Part 26

It wasn’t much later—just before 2 a.m.—and I was half-sprawled across the table, practically asleep.

Quen had left about 10 minutes after I had joined them at the tabel, and only Claudia ,Finneas, and Billie were still over. We had fallen into a comfortable silence, everybody too tired to speak, just enjoying each others company.

"Maybe we should head to bed." Chris broke the silence. Mumbles of agreement following suit. Grace got up first, collecting the rest of the plaits scattered around the tabel from our barbecue. Claudia and I grabbed the rest that Grace couldn't as she was already balancing a bunch. We sat them down on the kitchen counter inside ,too lazy to do them now .

The rest of the group soon followed us inside each carrying something from outside. "How about y'all just crash here tonight. It's too late to drive back ." Grace suggested "Yeah and we have another guest room, and someone maybe could sleep on the couch. It's pretty comfy." I tried to support Graces suggestion.

Claudia looked pretty convinced but turned to Finneas nevertheless. "What do you think. Should we just stay over?" She asked her eyes darting to Billie as well, who had kept pretty much in the background for the last few minutes. She shrugged, signing that she was fine with whatever, so Claudia looked back at Finneas with pleading eyes.

"Yeah, sure, why not. I'm pretty exhausted anyway. " He answered, shrugging his shoulder. " Yay, sleepover," Grace exclaimed in excitement.

Soon, Claudia and Finneas scrambled into the empty guest bedroom while Billie offered to crash on the couch.Grace and Chris sprinted off , trying to go to the bathroom before each other. I really don't know how they still have the energy to act like five year olds.

"Wait, I'm gonna get you an actual blanket and pillow. " I called into the living room where Billie started to settle down. Luckily, the closet in the hallway didn't only contain towels but also extra pillows and blankets .

"Here you go." I said, placing them on the coffetable. Billie had her back turned to me, scrambling through her bag, only giving me an acknologing hum. I turned around and left , going back to my own room, luckily with an ensuite bathroom , so I didn't have to fight Grace and Chris for a spot - I could still hear them arguing outside as I started the shower. Just a quick one. Just to rinse of sweat and chlorine from the pool.

As I stepped inside the shower, I basically moaned as the water hit my skin. I let it drip down my body for a while, just enjoying the feeling, tipping my head back to let the water rinse over my face as well. But soon, my eyes started to flutter shut. I knew I had to get out before I would fall asleep standing in the shower.

I turned off the water and stepped outside the shower, instantly wrapping a towel around me as the cold air hit me, giving me goosebumps. I changed into my pj's - just an oversized t-shirt . It was long enough to cover my ass so I decided to just stay in my panties. I just stared at myself in the mirror for a second. The mascara that had still been on my lashes had now smeared under my eyes, and my wet hair sticked to my skin.

I looked like a truck had hit me.

Whatever, I lowkey looked just as dead as I felt. I quickly did my skin care before finally slipping under the covers of the bed , sighting at the feeling of the sheets against my freshly showered skin. The Airbnb was quiet, not a single sound could be heard. It was late anyway, and I had spent way too long in the bathroom that I was pretty certain that everyone was already asleep.

But as soon as I was in my quiet dark room I was wide awake. And as much as I wanted to, I just couldn't seem to be able to fall asleep. My eyes and my entire body were tired, but my mind just could shut up. Weird thoughts gosting my mind. I tossed and turned but I just couldn't fall asleep.

I growned as I fought my blanket yet again as it had literally turned into a triangle instead of a rectangle. Or at least I just couldn't find the other corner. I gave up throwing the blanket somewhere too annoyed to deal with it any longer. Instead, I got up and decided to get a glass of water from the kitchen.

Maybe my little trip would get me to finally fall asleep. I quietly opened the door creeping down the hallway trying not to wake anyone, mostly Billie as the the concept of the house was pretty open and the kitchen was connected right with the living room where Billie was sleeping on the couch.

It was pretty dark, so I used my flashlight on the phone to guide my way around, still barely enlightening enough to see further that 1 meter away from me. I laid my phone face down on the kitchen conter, reaching for a cup in the cabinet above. The Airbnb had one of those cool water dispensers in the fridge that could even let out ice cubes. But shit was this thing loud. I really hoped that I didn't wake up Billie with it.

So, as I was finally done filling up my cup, I stayed quiet, listening into the silence if Billie made any sounds indicating that I woke her . But it was quiet. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding but instantly holding it again as I could hear a faint sound behind me. I clutched my cup tighter, listening again. Maybe I had just imagined it.

But there it was again. I quiet sound that sounded ... like a whimper? I couldn't make it out. And there it was again. It was definitely Billie on the couch, but she sounded weird. I dont think she was awake, but it sounded like an anxious whimper.

What the hell?

I set down my cup , grabbing my phone instead, slowly making my way towards the living room. I tried to only poin my phone to the ground so I wouldn't wake her with the bright flashlight off my phone.

As I reached the couch, I could make out Billies body curled up under the blanket I had brought her earlier, and she was sound asleep. Weird. Just as I was about to turn around to go back to my room , Billie let out another whimper, her eyebrows furring.

Was she having a nightmare?

I knew Billie had struggled with nightmares back when we were still friends. That's why I had slept over so often, so she wouldn't be alone when it happened. But I kinda thought that was just a thing that happened when we were younger, not that she still had them.

Should I just leave her?

A tear rolled down Billies cheek.Nope, I'm gonna wake her, not standing seeing her suffer. I crouched down so I was on level with her face, slowly reaching out my hand but stilling a few centimeters away from her face. I hesitated. I let out a breath before closing the space between her face and my fingers. First whipping away the tear before carefully stroking her cheek.

"Billie, wake up." I whispered, still unsurtend if I was going the right thing. But I've done it multiple times before, only now it felt so different ."It's just a bad dream. Come on ,weak up." I said my voice a little louder now. She stirred a quiet whimper, escaping her lips once again.

She wasn't waking up easily, so I carefully grabbed her shoulder, shaking her again." Come on, wake up. It's just a nightmare it's not real." My voice louder now.She stirred again but this time awake.

She suddenly shot up her breathing quickly and uneven. "Hey, it's ok . It was just a bad dream." I said, trying to calm her , wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Just breath. Come on . Follow my breathing, in and out." I kept on repeating my words, trying to get her to stop hyperventilating. Billie kept gasping for air clutching onto my shirt like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

"It's ok. I'm here. You're safe. It was just a dream , it wasn't real." I tried finding things that may calm her. But it didn't seem to work her breathing, turning into little hiccups, tears streaming down her cheeks, which I could feel on my skin as she had her face buried in the crook of my neck.

"Billie, you need to breath , come on . Follow me. In and out , in and out." I reached for one of her hands, which was still gripping my shirt tight. But as she felt my hand on hers, she instantly let go. My heart jumped a little, knowing that she still trusted me. I slowly guided her hand to my chest placing her palm above my heart.

"Concentrate on my heartbeat and now in and out." I repeated it over and over , Billies breathing finally slowing until she started to breathe normally again."Good job." I praised her. This definitely had been way more intense then it used to be.

Billie was still wrapped up in my arms with no intention of letting go."Are you ok now?" I asked , no responds from Billie. I pulled back a bit , lifting her chin with my fingers , making her look at me. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked exhausted. "Are you ok?" I repeated my question. This time, she nodded.               " Words , Billie," I said, my voice a little more demanding but still soft.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said her vice sounding raw from crying so much. A soft smile spread across my face at her voice, knowing that she was ok.

"I'm sorry. " she suddenly mumbled.

"No, hey, look at me." Her blue eyes finding mine again." You dont have to be sorry,ok? It's not your fault." I said, whipping away the last tear on her face with my thumb . She slowly nooded. The always so cool and chill Billie was gone , right now in this moment she was shy and fragile. A side of Billie not many people knew but wasn't new to me.

"You should go back to sleep, Billie. It's late and you look exhausted. " I said my hand, resting on her thigh for comfort. She frantically shook her head." No, I can't fall asleep again." She said, her voice full of anxiety.

I let out a sigh, reconsidering my next few words. " Come on , you'll sleep with me tonight. My bed's big enough anyway ."

"You sure?" She stuttered a bit. Eyes litting up a bit at my words like relief had flooded them.

"Yeah, come on." I said, reaching for her hand before pulling her up with me. I reached for my phone, which rested on the coffee table where I had put it when Billie woke up. I lit us our way, grabbing my untouched cup from the kitchen counter before leading Billie to my bedroom down the hall, her hand not leaving mine on the way.

I closed the door behind us, leading Billie to the bed , helping her slip under the covers. "You comfy ?" I asked her before walking around the bed to slip under the covers as well. " Thanks, Val." My heart fluttered at the nickname only Billie called me. " No worries." I said, turning on my side , face away from Billie. It was quite for a while, but I knew Billie wasn't sleeping yet , her breath still to even. And neighter was I, facing the same problem as before.

But suddenly Billie shifted behind me. My breathing got caught in my throat as she shlung an arm around my waist, pulling me backwards towards her, till my back hit her chest. She let out a content sigh against my neck before mumbling something in my ear , giving me goosebumps. "Good night , Val."I relaxed my muscles, letting myself melt into Billies embrace. "Good night, Billie." My voice barely above a whisper. And all of a sudden, I was back in Billies arms, and everything felt like it used to . I could feel this hope in me that maybe things could go back to normal with Billie.

Because only in her arms could I sleep so well.

A.NWow, long chapter and pretty dramatic as well.And did you realize that everyone calls her Vai, but Billie calls her Val ( hihi)Would love to get feedback <3