Benny Everhart, a 35-year-old musician, and her four childhood friends-turned-bandmates all hail from Maine, brought together by their shared love for music and the dream of achieving fame. Discovered by talent scout Jenny Graywood from Columbia Rec...
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3rd Person POV
The final chord reverberated through the venue in New York City, the crowd's cheers fading into a murmur as the pulsating energy of the music dissipated into the stale air. Guitarist Fallon dropped her instrument to the ground with a clatter, beads of sweat mingling with the white powder smeared on her upper lip.
Lead Vocals/Guitar Benny shot Fallon an glare, her eyes flashing with a mix of fury and disappointment. The rest of the band members exchanged uneasy looks, the unspoken tension thickening the air around them.
Bass/ backing vocals Amelia spoke up first, her voice laced with barely concealed anger, "Fallon, what the hell was that? You were high on stage again, wasn't one intervention enough?"
Fallon met Amelia's gaze defiantly, the drug-induced haze dulling his usual vivacity, "I'm sorry, man. I needed to take the edge off before the show. You know how stressful these gigs can be."
Drummer Damon/backing vocals shook his head in disbelief, his voice tight with frustration, "This isn't about stress, Fallon. This is about you putting all of us at risk with your reckless behavior. We can't keep doing this."
Benny's voice cut through the mounting tension like a knife, her tone cold and unforgiving, "I can't do this anymore, Fallon. We've tried to support you, but this is the last straw. You're tearing us apart with your addiction."
Fallon's facade cracked, a flash of regret crossing her glazed eyes before defiance clouded them once more, "You can't do this to me! You need me, Benny. Without me, this band is nothing."
But Benny stood her ground, her resolve unwavering, "No, Fallon. Without you and your drugs, maybe we can actually be something. I'm done. We're done."
And with those final words hanging heavily in the air, the once close-knit rock band stood fractured, their dreams shattered by the destructive power of addiction.
Benny POV
We saw Fallon leave the room stumbling, after she had destroyed everything in it. We sat quietly, wondering how things had changed so much. We used to have great times together, partying and occasionally doing blow and we smoked, but it wasn't a regular thing. When Fallon and her ex-girlfriend, Emily Ratajkowski, broke up and Emily moved on quickly, Fallon was devastated. She started using drugs heavily, and our band's unity fell apart. It wasn't all Fallon's fault, though. Each of us had been drifting apart and focusing on our own interests.
"Look, we all knew this would happen eventually, guys," Amelia said to us.
"Maybe we should take this as a sign and focus on our own stuff?" Bowie suggested.
"That's because you and Amelia have acting and modeling gigs lined up," Damon retorted annoyed.
"Oh, blow me, Damon. You act as if you weren't invited for a Drummer tour with Travis Barker," Bowie shot back.
"So, is all of that true then?" I asked the group.
"Don't act surprised, Benny. We know you've been approached about going solo," Amelia snapped.
"first of all, I never agreed nor accepted, BECAUSE were together. You guys are my band my family." I told them all.
The rest of my band members just scoffed and rolled their eyes. "We're all upset, and clearly we have our own issues to deal with. Maybe we need to step back and focus on our own stuff," Bowie suggested.
"You know what, fuck it. If you all want to quit and do your own thing, then so be it. I'm out," Damon declared as he gathered his belongings and left the room.
Bowie looked at me and gave me a sad smile. "Look, Benny, we're always going to be like family, but none of us are happy. This past year has been stressful for all of us. We need to learn to stand on our own. Maybe we'll find our way back," he said, smiling, hugging me, and then leaving.
I looked at Amelia, who had been like a sister to me since I met her shortly after I met Fallon. "Good luck with your acting, Mil," I said as I left the room. "Benny, wait, please," I heard her shout as I continued walking away from the venue.
I ran into Jenny, our manager, while walking outside. "Where are you going, and what's happening?" she asked. I looked at her and hugged her. "Thank you for everything you did for this band, Jen. But it's over, and I'll set up a meeting on Monday about working on my first solo album." I walked to my SUV and drove away.
3rd POV
The breakup of the North Side Bound band had spread like wildfire, with multiple artists envious of the bandmates. NSB had all grown up together in their hometown in Maine, bonded by their love for music and playing together since they were able to pick up an instrument. They were signed in 2011 and had their final performance in 2019, serving as role models for many artists and paving the way as trailblazers in the music industry.
Now, Benny Everhart is starting her solo career, which was no surprise. After Fallon left that night, she overdosed, and Benny managed to get her rushed to the hospital where they were able to save her. The next day, Benny had Fallon admitted to a rehab center. Seeing Fallon in such a state almost broke Benny. Fallon and Benny were the closest out of all the bandmates. Fallon Larkspear is on the road to recovery, and the band is keeping quiet about her addiction.
Bowie Ryker was starting his modeling career and still making music on the side for other artists. Amelia St. James was beginning her acting career and gaining quick recognition. Then, there was the youngest member of the band, Damon Thornfield. He seized the opportunity offered by Travis Barker and joined the Drummer Tour, where Travis took Damon under his wing. Damon then met the one and only Kendall Jenner, and they hit it off. He even ran into Bowie one night at a fashion show.
The bandmates didn't want their talents or the fame they had worked hard for to be wasted. In their early 30s, with Damon being only 28, they were still young and had goals to achieve. Benny was becoming well-known as a solo artist, receiving a lot of attention. While she was enjoying her life, she couldn't help but lie awake at night, thinking about her childhood friends and bandmates. She missed them dearly.
