Patience

8

Waking up the next morning, Stevie's head is pounding which makes sense because of all of the crying she did. But when she realized that Lindsey wasn't with her she wanted to start crying again. Their relationship at the moment was strained and complicated as she had fired him and then immediately regretted it when the tour started and she couldn't spark a friendship with Neil Finn. She rolled out of the bed and went to take some aspirin before collecting Lily from her spot on the floor and crawling back into the bed and turning the TV on. 

Stevie watched the HGTV channel mindlessly for about half an hour before she got itchy so she turned to her phone and pulled Instagram back up. Tori_Paige_16 was still her number one search so she clicked back on the profile. She wasn't able to zoom in on the profile picture but she put her glasses on her face and held it as close to her as she could. In her profile picture, it was just her. She's wearing a black and rose kimono, a black tank top, and she was smelling a rose bush. Her brown waves against her back. Stevie looked at the name-Tori Cryderman-and she read the bio Don't be a lady, be a legend. It made her heart flutter and she had that urge, that urge to press the follow button but she didn't. 

She had picked the onesie back up and was caressing it when her bedroom door pushed open and Karen stepped in. 

"Lori, Chris, Alec, and Jessie went to the Farmers Market and I believe they're going to the mall. I um...I felt bad about last night so I did some more digging and I found out that she works at LA Models." Karen sighs. 

"What?" Stevie asks.

"She's a makeup artist at LA Models." Karen tells her.

"Well, let's go." Stevie busts out of bed.

"Um, you need to get dressed first. I'll call a car." Karen sighs. 

***

Walking into LA Models Stevie felt out of place and as soon as the receptionist saw her she raised an eyebrow. 

"I don't think Stevie Nicks needs us to get a job." The woman says.

"No, I'm looking for one of your makeup artists...Tori Cryderman." She sighs.

"I'm sorry she's booked all day today." The lady gives her a sad look.

"Please, I only need five minutes with her." Stevie gives the women pleading eyes. 

"Um...I'll call her. Have a seat." The woman points to the bench.

Stevie obeys and she waits patiently until a door opens and Tori looks around. Stevie looks at her and her heart flutters. She has her brown waves pulled back half up half down in what looks to be a clip. She's wearing a black bell sleeve top with a lace neck. She's also wearing what looks to be black bell-bottoms and the same black boots she was wearing the night prior. When Stevie and Tori lock eyes, the young girl tenses and Stevie bites her lip standing up and walking over to her. 

"Can we talk?" She asks.

"No, I"m booked and the more time I waste the later these people are for their appointments and that doesn't go over well." Tori shakes her head.

"Not right now, I know but what time do you get off?" She asks.

"Eight." Tori sighs.

"Please, have dinner with me. I'll make a reservation, we can go back to Cantina's or we can get Italian, I haven't been to Olive Garden in a while, or Steak." She begs.

"I can't afford Olive Garden or a Steak house and I'm not that big on red meat anyways."  Tori shakes her head.

"No, I'm paying it's on me." Stevie pleads.

"I'm really sorry, Ms. Nicks but I don't think it's the best idea. I'm sorry you drove all the way out here, I have to go back to work." Tori tells her before stepping back into her room. 

Stevie holds the tears back until she makes it to the bench and then she holds her head in her hands and lets out quiet sobs. 

"Stevie I'm sorry." Karen places her hand on her back.

"This is your fault." She states.

"I know I'm sorry. Come on let's go." Karen tries to leave.

"No, I'm not leaving without her. Please make us a reservation. Olive Garden." She sniffles at Karen.

"Alright." Karen gets her phone out. 

***

Tori was packing up her stuff when Dorthy the receptionist comes into her booth and taps her shoulder.

"Tori, I'm leaving but Stevie Nicks is still sitting out there for you. She's been there all day." Dorthy tells her.

"Why?" Tori asks.

"I didn't ask but she made a reservation at Olive Garden. I didn't think you had to make a reservation at Olive Garden but then again I'm not Stevie Nicks." Dorthy shrugs. 

"Thank you for letting me know." Tori sighs plopping down into her chair. Dorothy gives her a smile and then exits for the evening.

It's not that she doesn't want to have dinner with Stevie Nicks, she's fucking lucky to even be getting the opportunity. If the Stephenson's could see her now. But she's mortified. She would've never had said anything about Stevie Nicks she would've made up a lie or given a description of what she thought her mother looked like she would've never admitted that it was Stevie Nicks right in front of her. 25,000 texts and calls from Mallory later she knows her best friend is sorry but she doesn't know what to do period. So she just shakes her head and gathers her stuff before bracing and walking out into the lobby.

"Hey, so we're going to Olive Garden. You're driving." Stevie comes up to her a little high strung, and peppy for Tori's liking. 

"Are you sure you want to get in a car with a Psychopath?" She asks.

"Tori." Stevie sighs. 

"Hey, I'm just trying not to get arrested." She holds her hands up.

"You won't get arrested. Come on we have to be there at 8:30." Stevie tells her.

When they get in her car, Stevie takes the passenger seat and she looks over at Tori. "So, how does a makeup artist afford this nice of a car?" 

"Divorce Settlement." She tells her.

"I see," Stevie replies as they embark on a very awkward car ride.