Stevie's eyes bulged out of her head, starring at Lindsey in disbelief. Her hands were placed on her hips firmly, glaring him down as he sat on the edge of the bed in front of her. "Lindsey this isn't even a discussion! You are not quitting the band!"
She'd been repeating herself all morning, trying to get through to Lindsey. He watched her pace from the bed, unphased. His mind was already set. "I will not work for that asshole, period. I don't give a shit what the guys say."
"Lindsey I don't like Rupert anymore than you do, but the police won't do anything and he holds your band's future in his hands."
"I don't give a shit about any of that." He stood his ground, determined to keep to his word. "We'll find a different label to sign us,"
"And who's going to sign you after Rupert gets done trashing you to every producer there is?" Stevie cut him off. "The guy's a creep but he's got a lot of pull in the music business. You've worked so hard to get where you are."
Lindsey didn't say a word, sitting tensely. His eyes were dark and stormy, his arms crossed across his chest.
Stevie sighed, dragging her hands along her face. "Lindsey please. I'm not saying what he did was okay, but people make mistakes."
Lindsey looked at Stevie in disgust, his mouth gaping open. "Why are you sticking up for him right now?"
"Because this is your dream Lindsey, to be a big Rock and Roll star, you may never get a chance like this again."
"It's not right Stevie."
Stevie smiled sadly at him, running her fingers through his thick, curly hair. "There's a lot of things that aren't right in this world. But the world deserves the chance to hear you play, you can't let an opportunity like this pass you by."
She pleaded with him, trying to get his view point to budge if even by the tiniest bit.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Stevie bit her tongue, holding in all the words she still had left to say, simply nodding her head. "Ok. Whatever you want."
Not another word was said as they got ready for the day. They planned to meet the rest of the band for breakfast, stepping on to the elevator. Stevie felt a churning in her stomach as the elevator dropped, terrified to face Lindsey's band members. She was the reason all this drama was happening in the first place.
The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open. They stepped out and made their way to the dining room, spotting the rest of the guys at a circular table in the corner of the room.
"Good morning."
Brian's greeting had snapped Stevie out of her head space; putting a smile on her face as she slid in to the seat by Lindsey. "Morning everyone."
Bob, Brian, and Javier all looked at one another , silently daring each other to say something. Javier bit the bullet, clearing his throat. "So... Rupert's assistant sent over a copy of the contract this morning."
"And?" Lindsey asked bluntly, his eyes burning in to Javier's. "I hope you burned it."
Javier sighed. "Don't be like this man.
"Lindsey." Stevie warned under her breath, pinching his thigh under the table, he ignored her warning.
"I can't believe you're even considering working with this guy."
"I get it Buck." Bob joined in on the conversation. "He did a shitty thing, but I can almost guarantee he won't try that shit with Stevie ever again."
"That's not the point!" Lindsey slammed his fist on the table, the cutlery rattling and everyone jumped back a bit. "It's not just about Stevie, it's about all the other girls he's probably done this too. I don't think Stevie was the first one he's ever done this to, but I want her to be the last. I don't want this creep to have any claim over our music. I want him behind bars."
"Lindsey," Brian tried to talk to him, the waitress interrupting them; asking for their drink orders.
"You know what," Lindsey shook his head, pushing his chair away from the table. "I'm not really hungry. I'll catch up with you guys later." He left, leaving Stevie behind and storming out the hotel doors.
...............
Lindsey had disappeared after leaving the diner, Stevie catching a ride back to the hotel with the guys. She had spent most of the day with one eye on the television, and one eye on the clock. He'd been gone for hours now, trying not to let her mind worry.
Just as she was about to freak out and start calling bars looking for him, she heard the lock click; Lindsey appearing in her sight seconds later.
"Hey...." He greeted her timidly.
"Hey." Stevie replied softly. "Where have you been?"
"Blowing off some steam."
She nodded in understanding, welcoming him as he climbed in to bed next to her, pulling her in to his arms. They held one another close, Stevie kissing the top of his head. "What's going through your mind?"
"I'm just thinking about this whole record thing. I don't want Rupert representing us. I hate him."
Stevie bit down on her lips, taking a deep breath. "I think you should sign with them Lindsey."
"Stevie-
"Just hear me out." She cut him off, Lindsey nodding. "This." She gestured between the two of them. "Whatever this is, it's going to end sooner or later."
"Don't say that."
"You're going to be a big rock and roll star and I'll be in your past."
"Stevie stop." He shook his head, Stevie kissing him to shut him up.
"Do not miss out on this opportunity Lindsey, you may not get one like this ever again. "This won't go on forever, and I'm ok with being a memory to you, as long as I'm one of your best ones."
Lindsey grit his teeth, pulling her head tight against his chest so she couldn't see his tear eyes.
"Shut up." He said it in the most loving way he could, needing her to stop or else he'd break down, Stevie nodding in understanding.
