Dial Drunk - Post Malone

11

Austin's album is a success.

It smashes country records and tops not only the country charts but the mainstream music charts too. All the radio stations are playing his songs on repeat and everyone is talking about him. The money rolls in fast and thick while he continues to sign new endorsement deals that not only bring more money but more exposure for him. He buys a few nice things for his upgraded lifestyle and Grassy buys a yellow bike - he always wanted a yellow bike as a kid.

Gone are the days he could pop into town on his own unnoticed and has had to hire more people for his radically growing enterprise which includes a bodyguard after some guy tried to smash his fucking face in because his girlfriend had become obsessed with him - a super fan. Yeah, apparently he has supper fans now too. There are fan pages and chat rooms dedicated to him. They analyse the meaning behind his songs and find out where he will be every waking hour, they also spend hours talking about his clothing, his voice, his face, or his hair. They spend hours just talking about him. Grassy is a member of all the fan pages and also comments under pictures of Austin. He is very excited about them and tells Austin all the gossip while Austin rolls his eyes.

There are parties too. Lots of parties that are fueled with alcohol and beautiful women. He attends them all and his bodyguard feels more like a babysitter than a bodyguard as he carries an incoherent Austin out of the parties and hands him over to Grassy at home who cleans him up and puts him to bed. But, it's normal. He is a musician and he is no different to any of the other musicians in Hollywood so when Grassy or Dre try their hand at suggesting he slow down on his drinking a bit he grunts at them and slips into his room where he sips from that silver hip flask under his pillow, because now he has to hide it from judgmental looks. He gets the shakes really bad now and the whiskey helps, that's the only reason he does it, although the shakes come on more often now too. It's fine for now, he will get a handle on it soon.

He also makes sure Levi Scott's name is printed on that album of his. Her name is under every song, in the credits, and he thanks her in the little handwritten note that is printed and placed in each album. He wants the world to know her talents, he wants the world to know her name. So even during his interviews to promote his album, he talks about how talented she is and how this album would never have happened if it had not been for her and her brilliant musical mind.

He sees her too. He meets her for lunch now and then. But, he can never stay long because she had been right. His schedule doesn't allow for much downtime and he is always rushed even when he needs to go to the bathroom. But, he holds those rare moments he gets to see Levi close to his heart. They are always so wonderful and his heart beats just a little faster when she smiles at him. The album's success has allowed him to fulfil his promise to her and he keeps her signed to him with the space to be as independent as she likes. She says the exposure she has received has kept her busy and she has clients lined up now. They are all still mostly unknown artists but she likes that. She gets a kick out of helping out the underdog and then watching them flourish. Some have dropped her once their careers have started gaining some traction, giving her very little to no credit on their album. But she always shrugs and says she is content with just being able to write music. She is happy and that makes Austin happy.

She is also seeing that guy she said she was meeting up with and she says she is happy with him. That does not make Austin happy, but he slaps a smile on his face and tells her he is happy for her while he dies a little inside. This guy has apparently made the effort to learn sign language, has a steady job, treats her well and gets on great with Stella. He is fucking perfect and Austin is so happy for her. So, so, very fucking happy for her. He has a relationship now too, her name is Brandy or Jackie, or whatever amber liquid is closest to him - his 'partners' are not as kind to him as Levi's new love is to her.