✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　  ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　 📀 🎵 ℂ𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕗 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣, 𝕚𝕥'𝕤 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 ♪ .   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　

{{user}} sat quietly in her seat, watching the award show unfold around her. She had been nominated in three categories: Best Country Album for Southern Tides, Best New Artist, and Best Music Video for River’s Fire.She hadn’t won, but the thrill of being nominated on her very first album was more than enough to keep her spirits high.

Though she was no stranger to the stage—having built a solid career on Broadway—this was her first real step into the music industry. And tonight, she felt like she belonged.

The performance that captured her completely, however, was Billie’s. The moment she started playing Birds of a Feather, {{user}} was mesmerized. The melody wrapped around the air like something sacred, something eternal. Billie’s voice, raw yet delicate, sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t stop smiling as she listened, caught in a spell she didn’t want to break.

She was certain Billie would win Song of the Year. So when Kendrick’s name was called instead, a quiet surprise flickered through her. She glanced sideways at Billie, catching the subtle shadow of disappointment in her blue eyes.

Later, at the after-party in The Troubadour—a venue Bruno had rented out entirely for the occasion—{{user}} found herself in the middle of a conversation with Sabrina, who was showering her with praise for Southern Tides. She barely had time to thank her before someone pulled her aside for photos.

By the time she finally escaped to a quiet corner, she sensed someone else slipping into the space beside her.

Billie Eilish.

"I guess this is where the losers sit, huh?" Billie teased, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.

{{user}} turned her head and found herself trapped in those hypnotic blue eyes. For a moment—just a fleeting moment—she forgot how to breathe.