It sounded like Leon didn't really have a choice, but he really didn't want to spend the entire night inhaling second-hand weed smoke in some dim, dingy bar.
"Bonnie, you want to be famous too, right?"
The question caught Bonnie off guard. What girl in the ghetto didn't want to be famous?
Lisa had only snagged a spot as a backup dancer on the edge of the stage at Beyoncé's concert, and she was happier than if she'd gotten into an Ivy League school.
Seeing Bonnie stay silent, Leon pressed on. "I happen to have an opportunity for you. If you take it, can I skip that boring party?"
"What opportunity?"
"Are you interested in being in a music video?"
"Of course I am!"
At the mention of a music video, Bonnie's eyes lit up immediately.
Countless female stars had launched their careers by catching someone's eye in a music video. That kind of exposure was way harder to come by than just being a backup dancer at a concert.
But as the excitement faded, she quickly sensed something was off. She stared at Leon suspiciously. "Which big celebrity's music video are we talking about?"
Facing her skepticism, Leon kept a straight face and pointed his right thumb at himself.
"You?"
A wave of rage surged from the bottom of her heart straight to her throat.
Her voice trembled as she roared, "Do you think I'm that easy to trick, you bastard? I'd rather believe the Apollo moon landing was real than believe you!"
At a time like this, words were useless. Without hard evidence, there was no way Bonnie would buy it.
Leon pulled the copy of his contract with T-Ray from his pocket and slapped it down in front of her. "Read it yourself."
Bonnie blinked her big eyes, reading it over for a full five minutes before cautiously asking, "You mean... T-Ray from Chester Street signed you?"
"Well, it's not exactly a signing, but we are definitely partners... Hey, why are you climbing on top of me?"
"Sht! Aren't you in a hurry to get to that birthday party?!"
Overwhelmed by joy, Bonnie lost her mind for a second. She violently ripped off her clothes and pinned Leon to the sofa.
For her, actually being in a small-time music video like Leon's was secondary.
What mattered was that her roommate was about to become a recording artist. That was bragging rights she could milk for a long, long time.
---
Two days later, T-Ray led a film crew to the front of the church where Leon usually picked up his charity meals.
After much discussion, both he and Leon agreed that this was the perfect location for the shoot.
On one hand, the setting resonated perfectly with the song Take Me to Church. On the other hand, that giant "Street Jesus" graffiti mural was right nearby.
"Damn it! You bunch of losers, get out of the way! God isn't home today, beat it!"
Acting as the director, T-Ray chased away the homeless people loitering around like he was shooing stray dogs. Facing a big shot with gang ties, they had no choice but to obey.
"Tommy, the first shot is a long take. Make sure that damn camera of yours stays locked on Leon!"
"Get the whole church in the background—the cross, the Jesus statue, everything!"
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
T-Ray was a tyrant on set. Almost every staff member was working under the constant barrage of his shouting.
"You really look the part of a director," Leon teased from the side.
T-Ray rolled his eyes at Leon, then lifted his chin smugly. "Bro, you have no idea how many music video sets I've been on. Nobody knows the director's job better than me."
Leon had to agree. At least regarding the set arrangement, T-Ray really did know his stuff.
"Action!"
With T-Ray's command, filming officially began.
Leon, dressed in white clerical robes, stood with his back to the camera, facing the cross and the church.
"Yes, just like that. This is the first half of the song..."
"Slowly turn around. Open your arms. Lift your head—watch your expression! Control your face!"
Following T-Ray's instructions, Leon spread his arms wide, adopting the pose of a penitent sinner in front of the church.
"The lighting is off! Gaffer! Hit his profile with a highlight! I need contrast between the light and shadow on his face!"
"Excellent! Everyone is doing great!"
"Cut!"
The first shot was in the can. Next, Leon had to change into a pure black suit, with a black shirt underneath.
After the "Amen, amen" chant came the chorus, and the rest of the music video would focus on that part.
"Ladies, you're up!"
"Let me see which little btch isn't shaking it hard enough. I'll take off my belt and whip her ass myself!"
Hearing the command, Bonnie was the first to dash behind Leon. She had been waiting for this moment!
The outfits T-Ray prepared for the girls were bold, to say the least. They wore tight black latex tops, with black fishnet stockings and high heels.
Each girl was also equipped with a small riding crop.
This kind of getup might be standard for a midnight stroll on Manhattan Beach, but this was a church in broad daylight!
"Action!"
T-Ray shouted again, and the girls began to writhe in front of the church like succubi.
Then, following the director's instructions, they turned their backs to the camera and started shaking their asses.
The scene looked absurd, filled with a cult-like, sacrilegious vibe.
"Not enough! Not enough, ladies..."
"Imagine you are fallen angels... Fk judgment and redemption!"
"Damn it, Gaffer! Give me highlights! An ass without highlights has no soul!"
The two lighting guys, yelled at by T-Ray, scrambled with their reflectors and equipment, casting a holy white light evenly across the girls' "tail lights."
"Don't push me, white btch! Or I'll flatten that sad little ass of yours!"
"Shut up! Don't make me tear that mouth of yours open, skank!"
As the only white girl in the group, Bonnie naturally faced some exclusion, but she fired back mercilessly every time.
She was going all out for this chance at screen time. She even pulled a bottle of oil from somewhere and slathered it on her rear.
Shiny, white, and glistening, she stood out vividly among the Black girls.
At this moment, Leon entered the frame, walking up to the girls.
In the pure black suit, he created a stark contrast to the earlier scene.
He had completed the transformation from redeemer to devil, facing God's butchering knife without a shred of mercy.
"Nothing could be more perfect..." T-Ray was so excited his voice trembled.
"Cut!"
"Everyone did amazing! Even in my twenty-plus years in the business, I've rarely seen a shoot go this smoothly."
"All the ladies, and the crew, head over to my club later to relax. Tab's on me!"
Cheers erupted on the set as soon as he finished speaking.
T-Ray walked up to Leon and whispered, "White boy, you killed it today. Maybe you have more talent as an actor than a singer..."
"By the way, that girl you brought is fantastic. Haven't seen a white chick that hot in a long time!"
"Can I..."
"No! Don't even think about it, man!" Leon knew exactly what T-Ray was going to say and shut him down sternly.
Even though he and Bonnie were technically just roommates, he did it because—despite being a stripper—Bonnie was a girl with principles.
And her principle was simple: she strictly did not sleep with Black men.