better friends - eddie roundtree x oc

November 9, 1975

Turns out that 'good thing in the near future' was us doing an album with Daisy. I could feel it on day one. If Daisy and Billy could learn to get along, this would be the number one album in the world. As we waited for Billy and Daisy, Warren showed Eddie a camera he got from Camila while Graham and Karen messed around on guitars. And I stood in the corner and watched, smoking a cigarette. Ever since the night of the party, I felt like complete shit. I thought it was just the shock and hangover at first, but here we are how many days later? Eddie had tried multiple times to speak to me after my outburst, but I managed to avoid him every time. The sound of the door closing brought me back to earth. "Oh. I made breakfast." Daisy joked, setting down a humongous fruit basket. I guess I was the only one who knew she'd be here, because everyone else seemed amazed by her presence.

"Again with the legs, man." Warren muttered to Eddie. "Dude, I know." he muttered back. "I'm a leg guy, you know? That's just a fact." Warren added on. That seemed like a bit of a weird body part to appreciate, but I wasn't about to judge. Karen and I walked up to Daisy and gave her a hug, greeting her. Warren was still talking about her fucking legs. "And those legs? They just got me a little distracted is all I'm saying." Eddie was trying so hard through body language to tell Warren to shut up, but he didn't get the message. "Warren, right?" Daisy asked, approaching him. He looked like a deer in headlights. "Yeah." he replied awkwardly. "You know it's not my job not to turn you on, right?" She was chewing on a few grapes and had a hand on her hips. "I-I do... now." he stammered, embarrassed. She smiled. "Great."

"All right, everybody. I just want to say a few things before we get started. First off, we have a new member of the band. So let's hear it for Daisy Jones." We all cheered and whooped as we welcomed her. "Thank you for being here and doing this with us." said Billy. "Thank you for having me." she smiled. I couldn't tell if they were being genuine or not. "So, it's been what, four weeks?" Billy started back up before Daisy interrupted him. "I wrote a song." Billy stopped talking and she cleared her throat. "Well, actually, I've written about twenty 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..." she finished. Billy nodded. "Okay." She had no idea. I couldn't believe he didn't tell her.

We all stared at her before she eventually had to ask, "What?" Billy shrugged and put on his patronizing nice-guy hat. "Well, Daisy, the great news is, we, uh... we actually have, what, thirteen 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, want to add anything. You know?" I couldn't believe him, and he probably thought he was being nice. "We could play the, uh... the new one for Daisy." She hummed and popped another grape in her mouth has we got ready to play. "Yeah, I think you're gonna dig this one." Billy told her. She shot him a sarcastic smile. "Let me guess, it's about your wife and the rain." Graham almost froze as I tried to hold back laughter. The song was literally called "She's the Storm". She started laughing as Billy took major offense, but chuckled to cover it up.

"That funny? Sorry, I just, did you wanna say something?" he asked. She put her hands up in defense. "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 Mal's and Graham's and Warren's and," she stopped to point to Eddie. "that guy's." Billy looked back at him and Eddie shrugged. She was saying things Eddie had been saying since nineteen-sixty-nine. "You know? I mean, shouldn't we at least talk about a direction? Is there a concept, a big idea you have for the record, or...?" I took this moment to step in. "Actually, I agree." Billy stared at me and I rolled my eyes. "What? I think it's a good conversation." Karen supported me. "You know what I think?" Eddie asked. Billy said exactly what I thought. "Oh, god."