"You're late."

Poppy stood sternly in the middle of my dressing room, different workers bustling around her but never breaching the bubble of her personal space. We had a 'team' that traveled with us that our producers described as a 'trusted' group. In actuality, they were random people who signed an NDA and needed a job. Poppy perusal barely spared a second before pouncing on me. In fairness, I had been late but it was due to the driver hitting traffic.

"There was traffic, did you want me to run?"

"No, then you would need to shower. That would waste more time."

She closed the space between us and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I took her slight tenderness as a subtle apology, taking a deep breath as she pulled away.

"Now sit. Hair and makeup will be here on the hour."

I nodded and found a chair that was facing the large mirror with round yellowish lights. The entire room had an old Hollywood feel to it, a long mirror surrounding the side wall, a refreshment table in the back corner, racks of clothes along the side wall, and a full bathroom at the back wall. Poppy sat down delicately in the chair next to typing on her 'work' iPad furiously, no doubt notifying YBE about my arrival. She didn't look up from her task when talking to me.

"Have you worked out the issue between you and Trevor?"

In the few days since I had my meeting with the management team, she had wanted me to solve the problem with Trevor, who would probably be asked similarly to solve the issue. Internally I was rolling my eyes, I can have emotions and still be professional.

Wordlessly two stylists started to work on my hair, My makeup was minimal today, and the rough drafts of my outfits all had a navy blindfold resting around my eyes. They started pulling hair back for the wig cap as I answered the question.

"There is no issue between us, we just need a bit of space. There's no better time to do it anyway, it's not like we have any group live performances coming up."

Poppy shot me a stern look.

"Yes but how will he react when he listens to your performance today?"

I pierced my lips in a sour face, as the stylists pinned a new silver wig into place. The song was undoubtedly about Trevor, having actual experiences written into the lyrics. I'd be performing a small snippet of it, with less backing and more acoustic for the show. When the band recorded the upcoming album they would flesh it out.

"Well...he isn't going to be ecstatic about it but it's a good song, and I've been very clear to the band that my lyrics are from personal experience."

"I'm warning you now, if there are any larger problems created from this it will fall back on you."

"I know."

"Go change. I'll be backstage when you're ready."

I sighed as she stood and fled the room, the stylists followed shortly. I stood and made my way to the bathroom where a short navy dress with thin straps hung. Sliding into it was easy but it was form-fitting. Looking in the mirror I did a quick once over. The outfit was plain but pretty and matched the theme of the song well, the stylist team did well as perusal. Paired with the dress they had given me elbow-length gloves and heels in the same color as the dress, the hairstyle was a simple low bun with little braids twisted into it and strands pulled at the front.

Just as I was about to walk out the door one of the stylists re-entered. Her name was Jenny she was always super nice on tour. But Poppy demands efficiency so casual chatting wasn't a common occurrence with her on set.

She smiled softly at me and brushed a black braid out of her face then pulled out a navy blindfold from her emergency pack that sat on her belt.

"It's see-through, but no one can see your face. A lot of people use this fabric in show business."

"Thanks."

She pulled it over my eyes and tied it tight, bobby pinning it and then adjusting my hair into place. Finally, the outfit is complete. I take a deep breath and begin to follow Jenny to the backstage area.

After the dress rehearsal this morning the conflict between whether I should perform the song or not was brewing in my chest. It felt like a rot taking hold of my heart, a mix of guilt and bleeding hurt from what Trevor had done. I wanted to hurt him back and it scared me.

By the time I had zoned back into what was going on I was doing vocal warmups next to Poppy in the backstage area. Workers for the set of 'Side by Side' were bustling around, I could feel their gazes on me, admiration evident. They worked on putting the lights in the right position and micing everyone.

A short blonde man with freckles doting across the bridge of his nose and a nervous expression knit into his brows came up to me just as I was finishing my fifth tongue twister. He motioned to the mic in his hand.

"Um, do you mind if I?"

"Of course go ahead."

He went about attaching it to the back of my dress, Poppy breathing down his neck as he did so. I ignored it and listened to the show behind the large blue curtain.

"I'm your host Nadia Chamack, and this is 'Side by Side'! Where we sit down with your favorite celebrities of Paris! We have a special guest today that I will be introducing soon, but first TV 5 has a few announcements for you..."

I turned out as she introduced a sponsor, Poppy looked at me concerned then glanced again at her iPad. My eyebrow raised at the rarity of anything making her look even slightly flustered but I chose not to push and continued my vocal warmups. Eventually, she couldn't seem to take it any longer, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"You need to tune out everything else for this appearance, you already know how to answer the questions, just stay calm and collected."

"Why are you so worried? I've lost count of how many times I've done interviews live."

"Gabriel Agreste is allegedly in the audience. We have been trying to get him to design a line for Blue Moon for almost a year now. You must impress."

"Adrien said he never leaves the house, why would he come to some live show?!"

"Your friends with his son?!"

Poppy's face was starting to blush beet red from a mix of stress, surprise, and anger. Before she could question me further a stagehand came forward ushering me to follow her. I gave Poppy a forced thumbs up before fleeing with my makeshift savior.

I was led to the circular platform that I had practiced on during the rehearsal this morning. The stagehand lent me her hand as I stepped up. I made my way through the scattered wires connecting to the assortment of instruments and microphones. At the front stood an old-fashioned ribbon microphone, I stood at my place in front of it as another stagehand double-checked it was set up.

"You guys ready?"

I aimed it at the small band behind me, consisting of a drummer, pianist, bassist, and guitarist. They responded with a mix of yeses, the bassist spoke up.

"Can I just say, it's an honor to play for you."

He was tall, couldn't be older than twenty-five, and had dark skin and hair. Visually different from Trevor but my heart clenched at the fact that it wasn't him. I always hated performing without the band. I responded while I turned to face the curtain separating the crowd from us.

"Believe me the honor is all mine."

"Now to finally introduce our special guest! You may have heard the rumor of a certain musician arriving in Paris a while back. Here tonight, to debut a sneak peek of her band's upcoming album. We have..."

I took a breath as Nadia began my introduction, posing myself a bit in place with my hand on the neck of the microphone. The performance would be in English but for the rest of the interview segment, I could speak in French.

"Echo from Blue Moon singing their new song 'Don't'!"

The curtains raised and in a flash, I was being blinded by the stage lights and deafened by the cheers of the crowd. I barely had time to compose myself before the track began and the band started to play. A breath in and out, and I was launching into the first verse.

Knew this boy for a few years
He said, "Don't you worry I won't disappear"
I told him, "I'm not really looking for another mistake"
I called an old friend thinking that the trouble would wait
But then I jumped right in a week later, returned
I reckon he was only lookin' for a lover to burn

I scanned the crowd as I sang, a habit of mine during performances. Searching subconsciously for Adrien's dad and possibly the blonde himself. It wasn't hard to find the elder, he had a whole upper section blocked off just for him. Bodyguards line the outer square. He sat stoic, legs crossed, and hands folded neatly in his lap.

But I gave him my time for two or three nights
Then I put it on pause until the moment was right
I went away for months until our paths crossed again
He told me, "I was never looking for a friend
Maybe you could swing by my room around ten
Baby, bring the lemon and a bottle of gin
We'll be in between the sheets till the late AM"
Baby, if you wanted me then you should have just said, he's singin'

The performance technically was very simple, with not much movement from me besides the small hand and arm moves I had been taught to engage the crowd. The challenge came in the speed of the lyrics and making them clear to the audience. The band was in full swing behind me, and blue spotlights flooded over us.

Don't mess with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my home
I don't wanna know that, babe
Don't mess with my love
I told him, he knows
Take aim and reload
I don't wanna know that, babe
*Ring, ring, ring*
On my cell phone
I don't even know if he knows what for

I used my actual cell phone dial to add to the sound when working to create the song, which made it all the more realistic when singing. As if I was telling a story to the crowd, which were enthralled with my words.

He was cryin' but I already told ya
Trust and respect is what we do this for
I never intended to be next
But you didn't need to take her to bed, that's all
And I never saw her as a threat
Until you disappeared with her to have sex, of course

This section hit the closest to home, these were the verses that sparked the song's creation in the first place. I wrote them the day after the initial blowout with Trevor. I could feel my eyes start to sting a bit but I pushed through, it wouldn't matter anyway with the blindfold. There isn't room for emotional mistakes in show business.

It's not like we were both on tour
You both were stayin' on the same hotel floor
And I wasn't lookin' for a promise or commitment
But it was never just fun and I thought you were different
This is not the way you realized what you wanted
It's a bit too much, too late, if I'm honest
And all this time, God knows I'm singin'
Don't mess with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my home
I don't wanna know that, babe
Don't mess with my love
I told him, he knows
Take aim and reload
I don't wanna know that, babe...

The last note floated on my lips with a final breath as the guitar faded out into silence. The silence was always the scariest part of the beat before you found out if the crowd accepted your creation. Luckily they burst into a standing ovation as the blue lights faded back into normal white ones. Most of the room was standing, but I took note of Mr. Agreste's small golf clap from his seat. Eventually, they settled down a bit and Nadia re-entered from downstage.

"Woah, that was just brilliant! Blue Moon's new album drops when Echo?"

I leaned forward into the microphone with a practiced show smile.

"Beginning of February, but we have plenty of special surprises for our fans before then!"

"Wonderful, now come join me for a chat!"

That was my queue to join her in the plush red couch chair next to the stage, a stagehand offered his arm as I stepped off the platform. I waved politely to the cheering crowd as I glided gracefully over to my guest chair, giving the hostess a polite hug. Once I was settled into it, legs crossed, the crowd quieted and the interview segment began.

"We're honored to have you on the 'Side by Side' stage Echo. But I think we've all been wondering, why have you been in Paris for so long?"

"Well after the tour all of us have our ways of unwinding. I personally love to travel and wasn't able to enjoy Paris to the fullest extent when I was here for our final tour stop. So I've been on a little vacation."

Nadia deflated ever so slightly at this. I'm guessing she wanted me to admit something shocking for views.

"Do you have plans to live here anytime soon, can the fans hope to see more of you?"

"Sadly no, I wanted to come here as a bit of a thank you. I love Paris. I feel like it's my second home, but I have no plans to live here."

"I think you've let down a lot of hopeful fans with that statement."

I brushed off the subtle jab from the nosy hostess with a little giggle.

"My intention is never to let down our fans. But if you ask any of my band members they'll tell you I'm a bit of a free spirit so traveling is essential."

"Speaking of band members, how are Storm, Venus, and Zeb? I'm sure it's hard to stay so close when you're not touring."

"I talk to at least one of them every day on the phone, not to mention the group chats we have. We send a lot of stuff back and forth that the fans are talking about or creating in forums."

Nadia raised a single pink eyebrow curiously.

"So you are in online threads with fans?"

I laughed at this, shaking my head.

"The four of us are full-fledged stalkers of ourselves, we like to see what people say about our music when they think we won't see it."

"So that means Storm has seen videos like this of himself?"

In a flash, a video from a popular app was playing different montaged clips of Storm performing. It was edited to be like a thirst trap and the majority of the shots were from our Brazil show where he took his shirt off because of how hot it had gotten. I rolled my eyes, the video had millions of views of course.

It was easy to separate this version of Trevor from the one that I knew. This was Storm the cocky, over-the-top, ladies' man of the group.

"Yes, we actually bullied him relentlessly for that specific video. Also, I'd like to remind everyone that all four of us are minors."

Nadia nodded exaggeratedly, and the clip faded off-screen as the crowd's laughing ceased.

"Now we have to talk about this look tonight, you look gorgeous by the way. What was the inspiration for this?"

"Thank you. My stylists tend to match the theme of the song, so that's where this look originated from."

"Well, it does a great job of reflecting the matter. I'm sure I speak for your fans when I say we would love to know who you are talking about in the song?"

My smile faltered for a split second, but I was able to catch it.

"I write from personal experience, but I know the fan base can be a bit protective. I don't think it's a good idea to release that information."

"You're as fair as you are beautiful Echo, no wonder you have teenagers around the world swooning. But I think you may have the eye of a certain bandmate."

A compilation of videos of Trevor and me on stage, in interviews, and in public appearances are flashed up on the screen. Most I've seen because of the fanbase's avid shipping of the two of us, but they sting with vigor at the moment. Echo was nothing without her band. Nothing without Storm.

"I say this every time it's brought up, the boys and I are purely platonic."

"You hear that Paris, that means all of you still have a chance to swoon her!"

The audience laughs, and I feel stiff and uncomfortable. But that's usually how I feel when adults talk about my love life as if I'm not a minor. A subject change was the best bet.

"Why don't we talk more about the new album?"

"Just wait until YBE hears about this, they will have your head Chamack! Our lawyers have already been contacted."

The pink-haired woman barely bristled at the daggers Poppy was shooting at her, the studio had long since emptied. I'm just waiting to be cleared by Poppy to go change out of these uncomfortable shoes.

"I ask what the people want to hear, Ms. Morris. I'm a reporter, not just a host."

"Wonderful I'm glad you feel that way because it won't hold up in court according to our contract with TVi."

Her sarcasm was a feat, to say the least, something I was on the receiving end constantly. The workers were starting to look frantically at one another, all paused in their tasks. Probably worrying about the future of their jobs. Even Nadia had the sense to look worried.

The question that was causing the stress was a comment made towards the end about the color of my hair, and if I preferred my natural hair to my wig. The contract states to not make mention of physical features that may be able to sway the fanbase to who or what we look like.

"I'm sorry Ms. Morris, it was a mistake-"

"It sure was. Oh just-"

"Poppy, I think we're done here."

No longer able to sit by at the expense of the crew, I stood from where I sat on the interview chair.

"While I'm sure Nadia had no intention to hurt my image, I'm not naive. I know if she could have revealed some revelation about the band she would have. It's her job."

The air seemed to be sucked out of the room by my words and for once Poppy stayed quiet gazing on in silent fury. The pink-haired woman looked at me pityingly. A lot of people looked at me like this when I had to show my teeth, it's part of show business but most aren't accustomed to someone so young doing it.

"We won't be taking you to court over this."

Poppy looked pissed but the rest of the room took a collective sigh of relief. I locked eyes with the hostess through my blindfold.

"But I think you've proven yourself rather unprofessional. So if you had any plans of having me or my band back on this set again you better kiss them goodbye."

I brushed my dress off a bit, before addressing the crew who stayed still in my momentary rant.

"You have all been amazing and are truly the life and soul of this show."

I turned back to Nadia for the last time.

"You however continue to remind me that someone as young as myself can still be more professional than a grown woman twice my age. Good luck with your show, I hope you can learn from this experience."

Nothing was said as Poppy and I walked backstage to prepare to leave. Once we were in the clear to the back hallway the redhead spoke up. I prepared to be chewed out for speaking out of turn.

"While I don't agree with not following through with the court case. I am proud of how you handled that."

She was abnormally soft about the comment, it was a rarity for her to show vulnerability. I decided to stay quiet and let the praise settle into the back of my brain. I could only hope that I would get more moments like this in the future.