STELLA: I told my parents what had happened and they were actually happy for me. Probably because this type of situation was real and not another one of those lame gigs. They let me fly to L.A. with Teddy, as long as I called them every day (smiles).

But after recording the song and sending it out into the world...it didn't sell. Not in the way that Teddy or I wanted it to at least. It was a flop as some people would say now (laughs softly). Teddy tried to tell me it was because people didn't understand the genre, but that didn't stop me from being disappointed.

✯✯✯

Stella stood outside of Teddy's office, listening in on his conversation with Don Midleton, his boss. It had been just a few days after they released "Brooklyn Baby" and it was not doing too well in sales; much like Teddy's other songs he had tried releasing, which was news to Stella.

"You just gotta be patient, man," Teddy told Don as Stella peered through the glass wall.

"Now, Teddy, come on," Don said, not having it.

"Look, not everything catches on right away. You already know that. I mean, just give it a chance," Teddy reasoned, not wanting to give up on the song.

"How many in a row is it, Teddy? Six, seven straight?" Don questioned, raising his eyebrows.

"Six," Teddy confirmed after a moment of hesitation, which made Stella sigh to herself.

"Six in a row that didn't work."

"Uh, they did work. They just didn't sell," Teddy corrected him, glancing at Stella behind the glass. She sent him a grateful look before looking down, sucking in a breath.

"They have to sell, Teddy! How do you think we keep the lights on?" Don pointed out angrily.

"Look, okay, Don. All right, so, look, what, you-you're gonna fire me?" Teddy cut to the chase.

"Oh, come on. Don't be that way. Look, Dean Martin wants to cut another Christmas album," Don began to say, not wanting to fire Teddy since he was just trying his best.

"Motherfuck..." Teddy trailed off, turning away from his boss as he shook his head.

"Hey, Dino loves you! You know he does. Why not just take some easy shots for a change? Enjoy your life," Don told him as Teddy took a seat, taking out a journal filled with notes. "Think about it. You don't have to decide right now, but just...just think about it."

Don then left the room, closing the door behind him. He turned to Stella, knowing she had been there the whole time. "Sorry, kid, but...this profession isn't meant for everyone," he voiced before he walked past her.

"Just because it didn't sell, doesn't mean it's not good," Stella spoke up, paraphrasing what Teddy has said before. Don stopped and turned around, giving the girl a slightly surprised look.

"Look, don't get cocky, Stone. You've been offered a chance here and I could easily take that away, especially because your so-called 'good song' didn't work," Don threatened, which made Stella tense up a bit. "Next time, think before you speak, huh?"

Stella's nose flared angrily, wanting nothing more but to curse him out but she knew she couldn't. He was right, he could take away her opportunity in a second. "You're right," she forced a smile. "Sorry, it won't happen again."

Don nodded. "Good." He then turned around and walked away again, prompting Stella to send him the middle finger without him seeing. It was one of the ways she relieved her anger.

✯✯✯

STELLA: After that little conversation, I thought Teddy would just give up on me and try to find someone else (purses lips). And I'm pretty sure he did try, seeing as though he would go to a lot of bars where live music would be played. But he didn't seem to find anyone. Some people actually found him.

According to him, they were great. He saw their potential, just like he had seen in me. Which was why he didn't want to give up on me just yet. You see where I'm going with this, right? (tilts head to the side, arching a brow).

✯✯✯

"You want me to join a band?" Stella questioned after Teddy just told her the news. "I quit my band to be here and now you're making me join another one?"

"Look, I know it's not ideal. But I don't want your talent to be wasted just because people don't understand the music that you make," Teddy explained calmly and Stella ran a hand through her hair stressfully. "They're in the other room now, Stella. Just meet them and maybe experiment with them a bit before making a decision."

"And what if I don't want to join them?" She asked him, genuinely wanting to know the answer.

Teddy looked at her before sighing. "Then we'll have to figure it out. I don't want to just throw you away, but it's not up to me at the end of the day. It's up—"

"Don, yeah, I know," she finished for him bitterly and Teddy nodded. "Alright...where are they?"

"This way." Teddy led Stella through the building before they finally reached the recording area. He opened up the door to reveal the band he wanted to place Stella in, chatting amongst themselves.

Once they heard the door open, they immediately turned to look over to see who had entered. The first person that Stella had laid eyes on was Eddie Roundtree, someone she had briefly met not too long ago.

✯✯✯

EDDIE: The phrase 'It's a small world' is definitely true. I heard her single every now and then before some jackass would tell someone to turn it off, but I had no idea she was working with Teddy.

✯✯✯

"Holy shit," Stella breathed out in shock as her eyes widened a bit, not expecting to see Eddie standing there.

"You okay?" Teddy whispered, giving her a look.

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," she quickly said, nodding to herself. It wasn't that he was a significant person to her — not yet, at least — she was just surprised to see him there.

"Alright, well," he turned to look back at the band, "everyone, this is Stella Stone. You may have heard her song, 'Brooklyn Baby' that was recently produced. I'm thinking of having join the band as the rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist."

"Backup vocalist?" Stella questioned at the same time the guy in the front said, "Rhythm guitarist?"

Teddy looked between the two, expecting that reaction to come from the both of them based on their personalities. "Okay, before we all go crazy, how about we introduce ourselves?" Teddy suggested, not wanting either of them blow up.

"No, I want you to tell me what the hell is going on, Teddy!" The man demanded angrily, Teddy's hope diminishing in an instant.

"Billy, it's okay," a woman with long, dark hair tried to calm him, who's name was Billy apparently, down.

"No, it's not okay. This girl is not gonna just come into the band and steal my instrument," Billy argued, gesturing over at Stella with his own rhythm guitar.

Stella scoffed at him. "This girl?" She repeated, walking up to him with her arms crossed. "You better watch who you're talking to, Billy."

"Oh, really? I better watch who I'm talking to? The girl who's song barely sold anything?" He insulted.

"At least you know the song," she countered, tilting her head to the side. "Let's see, what songs do I know from you?" She asked, pretending to think for a moment. "Oh! None!" She exclaimed with false enthusiasm, causing someone to let out a laugh. Stella looked over to see that it was Eddie, and she sent him a small grin.

✯✯✯

GRAHAM: I've never seen anyone stand up to Billy like that before (lets out a shocked laugh). I knew he had to be pissed.

EDDIE: I was rooting for her quietly in my head because, man, Billy was truly an ass back then.

WARREN: I already knew this chick was gonna provide some needed entertainment (smiles excitedly).

KAREN: I liked her already (smiles warmly).

✯✯✯

Billy stared her down angrily before he looked over at Teddy. "I'm not letting her in the band," he told him sternly.

"Well, I'm sorry, Billy, but it's not up to you. I believe she can make you guys better if she decides to join," Teddy explained to him.

Billy shook his head, trying to come up with something. "Okay, but we already decided to rename ourselves The Six. We can't just say we're The Seven now, it doesn't work."

"But there's only five of you in the band," Stella pointed out, looking at all the people on instruments.

"I'm actually part of The Six, but I don't play any instruments," the girl with long, dark hair stepped up. "I'm Camila Alvarez, Billy's girlfriend," she introduced herself with a warm smile.

"Lucky you," Stella replied sarcastically, sending Billy a dirty look to which he returned.

Camila chuckled awkwardly before she looked at her boyfriend. "It's okay, Billy. I could be, like, the honorary sixth member," she came up with a compromise. "And besides, now it won't be as confusing to people who hear the name and see you guys play."

Billy seemed to think about it for a moment before he sighed, "Alright, fine. She's in the band then."

Stella smiled proudly. Before she met this Billy guy, she really had no interest in being in the band. But now that she had, all she wanted to do was prove his sorry little ass wrong.

"Perfect. Now, I have to go get on a call and I'll be back in a bit, but in the meantime...equate yourself please," Teddy told them all before he left the room, praying that it would be in one piece when he came back.

"He already told you, but I'm Stella Stone," she reintroduced herself once Teddy left the room. "And you're Camila Alverez," she pointed at the girl and she nodded. "And you're Billy...Dunne."

Billy gave her a look. "How'd you know that?" He asked her.

She shrugged. "Well, you know, I was having a chat with someone a little while ago who was talking about a Dunne brother being an absolute piece of shit. So, after what just happened before, I'm assuming you're that Dunne brother."

Eddie bursted out laughing, making everyone turn to him as they gave him a weird look. "I'm-I'm sorry, but this is gold," he spoke through his laughter.

Billy gave him a look. "It was you, wasn't it? You're the one who told her that, didn't you?" Billy assumed seeing as though he and Eddie didn't really get along at times.

"Why would you assume it would be Eddie?" She queried, using his name to give it away. Billy looked back at her before he scoffed, realizing he had been right. "But yes, you're, unfortunately, right. I met him a few weeks ago at a bar in Brooklyn. I guess you guys just missed Teddy because that's where he asked me to record my song."

"No way," the one on the drums breathed out, making Stella look over at him. "Oh, hi, I'm Warren. Warren Rojas."

"It's nice to meet you, Warren," she grinned. "Now, how about everyone else?"

"I'm Karen Sirko," the woman on the keyboard introduced in a British accent.

"Love the accent," Stella complimented which made her smile. "And now that just leaves you." She pointed at the guy with curly hair on the guitar. "And I'm assuming you're the other Dunne brother since no one else has had that last name yet."

"You'd be correct," he confirmed. "I'm Graham."

"Well, Graham, I hope you aren't anything like your brother," she told him, which made Billy shake his head and roll his eyes. "Just kidding."

✯✯✯

STELLA: I definitely wasn't kidding (stares at the camera with a serious look).

BILLY: I couldn't stand her. She was supposed to be our background singer, but when we would practice after that, sometimes she'd sing louder than me. She would definitely do it on purpose.

STELLA: I'd sing louder on purpose just to piss him off. (shrugs) It made everyone else laugh, so no harm done, right? (smiles teasingly).

EDDIE: (smiles to himself, seeming to be lost in thought) She was great.

authors note
stella🤝eddie, bonding
over their hate for billy

i love writing in this
style where it switches
between the interviews
and the actual story, it's
so fine. it's like breaking
the fourth wall lmaoo
anyway, i hope you guys
enjoyed this chapter!!!