The green room was close enough to the stage itself that Mike could faintly hear what was going on there, but without being able to make anything out distinctly. It was rather small, only enough space for two or three people to wait comfortably, with a couch and love seat to rest on, and a small, dorm-sized fridge stocked with bottled water. He took one of the bottled and drank just enough to keep his mouth from drying up. Looking in the mirror on the opposite side of the room, he inspected his face and neck before dropping back into the couch.

Alex had told him that the freestyle competition would be near the end of the show, so every song and every lull in the action made Mike believe he was getting closer to performing. He wasn't very nervous, just feeling a bit awkward to be in the green room by himself. He supposed there was another room nearby where the champion was sitting, also contemplating his performance at the same time. Mike wondered if that guy was nervous. Alex would pop his head in from time to time, trying, but failing, to cover up his anxiety and apprehension, giving him updates as the show wore on. Apparently, the first two judges this time around were a local deejay and an up and coming teenaged female R&B singer named Moniqua. This was no problem for Mike, since he hadn't really heard of either. But when Alex popped back in and mentioned that the third judge would be Drake, an established rapper with real clout and power in the industry, Mike nodded his head and remarked about how great it was. Inside, however, he felt just a little queasy. It wasn't that he thought he might lose, in fact, he really believed that he would get even Drake's vote. What quickened his heart beat and made him excited was the idea of someone with al pull and influence watching him rap. This was exactly why he had come to New York, exactly what Alex had promised him would come of being on the show. Even though he hadn't been preparing before, he started to seriously think about what he would do when he got out there.

While he was still deep in thought about it, one of the stage hands with a headset squawking in his ear came back and told him it was time. The young man led him out into the hallway and made him stop there. In a moment, the champion was brought out of his room, which turned out to be right across the hall from Mike's. The guy offered his hand silently, and Mike reluctantly shook it.

Within minutes, the assistants were walking them towards the stage, and Mike could feel his destiny enveloping him, folding him in as if it were something palpable. He entered the stage area with his head up scanning the judges panel first and giving them a nod, followed by the hosts. Mike noticed a lot of people in the large, brightly lit room. He noticed Drake and the other two judges, and even had a moment of being starstruck. He noticed the stands full of teenagers and people in their early twenties, mostly cheering for the champion. He noticed the cameramen and the producers behind them as well. But above all of these, his focus was drawn by one particular person. Off in the corner, by herself, holding a couple of file folders and a clipboard full of papers, was Jasmine.

She was watching him, but every time he looked her way, she looked down at the paperwork in her hands. He made eye contact with her only once, and as soon as he did, he winked at her and mouthed, "Wish me luck." But she only smirked slightly and buried herself deeper in her files. Mike hoped that he was getting through somehow, and wondered what her presence here might mean, but before he could come to a conclusion, Terence J was already announcing the beginning of the competition.

"Before we close the show, we've called back some of our guests to judge this week's Freestyle Friday competition." Drake, Moniqua, and the deejay all waved and smiled at the audience. Moniqua blew a kiss at the camera.

Rocsi was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and an emerald green silk blouse with a scoop neck, leaning against a short wall dividing the main stage from a set of audience chairs, with several girls behind her waving at the camera, and several guys behind her checking her out. "Gentlemen," she said, "remember the rules. Each of you has thirty seconds each round. No cursing, no sexual language, and no physical contact. Cross that line and you get disqualified. There will be two rounds, with a different beat for each round. The judges' decision is final, so no whining. As always, we will begin with our champion, K-Hill."

At the sound of the champion's name, the crowd shouted as if prompted. It seemed as if everyone was a K-Hill fan. When the house deejay started the music, it still took a few moments for the champion to start, after the audience calmed down. Once he did start though, even Mike was impressed.

When Rocsi announced that the thirty seconds were up, K-Hill was still going, and only stopped when Terence J tapped him on the arm a few seconds later. Afterwards, Rocsi and Terence J were clapping, and all three of the judges were nodding their heads as they wrote some notes on the pads in front of them. The audience was cheering even louder than before, so much so that Terence J had to move out in front of them and throw up his hands to signal them to get quiet. "Tight work, K-Hill," he said, "and now for our challenger, Mike Barnes."

The music started up again, with the same beat as before, but without all of he applause and excitement from the crowd, there were even a couple of jeers from the back, somewhere Mike couldn't see. Just like before, Mike waited for the beat to come around one time, and then suddenly and fluidly, the words just came to him.

To all my old friends, I'm throwing up deuces,
I can get some new friends when I get some new ends.
I'ma grab this world, squeeze it hard 'til it juices.
Tell me I'm arrogant, well, I say, who says?
Keep talking and you'll see how short my fuse is.
People always hate a brother, 'cause he never loses.
You're not my enemy, you're just a nuisance.
So hold still while I check how tight the noose is.
And the news is, I'm about to do this,
When I pull the stick, hater, that's the end of you, kid.

Just after the last line, Rocsi announced the end of his time. It seemed to Mike that there was a long pause, a break in time when the scene around him seemed to be suspended. The judges were all three staring at him, most of the audience was nodding and rocking in their seats, but what Mike noticed more than anything else was Jasmine, still standing tall behind all of the cameras and producers and other people working the show. She was still holding her file and folders and paperwork, but her attention was fully on him, and this time she didn't look away when he caught her eye. For a few seconds she held his gaze, and then smiled, this time, a genuine smile.

Then it seemed as if the bubble broke, and suddenly the audience was clapping and cheering and slapping each other, the hosts were smiling at him, the judges, especially Drake, were furiously taking notes. K-Hill glared at him with a look that Mike had seen on the streets several times, a look that mingled hostility with fear.

The second round went pretty much the same, except that most of the momentum had already shifted Mike's way. The crowd still cheered for the champion before round two, but by the end, everyone was cheering for Mike.

When it was time for voting, Rocsi called on Moniqua first, and it seemed as if she couldn't grab her "challenger" card quick enough. "I didn't see that coming K-Hill," she said, "I been following you, and you really good, but Mike knocked you out this time." Mike glanced over Jasmine's way as soon as the singer cast her vote, anxious to see her reaction. She was certainly watching, her eyes fixed on the judges' table, but Mike couldn't tell if it was hopefulness or dread in that beautiful face.

Next was DJ Laz'ro, who had only slightly nodded his head throughout Mike's performance, never made eye contact with him, and seemed to support the champion the whole time. "Man, this is a close one," he said, "I think both of these guys are real good, and both probably have bright careers ahead of them." He paused and looked from K-Hill to Mike, and then back to the champion. "I gotta choose, right?" he asked, looking towards Rocsi, and the entire audience erupted with laughter. Shaking his head, he slowly picked up one of his cards, waiting until the last moment to reveal the word "challenger" written in graffiti letters across the front. This time Mike had his eye on Jasmine the whole time, knowing that he would get the vote, and just wanting to see her face when he got it. She was smiling even bigger now, the look of someone who believes she may have gotten herself into a little trouble, but isn't sure she wants out of it yet. Mike took it for a good sign.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen," Rocsi began, "that's really all we need to crown a new champion." She took the fake gold chain attached to the fake gold plate that read "champion" from K-Hill's neck and passed it over Mike's head. "I guess you're off the hook, Drake." Drake grinned and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, in a mock show of relief.

"No, wait," Mike blurted out, "I want to know what his vote is."

K-Hill waved his hand at Mike, as if swatting a fly, and walked off the set. The hosts looked at Mike and laughed, followed by a roar of laughter from he studio audience.

Mike looked almost sheepish as he turned and surveyed the crowd. "No, I don't mean it like that," he said, "It's just that," a mike looked over at Jasmine, who was shaking her head emphatically and drawing her fingers across her throat. "It's just, a lady told me she'd go out with me if I got a unanimous vote."

Immediately, Rocsi's hands went to her chest and she sighed in an exaggerated display of lovesickness. All through the crowd came more sighs and gasps from the women, mixed with jeers and hoots from the men.

Drake looked at Mike, grinning and shaking his head. "You got it, man," he said. He reached out in front of him and picked up the challenger card.

All three judges, even if he did have to fight for them. Mike couldn't help laughing out loud. He balled his fingers into fists and shook them over his head. Everything was going perfectly, and for the first time in a week, he didn't care much about the money or the fame or even the deal. He was so proud of himself for making a move on Jasmine. Bt his heart sank a bit when he looked over to where she had been standing and found that she wasn't there. As the cameras blinked off for the break, and the interns walked him off the set, he kept looking over his shoulder, searching the spot where she had been, but to no avail. He wondered when she had left, and why? The intern walked him to the green room he had come from, and then left, but as soon as he was out of sight, alike sneaked out of the room and struck off down the hallway to the offices, and to wherever he expected Jasmine to be.