Jack Harkness was everywhere and not in a good way.
Every tabloid, every late-night monologue, every glossy magazine seemed to delight in dragging his name through the mud.
"Washed-Up Rock Star in Hiding?" one headline sneered.
"Two Years Since His Last Hit…Where Is Jack Harkness?" another blared in bold letters.
Some even speculated if he was still alive.
Jack rolled his eyes, tossing the paper aside, taking another swig from the half-empty vodka bottle. He was so tired of all of this! But that was the music industry, one minute you're their golden boy, the next you're a nobody.
But Jack wasn't trying to hide. He wanted to make music again. He really did. But something kept getting in the way.
Fear? Burnout? Laziness? He really didn't know.
Not that it mattered. Tastes had shifted, fans had moved on, and Jack was just another has-been sprawled across a threadbare couch, surrounded by empty bottles and crumpled magazines that once celebrated him.
Just two years ago, he was everywhere—radio, TV, sold-out arenas. Now? Obscurity.
His rise was almost like a movie, expelled from school, scrubbing dishes in a diner then discovered while singing a pop tune at a traffic light. It was surreal!
Gallifrey Studio had even signed him on the spot, and suddenly he had everything, money, fame, gorgeous dates, and a circle of rich, beautiful friends.
But fame also had its problems. When the hits stopped, so did the money. The friends vanished and the spotlight faded.
And Jack just stopped caring. Bitter and disheartened, he gave up on music entirely.
Now he was living in a cramped London flat, jobless, drinking cheap vodka, and avoiding anything that reminded him of who he used to be.
The only person who hadn't given up on him was Peter, his manager.
Peter still believed Jack had one more hit in him. A major comeback just waiting to burst out.
But Jack just laughed at the idea. Peter was nice, but delusional.
Jack was done, done with music, done with fame and done with the heartache. There would be no comeback.
Meanwhile, Jamie Smith was zipping up his suitcase, heart pounding with anticipation.
He checked his packing list one last time, he still couldn't believe it, he was going to London!
Six months in a new city. Far from home, a new adventure! It was risky but Jamie was ready.
At twenty-one, he was already making waves as a rising songwriter, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the business.
And now, Gallifrey Studio had invited him to co-write a track with Jack Harkness, his idol! His inspiration. The reason he started writing songs in the first place.
Jamie was ecstatic but also nervous, this was a big deal. He almost didn't make it thanks to a stubborn flu he was still recovering from but there was no way he was going to say no' to this!
This was his chance to prove himself, to make something unforgettable and to meet the legend who shaped his love for music.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, feeling hopeful.
"London, here I come," He whispered, grinning wide.