The next day, Stella had woken up hungover as hell. It appeared that the Mai Tai's she had were definitely no joke. But, she still remembered everything for the most part that night and definitely wanted to solve whatever the hell happened.

Camila and Billy had let the band crash at their place since neither of them wanted any of them to drink and drive, so Stella pushed herself out of the bed that she and Karen were sharing.

It seemed like the girl was still sleeping, so Stella carefully tiptoed over to the door and opened it up. But right as she opened the door, Eddie had been behind it getting ready to knock.

"Oh," Stella breathed out, not expecting him to be there since she was just about to go find him.

Eddie cleared his throat. "I was, uh, just about to knock," he told her, laughing softly.

"I can see that," Stella replied, referring to his hand that was still curled in a fist position and that he was holding up.

He looked at his hand. "Oh, right," he sheepishly said, bringing his hand down. "So, uh...can we talk?" He inquired, praying she wouldn't shut him down.

Stella nodded, wanting to do exactly that. She stepped out in the hallway where Eddie was and slowly shut the door behind her since she didn't want to wake the Sirko girl.

"Okay, so, I just wanna apologize about last night," he began quietly since other people had been sleeping as well. "I got drunk and didn't know what I was doing and I totally cockblocked you or whatever," he continued, which made her grin a little. "I just wanted to protect you, that's all. I really have no excuse for what I did other than just being a complete asshole."

"Well, I wouldn't say complete asshole," she spoke and he furrowed his brows. "Billy's got you beat there," she smirked.

Eddie laughed, grateful that she seemed to be cool about what happened. "Yeah. Yeah, he does," he agreed.

"No, but, thank you for apologizing. I'm not actually mad or anything, I was just...confused, that's all. I've never seen you act like that," she told him.

"Like I said, I just wanted to protect you. I didn't know if he had ulterior motives or anything, you can never be too careful with these guys who wanna say they hooked up with a celebrity," he said — even though he was hiding the fact he was also jealous — and she nodded, agreeing with that. "And you're my friend and I care about you, and you're, like, one of the only people who actually appreciates what I do, so I can't afford losing you," he admitted.

Stella smiled warmly up at him before feeling that familiar feeling in her stomach yet again; the same one from last night. Her smiled faltered a bit at the feeling as she glanced away from him, becoming shy under his gaze all of a sudden. She hated feeling like that, it made her feel...vulnerable.

"You okay?" He asked, noticing her change of demeanor.

"Uh, yeah. It's just my stomach," she assured him, brushing it off.

"Oh, shit. That guy didn't knock you up, did he?" Eddie questioned even though he was partially joking. He actually didn't know whether or not the two had decided to hook up and if they did...he wouldn't know what he would do if the girl had actually got pregnant.

She laughed, relaxing a bit since he was joking around. "Hell no. No, we, uh, actually never did anything. He kinda bolted after I told you to leave."

Eddie resisted the urge to sigh in relief. "Oh, really? Why?"

Stella recalled the conversation from last night and how Cal thought the two had something going on and how he'd only be getting in the way of it. She shook her head. "No clue," she lied and he hummed. "I'm definitely hungover though, so want to have some coffee with me?"

Eddie grinned, happy that things seemed to go back to normal again. Although, he wasn't sure if he wanted them to since that would only mean Stella was his friend. He'd have to figure out a way to get rid of his feelings since she clearly didn't feel the same.

"Sure."

✯✯✯

The band, apart from Billy, hung out in the Sound City recording studio as they chatted amongst themselves. They were supposed to start recording their new album today, but they had to wait for Billy.

And Billy did arrive. But not by himself.

"I made breakfast," Daisy announced once she and Billy stepped inside, setting down a big basket on the table. The whole band stopped what they were doing and stared at her in surprise.

✯✯✯

KAREN: We didn't really know what to expect.

✯✯✯

"Again with the legs, man," Warren whispered to Eddie, checking Daisy's long legs out since she was wearing some pretty short shorts.

"Dude, I know," Eddie replied and Stella glanced over at him, sucking in a breath. Did I just...get jealous? She thought to herself, swallowing hard.

"I'm a leg guy, you know? That's just a fact."

"Hey, Daisy," Karen greeted, going up to Daisy and giving her a welcoming hug.

"Hi!" Daisy hugged her back.

Stella decided to go up to her as well so she didn't have to listen to their conversation anymore. "Hey, girl," Stella said before she gave her a hug as well.

"Hey!" Daisy exclaimed, embracing her.

"I mean, they just got me a little distracted is all I'm saying," Stella heard Warren say once she pulled away from the redhead.

"Warren, right?" Daisy went up to him and Stella raised her brows.

Warren glanced away in surprise. "Yeah..."

"You know it's not my job not to turn you on, right?" She told him and Eddie's eyes widened, looking over at Stella who had just been looking at Daisy proudly.

"I-I do...now," Warren answered slowly.

"Great." Daisy then walked away from them and Eddie began to chuckle quietly at his friend.

"You're fantastic," Stella whispered to her as she passed by and Daisy smiled before she continued on over to take a seat.

"All right, everybody. I just want to say a few things before we get started," Billy spoke up. "First off, we have a new member of the band," he gestured to Daisy. "So let's hear it for Daisy Jones."

They all started clapping for her and the girls made sure to clap extra loud. "Welcome," Warren added and Eddie nudged him.

"Thank you for being here and for doing this with us," Billy said to her.

"Thank you for having me," Daisy responded.

"So, it's been what, four weeks?"

"I wrote a song," Daisy immediately cut in before clearing her throat. "Well, actually, I've written about 20 songs I'd like to play for you guys. Sorry. I wasn't trying to cut you off or anything. I was just — I'm excited about it, so..."

"Okay," Billy said, not really knowing what to say.

Daisy then looked at the rest of the band, who weren't really looking her way since they kind of already established the songs they'd be recording. "What?"

✯✯✯

BILLY: The songs were all written and ready to go.

✯✯✯

"Well, Daisy, the great news is, we, uh...we actually have, what, 13 songs for the album? So...Yeah, I mean, why don't we play you some and then, uh, you can have a listen, see if you...feel strongly about any of them or, you know, wanna add anything. You know?"

✯✯✯

DAISY: I mean, can you imagine?

BILLY: I could not have been nicer.

✯✯✯

Billy picked up an acoustic guitar. "We could play the, uh...the new one for Daisy," he suggested and everyone started picking up their instruments. "Yeah. Yeah, I think you're gonna dig this one."

"Let me guess, it's about your wife and the rain," Daisy suspected.

✯✯✯

WARREN: (laughs) Oh, my God (covers face).

EDDIE: (laughs) I think it was called "She's the Storm." Seriously!

STELLA: (wheezes).

✯✯✯

Daisy began to laugh once no one said anything, which basically confirmed her suspicion. "That funny?" Billy questioned, a forced smile on his face.

"No."

"Sorry, did you wanna say something?"

"No, I'm just — I mean, I'm not here to sing harmony on a bunch of love songs about your wife. Right? You know, I mean, if we're gonna — if we're in a band, then the album has to be just as much mine as it is yours, as it is Karen's and Stella's and Graham's and Warren's and that guy's," she pointed at everyone, landing on Eddie last. Stella raised her brows, but Eddie just shrugged, fine with it because at least Daisy was calling Billy out on his bullshit. "You know?"

✯✯✯

EDDIE: She was saying things I've been saying since '69.

✯✯✯

"I mean, shouldn't we at least talk about a direction? Is there a concept, a big idea you have for the record or...?" She trailed off.

"Honestly, though. I mean, you expect us to just go along with whatever you say," Stella added in, which was something Billy expected to happen since it was Stella.

"Actually, I-I agree," Karen spoke up and Billy gave her a look, not expecting Karen to say that. "What? I-I think it's a good conversation."

"You know what I think?" Eddie cut in.

"Oh, God," Billy muttered.

"I think this should be a rock and roll record," the Roundtree boy said.

Billy sighed. "Thank you, Eddie. Thank you so much for your input," he voiced sarcastically.

"No, I'm serious!"

"Of course it's gonna be a rock and roll record, man. What the fuck?" Billy snapped.

"I mean, is it, though? 'Cause, I mean, like, a lot of these songs are sounding, like-like, well-well pop songs, man," Eddie told him truthfully, and Graham started shaking his head to tell him to stop while Stella began nodding at him encouragingly. "Like Sonny and Cher shit. You know, are we a pop band now, or...? All right? I mean, rock and roll should be passion, pain, anger."

"Mm," Daisy hummed, agreeing with him.

"Sleeping with some girl you don't know, not making sweet love to your wife, for Chrissakes," Eddie continued and Billy gave him a scary look, hitting a nerve. "No offense, Billy."

"Sort of what I was trying to say," Daisy said.

"How about some African drums?" Warren suggested.

"Great idea," Daisy pointed at him.

"We could do a song just vocals and piano," Karen added.

"Maybe we could actually increase the volume on my vocals, too," Stella said even though she knew Billy would never agree to it. But if people were throwing ideas around, she thought 'why the hell not?'

"Yeah. I-I'd like to write some of my own bass parts for once," Eddie tried.

"Great!"

"You know, why not?"

Billy took his guitar off, giving up. "I knew this was a fucking terrible idea."

"What's the bad idea?" Daisy questioned. "Wait, I mean, you invited me here."

"Yeah, well, maybe that was a mistake, Daisy. All right?" Billy replied angrily as he put his guitar in its case.

Teddy then came into the room abruptly. "Are you done?" He asked Billy, but he didn't answer. He then looked at Daisy. "Are you? Jesus Christ. You're acting like a bunch of kindergartners. Just maybe the two of you can go someplace and work on something together, how about that? Either way, the door is right there, so go on and get the fuck out of here, 'cause I got shit to do. Go, goddamn it!"

Billy grabbed his guitar case and looked at Daisy. "Come on," he sighed and Daisy grabbed her bag, following the man with a smirk on her face.

"Hey, yeah, so what about us?" Eddie queried to Teddy once the two walked out the door.

"I could care less," Teddy held his arms.

"I think you mean, you couldn't care less," Stella corrected him. Teddy just stared at her for a few moments before he turned around and left the room. "Right."

authors note
sorry for the wait!
hope u guys enjoy
and thank u for
all the reads!!!