That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 33 - Stevie's Birthday Pt. 2

Katie's P.O.V

Eddie placed the phone on the table. We all sat around it. It was 11:00 AM, the next day. Stevie was high, as usual, sat at the table, Dylan was standing behind him, arms crossed, head down, preying, Eddie was stood at the end of the table, taking steadying breaths, I was a nervous wreck, stood opposite Stevie... and Todd... He was leaning back on the kitchen counter, in my house for the first time, standing on my left.
Eddie and I nudged Dylan to talk to Todd, as soon as he got here. Some how... They're friends.

One ring... Two rings... Three rings...

"Hello, EMI. Jennifer speaking, how can I help?" A woman answered the phone.
"Hi! Peter Finley asks us to give him a call." Eddie spoke up.
"Who's calling, please?" Jennifer asked.
"Janie's Gun!" Dylan spoke up.
"OK, please hold." Jennifer smiled, before music was playing.

"Hey, guys!" Vikki called out, walking into the house.
"They're on the phone!" I heard Billie call out to her.
"Oh, sugar! Sorry!" Vikki went into the living room, where Joe and Billie were waiting for us.

"Want me to do the talking?" Eddie offered.
"Yeah... Please." Dylan looked nervous.
"Remember what Joe said." I looked at Eddie.
He nodded and the music stopped. Our hearts stopped. My lip trembled, my thoughts ran dry.
"Hello?"
I nodded to Eddie, telling him that was Peter Finley.
"Peter Finley, hi! I'm Eddie Riot, from Janie's Gun. You gave Monroe your number, last night." Eddie sounded so calm and collected.

Vikki peaked through the living room door. Her hair was tied up, into a messy bun. She was biting her lip, catching my eye. She flashed a smile.

"Yes, great! I'm in Boston, for the rest of this week. I was hoping you and your band would like to have dinner, and a bit of a chat. Is it possible for you all to get down here?" Peter asked. 
We all nodded.
"Yeah! We're actually based in Boston. That would be great! When and where?" Eddie asked.
"Brilliant! There's a place called Magnificent's. Do you know of it?" Peter smiled.
"The Italian place? We know it." Eddie nodded, grinning.
"We chose the band name there." I whispered to Todd, who smiled at me, and nodded to Dylan and Stevie.
"Excellent! I'll meet you there tomorrow night, say around... Seven? It's all on me." Peter smiled.
"Seven will be perfect! We look forward to meeting with you." Eddie beamed.
"Great! See you all then!" Peter smiled, before he hung up.

"Oh, mate!" I was beaming.
Stevie was in shock, laughing, and covering his mouth, as Dylan let out a sigh of relief.
Todd nudged my arm, and I high fived him.
"Oh my gosh, guys!" Vikki came in.
Eddie grabbed the phone and looked at it, smiling. "We did it..."
"I need to sit down." Dylan walked into the living room.
"Happy birthday, Stevie!" Todd laughed.
"Oh, dude! I forgoh it were mah bir'hday!" Stevie laughed with him.

I heard Dylan telling Joe and Billie, as Vikki came over and hugged me.
"I can't believe this is happening!" She smiled. "You had better tell Kirk..."
"I know..." I hugged her tight.
"Who's Kirk?" Todd asked us.
"A mate." I shrugged, moving to give him a call.

. . .

Vikki's P.O.V

Katie left, so I turned to Todd.
"They both like each other, but neither of them are saying anything. Please, don't you say anything. They get embarrassed easily. Kirk is really sweet, and cute, but not... Dylan cute..." I saw Dylan sat on the couch.
Eddie smiled at me and walked into the living room, putting the phone back in the holder, and sitting with Dylan. He didn't say anything.
"Can I talk to you? You know Monroe really well, right?" Todd asked me.
"She's my best friend! Of course." I nodded at him, smiling.
We headed outside, leaving Stevie, who started raiding the fridge.

We sat on the steps and Todd thought about what he was going to say.
"I uh... I'm not used to being in a band. I have been, in the past, but I'm more comfortable solo, so... How... What's Monroe like? How can I... What..."
"I hear ya! Katie's actually pretty easy, as long as you don't make a mess of her stuff. Everything in her room has a place, and every place houses a thing. Katie's always the happy, funny one. She's always looking out for those she's closest too, just treat her as your equal. Sure, she's petite, not very... outspoken, in circumstances, but Katie knows how to play and how to go about things. She isn't afraid to ask for help. Sure, she sucks at writing songs. Don't tell her I said that!" I laughed, with Todd, who zipped his mouth shut. "But Katie is hard working. If you want Katie's trust, and friendship... Just be honest with her. If she says something that offends you, know she didn't mean it. Sometimes, she just gets a bit excited." I smiled.
"Right... What about the others? I know Eddie!" Todd asked.
"Well, Dylan likes to think he's in control, so if there's an idea... Let him have it, with acceptations, of course! Stevie is your... hippie friend. He doesn't like fighting, but will stand up for what he believes in. Katie is the founder of the band. It's her baby." I explained some.
"Right... Where do I fit into all that?" Todd asked, looking down the garden.
Now, I'm uncertain...
"Todd, if you don't want this, speak up now..." I looked at him.

. . .

Dylan's P.O.V

I watched Vikki get up, from sitting outside, and make her way inside.
"I'm going out for a bit." I told Eddie, nudging his shoulder, before getting up.
"Alright!" Eddie smiled. "So, tomorrow at seven. What was it like when you met with your label?" Eddie asked Joe.

I walked over to Vikki and took her hand, taking her through the kitchen, and to the hallway.
"Wanna grab some lunch with me?" I asked her, once we were alone.
"OK." She smiled at me. "Wanna go out now?"
"Yeah." I smiled at her, taking her hand.

We left the house and out to the van, climbing in. I drove us into the town, where Vikki directed me to a café, saying it was hers and Monroe's favourite.
I parked up, as close as I could and Vikki led me over to the place, grabbing us a table inside, at the back.

We sat opposite each other, at a table for two, and looked over the menus.
"Bet you're soaking up the last of being a nobody." Vikki smiled.
"Something like that. I just want to see you." I smiled at her.
"I'm here. I can't believe you're meeting with a producer tomorrow! I wish I could come with." She smiled at me.
"Can if you want, but it's just band stuff." I shrugged. "You want to model and we all agree to help you get there."
"You don't have to do that! I can work for it." Vikki shook her head at me.
"No way! You're Vikki Camel. Someday, I will be seeing you on the cover of Vogue, and I'll say..." I held up my hand. "'I helped her get there'."
"Thanks, Dylan." Vikki smiled at me.