CHAPTER THREE / beauty queen.
THERE'S A GIRL I REMEMBER, WHO WAS EVERYONE'S QUEEN. NOW HER FACE HAS BECOME HER, IT'S THE SADDEST THING YOU'LL EVER SEE.
( ODETTE: I was surprised when eight months had suddenly passed and The Dunne Brothers were still going strong. Most of Karen's bands. . . They didn't last two maybe three if they were lucky. But eight? That was some fucking resilience, especially given what it meant for them. I don't think I would've been able to do it.
BILLY DUNNE, LEAD SINGER: The only problem about playing at McNasty's was that we didn't get paid. . . Like at all.
WARREN: Odette was there helping us out when we needed it, mostly making sure that we had enough food but I'm pretty sure if she could, she would've paid our rent. )
Sitting around at Manny's was a frequent occurrence for them all, most of the time it was easy enough for them to go there after the band's gigs, but that wasn't always the case. Sometimes Odette would be locked away in her studio, only to be interrupted with a single phone call, always at the same time that it had reached the point where Odette had forgone her formal greeting─ and she would deny it had anything to do with Eddie's teasing even though it was very much that─ and it only lasted a few minutes.
But she didn't always say yes, as the months went on, she had become more and more busy, spending hours locked away in her studio and completely oblivious to the world around her, even going as far as to unplug the phone from the room to be able to concentrate on her work. This had caused some worry to those unaware of her habits. Karen would often come over to check up on her, making some comment about how Eddie and Warren were complaining about her disappearing on them. That was what prompted her in plugging her phone again and going back to answering them when they called and while she rejected their invitations to go out, she spent the time talking to them over the phone.
When Warren had called her on that night, he had admitted that it was getting boring with her being around, especially considering it had been over two weeks since she had seen them─ excluding Karen who had dropped by─, but in Odette's defence, she had been dealing with a commission she was desperate to get done, but now she couldn't use it as an excuse since it had already been finished and delivered. It had been Eddie that had managed to finally convince her, practically grabbing the phone and threatening to pick her up.
She hated the fact that it had worked, that it was how she found herself practically squished between both of them as she mindlessly drew on a napkin, something she often did whenever the conversation shifted toward anything related to the behind the scenes of the band─ a subject that Odette knew she was no help with and would always remain silent unless someone, mainly Eddie, would attempt to get her input on it, but it Billy always brushed her off.
"You might want to save half that toast for tomorrow, Eddie," Camila commented, pulling Odette out of her daze. "This is barely enough to cover the rent."
"I can─"
Multiple people protested before she could put the offer out there and Odette was convinced the only person who didn't was Karen. She then looked up and sat up straight, hands falling into her lap.
"Seriously it's fine," she stated. "It's nice not spending my money on just art supplies."
"Only you would say that," Karen said, smile on her face.
Odette shrugged. "It's not a lie, my aunt pays for everything else so most of the time any money I get just. . . Sits there. And I would feel extremely bad if you guys were struggling while I was just sitting here comfortably."
Camila opened her mouth to respond but Karen spoke before she could. "There's no point arguing."
Odette nodded. "Besides, means you can focus on the rent.'
Warren groaned at the reminder. "Fuck it, man, maybe. . . Maybe Old Chuckie was right, huh? Maybe. . . Maybe this was all just a big mistake and that we should have just stayed home with our moms, saved money on rent and become dentists."
Camila placed her hand on top of the money. "I mean, I've sent out hundreds of photographs and not a single fucking paper has responded. I mean, should I just quit? No one said it was gonna be easy."
"I think your problem is that you're trying to get them to invest in a band that hasn't even gained the attention of any producers yet," Odette stated, perhaps a little too bluntly. "Because no offense to anyone here, but if you're trying to sell photos of these idiots─"
"Hey!"
"─They're not going to," Odette admitted. "No one wants to buy something of a band who hasn't managed to get a song on the radio and barely classifying as up and coming."
"And what do you know?" Billy asked, voice dripping with malice.
She narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. "Because I've had to learn what people want. They don't want nobodies. Newspapers want the next big thing when they've already proven it, do you think people would've given bands like The Beatles a chance before labels did? No, it was when they started getting played on radio stations that people wanted to know more and plaster their faces everywhere. And you guys haven't reached that point yet. I'm not saying that you won't, because you will, and when you are, that's when you start selling and all those newspapers will come crawling. Unfortunately, it takes time, sometimes months, sometimes years. I'm sorry for being realistic here."
( EDDIE: Odette. . . She was never wrong, and I think that's what pissed Billy off the most. He didn't like people challenging him and what made it worse when Odette did it, was because she was always right. We weren't big at that point, of course no newspaper was going to take a chance on us when producers weren't.
BILLY: She wasn't a musician meaning she had no idea what she was talking about, she just acted like she did.
ODETTE: I might not be a musician, nor have I really worked hard for anything, I was privileged enough for that, but it didn't mean I wasn't aware how the world worked. Even before I started failing auditions on purpose, I learned from a young age that you're not always going to be what people are looking for, Hollywood might've been different from the music industry for what they were specifically looking for, but in a way, there were similarities.
The band. . . It was clear they hadn't prepared themselves for rejection or even the fact that not everyone who moves to L.A is going to make it. At the end of the day, it's better to learn it through some tough love as opposed to the hard way. The hard way is fucking bullshit. But then again, they were adults, maybe they could've handled the hard way because it's different when you're a fucking kid. )
She reached for her milkshake a took a sip, eyes still trained out Billy as she waited for him to say something else, but instead he clenched his jaw, suddenly finding more interest in the table. From beside her, she caught sight of Eddie covering his mouth his hand, and when their eyes met, she could see the humour he was trying to hide.
Warren cleared his throat. "So, uh. . . While we're talking about. . . Stuff, how come I'm the only one without a bed in the house?"
"Well, you could've taken Karen's room."
"No," Warren said, shaking his head. "I couldn't have, that room is haunted."
"At this point, I cannot tell if you're joking about that," Odette admitted.
"It's not haunted," Camila replied.
"And I'm getting pocket toast, so. . ."
Odette's head whipped around to face him. "You did not."
Keeping his eyes on her, he pulled out the previously mentioned toast from his pocket and took a bite before putting it back, doing so with a straight face. As she watched, Odette couldn't help but gape at him.
"You are so lucky you're pretty, Edison."
"Thank you?"
"Why are we still called The Dunne Brothers?" Karen suddenly asked. "I mean, they three of us"─ she pointed at herself, Eddie and Warren ─"aren't Dunnes and the last time I checked, I'm nobody's brother."
"So, you want to change our name?" Billy asked, clearly annoyed at the idea.
"I personally think that's a great idea," Eddie piped up, his words not surprising Odette. At Billy's glare, he shrugged. "I'm just saying what everybody's thinking."
"Well, the name is the name, so. . . That's how people know us."
"But it's not exactly doing much for us, though," Eddie snapped.
Without thinking, Odette grabbed hold of his hand and gently squeezed it in an attempt to stop him before an argument could break out. It was brief due to their hands sitting on top of the table, Odette quickly moving her hand before it caught anyone's attention, but even then, she barely moved it, hands still touching without being held.
"How about Immaculate Reception?" Warren offered, grin on his face, clearly feeling proud of himself.
Karen shook her head. "No, that's awful."
"Better than The Dunne Brothers," Odette mumbled.
"We're not changing the name," Billy protested.
"I mean, listen, if we're throwing stuff out there, Hercules is still on the table," suggested Graham.
Various words of disagreement were spoken out loud:
"No!"
"Stop it!"
"Let it go!"
"Deliverance, Espionage, Poison," Eddie listed, leaning into Odette's space to look at Warren over the top of her head.
She playfully pushed him away. "Those are just words."
Billy shook his head. "The six of us─"
"Seven," Eddie, Karen and Warren corrected, much to the surprise of everyone else.
"What─?" Graham started but quickly stopped upon realising.
Odette was the last one to.
She let out an awkward laugh. "No, uh. . . I am perfectly fine with being excluded."
However, the moment she saw the look on Billy's face, she regretted saying so, wishing that it was annoyance than smugness that painted his features.
"As I was saying," Billy continued. "The six of us will never agree on a name, alright? So, let's just─"
"What about The Six?" Karen questioned.
Eddie frowned in confusion. "But there's five of us, you know." As everyone looked at him, he further explained, "well, won't people get confused?"
"We can't be The Five," Warren replied.
"Why?"
"Cause there's The Dave Clark Five, The Jackson 5," he listed off. "Everybody's The Five."
"I like The Six," Graham piped up.
"Sure as hell better than Hercules," Warren teased.
Odette laughed. "You're such an ass."
"Enough with the Hercules man."
( ODETTE: I have to admit, when they finally changed their name, it was probably the best decision they ever could've made. Although I feel like others would argue with me on that. )
Eyes moving to the clock on the diner wall, Odette couldn't help but wince at how late it was. It was often that she got distracted whenever she was with them, it was easy enough to, and while her aunt wouldn't be waiting up for her like she used to, finally being able to go to sleep when she'd see her niece safe at home. With new friends, mainly Karen, Lucy no longer had that worry, but it didn't mean that Odette wasn't going to change her own habits. Grabbing her wallet from her pocket, she placed a bill on the table─ perhaps a little too much considering Graham's reaction to it.
"I should head off, that is for the food."
Everyone exchanged their goodbyes with the exception of Eddie who followed her out of the diner. She wasn't exactly sure how it happened or when it became such a thing. Odette was always the first person to leave, and for whatever reason, whether it was his own concern or just wanting to spend time with her, Eddie was always the one to walk her to her car.
The first time it had happened, Odette had been insistent that he didn't have to. "I'm a big girl, I can walk myself to my own car and everything," she had told him.
But he had just smiled at her and said, "I know."
Now, she just accepted that it kept happening and she wasn't going to complain. His company was nice, something that Odette hadn't felt around a man in a long time. She was used to someone controlling, who used her as arm candy that was meant to remain silent. And while there was nothing going on between them, Eddie was different, conversation flowed easily between the two of them that often it reached the point where Odette didn't want to get into her car and leave.
"You okay?" He asked as they walked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
He looked down at her, an unimpressed look on his face. "Well, for starters, it's been two weeks since we last saw you─"
"I've been busy!"
"But, considering the fact that your aunt mentioned you had barely left the house─"
"Wait," she interrupted, placing a hand on his arm as they stopped walking. "You talked to Lucy?"
"I called yesterday and apparently you were asleep, and I wasn't going to make her wake you up just so I could hear that you were alive," he admitted. "So, I checked up on you through her. But if you're worried about me knowing who she is, don't worry, I've known for weeks."
She gaped at him. "You─ You know who she is?"
He nodded. "She answers the phone with her full name and considering the fact that she's my mom's favourite actress, I know who she is."
"Were you ever going to tell me that?"
"I just did, didn't I?"
"I─ You do realise that if you had told me earlier, I would've invited you over instead of just spending far too long talking on the phone."
"Oh."
She quietly laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah."
"I don't have work tomorrow."
She arched a brow. "You want to come over?"
He shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. "I'm curious to see the ivory castle where the princess lives."
"Not a castle."
"But is the ivory part wrong?"
She rolled her eyes as she finally continued walking, Eddie quick to follow. "I'm not answering that."
"Can you answer something else then."
"Depends on the question."
"Why didn't you say anything about your aunt?"
She sighed. "There are many reasons. . . For one, it wasn't important. Another was that I was worried what you would all say, and I feel like someone would say that I'm only as successful as I am because of Lucy─ which okay, that's half true, but it didn't mean I didn't spend hours painting to get where I am. But also, I'm pretty sure my ex-boyfriend only dated me because of who I was related to until he realised, I was in his words, embarrassing. And so, when it came to you guys. . . I wanted you all to get to know me for me, not because of my family," she explained, coming to a stop when they reached her car.
"I don't think your family would change anything," he admitted. "At least, I don't see you differently."
Staring at him, her cheeks flushed red. There was also part of her that couldn't help but hate him, not for malicious reasons, no, that wasn't the case, but rather she hated him because he made her feel seen. Odette had grown used to being an extension of everyone else the niece of an Oscar winning actress, the older sister of Hollywood's golden boy, the people that she had surrounded herself with were always those that she had met through them. Karen had been different and so were the others, and Odette would admit that she had been lucky when it came to meeting Karen, that at the end of the day, she hadn't cared, never had and never would, but that didn't mean the other wouldn't. And because of that, it wasn't something she was willing to risk. But there Eddie was, standing in front of her, admitting that he didn't care, and that enough was proof to her that he was different. It was something she couldn't stand.
"I'll see you later, Edison."
"Try not to disappear on us, princess."
She smiled. "Well then, at least you'll know how to rescue me."
It was barely a day when he had, although, it wasn't so much him wanting to check up on her, but rather more as a means of curing his own boredom. The phone call had admittedly woken Odette up, something that Eddie had barely apologised for before he had turned to teasing her over the fact that somehow, she had managed to sleep in so late. But through her tired state she ignored his words, by telling him her address before hanging up on him, not caring about feeling guilty about having done so when all she wanted was coffee, then she would let herself feel guilty over the fact.
But she should've known that she wouldn't have even two minutes of peace when she saw Lucy sitting at the dining room table, two cups of coffee sitting on the surface in front of her and engrossed in a book.
"Are you reading Little Women?" Odette asked as she collapsed down onto the chair opposite her aunt, instantly reaching for the coffee.
"Don't say it."
"Was being in the film not enough?"
Lucy shut her book and sent Odette a disappointed look. "Do you have to say that every time I read it?"
Odette simply grinned as she took a drink.
"Was that Eddie who called?"
Only to instantly choke on it.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Once she managed to collect herself, Odette glared at her aunt. "Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong."
She shrugged. "Could've fooled me. He's nicer than the last one."
"Well, I'm glad that I have your approval of him as a friend."
"Is that what people call it these days?"
"Oh my god. . ." Odette mumbled, turning her attention back to her drink. "I'm not looking for a relationship, I'd rather have friends." Then she added on, "but I'm glad I have your approval in case anything does happen. Not saying it would, but you know what I mean."
Lucy nodded slowly, in a way that while she understood what Odette was saying but being hesitant to do so. "I should be out of your hair for most of the day."
Odette wanted to ask her what she was doing but knew that the answer wouldn't change from every other time she had done so. She knew that Lucy would reach over and pat her hand before assuring her that it wasn't anything she had to worry about, never knowing that the constant deflection what was making Odette worry. But she was also well aware that if Lucy wanted to tell her, she would, it was just something Odette had to be patient over.
Instead of questioning, Odette just nodded before standing up. "I'm going to get ready." With her cup in hand, she headed for her bedroom before stopping before she left the dining room. "If he gets here before I'm done, do not do anything to scare him off."
"I'll try my hardest."
Turning around, Odette couldn't help but roll her eyes, knowing that Lucy's intentions were very much going to be just that. But she couldn't exactly blame Lucy for being that way, she had been the one to realise that Benjamin wasn't the charming and kind person that Odette had believed him to be, and that had been something that Lucy had warned her, but did she listen? No, it wasn't until she had witnessed the man behind the mask that she did realise it. While after Benjamin, Odette hadn't dated anyone, but also hadn't had any friends outside of Karen and now that she had, of course Lucy was going to be wary about them and ensure that they were worth knowing her surrogate daughter.
She just wished that she had given Eddie a warning about the matter because by the time she came downstairs, fully dressed, he was there standing in the living room talking with her aunt. There was something funny about the fact; seeing Eddie, someone who Odette had grown to know as confident come off as awkward and perhaps even a little scared over meeting Lucy.
( EDDIE: You know, I've met a lot of people, both famous and not, but meeting Lucille Summers was the most terrified I felt. )
She supposed it didn't help that Lucy was someone who no matter where she was doing or what she was doing, she was dressed in a way that painted her in an elegant light, no matter whether or not she dressed down, her signature pearls that not only sat around her neck but also that she wore from earrings showcased her expensive taste when her choice in clothing did not. There was once a time when everything about her screamed her wealth, but long had she abandoned that when the tabloids had forgotten about her, just as everyone else had. No one wanting even a glimpse of her meant that Lucy no longer had to dress to impress anyone. Yet the way she held herself, never being able to stop herself from having perfect posture or the way she spoke was something she could never get rid of.
It was strange to Odette that there could be something about Lucy that made her come off as intimidating. But that confusion came from a place being aware of the kind of person that Lucy was, that despite the way she appeared, she was more than that. She supposed it came from the fact that Lucy was an actress, someone who was untouchable to those who would sit in a cinema and see her on the big screen, all people really knew about her was whatever was plastered in the tabloids.
They never knew that she once was a seamstress who's first job on a set wasn't as an actress but rather working on costumes and the only reason why she found herself on screen as opposed to behind it was because she had once been kind enough to help an actress run through her lines, that by doing so, had attracted the eyes of the director. They never knew that Lucy always ensured that everyone was taken care for on set. But more importantly, they never knew that when Marcus Lang had ruined her career, it wasn't because she was difficult, but rather she had slapped him after he had forced Odette to spend an entire day on one scene until she managed to get it perfectly, that by the end of it all, Odette had passed out from exhaustion.
Finally decided to put Eddie out of his misery, Odette continued to move out of the hallway where she had been watching them from. The moment she did, Eddie's eyes caught sight of her, and she couldn't help but find humour in the way that he visibly relaxed.
"What are you two talking about?" She questioned, crossing her arms against her chest.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Not about you if that's what you're implying."
Odette placed her hand over her heart. "I'm offended you think I'm that selfish."
"Drama queen."
"Where do you think I learned that from, Lucy?"
With a fond smile on her face, Lucy approached her niece and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Okay, I'll see you later, and for the love of god don't skip lunch again today." Lucy then turned to Eddie. "Please make sure she has something to eat."
He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Ma'am? Odette mouthed, frowning at Eddie who ignored her.
"I like him," Lucy mumbled, her words only being heard by Odette. "It was lovely meeting you, Eddie."
"You too."
It was silent as Lucy went to leave, the only sound was the sound of Lucy's heels against the wooden floors, all before they stopped suddenly to be follow by the sound of the door shutting. That was when Odette began to laugh, grabbing hold of Eddie's arm and practically clinging to him.
"Stop it," he scolded, but it did nothing, especially not when he was visibly trying to hide his own smile that was fighting to show.
"Yes ma'am," she mocked, deepening her voice to sound like him. "What was that?"
"Your aunt is terrifying."
That worsened her laugh. "She is not."
"You would say that since you've known her your entire life," he reminded her. "It's like I just met your mom."
That caused her laughter to subside. "You basically just did and if it makes you feel better, she likes you already." She moved away from him, dropping her hold on his arms. "Congratulations, Edison, you've impressed an Oscar winner."
"What do I get?"
She hummed as she thought. "Imagine what your mother would say if you said that you knew her."
"I would become the favourite child."
That piqued her interest. "You have siblings?"
He nodded. "An older brother."
She scrunched her nose up in disgust. "I feel so bad for your brother," Odette commented as she headed back to her studio, thankful that Eddie was smart enough to follow along behind her. However, before she turned, she noticed how he looked at her with shock painted upon his face.
"What is that meant to mean?"
But she ignored the question. "You should give me your brother's number, that way we can bond over having annoying younger siblings."
"How do you even know I am one?"
Odette laughed as she entered the studio. "It's the unwritten rule of siblings, the youngest is always insufferable."
There were a few seconds─ a few seconds too long, in Odette's opinion, where Eddie was silent, causing her to turn around to see if he was still there. And he was, but rather taking in the sight before him.
The studio, which was nothing more than a garage that Odette had filled with her things to the point where it became her space within a few short months of her living under Lucy's roof. Her paintings were stacked against one of the plain walls, giving room for one to admire the mural on one of the others, something Odette had painted upon growing bored of being surrounded by grey walls every hour she spent in there. The mural itself was something that Odette was most proud of; while it was simple, a willow tree in the middle of a field with the hues of sunset as a background. It was something that had taken her hours to finish, and even weeks before she could finally put down the paintbrush and look at it without needing to pick up a paintbrush and change anything. The pot plants and vases filled with bouquets of various stages of life lined the bookshelf also gave the room colour.
"I think you've been underselling your talents," Eddie commented, finally meeting her eye.
She shrugged. "Not really, you just haven't seen anything I'm actually proud of. Those paintings that you guys have? Those are just rejections that I paint to get my name out there but they're not good enough despite me changing my style to fit what people want."
He frowned as he approached her, once more looking over the paintings on display. "Then why do it?"
She sighed. "I've always wanted my paintings to be shown in galleries, preferably somewhere like The Louvre, but I think that's being too ambitious. But when I started to try selling to them, they didn't want this," Odette admitted gesturing to the paintings in front of them. "Even doing paintings for actors isn't good enough for me."
"No muse?" He asked, but the way he said it, there was something about it that she couldn't quite place.
She couldn't help but laugh. "Do I look like Billy who is incapable of writing anything that isn't about Camila?"
"So, you did notice."
"Hard not to," she replied. "You didn't have proper plans of doing anything today, did you?"
He shook his head. "I just needed to get out of the house, didn't really want to be stuck with Camila and Billy."
"You want to just sit by the pool and do nothing?" She asked, grabbing her sketchbook from the table.
He grinned. "So you do live in castle."
"Oh my god. . ." She mumbled as she stepped outside. "What books have you been reading where the castle has a fucking pool?"
"Yours does, princess."
"Don't make me push you in the pool."
"Then I'd just take you with me."
She shot him an unimpressed look as she sat down and when Eddie did the same, she couldn't help but notice how close he was, his arm pressed against her back as they sat by the pool edge. There was a voice in the back of her mind telling her to move away, to put space between them where they were no longer touching in anyway. But Odette was never good at listening to that voice, it had been something that she constantly ignored no matter how many times it was always right in the end. As she found herself gravitating into Eddie's orbit, she wished it was wrong about him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE / 🎸 I have no idea if the diner that daisy works at has a name, it could be benny's but part of me is convinced that's a completely different place. Let's just roll with it. It's fine.
🎸 also peep at the second Evelyn Hugo reference because when I had Lucy be an actress, I had to at some point state she was in little women where she played the mother.
🎸 I was going to have Eddie find out that Odette has a famous aunt in a completely different way, but then I randomly thought it'd be funny if Odette was debating whether or not to tell them and the entire time (or at least for a while) Eddie knew due to recognising Lucy's name. Plus it meant I got to name drop my favourite bassist (sorry Eddie, you're still a guitarist in my heart), Pete Loving, i guess Roundtree in this, the show might've gotten rid of him but he still lives on.
🎸 this chapter was also meant to be the six meeting Lucy, but I got so wrapped up in that first Eddie and Odette scene that we just got Eddie meeting her instead. However, them meeting will happen eventually, it was too good for me to remove completely.
🎸 but Eddie and Odette just really took the reins on this chapter, even to the point where I struggled to end this chapter. But I love them so much, and I love that you guys love them, so I don't really regret changing my plans because look at my babies, I wanna squish their cheeks. The best part, this is only odette's pov, I don't think you all are gonna be ready for when I whip out Eddie's pov down the line. So much shit planned to the point where I'm tempted to throw it at everyone without warning (or at least the gif at the beginning of the chapter will be the only one).
🎸 anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, let me know your thoughts, and don't forget to comment/vote.