Heat

"The heat is on,"

Reader's discretion advised. Mature topics such as murder, smoking, drinking, and cursing are involved in this story.

"Hey, hey, hey, Matrix is back! Y'all ready for summer!? I know we are!" The young man spoke into a camera. He is the only one in frame; his hat is backwards, and he wears a tank top and gym shorts. Behind him is a spacious backyard with a patio, grill, and lawn activities. "So, first things first, we've been noticing the rise in Filez Groups, but I'm here to show you who started that! And that was us, Matrix! We not like them other Camera Boys--"

"Cut!" a voice interrupted.

"Come on! What? What'd I do?"

A young lady in a blouse and shorts walked into the scene from behind the camera. "Don't call out the other Camera Boys. I don't want anyone to take it wrong," she said.

"What are you scared? It's not like I said I want to fight,"

"Its not smart with what's happening right now. Did you know Big Man is Camera Boy now?"

"No way. Big Man is a bad you know what; when'd he start using a camera?"

"I thought they said his mom moved him out of the city," another voice spoke from behind the camera.

"He came back once we turned eighteen, he's been back in Laulamere for two years now,"  the young lady responded.

"That's one person,"

"Nah, Astro, Marley's right. Cindy Newton just joined FlyFruit, and MarMar and Lou just started Papperville," another voice added from the distance.

"What the hell. Everyone uses Filez now."Astro added.

"Yeah, and I just saw MarMar and Lou with Big Man, hanging at the park with the Grown Man's," The young man in a polo shirt and jeans said while walking into the frame.

"When did MarMar and Lou start hanging with them?"Astro asked, perplexed.

"Things are different now, you gotta watch where you point your camera,"the young man in the polo shirt explained.

"That's always been the deal in Laulamare, but remember who stood in front of the camera first," Astro said while pointing at the camera.

"Ricky?"

"No, Lowry, I'm talking about us,"

"Whatever that does not matter. Let's film this jump rope challenge," Marley said, running back toward the camera. "Lowry, you face off against him."

"Wait, what about meeting up with Three Star and Aphrodite. They were going to take us to a bar-b-q,"

"They aren't here yet, so we can do this,"

Marley films while Astro and Lowry compete against each other in their jump rope challenges. Once the three wrap filming, Three Star and Aphrodite arrive. The five mingle on the porch, smoking, drinking, and listening to music during the fresh summer day. All while Marley edits the clips, she, Astro, and Lowry filmed.

"The challenges look great!" Three Star, the young man with groovy glasses and a bucket hat, stated.

"They're ok--damn, those shoes Astro got on are sick. What are those?" Aphrodite asked.

The entire squad stares at Astro shoes after Aphrodite's claim. They ooh and ahh at the unique, sumptuous, but casual shoe. Lowry drops to the ground and caresses the shoe, studying the fiber and design. It's all grey, shiny, leather, resistant to water, stylish, and most of all--

"Those are cool as fuck," Marley excitedly claimed.

"Yeah, they're called Sugar Kicks,"

"Sugar Kicks? What brand?" Three Star asked.

"Genie. Its this guy Cidy brand. He used to sell cars with my uncle. He sent them to me, told me to tell him what I think about the shoes,"

"You could get us a brand deal, dude," Three Star added.

"I just want a pair. He got them in all black?"Aphrodite asked.

"I don't know, I can ask about the color, but the brand deal is a no-go--I already asked, that's how I got the sneakers."

"Damn, why not? Our page is pretty decent. You told him about us working with the Theater on the River?" Lowry asked.

"Yeah, I showed him everything. He only works with real celebrities. Like real commercials, rock stars, pro athletes, comedians, he's been around more famous people than I knew existed," Astro added.

"I thought we had us one," Three Star said somberly.

"Yeah...don't worry, we can find another, but--What about this bar-b-q?" Astro jubilantly asked.

"Aw yeah! My homegirl told me at Washington Park, there's a Filez meetup. I know some people who got a tent too. They even said brands would be giving away deals; and the Filerz are going to be there. It should be fun,"

"The Filerz? They aren't even from here, why them?" Astro said.

"Because they're the number one group on files," Marley added.

Matrix sits idle on the backyard patio, enjoying the warm weather. They discuss whether to release their jumprope challenge. Half the group believes it's funny, while others in the group want to use the BBQ footage for their first upload of the summer. Debating ensues; however, it is ultimately decided to post the video before the barbecue.

While Matrix makes their way to Washington Park, the barbecue is commencing. There is a DJ, a host, smoked food, drinks, brand booths, and cameras are everywhere. In the midst of the activities and socializing, a video wall displays new content from the Filez app. Through the myriad of videos, Matrix's newest video, their jumprope challenge, plays.

A few spectators watching recognize Astro; a young man watching from a tent nearby is hypnotized by the video. The others in his tent are busy consuming fun, unbothered by the screen.

"Ayee yoooo! That's Astro from Matrix. Look y'all, look!" the young man told the tent.

A few straggled over to the entrance to glance at the screen. None were impressed, and a few walked away.

"Why'd you call us over to watch this shit? You a fan of Astro or something? The guy is just jumping rope," a young man questioned.

"Nah, man, look at his feet, those shoes are fireee!"

Those who remained took the advice from their pal. Their faces waned from stale to ecstatic. Ooohs and ahhhhs went viral. "Nahhh man, those are sick! I need those!" a spectator said.

"They're sick, but they're not sicker than the classic swoosh, come on guys, be for real,"

"Bro, you be for real. Them boys heat! You're right, they're not classic, they're the new wave," the young entrapped man retorted.

"Whatever, it's just the video. Watch me blow these Swooshes back up with my jumprope video," the envious young man responded.

Eventually, Astro's video is replaced with another video, but enough people are talking about it. Those who missed it hear so much about it that they search for it.

Meanwhile, Matrix rides in Three Star's car on their way to the barbecue.

"Broooo, what the hell!? What the hell!? What the--"

"What! What the fuck are you doing all that for!?" Aphrodite furiously asked Lowry.

Lowry pushes his phone into the face of Aphrodite, "Look at this shit! two hundred thousand!"

"Oh shit--but how, it's just a--"

"Two hundred thousand what!?" Marley asked, forcing her face to the phone.

"Views!"

Astro and Three Star both turn around after hearing Lowry speak. Horns honk, and the car swerves, causing Three Star to regain focus, but every other member of Matrix focuses on Lowry's statement.

"We got two hundred thousand views on the jump rope video already. I just uploaded it less than an hour ago," Marley explained.

Astro snatches the phone from her, and he gawks at the screen, analyzing the metrics. "No effing way--"

"I guess my jump rope idea wasn't that bad after all," Lowry responded.

The group finds a parking spot and walks over to the barbecue. They are still in dismay over the video, unable to ponder why their simplest video is trending on Filez. While walking to the park, everyone's phone sings.

They slightly separate, taking the calls privately, but reluctantly. Nothing added up to them, not the views, not the notifications, and when they finally make it to the barbeque all the cameras turn to them. Smiles and flashes follow, and then fans swarm them.

"Astro," Three Star stated.

"Yeah,"

"I've got a friend who wants to know where you got those shoes from."

"Me too," the rest of the group responded.

Astro still holds his phone to his ear while a mild group of fans encircles him, mesmerized by the shoes. "Cidy, I can't hear you? Say it again?"

"The heat is on. Y'all got a brand deal, kid. Meet me at my office tomorrow at noon."

The phone call ends. Matrix is aghast by the glamour; they've each separated, joining jump rope challenges, doing interviews, and talking to Filez and brand representatives. Astro prowls the park, and he notices a parade of jumprope challenges.

As the barbecue embarks, Matrix's video climbs the Filez charts. Around evening the hype around the group simmers down. The sun has set but the weather is still comfortable. The DJs have packed up, and the event is over, but the Camera Boys still enjoy the dark. Matrix is leaving the tent of Aphrodite's friend, when suddenly red and blue lights brighten the night. Sirens quickly follow when officers jump out of vehicles. Those watching pour out their cups, including Matrix, while a group runs away.

"Oh shit, they're chasing them," Three Star told the others.

Others exit the tent, and the crowd at the Park watches as officers chase after folks. Camera's record, while spectators get tossed to the ground in the midst of the pursuit.

"Damn lets get closer," Three Star said.

"Are you dumb!?" Marley asked.

"The footage would be sick, Astro, come with me, man,"

Astro nods his head and follows Three Star to get a closer view of the officers' take-down. While they run over, officers disperse those recording. The enforcers yell and intimidate anyone who steps in their way. The two find a spot deep enough in the crowd to record and not get caught.

"Aye, Three Star, that's Big Man running," Astro whispered.

"Oh shit it is,"

The two watch as Big Man gets away, along with other folks he's running with. Suddenly, officers viciously clear a path, and down that path the ones apprehended walk. The group at the park watches, some record--if they were able to hold on to their cameras. Then an officer with a suspect stops walking and addresses the crowd.

"I'm Officer Jones! And I want all of you to listen to me and listen to me well! All you Camera Boys and Grown Mans will be caught. You can't hide, because we've got cameras too! I don't care who you're affiliated with, we'll come get them too! Crime is crime, I don't care if you get one view or a million, we will find you, your friends, their friends, and their friends!"

The suspects are placed into squad cars, and then the officers leave the scene. The crowd disperses and Officers close the park; Astro and Three Star head back to the tent.

"Dude, one of those guys was Tini, from Laulamere prep. He used to play ball," Astro told Three Star.

"No way. He must be a Grown Man now,"

"Why do you say that?"

"I recognized a few of the others from around the way, and they most definitely are Grown Mans,"

"What do you think they did?"

"I don't know, but it looks like they're on Filez. We can probably find someone who knows what happened. We probably got to talk to Big Man,"

While the two continue their walk back to their Friends, an Officer watches them, and notices Astro's shoes.

"Y'all enjoy that top spot now! You heard the boss, we got Camera's too-- now smile," the Officer told the boys, mimicking a camera with his fingers.

The two keep walking; however, in the distance, they hear the officer satirically ask for a pair of shoes. They keep straight and eventually link up with the rest of the Matrix. Everyone decides that the night has given them enough and goes home. They plan to meet at Marley's house to head to Genie's headquarters tomorrow morning. When the group drives off, the park is abandoned, the wind increases, and the stores are closing. Those who aren't driving scroll on their phones, and on Filez, all everyone is talking about is Matrix and Officer Jones.

To be continued....