The massive success of "Treat You Better" cemented what the industry already suspected: the upcoming Grammy nominations would be dominated by Echo Chamber Records. The formal announcements confirmed it. "Hello" was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. "Treat You Better" secured a nod for Best Pop Solo Performance. Alex himself was up for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. And Billie Eilish was the clear frontrunner for Best New Artist. It was a staggering validation of their work.
The official invitation, thick and embossed with the golden gramophone, arrived at Alex's house. He held it for a moment, then pulled out his phone, hoping to catch Olivia during a break. He FaceTimed her. Her face popped up on his screen, looking tired but happy, the sterile white wall of a studio dressing room behind her.
"Hey, you," she said, her smile instantly brightening. "You caught me between scenes. We're on episode seven. Paige just wrote a terrible song about a hamster, and it's been stuck in my head all day. This better be good."
He held the invitation up to the camera, letting its iconic logo fill the screen. "Is this good enough?" he asked, a playful, serious tone in his voice.
Olivia's eyes widened, her on-set exhaustion vanishing. "Oh my god. Alex. Is that…?"
"It is," he confirmed. "And it appears I am in need of a date for the evening. My mom is threatening to come and embarrass me, so I'm in a desperate situation."
She let out a delighted, ringing laugh. "Desperate, huh? Is that the best you can do, Vance? What about your insanely busy schedule? What about mine?"
"I will personally rearrange my entire schedule, and I will beg your show's producers to give you the night off if I have to," he said, only half-joking. "So, Olivia Rodrigo, will you put down the hamster song script and go to the Grammys with me?"
"I think I can clear my schedule for that," she teased, her face alight with excitement. "Yes! Of course, it's a yes, you dummy! Alex, this is… this is HUGE! I'll have to talk to my wardrobe consultant tomorrow! Oh my god, this is like our first proper prom!"
The night of the 60th Annual Grammy Awards felt exactly like that. After weeks of careful coordination between Alex's team and the Disney production schedulers, Olivia had been given the night off. A sleek black town car purred to a stop in front of the Staples Center.
Alex looked over at Olivia. She was breathtaking. After consulting with her show's stylist, she had chosen a simple but devastatingly elegant deep-purple gown. She looked less like the girl-next-door character she played on TV and more like the budding Hollywood royalty she was becoming. She was anxiously smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle in the fabric.
"My showrunner literally said to me, 'Don't trip, don't spill anything, and try not to look star-struck next to Beyoncé,'" she whispered, her voice tight with nerves. "So now, of course, that's all I can think about doing."
Alex reached over and took her hand. "Hey," he said, his voice low and calm. "Forget all that. You're not just 'the girl from Bizaardvark' tonight. And I'm not just 'Alex Vance.' Tonight, we're just us. We'll be awkward together. And for the record," he added, his eyes scanning her face, "you look perfect, Liv. Truly."
She squeezed his hand, her nerves settling. "You don't look so bad yourself, superstar."
A handler opened the door, and the roar of the crowd hit them. Alex guided her onto the red carpet, his arm protectively around her waist. The press was ecstatic, getting two rising stars for the price of one. Questions were shouted at them both. "Olivia, how's the show going?" "Alex, who are you most excited to see tonight?" He navigated it all with practiced ease, always making sure to steer the conversation back to her when he could, introducing her proudly as "the brilliant Olivia Rodrigo."
They met up with Billie and Finneas near the entrance, a reunion of the label's core. Billie, a vision of delightful rebellion in a custom, baggy black suit covered in shimmering crystals, gave them a quick hug.
"This is certifiably insane," she muttered. "I think I just saw my childhood orthodontist. Why is he here?"
Olivia laughed, her own anxieties easing in the face of Billie's deadpan commentary. The four of them—the pop prodigy, the television star, the avant-garde icon, and her genius brother—posed for a photo together. It was a picture that would be all over the internet by morning: the undeniable new establishment, the future of music and entertainment, standing together at the gates of the temple. And as they walked inside, Alex felt a profound sense of peace. Despite their increasingly separate worlds, tonight they were here, together.
-------------------
Hey everyone!
If you're enjoying the novel and want to support my work, consider joining me on Patreon! For just $4/month, you'll get early access to upcoming chapters and exclusive content.
Special Offer: Get 80% OFF your first month if you join before July 3, 2025 — that's less than a dollar to start reading ahead!
use code:WN1144C
Your support means the world and helps me keep creating.
patreon.com/hellothere2024