Hip Hop Heat (12 page)

Lalana was home, hanging around the house, and looking forward to a quiet evening alone. Lisa and Tina had just left, once again without convincing Lalana to go out with them. She explained to her friends that she finally found what she was looking for; and that clubs no longer held any allure for her.

Tina said she understood, but Lisa, being her normal disagreeable self, pressed the issue.

"So you're just planning to sit here all
alone
tonight," Lisa saidsarcastically. She looked around suspiciously, as though she half-expected someone to jump out from behind a couch to prove Lalana was lying. "You expect us to believe that? What are you really planning to do?"

Lalana shook her head. "Listen. It doesn't matter if I wanna sit here by myself and scratch my ass all night. I don't have to explain anything to you."

Her words stunned Lisa and Tina. Lalana was never quick to defend herself, but had lately found her confidence.

"You don't have to get all defensive about it," Lisa whined. "I'm only going out because Shawn and I have decided to go our separate ways for good this time."

"Dave and I are doing just fine," Tina smiled. "I mean, he's no Terrance Howard, but he is a nice guy and I'm happy with him," she said.

"Dave, huh?" Lalana giggled.

"Yeah, Dave."

Lisa rolled her eyes. Lalana and Tina ignored her.

After the girls had gone, Lalana turned on the TV. Her jaw dropped. Several of her pictures were on the screen: The first one was of her waiting in a parking lot for MC ROC; another sometime during that weekend she spent with him. Her face was blurred out of the shots, but there was no mistaking it: Lalana was on TV.

"What the hell?" she asked out loud.

"Could this be the mystery woman in the now infamous sex tape of MC ROC?" a voice from inside the TV asked.

Sex tape? What the hell are they talking about? Lalana's heart raced.

"It's too racy for us to show on TV, but the tape has been circulating on the Internet for several days now. There's no word on what kind of impact this will have on CD sales for the flamboyant rapper."

Lalana felt her ears ringing as horror washed over her. What if her boss found out? She rushed to a computer and Googled MC ROC. Nothing scandalous involving her. She went to YouTube. Another brick wall. Lalana even visited the TV show's Web site to see if it provided a link to the tape. More nothing. Four hours of futile digging passed.

Lalana decided to call it a night. She felt a little better knowing the tape wasn't readily accessible. If she couldn't find it, she figured, maybe it didn't exist.

Before finally drifting off to sleep, Lalana reflected n all that had happened since "winning" that contest. There was a time when she was stunned by her good fortune; but now, her life was in danger of being turned upside down.

Lalana called the record company the following morning, hoping to get in touch with someone who could help. She got a machine.

"I'd like to leave urgent messages for two people," Lalana said into the recording. "Please leave a message for Jennifer Price and MC ROC. I'd like the message to read, "This is Lalana George. I was the June contest winner and someone needs to contact me now!"

Lalana rattled off her phone number then said, "If I don't hear from someone within the next few hours, I plan to talk to the press about this bogus contest." Lalana hung up and waited.

It took less than 30 minutes for her phone to ring. Lalana was unsurprised to hear Jennifer on the other end of the line.

"Is this Lalana George?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes," Lalana answered. "What's this about a sex tape circulating around the Internet?"

"Oh yes, we're being flooded by calls for interviews and appearances, but I'm not sure what that has to do with you."

"Are you aware I'm being linked to this tape?" Lalana cried. "I don't understand how this could've happened. I can't afford to have stuff like this circulating around about me."

"Well, ma'am, you were forewarned of possible links to you in the tabloids before you consented to the terms of the contest. And for what it's worth, this is great publicity for you."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm just trying to help," Jennifer offered.

"I don't understand how you could see this as a good thing. I'm worried that my name will become mud."

"By being linked to the world's hottest rapper?" Jennifer asked increduously. "This is MC ROC we're talking about, not James Curtis."

Lalana sighed. Listening to Jennifer made her question how she could've ever thought something good would come of her time with him.

"You guys are sick-" Lalana began. Jennifer cut her off.

"Before you go throwing around threats about talking to the press or anyone else, let me remind you that you've already signed a release giving us the right to represent you, and use your likeness in any way we see fit for publicity purposes."

Lalana fumed.

"And I need to remind you," Jennifer continued, "that you are not to contact MC ROC ever again. If you continue to go out of your way to follow him, we'll be forced to take out a protective order."

Lalana had envisioned a quiet Sunday afternoon at home. Coming off her near-obsession with MC ROC, she was glad to finally be moving forward with her life. She wanted to transition back into obscurity with as little fanfare as possible. Now, however, she had to worry about being associated with a sex tape.

The phone rang as she sat thinking about how to get out of this mess, or if that was a complete impossibility.

"Hello?"

"You don't sound good," Logan said. "I take it you also flipped on the TV today. You feel like talking?"

"Um, I have a lot on my mind," Lalana choked out. "Yeah, I can imagine. You want me to come over?"

"Actually, it would be good for us to talk about this in person," she said, her voice shaking.

"Okay, cool. I'll be over in a little while," he said. Then: "Hey, Lalana, it's gonna be all right. It's never as bad as you think."

"I really hope you're right. I'll see you when you get here. It'll give me time to get my thoughts together and figure out how I'm gonna' fix this."

"Okay, I'm working to get to you, just hold on until I get there. I know you're capable, but remember it's best to put two heads together instead of one."

Lalana wasn't alone for long. She was still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this situation when there was a frantic knock on her front door.

She looked through the peephole and felt relief when she saw Logan's face.

"Hey," she greeted.

Logan pulled Lalana to him and held her. She instantly felt some of the weight lift. She spent so much time kicking herself for nearly allowing him to slip through her fingers. Lalana silently thanked God that she came to her senses before it was too late.

"You okay?"

"I'm having a moment," she admitted.

Logan followed her into the apartment and took a seat.

"Do you understand what's going on here?" Lalana asked.

"Yes," Logan answered. "And a lot of this stuff, it's leaked by MC ROC or his friends, I don't know what happened with you two, but it wouldn't surprise me if this is nothing but a bunch of hype."

"You're kidding me," Lalana said.

"I told you this is all a publicity stunt," Logan said. "I know you can't understand how a mega-star would need to pump himself up, but it's very competitive out there. When he does that contest, he's thinking about album sales."

"But what should I do? I can't afford to have this kind of stuff circulating about me. I mean my job..."

"I'm gonna need to think about how to approach this one. But don't be surprised if my suggestion is to do nothing at all."

Lalana's eyes widened. "Do nothing?"

"In these situations, it's not about you. I know you feel like your world is threatening to crumble, but seriously, the more you do or say, the more this thing stays alive. And that is exactly what you don't want."

"So you're thinking there may not even be a tape?"

"I doubt seriously if there is one. I mean, did you look for it?"

"Yeah."

"What did you find?"

"A few pictures, but nothing like a sex tape," Lalana admitted.

"If this thing was circulating, don't you think you would've found it by now? And if you couldn't find it, either it doesn't exists, or maybe I should help you find it," he offered.

Lalana's eyes widened in horror, "Oh no!" she shook her head.

"Then I suggest you let it go. If nobody has called you saying they saw you getting it on, I wouldn't worry about it."

Everything he said made sense. Lalana felt a sense of calm wash over her. She knew Logan was right.

"Besides, I don't want you sitting up here stressing yourself. This thing will boil over if you simply leave it alone."

"Do you know that Jennifer woman told me I should use this as a stepping stone?" Lalana asked. "She suggested this is the time for me to try and get my career off the ground."

"That's because that's what they're used to. Most of the women they deal with are either aspiring singers, actresses, or models."

"I had no idea."

"I know. But that's why I was trying to warn you without scaring you. I've seen this stuff explode into something with a life all its own."

"Would you like a drink?" Lalana asked him.

"Sure," Logan answered, "I wouldn't mind something."

Lalana walked to the kitchen and grabbed him a beer, telling herself he knew best. She walked back to the living room and snuggled next to Logan on the couch.

"You shouldn't let this get to you," he said. "If I were you, I'd stop watching BET and the other music networks for a while; at least until this mess clears up."

"You're probably right," she said.

"I'll figure something out, and we'll get through this together. I don't want you worrying."

For the first time in years, Lalana felt safe.

Days had passed since the bombshell dropped. And much to Lalana's surprise, not a single person asked about the tape or the pictures. No one except Lisa, that is; but Lalana already knew to expect that.

The call came in on Lalana's cell just after she left work for lunch. Lisa was quick to notify Lalana that Tina was also on the line.

"What the hell is going on in your world?" Lisa wanted to know. "I mean you are doing waaaaay too much!"

"Well, I'm rushing to grab a bite to eat, traffic of course isn't cooperating, but that's about it. It's just another ordinary day if you ask me."

"Don't be coy with us," Lisa snapped, "Come on with that bullshit, Lalana."

"Lalana, there are pictures of you naked with MC ROC?" Tina asked.

"Um, yes, there are pictures of me with him since I spent all that time with him. I figured a few pictures would surface. However, none show me naked."

"Yeah okay," Lisa said. "Pictures fine. But what's this we hear about a sex tape? I wish for once in your life you would listen. This is the time to sell!"

"There
is
no sex tape," Lalana replied curtly. "And once again, I will not be selling anything."

"So why's everyone reporting it? And Star magazine-"

"Lisa, I don't want to talk about this," Lalana interrupted. "There are pictures of me with MC ROC because I spent the weekend with him. But I was not taped having sex with him."

"But you said yourself, you guys had an orgy, didn't you? How do you know someone wasn't taping it?"

"Lisa, I did not say we
had
an orgy, I said, I attended an orgy with him. There's a huge difference. And I didn't consent to making any pornographic tapes with him or anyone else."

"Well, I don't know how you're gonna get out of this one," Lisa sighed.

Lalana wasn't sure if there was really anything she could say to shut Lisa up. But after a while, she didn't care whether Lisa believed her.

"Tina, are
we
still on for drinks later?"

"Um, yeah," Tina replied reluctantly.

"You guys are having drinks?" Lisa asked. "Nobody told me."

"No, I didn't," Lalana scolded, "and I distinctly asked Tina not to invite you. I don't feel like having to defend myself. Not about what I did with MC ROC, not about why I choose not to sell my story, not about how Logan can stand being with me after what I've done. I just want to go out with a non-judgmental friend and enjoy a cocktail."

"But I thought as friends we could talk about anything," Lisa defended.

"Do you ever notice how I can discuss something with Tina, and we can agree to disagree, and there's absolutely no love lost? But with you, I always feel like you're launching an attack. I'm always on my toes, wondering if my comeback will be good enough, wondering if you'll think less of me. I'm tired. It's too much."

"I never realized you felt this way," Lisa said.

"I'm glad to know that, because I was starting to wonder if we were frenemies," Lalana chuckled.

"NO!" Lisa shouted, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, seriously, it's one thing for you to play devil's advocate; but the constant negativity is bringing me down. I don't need that kind of pressure right now. I need to be around positive people who accept me just the way I am, with all my flaws and imperfections. I don't want to be judged by my friends."

"I never thought about it like that," Lisa admitted softly.

"Now, you should keep in mind that I'm probably gonna do a few more stupid things," Lalana lectured. "I don't claim to know it all and I know that most of the times I'll make the wrong choices instead of the right ones. But I need to be able to turn to my friends for support, not more ridicule."

Silence.

"I never meant to come off that way," Lisa finally said. "Seriously, I look forward to spending time with you and Tina. I mean, I guess if I've been more on the negative side, it's only because I want you to think about all of your options, not just the stuff you think is good."

"And I can appreciate that, but sometimes it's just too much, and this is one of those times."

"I don't want an adversarial relationship with you," Lisa said. "I'm sorry if I said things to hurt you or things to make you feel like I'm judging. I promise I can work on that."

"Wow, that's good. I'm glad to hear that."

"So whassup? Can I meet you guys for drinks? I promise to be on my very best-est behavior," she giggled.

"Ooooh, c'mon Lalana," Tina whined.

"We're meeting at 5:30," Lalana said. "But the first negative comment will get you booted."

"Agreed," Lisa said.