Not Just a Mirage

Chapter 2

Lindsey watched as Stevie toyed with the tiny tassels of her shawl intently, the sounds of her first demo playing throughout the studio. It was after 9 PM and she just made her way downstairs as he and Christine were working on one of her songs. They happily took a break to listen to what Stevie brought them. He could tell she was a bit wired, presumably from the lines of coke he knew she just did, but there was also a certain sadness to her that not even he could ignore.

"And that's Gypsy," she announced, still looking down at her lap as the demo came to an end.

He studied her, the lyrics repeating in his mind. "It's beautiful. Has all the bones of a great single....just needs a little structuring."

She looked up at him surprised, his voice sincere and eyes genuine as he spoke, "It's special, isn't it? I wrote it for Robin."

"You said... I think she will love it. I love it."

"I was going to use it for Bella Donna but...it felt like more of a Fleetwood Mac song."

"I agree."

He agreed? And he didn't make a backhanded remark about Bella Donna? Surely it was their first agreement in years, she thought to herself with amusement. Before she could respond, a rattling noise came from the other end of the room as Mick, Richard, and John stumbled in clearly high and very rowdy.

"What's going on in here???" Mick's voice echoed through the room now.

"We're working," Lindsey eyed him in annoyance.

"We've decided we need to have a welcome party for Stevie and Jimmy. Right now," he announced.

"We're working, Mick," Lindsey stood up now, headed to light himself a joint before his patience ran even thinner than it already was.

"Yeah, I'm really tired. I was hoping to let Linds and Chris hear some more of what I brought," Stevie added.

"Nonsense!" Mick declared, calling everyone else in and heading towards the speakers to put on music.

Stevie groaned, looking around the room. She'd been slightly underwhelmed by the studio space in this grand chateau. She heard lavish stories of Elton John recording here and expected the studio to be more glamorous than the makeshift walls and wires that stuck out in every direction. Still, the chateau itself was charming and gorgeous, she had to admit.

"Hey babe," Jimmy grinned, sitting beside her on the couch as he kissed the side of her head. She could see Lindsey flinch from the corner of her eye.

"Hey."

"You okay?"

"Mhm," she nodded, "I just let Lindsey listen to Gypsy."

"Needs some work, huh?" Jimmy looked over to Lindsey.

Lindsey eyed him with disdain. It did need some structure, he'd be the first to say that, but Jimmy critiquing it right off the bat to him made him furious. Who did this guy think he was? All smug and thinking he could co-conspire with Lindsey against Stevie. He looked to Stevie, who sat quietly but rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's words. The same tired, sad look he saw earlier returned to her face.

"Lindsey!" Carol Ann entered the room now, following behind a few others, "Look at this new nail polish Christine gave me!"

Lindsey's girlfriend skipped in, sitting on his lap and wrapping an arm around his neck as she held out her other hand - nails wiggling proudly - for him to see. Between that sight, the sound of Mick's obnoxious yelling, and Jimmy's attitude, Stevie suddenly felt so suffocated by everything in this goddamn chateau. She hated it here. Standing up, she excused herself to go to the kitchen. She needed that fucking iced tea she never got earlier. And then a shot of vodka maybe.