In her PR meeting the next day, something new had been noticed. Genuine organic growth. The concert videos were everywhere, clips of her singing and dancing on stage, her face lit up with passion and excitement, and the crowd moving in sync. Fans' comments poured in, excitedly sharing their thoughts, tagging friends, and declaring they'd be there for her next show.
Even Robbie's video— a little shaky but full of genuine enthusiasm—was gaining traction, racking up thousands of likes. "The start of something big!" he'd captioned it, and fans seemed to agree, leaving comments about her energy, her voice, her style. It was raw, real, and it made Cat's heart race every time she opened her phone.
The followers were coming in the way she'd dreamed of—naturally, as if people were truly connecting with her music. It wasn't just numbers ticking up due to a promo campaign; it was a community growing around her, fueled by genuine excitement. It felt different from anything she'd experienced before, like she was stepping into the beginning of something huge.
A PR agent, a woman named Marissa, tapped her pen thoughtfully on the table, her eyes gleaming with interest as she looked at Cat.
"I think we're at a point," Marissa said, glancing around the room at the other team members, "where releasing a single would make a real impact. You're gaining traction faster than we anticipated, and there's real excitement around you right now. A single would only add to that momentum."
Cat felt her heart leap. "You really think so?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Releasing a single sounded big—real in a way that none of this had yet.
Marissa nodded. "Absolutely. The concert footage, the posts—people are excited to hear what you've been working on. If we give them a full produced song, something they can stream, share, and add to their playlists, it'll establish you even more."
Another team member chimed in, "Plus, this feels like the right time for a bigger introduction. Let people know you're here to stay, with a unique sound they won't want to miss."
"Okay..." Cat hesitated, trying to rein in her excitement. "What song are we thinking of?"
Marissa flipped through her notes. "We settled on The Way. Myles is pushing us to put it out too, and it absolutely wouldn't hurt having an already established voice on your debut single."
Cat thought for a moment, the words Jade had shared with her a last night echoing in her mind about her music. She loved The Way even if it had started as Alessia's song, and there was no doubt the fans would too. But part of her was still a little uneasy about having to sing a song that wasn't about her own experiences, singing about a boy, staying silent about who the song might be about. She wanted her fans to know her, really know her.
Still, she nodded. "I think that's a good choice," she said, trying to keep her voice confident.
Marissa smiled, looking pleased. "Great. Then let's get it polished and ready to release. We'll be coordinating a whole rollout for it, music video, proper performances of it —the works."
Cat's heart raced, the excitement of the moment sparking a smile she couldn't hide. A single. Her own, out in the world, with her name on it. It was everything she'd dreamed of, and it was finally coming true.
Marissa continued, "Now, we'll want to do some posts about the release. Maybe some teaser videos, some behind-the-scenes shots from recording... Oh, and we actually need you and Myles to meet. We're going to make sure everyone knows this is just the start for you."
"Right." Cat smiled back. "Sounds good to me."
That evening, Cat settled into her little bedroom filming setup, adjusting her phone on the small tripod. She'd started doing these TheSlap livestreams a few weeks ago, like her label requested, and although she'd been nervous at first, they'd quickly become a part of her Friday routine. The comments and questions from fans made her feel connected, like she wasn't just singing to a screen but talking to people who actually cared about her journey.
She took a deep breath, flashed a smile, and tapped to start the stream on TheSlap. Instantly, comments flooded in, scrolling quickly as fans joined the stream.
"Hey, everyone!" she greeted, waving at the camera. "Happy to see you here! Let's hang out for a bit—send me your questions, or just say hi!"
A question popped up almost immediately: "How are you feeling about the album?"
"Oh, wow, good question!" she replied, laughing. "Honestly? A little overwhelmed but in a good way. It's been intense. There's so much that goes into it that I had no idea about before, but I'm loving it. I think you guys are gonna really like what we're putting together. There's a lot of emotion in these songs, and I've been pouring myself into every single one."
As the chat continued, she noticed more personal questions coming up, and one in particular caught her eye: "Do you have a boyfriend?"
She paused, not sure how to answer. She'd been open about her relationship with Jade to her close friends, but her label had hinted—okay, more than hinted—that it was better to keep her relationship status a little ambiguous. They wanted her to "seem available," which felt weird, but she was trying to roll with it.
"Oh, um…" she laughed lightly, choosing her words carefully. "I'm, uh, just focusing on my music right now. It's taking up a lot of my time. But who knows what the future holds, right?"
She quickly moved on to another question, hoping no one noticed her brief hesitation.
Another fan asked, "Are you making your own outfits?"
Cat's face lit up at this. "Yes! Well, most of them. The label's been really supportive about it, actually. They think it's cool that I can bring my own style, and it makes me feel more like myself when I'm performing. I love working on outfits and, like, crafting looks that fit the vibe of my music."
A flood of positive comments followed: "That's so cool!""We love your style!""Show us your outfit ideas!"
She spent a few more minutes showing off the sketches pinned up on her wall and sharing some funny moments from rehearsals. It was nice, even comforting, to chat with everyone like this. The stream was meant to be promotional, sure, but it felt personal too—a reminder that her fans were on this journey with her, cheering her on through every milestone.
As the livestream neared its end, she took a moment to read a final comment that caught her eye: "We're so proud of you, Caterina!"
Her smile softened, and she felt a warm glow spread through her. "Thanks, you guys. I'm so grateful to have you all here with me. Keep an eye out—lots of exciting stuff coming soon. Love you all!"
She waved, and with one last tap, ended the stream. Sitting back, she let out a breath, feeling a mix of excitement and relief. It was nerve-wracking putting herself out there, but with each stream, she felt a little more at home in this strange, new life.
As soon as it was finished, as if she'd been watching it herself and knew the stream ended, Jade knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Cat called, glancing over as Jade strolled in, leaning casually against the doorway with a small smile.
"Have fun?" She asked.
"Yeh, it went pretty well. I don't feel like a total dork talking to the screen anymore."Cat said, closing out of the app and setting her phone down. She smiled, still riding the buzz of the livestream.
Jade smirked, crossing her arms. "You're getting good at it. Honestly, you're a natural—people eat up everything you say."
Cat laughed, rolling her eyes. "I dunno about that, but thanks. It's kinda nice seeing everyone get so excited… even if they keep asking about my 'boyfriend.'" She put air quotes around the word, shooting Jade a playful look.
Jade raised an eyebrow, her smirk fading just a little. "And did you tell them about your incredibly handsome, rugged, and totally existent boyfriend?"
Cat snorted. "Obviously," she said, pulling a face. "Nah, I kept it vague. But honestly… it feels weird, you know? Like, why should I have to hide you? I'm proud of us."
Jade moved closer. "I know, and I get it. But if they're trying to market you, they think they know what'll get you more fans. It's messed up, but it's kind of… the game, you know?"
Cat sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. "I know. I just hate that part. It's like… it's not that I want to keep us a secret, but I also don't want to make things harder for myself."
Jade's gaze softened, and she nodded. "Hey, it's okay. I don't need the world to know, as long as we know." She paused, then added, her voice more playful, "Plus, we've already got Robbie documenting every little thing we do anyway. So I think it balances out."
Cat laughed, the tension breaking. "You're right. I think he's more into my career than I am sometimes."
"Maybe," Jade teased, then settled beside her on the bed. "So… what else did your fans want to know?"
Cat shrugged, leaning back beside her. "Oh, lots of things. About my clothes, the album, how I'm feeling about it all… they're all just so excited and supportive. Honestly, it's pretty amazing."
Jade took Cat's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And they should be. You're incredible, Cat, even if you don't always see it. They see it, though."
Cat felt warmth fill her, grateful for Jade's steady presence. "Thank you. I mean it, Jade. I don't think I'd be handling all this if you weren't here."
Jade squeezed her hand tighter. "Hey, I'm not going anywhere."