straight outta high school, but the record label ended up folding a year later, so I decided to enroll in college while I figured out my next move. Plus, I wanted to have some know-how when I went in the meetings with the big wigs, so they couldn’t just be fuckin’ me over. I dedicated that whole time to sharpening my skills.

I ain’t gonna lie though, I had me a good ass time. It took me an extra semester to graduate because I lost my mind for a little bit. But I found it in time to walk across the stage.

As soon as I graduated, I got on the grind tryna get me another deal. Whole time I was in school, I was posting videos on YouTube of me singing, which got tens of thousands of views—quite a few…if I do say so myself. But I ain’t really got no official demo or nothin’ like that. What I do have, is the ability to sing my ass off—right on the spot. See, I grew up in the church, so I ain’t no stranger to singin’ on demand. I know I blow these people away, but nowadays, they damn near want you to walk in with hella fans and songs and shit right off the bat. Like damn, what I need you for then?

All I know is something’s gotta give. I’m tired of workin’ this dead-end job in makeup sales. I don’t make no real money, and that shit ain’t cute. I’m a star; I ain’t supposed to be in no place like that. Hell, I would go up to New York, but I don’t have the money for that. So I gotta stay here and figure it out. Damn, let me call my bestie—Shawna. Her ass always knows how to make me feel better.

I get in my lil’ beater, a 2000 Ford Taurus—which I named Whitney…after my favorite singer, Whitney Houston—and drive towards the crib. While driving, I find Shawna’s number in my phone and hit speakerphone. It barely rings before she answers, Hey bitch! Where you at?

Hoe, you know I had the meeting with those record execs today, I respond.

Aw damn, I forgot! Well, you ain’t calling me screamin’, so I guess we still poor.

Girl, they said the same shit they always say. I ain’t a ‘good fit’. I need to build more, and then maybe we can talk.

What the fuck you need them for then?

I was thinking the same shit. Girl, I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

Yeah, ‘cuz that lil’ gig you got ain’t it, girl.

Fuck you!

I’m just sayin’. You spent all that money on school and shit, you supposed to be on. I told yo ass you shoulda just said fuck it and took that money and went to New York or LA or something.

Yeah, whatever, Shawna. That shit doesn’t help me now.

---

In the meantime, in-between time, you need to find a better gig, so you can stop making that lil’ chicken change. I told you my cuz, Rhonda, can get you in at the daycare she works at. They make a lil’ bit more money.

Girl, I ain’t tryna deal with no bad-ass kids. I got enough problems. Worst come to worse, I’ll just have to start using my degree…as much as I’d hate to.

That’s tough, girl. But you know I got yo back no matter what. You gonna be up there with Beyoncé and shit sooner or later. And I’m gonna be right there with you, with my fine-ass husband, Michael B. Jordan.

I laugh at her crazy ass. Okay hoe, in yo dreams. I love you though.

You know I love you, too. But I gotta go, the game is finally over, and Russell’s gonna finally wanna pay me some attention. Hit me up later, girl.

Aight. Bye.

I hang up the phone and keep rolling to my lil’ rundown apartment building. It’s a damn piece of shit, but it’s all I can afford. Hell, I can barely even afford this, but I live with my cousin Mocha and her little boy, so we’re making it. I park Whitney and go on up to my place, stopping to check the mail on my way. Ain’t a damn thing in there but some bills I can’t pay. I walk right in and throw that shit on the side table. I’ll deal with it when I feel like it.

I smell something cooking, so I go see what Mocha’s got on the stove. One thing I love about Mocha, she can be loud, wild, and ratchet, but her ass knows how to throw down in the kitchen. And apparently in the bedroom too, with all that damn noise coming from in there.

As soon as I step foot in the kitchen, the aroma of her famous fried chicken hits my nose. Mmm, mmm, mmmh! Everybody knows