VALERIE SAT CROSS-LEGGED on her bed, absentmindedly strumming her guitar as her laptop balanced on the comforter beside her, open but ignored. she wasn't really playing anythingâjust letting her fingers move over the strings, creating a soft, aimless melody. the sun outside was already beginning to set, casting a dim glow through the blinds. her stomach felt weird, like she was hungry but not, a sensation she had grown used to.
she hadn't eaten much today. just some coffee, a protein bar, and a few bites of a sandwich before it started feeling like too much. she told herself she'd eat more later. she always told herself that.
her phone buzzed beside her, pulling her out of her thoughts. she glanced at the screen.
claire manager
need to talk. asap. call me when you're up.
valerie frowned. claire wasn't usually this urgent unless something big was happening.
she set her guitar aside, grabbed her phone, and called immediately.
"val! good, you're up," claire said, sounding more energized than usual.
"technically, i've been up, but sure. what's going on?"
"so, you know that interview you did with jimmy?"
valerie wrinkled her nose. "yeah, what about it?"
claire hesitated for a second, then said, "billie's team saw it. they reached out this morning."
valerie's entire body went still. "wait. what?"
"yup. they saw the part where you talked about her music and how much she's influenced you. they want to set up a meeting to talk about a potential collaboration."
"you're lying."
"i swear to god, i'm not."
valerie stared at the wall, her heart pounding. "so... you're telling me billie eilish knows who i am."
claire laughed. "more than that, she respects what you do. they wouldn't be reaching out otherwise."
valerie's mouth was dry. she had spent years loving billie's music, looking up to her, thinking about what it would be like to ever meet her, and nowâthis? it didn't feel real.
"holy shit," she muttered.
"i know," claire said. "i figured you'd want to mentally prepare before i set anything up."
valerie let out a slow breath. "yeah. yeah, okay. i'llâfuck. okay. let me process this for like... an hour before i fully freak out."
claire chuckled. "take your time. i'll keep you updated."
they hung up, and valerie just sat there, gripping her phone so tight her knuckles turned white. then, finally, she sprang up from her bed and texted olivia.
valerie
come over rn
911
claire called
and omg
valerie laid on her bed, staring blankly at the wall, still processing what claire had told her.
billie eilish wanted to meet her.
she could barely wrap her head around it. for years, billie had been this untouchable figure in her life, someone she had admired from afar, whose music had shaped her in ways she couldn't even explain. and now, suddenly, she was supposed to walk into a meeting and collab with her like it was no big deal?
her phone buzzed beside her.
olivia
open the door dumbass
valerie barely had time to get up before olivia was knocking impatiently. she swung the door open, and olivia immediately shoved past her, dropping her bag onto the couch.
"so? tell me everything. what did claire say?" olivia flopped onto the couch, looking at her expectantly.
valerie sat back down, running a hand through her hair. "billie's team reached out. they wanna meet."
olivia grinned. "holy shit. you're gonna collab with billie fucking eilish."
"i didn't say that," valerie said quickly.
"but that's what they want, right?"
valerie hesitated. "probably. claire said it's still early, but yeah, they wanna connect."
"so what's the problem?"
valerie groaned, falling back against the pillows. "what the hell am i supposed to do, liv? i don't even know what song i'd bring to her. i can't just show up with nothing."
olivia blinked at her. "uh, yes, you can. literally, just act mysterious and say you're still deciding."
"no, i need something. but nothing i have is good enough."
olivia narrowed her eyes, sitting up. "are you dumb?"
valerie shot her a look. "excuse me?"
"you already have the perfect song," olivia said.
valerie frowned. "i do?"
"yes! the 'underwear song.'"
valerie nearly choked. "absolutely not."
olivia burst out laughing. "why not? that song is a hit. and you know it."
valerie shook her head. "no way in hell am i walking into a meeting with billie eilish and saying, 'hey, let's do a song about guessing people's underwear.'"
"first of all, that's hilarious. second of all, think about it. it's fun, it's catchy, it's different from what she normally doesâshe'd eat that shit up."
"livâ"
"plus, she's a little freak, so, like, it fits."
valerie groaned, covering her face. "you're actually insane."
olivia grinned. "val. listen to me. this is a club anthem. imagine the visuals. imagine the tiktok edits. people would eat it up."
valerie hesitated. because, okay, olivia wasn't wrong.
the song had started as a joke, something she and conan had thrown together in her bedroom, but it was actually kind of good. a little unhinged, sure, but undeniably catchy. and it wasn't like billie hadn't done playful songs before.
but still.
"she's gonna think i'm an idiot," valerie muttered.
"or she's gonna think you're a genius," olivia countered. "c'mon, at least consider it."
valerie sighed, staring at her lap. "...i'll think about it."
olivia smirked. "which means you're doing it."
"shut up," valerie muttered, but she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips