𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀,, hobie brown.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈.

"So do I just show up to their boat? Do I come here? What the hell do I do for a band who plays in the same five areas, in the same state and sometimes travels elsewhere." I murmur while staring down at the printed out documentation in frustration while grabbing clothes out of my closet.

Monique sits cross-legged on my bed, radio playing a low hum while she catches the clothes I toss in the air for her to fold. Vanity and Eliana both were out of town for the week so that left Monique and I alone, except in the contract it stated I would be living in an exclusive little apartment right near the band for early fittings, shows, having to discuss the upcoming clothing and so much more. It was more convenient and Karl has yet another extra little apartment building for me to live in.

"I have no clue, I'm guessing once you get settled you should go introduce yourself. You said you only met Hobie, right? That means none of the other band members know your face, possibly your name. You don't have social media and you stay under the radar when you post your work online." Monique was very smart, punctual with her words and I felt myself relax a little, but there was still so much I had to know. "Try to pack a lot more clothes, it says every Saturday you can come back here to relax and have a day for yourself. So at least a week's worth of clothes, bring that tight dress you wore to the concert, too."

I huff, shaking my head as I grabbed onto the dress and turned to her. "No way, I have no use for this." I bite my lip and look at my suitcase, pondering on the idea though.

"So you're just going to wear jeans and ugly black sneakers at every concert. Interview or fitting with them?" She asks.

"Black goes with everything, come on now.." I correct.

"They're plain." She says while standing up now to swap places with me, going to my closet to pull out items I forgot I even brought with me from Washington. "That dress cuts off right under your ass, you should totally wear that when you are helping the group get ready for any events and make Hobie regret ghosting you." She laughs.

"If I go anywhere with them, I'll be in the back of the crowd or flushed away in the dressing room just getting their outfits ready. Besides, this isn't a high paying band you see on TV. This band is locally–"

Monique raises a hand and shakes her head, unlocking her phone to give me as she starts to shove more clothes into my suitcase. On her phone is an article about Spider-band becoming more and more well known around the world and the demand to have them perform is overwhelming that Karl has had to step in and let them know the band prefers to perform in the state of New York for now, nothing more or nothing less. Major states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois and other places have sent Karl deals that are exclusive for this band; but to their dismay, the lead singer is always declining them and the band members don't seem to care at all.

"Not to scare you, but I am pretty sure you will be going to more parties with them. If not with them, probably with your work friends because in your contract you still have to fulfill your duties with your designs on your off days." She looks at me over her shoulder as I sigh, falling back onto my bed.

I was still trying not to think about everything that happened in less than twenty four hours. My life hasn't been exactly the easiest since I got here, but I am incredibly blessed for every opportunity and chance I have gotten in this city.

"(Y/N).." Monique comes over and sits on the side of the bed in front of me. "You'll know you'll be okay, right? This is an amazing opportunity for you to expand your craft to not only a very popular band, but also the world to see. If one of the top fashion designers in the world handpicked you for this chance, you must have an eye for this." She reassured me, placing a hand on my knee. Her voice was soft all of a sudden, I could tell she's concerned about my attitude going into this.

I huff and sit up, looking over at her with a determined look on my face before tossing a beanie I had resting on my bedpost into the suitcase. "I'm just–I don't know. This whole thing is so much to think about. It's just the fact I'm having to deal with a whole group of people who I have no information on, style them clothes based on what I think will be good with no guide. Oh! Can I add I'll also be with the same man who ghosted me after taking me to visit his 'mother' basically." I shake my head, my stomach turning as I feel overwhelmed out of nowhere.

"It seems like a lot, which it is." She pulls the two of us back to lay on the bed as we stare up at my ceiling. The little stars I added one night were glistening as she rose for a split second to turn the light off and laid back down for the comfortable silence to take over the two of us. "When I first moved here after my brother left, I was scared. A girl like me who moved to New York from Australia. You can only imagine the trials and discomfort I went through to make a name for myself. I had three choices: either go home and pretend this never happened, stay and try to put my foot in the door for so many opportunities that were out there for me to try, or give up and work three jobs to afford living here." She sighs in remembrance.

"You can guess which option I took, but it wasn't easy. No one wanted to give me a chance because I had little background and a small resume, my work was always inconsistent and I never stuck to one project at a time. I would start one, stop half-way, move on to the next one, forget about those two and finish a third one; go back to those two and do them after the timeline was already finished. I was constantly battling with myself that I couldn't make it."

I sat up on my elbow to turn on my side to look at her through the dark. "What happened then?"

She stays in the same position and doesn't move while telling me all of this. "I kept going. Even if I was uncomfortable or felt like I couldn't do it, I told myself I wasn't going to leave this city, and only when I was going to leave the city would be if it was to show my boss a project and since he is a high-paying man he lives in a different state I would have to leave, or because of work." I see the smallest grin form on her lips from the illuminating lights that shine down just a bit on us. "And I did, now I work in my dream profession. Anway–the moral of this story is you are going to face a lot of problems to get where you want to be. No one will take you seriously, especially as a female. A person of color as that. You have what it takes, you are just in your head about this and that's fine, but you wouldn't be here if Karl didn't believe in you."

I let out a small laugh and rise to my feet to turn on the lamp this time, the bedroom light being too much for the both of us after laying in the dark for a few moments. We both resume packing as I turn up the radio.

Once we finished and both of my suitcases were packed next to my door, my phone started ringing to alert me that it was Karl. I had set one just for him incase he called and I didn't miss it.

"(Y/N)! I hope this isn't a bad time." His voice rings over the other end causing me to pull my phone away for a short second and Moni to cover her mouth with her hand.

"No, I was just finishing packing and re-reading the contract you sent me." I replied, leaning on my vanity.

"Wonderful, I just wanted to call and let you know that tomorrow when you arrive at your new apartment and get settled in, the members will meet you up at your place instead of their home. Change of plans on that. You'll also be meeting up with two assistants that will be helping you throughout the months of being the bands stylists, after that the group has a public showing and then Ciera and Ares will show you the schedule. Don't think of this as a punishment by any means, but I see you as someone who can go far in this industry. You already caught the eye of a very important man."

"Who?"

"I have to go now! Champagne tasting and my age don't mix well, remember to not be late!"

Before anything else could be spoken between us, the dinging sound of the call ended on his end, and I placed my phone on the charger port before turning to Moni.

She pulls me into a hug and I suck in a deep breath, dreading for tomorrow to come. "You never know, you might end up loving it and not want to come back."

I shake my head and quietly laugh. "I doubt that."