CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96 :UNSTOPPABLE! I DON’T PLAY BALL, BUT I CAN STILL BE A LEGENDARY SONGWRITER

Saturday night, 8 p.m. sharp, Ryan pulled up to the upscale Iron City restaurant Chloe had picked—a sleek spot with dim lighting, polished wood, and a low hum of jazz.

He spotted Chloe first.

Hard not to.

She was stunning, rocking a black dress that hugged her curves, her hair swept up, a single silver necklace glinting against her skin.

Ryan’s heart did a quick stutter, but he played it cool.

Next to her sat Selena Hartley.

Ryan gave her a polite once-over. Sweet face, sleek ponytail, designer earrings that didn’t scream money but whispered it. But his attention drifted back to Chloe almost immediately.

After introductions, they ordered—steaks, salads, a bottle of red—and the vibe was easy, conversation flowing like the wine.

Once the plates were cleared, Selena leaned in slightly.

"By the way," she said, flashing a sheepish smile, "I think we were both at the Sky Lounge a few weeks back. I didn’t say hi—hope that wasn’t rude."

Ryan waved it off. "No worries."

I was just a rookie with a couple games under my belt. Why would you notice me? he thought, shrugging inwardly.

Selena shifted gears, her eyes lighting up. "So, ’Remember the Name’ is everywhere right now. K-Vibe’s killing it, taking his career to the next level." She paused, studying him. "Word is, you wrote that track, and K-Vibe scooped it up after hearing you perform it at a club."

Ryan nodded, keeping it vague. "Yeah, something like that."

Selena gave him a curious look. "Hard to wrap my head around. You’re out here dominating on the court and writing hits? That’s wild."

"Just messing around, really," Ryan said, downplaying it with a half-smile. "Nothing serious."

Selena laughed, shaking her head. "Messing around? You ’messed around’ and dropped a banger like that? then it’s honestly unfair. I wish I could do hip-hop. I’d be begging you for a track right now."

Ryan’s smile wavered for a second.

Who says I only write hip-hop?

Wait—no. That’s not even true. I didn’t write it... I remembered it.

Back in my old life, I’ve listened to everything. Pop, rock, EDM, soul—you name it.

Chloe, sharp as ever, caught the shift in his vibe. She leaned forward, her smile teasing, eyes locked on his. "What’s that look, Ryan? You telling me our genius composer’s got more than hip-hop up his sleeve?"

Ryan couldn’t resist showing off for Chloe. "Oh, for sure," he said, leaning back with a grin that carried the confidence of a baller owning the court. "I’ve dabbled in some pop, too."

Selena’s eyes widened, "For real? You got anything that’d fit my style?"

She caught herself, blushing. "Sorry, got a little too excited. It’s just... I’ve been at this two years, and my label’s barely given me scraps. All the good songs go to their A-listers, so I’m stuck spinning my wheels. I’ve been hunting for a track that could actually break through."

Ryan studied Selena’s expression for a beat longer. There was something in her eyes—part ambition, part exhaustion. Maybe he recognized it because he’d seen it in the mirror too many times back home. That quiet desperation to break through, to prove you’re more than background noise. This world might be new, but fame was still a brutal mountain.

Ryan nodded thoughtfully. "What kind of vibe are you after?"

Selena grinned, half-joking."A guaranteed hit, obviously! Nah, something powerful. Catchy but uplifting. You know, like Remember the Name—gets people fired up."

Ryan’s mind raced, and a track clicked into place: Sia’s "Unstoppable."

Back in his old world, it was a beast of a song. Written for Rihanna, it got passed over.

Sia recorded it herself for her 2016 album This Is Acting, but it wasn’t a lead single, so it flew under the radar at first.

Then, in 2020, it exploded—TikTok montages, sports highlight reels, and empowerment videos made it a global anthem.

Its lyrics, raw and defiant—"I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes"—were pure fire, perfect for Selena’s emotive voice.

Ryan could already hear her belting it, turning it into this world’s next obsession.

Ryan turned to Selena, his voice calm but serious. "Actually... I’ve got something. A track that fits exactly what you’re looking for. And honestly? If you nail it, I think it could outshine Remember the Name."

Selena and Chloe’s eyes widened in unison. "For real?" they said, almost in sync.

Ryan nodded, dead serious.

Back in his old world, Sia’s "Unstoppable" was a global juggernaut, racking up streams way past "Remember the Name."

And somehow, even years later, it had found a second life: last year, someone remixed it into a bizarre "meow meow" version. Suddenly, YouTube was flooded with cat AI shorts videos looping "meow meow meow meow..." over that haunting melody.

Billions of views. Completely insane.

"Want me to sing it for you?" Ryan offered, a grin creeping in.

Chloe jumped in, eyes sparkling. "Hell yeah, let’s hear it!"

UnsSelena leaned in, visibly intrigued. "What’s it called?"

"Unstoppable," Ryan said simply. "It’s about strength—about being untouchable when life tries to drag you down. A ’no matter what hits me, I get back up’ kind of song."

The title hung in the air like a spark waiting to catch.

Selena’s smile widened. "That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Something powerful. Something that makes people feel like they can take on the world."

Ryan nodded, voice quieter now, more serious. "That’s the heart of it. This song—it’s not just a vibe. It’s a message. You get knocked down, you armor up, and you don’t stop. You keep going until you win."

Ryan glanced around—not at the ambiance, but at the nearby tables, checking if anyone might overhear. The last thing he wanted was to draw a crowd.

"Alright, but I’m keeping it low-key," he said with a chuckle. "My singing’s... decent at best. No laughing."

Selena leaned forward, impatient. "No way we’re laughing. Just sing already!"

Ryan cleared his throat. He’d heard this song many times. He could sing it straight through. Unlike Remember the Name, he didn’t just know the hook—he owned the whole thing.

"All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this town," he started, his voice soft but clear. Selena and Chloe’s eyes popped, locked on him.

"I put my armor on, show you how strong I am," Ryan sang, his voice naturally climbing, carrying the raw power of the line.

The women sucked in a breath, visibly stunned.

Ryan caught a side-eye from the next table and dialed it back. "I put my armor on, I’ll show you that I am..."

Then came the iconic chorus: "I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes..."

Selena and Chloe’s brows furrowed at the same time, a flicker of confusion.

Ryan powered through, wrapping the verse. When he finished, both women clapped softly, their faces lit with awe.

Selena was first to speak. "That’s insane. I want it. No—I need it."

Chloe squinted. "Did you just sing something about... no brakes?"

She tilted her head. "I didn’t catch that part. What was that line?"

Ryan froze. Crap. Right. Porsche didn’t exist in this world.

"Uh..." he scrambled, "I was thinking of a sports car brand, but I haven’t picked one yet. Just threw in a placeholder."

Chloe’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Smart. That song’s a banger waiting to happen. You should pitch it to car brands—see who’ll pay to get their name in the lyrics."

Ryan laughed, impressed. "Damn, I didn’t even think of that. You’re the real mastermind."

Selena leaned in. "So... how much are you selling it for?"

Lesson learned from last time. Ryan smiled coolly. "That’s between you and my agent."

"Fair enough." Selena nodded.

He passed her Eddie’s number, then glanced up. "Aren’t you worried your label might hand it off to someone bigger?"

Selena smirked. "My manager’s got my back. We’ll lock it down."

Ryan nodded, leaving it at that. Music business? Not his lane.

But a thought crept in.

If he hadn’t been synced with Westbrook’s power when he crossed into this world...

Maybe basketball wouldn’t have been the path.

Maybe he’d just become a legendary songwriter instead—copying every hit Earth ever made.

Selena sighed. "Too bad we didn’t record that just now. Can you make a demo when you’re home?"

"A demo?" Ryan hesitated. Singing wasn’t really his thing.

"It doesn’t have to be perfect," she said quickly. "Just something rough."

Then it clicked—Kylie.

Back when he lived at Unit 702, he’d hear her belt out tunes through the walls, especially in the shower. Ryan used to tease her, calling her the "bathroom diva."

She wasn’t pro-level, but her voice was solid, hitting high notes without cracking.

Yeah. She might be exactly what he needed.

"The demo’ll be ready when we sign the deal," Ryan said, keeping it professional.

The three of them kicked back for another half-hour, trading stories and laughs until the night wound down.

As Chloe walked away, her silhouette framed by the restaurant’s neon glow, Ryan’s eyes lingered, a quiet ache in his chest.