"You're going to Hollywood!"

Connie couldn't even respond past a quiet, "What?"

"YOURE GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!" Her phone screeched and crackled in her ear.

The next few weeks were an absolute blur.

She went out to speak with the company that had signed her album, she did three separate photoshoot, she met her new team and backing artists. There was never a moment to sit and process anything, but this was her dream so she always fell asleep with an exhausted grin.

The first single she released went viral in hours to the point of her sobbing in the bathtub with peanut butter whiskey. It was an odd moment, to realize you've achieved your biggest dream and realize there's not much more up you can go.

Her album was streamed 1 billion times by the time a couple of years passed, and she was a completely different person. She kept her bob at first, but she could definitely call herself a persephone goth with a bit of a titter. Her best friend Anna had convinced her to dye her hair completely pink which took a long time to get used to. More and more pink and pastels were added to her wardrobe, with main holding points of rich black. She was her own person finally, and after growing up with no friends and orphaned at 17, she felt tangible for once.

She loved her fans, her first tour sold out almost immediately and it was so much fun she had burn out and depression afterwards. It was a really hard job, so much marketing and being careful, but she tried to keep herself as genuine to everyone as possible.

Life was incredible.

Until another artist came crawling up straight from what she assumed to be Hell with the unfair advantage of being able to shapeshift his vocal cords. Initially she'd watched him on the Singing Show and thought he was incredible with his range and flexibility. He could mimic anyone they chose with ease, regardless of gender, and was shot straight to the finals three rounds in.

After that she didn't hear anymore about it and completely forgot until her manager approached her with a huge unnerving grin.

"Hey Greg, what's up?" She put down her songwriting notebook and turned her eyes to him skeptically. "You've got that look again."

"Okay, okay I know you're still new but you have to have heard about this new kid." He pulled out his phone and shoved it in her face, an angelic clear voice blaring from it.

"Oh yeah, that kid. He's talented."

When Greg rubbed his hands together, dread from the deepest recesses of her soul crept up her legs. "Well, that's my son!"

"Ohhh! I thought you were going to tell me–,"

"He made it big, Connie! Really big! He's been songwriting for years and his first single came out months ago! It's all over the radios and some genius had THIS idea!"

When she saw it was a remix of one of her favorite songs she'd written, she took the phone and listened. She adored when her fans made new versions, and she tried to listen to all of them. And then her smile dropped into an irritated one. She was singing with someone. Which was fine, but seeing as how she never heard it made her uncomfortable to hear it there first. Maybe she was a little selfish with her craft, but the rumbling voice accompanying it confused and frustrated her when she couldn't figure out who the voice belonged to. "Who is this?"

"Steven Universe," Greg proclaimed. "Son of Greg Universe. Isn't it beautiful? Conflicting sides of the spectrum coming together to make something angry and passionate and editorially interesting! We in the music industry avoid this like the plague and I don't know why! It's gorgeous!"

Gregory Universe was a very animated man, so when he shouted his arms gesticulated everywhere to convey his excitement.

"Okay... this is cool and all but where do the storylines connect?" She handed the phone back and pursed her lips. Connie was a careful woman, there were too many men in the music industry with cocky attitudes and poor respect for woman. Mostly all of them actually, so she was apprehensive to say the least.

"Well, listen to a few of his songs. We've been talking about possibly doing a collab. Think about it: An emerging artist and a new one will kill the Top 100 easily." He spread his hands through the air and visualized it. "It's going to be groundbreaking."

After the first song, she had already decided he was like all the other guys. Bias was strong toward male artists and she didn't care to risk her ass for some pretty boy. She kept herself poised as Greg practically begged her on his hands and knees the next few weeks and eventually relented when she realized he was never going to stop.

"The window is closing, Connie Mahaswaren! We have to do it now or never, and when has never been an option for you?"

He was right. Kind of. So she signed the release and went over the lyrics millions of times. They clashed, it was like two different songs but she supposed that's how collab remixes went so she bit her tongue.

Four weeks later she walked into the studio and waved off her driver, noting the other limo right in front of hers in an obnoxious hot pink.

Greg greeted her with a hug and her team discussed legalities and how to's.

"Alright, we're going by a number system. If it goes well, we'll do another one. If I hold up one finger, that's your first verse. Three will be chorus, four will be your bridge. If I have a half finger up and do let's say three, then that's half of your chorus. Got it? Good."

That was barely clear and her mind barely connected the information but off they went and she squared her shoulders. Music was a whirlwind, they'd figure it out as they went.

Holy shit this guy was huge. She tipped her head up a bit to meet his eyes and almost giggled at how high his mic had to be. Brown eyes turned to meet hers, and a huge childish and friendly smile. "It's nice to meet you, Connie Mahaswaren."

The effortless charm and gentle voice threatened to sweep her off her feet, but she stuck out her hand professionally. "It's nice to meet you too, Steven Universe."

His eyebrows raised and he chuckled. "Okay, then." His hand enveloped hers softly. It was so warm she almost pulled back too soon.

When was the last time she'd felt the body heat of someone else?

She tugged her hand away after a second too long and spun back to her mic, tossing her hair anxiously. He'd probably seen plenty of other girls, mingled and fucked more than would be sensible to. He was just another one of the other guys who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. She didn't need that energy.

"Alright you two, you remember the hand signals and we'll be on our way to a number one hit single."

Greg had already mixed their music along with Andreas, so the sound that came from her headphones was not her music. It was theirs and suddenly she felt possessive. Her hands clenched at her sides. Was this stupid, or was she being a total bitch? Probably the latter, but it was hard to understand everything happening in her mind.

"Hey, uh..." Steven cleared his throat and she snapped to attention.

"Oh shit, I missed my cue, didn't I?" A humiliated blush reached her shoulders.

Steven watched her carefully and signaled to cut. "Take ten."

She expected them to push but they all left and left them be. Which only made her more anxious and untrusting of him.

He squatted and looked up at her to try and seem as unscary as possible. "Look, I know this is new for you and you have no reason to trust me. They didn't even give us a chance to meet first, which sucks cause you're really pretty and I'm nervous too."

"It's not like I can't do it. It's just different and was sprung on me way too recently to get used to." He was kinda pretty too in a way. His natural aura was so calming she didn't even realize he was blushing until she took a deep breath. "I need to sit down."

She slumped to the floor and he tipped to the side to join her.

"So."

"So," She urged. She couldn't stop staring at him, right into those honey brown eyes. His curly brown hair dangled a bit in front of them and his dark hoodie with a star obscured the rest of his build. He was mysterious and yet an open book she could read easily. Almost bubbly even.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips as he broke the eye contact. "You're kind of looking at me like I've already done something wrong."

"You haven't."

"You sound like I have." He sighed. "I'm new. I don't have both feet on the ground yet. Cut me some slack."

It was out of her before she could filter it. "Your music sounds like the overconfident assholes I typically avoid, so excuse me for being cautious."

His eyes met with hers again, this time with irritation. "Did you even read any of the lyrics?"

She simpered. "I heard most of them."

"You have to listen with an open mind, Princess of Pop. You're not the only one with double edged meanings to your songs. I could easily passively listen to your stuff and guess you're a stuck up, snotty brat. But I didn't." He glanced to the side and winced. "Not really."

"One of the first things you said to me was that I was pretty." She pointed that out and frowned at herself. Her judgement was really warped, wasn't it?

Steven giggled sweetly. "Haven't you ever heard a genuine compliment before?"

"Not without someone trying to get in my pants." It was true. When she'd first started she was relatively naive and excitable, which lead to precarious situations that had turned her into a cynical hermit unless it was interacting with fans. Other artists became out of the question long ago.

Steven leveled her with a heated stare for a split second. "I mean can you blame them? You're clearly smart and gorgeous."

She'd been about to explode with 'There it is!' and call it all off but she froze.

"Wasn't expecting that were you?" He mumbled cheekily. "I acknowledged that you're smart before I even mentioned you were stunning. You don't have to like me, and I hate having to give comprehensive outlines to my compliments, but if that's what it takes to get you on board then I will. For you." She stared him down and he smiled. "I'm not trying to get in your pants. I'm just trying to be tolerable enough for you to want to do this again."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a huge fan of rivals to friends to lovers arc." That lopsided smile was going to get her in trouble.

Her hand reached up to touch her cheek and she scoffed at how hard she was blushing for some kid with his head in the clouds. "How old are you anyways? 16?"

"I'm 24, a year and 1/4 older than you are." He seemed to be thinking and suddenly smiled big. "You're a Scorpio. This is making tons of sense now. I'm a Leo."

Connie's eyes widened. "You're right. How did you know I liked astrology?"

She watched his face go blank for a second before he coughed into his hand. "I... I did research, just on something you liked and nothing else. I didn't want it to be awkward and I'm outgoing but secretly an overthinker with friends I don't even really like. I was hoping to make a new one, someone who writes about real things like I do."

Her heart dropped into her stomach and she felt nauseous. Someone had taken the time to learn about a topic she liked without being creepy (supposedly) just to keep her engaged and happy if things slowed down.

Connie took a deep breath and stood, putting out her hand to help him up. His eyes widened but he took it, still holding her when he rose to his full height. They stared at each other for a long moment before Greg knocked on the glass quietly.

"You guys ready?"

She pulled her hand away and returned to being professional and poised. "Yes. I apologize for missing my cue."

Steven returned to his mic silently and rubbed at his neck, staring at the floor. "I'm ready too."

Greg had to hide his shit eating grin as he clicked the play button. "Then let's make some magic."