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4:27 PM
Upon further review, Teyana approves of the job that the M.A.C. artist does on her eyes, and allows her to finish the job. “They are probably going to be mad when I bring in my own makeup,” she says with a laugh before entering the store. Surprisingly, the ladies have no qualms in using Teyana’s personal stash in conjunction with a few new items. Phone in hand, both ladies retreat to a private area to complete the task of making her show ready.
5:08 PM
Nobody knows what Teyana wants better than Teyana. Being the perfectionist she is, Teyana reviews the work, gives a few suggestions, and even joins in the blending and perfecting of the makeup job until it is exactly how she wants it. Considering there was a budding superstar in their midst, the store was unexpectedly calm. Finally, two fans walk by, then quickly do a double take before swinging the door open and walking in. They watch in a amazement as Teyana finishes her makeup. After taking a picture with Teyana, the two fans run in unadulterated excitement down the breezeway. One girl cries. The other screams while providing less than adequate consolation for her friend. “Oh my God,” they shriek, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I love her so much!” This was a prelude of what was to ensue later that evening.
5:17
Everyone is back in the Suburban. It’s closer to show time, and tension is the highest it has been all day. Every nuance of the show is reviewed before D is instructed to play the CD featuring the songs she is scheduled to perform. However, the CD seems to be skipping. “What? Why is it doing that?” a distraught Teyana asks. Luckily, the crisis is averted. The stereo system was on scan. Preparation continues. One thing after the other goes wrong in Teyana’s mind. The pause between the intro track and the second song is too long. The playlist is out of order. The songs had been switched to Teyana’s liking at the last minute. “Man we don’t have time to tell the DJ what to change or how to change it. Call my mom.” D immediately jumps on the phone to call Nikki, Teyana’s mom. She is already at the venue, and she has the songs on USB. They go over the order. Get it right. Mom saves the day. Angst increases as stop and go traffic impedes progress to the Galleria Mall. Teyana looks at her phone and reads a Tweet from a devastated fan that claimed to had flown from Nigeria for a chance at the performance, only to not be able to get in. She is almost brought to tears hearing the heartbreaking story.”We can’t do that to these kids,” she yells, “I need to track her down myself.” Even running late for the show, her fans are at the top of her mind.6:00 PM
Teyana’s driver contacts the driver of another Suburban carrying Teyana’s friends, family and Nikki. The show outfit consists of adidas branded socks, pants, shirts, jackets, and knee pads. Teyana is as tense as ever as she complains to Nikki about the wrong sized knee pads, and, of all things, a dancer that had been missing all day. Mom, dressed in her adidas Originals Harlem GLC, comes to the rescue again, as she reaches into a bag and pulls out the right-sized knee pads, a shirt that Eli needed under his adidas jacket, and coordinated plans for the missing dancer to arrive by showtime. Nikki is superwoman. Teyana hops back in the Suburban, and switches clothes. Then, she emerges calm as ever, ready for her moment.
