"What do you mean?" I ask Ryan.

"So, Ryan isn't necessarily a publisher like you thought. He is actually a record executive, and his company is helping me find an artist to feature in my upcoming movie," Hannah explains.

"Yeah," Ryan nods, "Stella, we need an artist that can create unique new songs that nobody has heard before. Your sound is exactly that."

"Well, how long would I have to make the songs?" I look at Ryan. "It's obviously not that simple to create new songs quickly."

"We start shooting for the film next week in Los Angeles. It won't premiere until the end of the year," Hannah explains to me.

"Okay, but I mean like how many songs do you need? Do I get to know what part of the movie they'll be in? Do I get paid? Do I get to stay in my parent's house? I need details, Ryan!"

"We can further discuss the details in a meeting. Tomorrow morning. My office," Ryan nods.

"Spoken like a true business man," I let out a little laugh.

THE NEXT DAY

I wake up with a massive headache. It's a chilly Friday morning in Hillsdale, Michigan. Today is the day I meet with Ryan to discuss writing songs for a major Hollywood film. What the heck is my life?

"Morning mom!" I smile at my mom, a petite blonde, who is cooking breakfast.

"Stell," she gives me a curious look. "Why are you in such a good mood this early?"

"Ryan's back, as you know, and he has a job for me."

"Ryan is giving you a job?"

"It's for a new movie, and I get to write the soundtrack."

"Stell," she smiles. "That sounds insane. Is that why Ryan came back?"

"Not for me necessarily."

"I'm sure it has a lot to do with you."

"No, Ryan has a movie star with him. He's probably dating her even though he said he wasn't."

"Did he tell you he didn't have feelings for her?"

"Yes, but he didn't use those words exactly."

There's a knock at the front door, and my mom goes to open it.

"Oh my goodness, Ryan!" I hear her exclaim.

I walk into the next room, and I am confused. Ryan brought my mom a huge bouquet of flowers and is hugging her.

"Stell!" he shouts.

"Hi," I nod.

"I just figured I would come say hi to Kathy, and bring her some flowers. I also thought I could drive you to our meeting."

"Isn't Ryan just the most thoughtful guy ever?" I hear my mom say, "Well, you kids go ahead and head out. I'll see you later."

I roll my eyes at my mom, and I follow Ryan outside to his black Escalade. He tries to open the door for me, but I beat him to it.

"Sorry, habit," he says.

"It's fine."

We drive downtown in silence. The radio plays a song I have never heard.

20 minutes pass, and we have arrived at what I assume is Ryan's office.

We follow a few security guards to the fifth floor of the building, and we enter a huge conference room.

"So, this is not my main office, but there is a branch being built here to scout out new talent."

"Okay," I look around, "Where is your main office?"

"Los Angeles," he looks at me, "I wanted you to meet with me there, but it was so last minute that I didn't think we could arrange it. However, when you're working on the movie, you will be there quite a bit."

"When I'm working on the movie? I love how there's no question there. You just assume I'm going to drop everything when you come calling."

"Okay, I know I might be getting ahead of myself. What questions do you have for me?"

"First, do I have to move?"

"Yes, you will need to be based in LA for the entirety of this year. We need you there for filming and the premiere."

"How am I going to find a place to live with no notice?"

"I have an extra apartment that you can stay in for this first year, and then you can find a new place for the next movie."

"Next movie? Ryan, isn't this a one time thing?"

"No, Hannah's movie is a part of a 5 movie series. The network thinks it will do amazing, and they will more than likely want you to be the lead singer on the project."

"Okay, so what's my pay?"

"$100,000 per song. They will want at least 15 songs in the first film."

"Ryan!" I hear a man shout in the distance.

"Yes," Ryan opens the door and walks out to have a conversation.

10 minutes pass, and Ryan returns to the conference room.

"Okay, Stell," he walks closer to me, "My boss has found another potential person for the job, but it is yours if you decide to take it within the next 30 minutes. I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I know I don't deserve it. I just think you are the perfect person for this job."

"If I take it," I start, "Can we talk about why you left me?"

He lets out a loud sigh. "Stell, you know I had no choice. There was nothing in Hillsdale for me."

"Nothing? Not even me?" I jump up and walk out of the room quickly.

"Stella!" Ryan shouts, as he runs after me down the hallway. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"Really? Then how did you mean it?"

"I just meant career wise, there was nothing. You meant everything to me. Hell, you still do!"

"You don't just walk away from someone you love and move across the world, Ryan!"

"I asked you to come with me."

"Yeah, and I couldn't leave my mom. That was right when Faith was dying."

Faith is - well was - my older sister. She got in a car crash and died a few weeks later. My mom and dad were devastated, and so was I. Ryan left for New York right after Faith was put in the hospital.

"Faith told me to leave, and she told me to take you with me."

"What?" I stand there in disbelief.