From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 155: The Three Buske-teers (3)

"It’s so hot. San Francisco never gets this hot. How do people live like this? Why do people live like this?" Vishal complained while holding a cold water bottle to his head as he flopped onto the small table in front of him.

His handsome face was dotted with sweat, and his thick hair had begun sticking to his skin.

"Slurrrrrrrrrrrrp! Is it?" Ari asked while sipping the slushy he had gotten from one of the staff members.

They were seated in the outdoor seating area of a hotel casino, waiting for the production staff to set up what they needed to busk.

Unlike the usual March temperatures in Las Vegas, which were usually around 75 F (23 C), it was close to 100 degrees with the sun blaring down on top of them, as people busily walked through Fremont Street. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Some tourists stopped to take photos of them, as seven handsome boys and one person wearing a strange green mask gathered in one location and lounged together while a film crew set up the necessary cameras and equipment to film for the next two hours.

They were curious about what was going on, but seeing as it hadn’t started, some people walked off.

"Truly, I don’t understand why you’re not sweating in the tracksuit and that mask. I’m boiling and I’m wearing short sleeves."

"It’s cause I’m so cool."

Well, it was because of the otterly adorable tracksuit, but nobody needed to know that.

At Ari’s dry joke, Mathew frowned as he fanned himself, "Eww. Never joke like that again. But, seriously, what’s taking them so long? We’ve been sitting for 30 minutes already."

Ari turned to look at Benjamin and William, who were talking to Kate, the writer who had tried to murder him while driving him to the hospital.

Her face had turned red from the heat, and she seemed a bit frazzled as she seemed to be trying to explain something to them, while another staff member was talking to a mixed gender group of people wearing matching white tracksuits with red bucket hats.

The group carried speakers, large boards, and several cases and speakers that seemed to be their equipment, and the person who seemed to be the leader, a tall, lean black boy with long black dreadlocks with red tips, was arguing passionately while pointing at their group.

Ari couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it was clear he disagreed heavily.

"What is happening? I’m sure the other groups are performing already and have already gotten people to buy tickets and register for the app. Are we going to get penalized?"

"Probably. Regardless, everybody say cheese. You’re on camera." Ari turned to face a very familiar film director who looked a bit upset seeing them lounging on the seats.

Ari met his eyes and made a peace sign as he waved before turning back toward Benjamin and William, who had been approached by the guy wearing a white tracksuit.

"Seriously, what’s the issue?"

"I’m tired and hungry. Can someone go find out what’s going on? Or if we can go eat? Something smells good." Haruto complained while Nile used a napkin to fan himself while trying to look pretty for the camera.

"Slurpppp, let me go see." Ari lazily stood up and walked over.

"Ben, what’s the issue?"

"Seems to be a mix up innit. Both of our groups got permits for the same time slot, and they don’t want to leave even though we got here first." Benjamin replied without looking away at the boy with the dreadlocks arguing with the staff member.

As if he had been waiting, the boy turned to face Benjamin and began yelling.

"Oi, British boy, say the truth! We were here first, and the rule is first come, first served!"

"First of all, Willie, say my name properly, yeah? And why’s a yardie like you interrupting a conversation between two proper lads? If I wanted your two pence’s worth of an opinion I’d ask for it." Benjamin replied in a sharp tone, his smile colder than it usually was.

"Oh, you’re feeling fancy just cause you’re currently ranked first in some popstar show. Thought you wanted to be a rapper, not some trash pop singer."

"You’re bucking up at the wrong person, brudda. Your anger is not with me, so I suggest you resolve your issues with our staff members instead of spouting nonsense, yeah? There’s bare people around, and you’re embarrassing yourself." Benjamin glanced around, noticing that a few people were stopping to watch the interaction while pulling their phones out.

"I’m not your brother, and the only person that should be embarrassed is you. Selling out to become a popstar. Tsk. I’ve always said UK rap isn’t real rap, and you’re clearly proving it." The boy in the white tracksuit spat onto the ground, and Benjamin let out a sharp laugh before stepping back with both hands.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, I guess."

"Please calm down! Both of you. It seems there’s a mistake, so let’s try to figure it out!" Kate stepped in the middle with the other staff member, trying to calm the other group down.

"I told you there’s no mistake! We were here first. You can ask the casino to pull the security footage so you all can F*ck off!"

"Please. Let’s talk it out!"

"So, I’m assuming you know each other?" Ari glanced at Benjamin before watching the argument show while sipping his smoothie.

William seemed to want to say his peace as well as he stepped up beside Kate and began trying to argue with the other group.

"More or less? They’re Kosmic Krew. A mixed group that’s known in the LA underground scene for dance and singing. I’ve met and beaten a few of them, including Willie at rap cyphers, and speaking of which, Mathew should probably know a few of them since they’ve danced for the same artists and gone to the same studios a couple of times. I think a couple of them were at World of Dance as well."

Benjamin turned to glance back at Mathew, but the boy was no longer sitting at the table.

A quick glance at his watch told him it was the regular time that he went to the bathroom to check his blood sugar, so Benjamin just stared back at Willie and his crew.

The situation seemed to have calmed down a bit, but then he heard Williams’ irritating Boston accent rile the situation back up.

"Fine. Since you’re playing hard to get, what’s the price? How much is it? I’ll pay you all off to get out of here since it’s clearly money that you’re looking for."

At William’s arrogant words as he pulled out a wallet, flashing a black credit card and several hundred-dollar bills, the eyes of the Kosmic Krew immediately ignited with anger.

"You think you can just buy us off, you bastard?"

"Obviously."

Gasp.

Without even taking a breath, William continued speaking in a condescending tone.

"It’s clear that you’re here to make money by performing, so how much were you expecting to make? I’ll pay it so you all can get out of our hair. We have important things to do."

"And you think what you’re doing is more important than what we’re doing?"

"Well, only one of us was talented enough to get on this show, right? So state your price. How much to get you out of here?"

At Williams’ sharp words, Ari could only close his eyes while taking a deep breath.

What the hell was wrong with this blonde boy?

Why was he hell bent on making matters worse???

As Ari was contemplating whether it was too late to knock William out and drag him away, a blue screen filled his vision.

[Ding!]

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