Chapter 26

The next morning, golden sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Billies hotel room, stretching across the floor in long golden beams. The gentle hum of the city below mixed with the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, filling the quiet space with a sense of calm. My body still felt heavy with jet lag, but when I turned my head and saw Billie curled against me, every ache, every ounce of exhaustion melted away.Her dark hair was sprawled across the pilled in a tangled mess, her face peaceful as she slept. Her lips were slightly parted, soft breaths escaping, I resisted the urge to reach out and trace the freckles across her nose. Instead, I just watched her, letting the quiet settle deep in my chest like a secret I never wanted to let go of.Eventually she stirred, stretching with a sleepy groan before blinking up at me with those half lidded blue eyes.

"morning" she rasped, her voice still thick with sleep.

I smiled, pushing a strand of hair out of her face."morning"

We stayed wrapped up in the sheets for a while, lazily waking up, neither of us in a rush to move. Billie mumbled something about coffee, I grabbed the phone to order room service. half an hour later, we were sitting up in bed, splitting a stack of pancakes and drinking coffee that was probably too strong for how early it was. Billie played me snippets of a song she'd been working on, her voice soft as she hummed along to the melody.It felt normal. Easy. like the rest of the world didn't exist for a little while.

" I keep thinking about the setlist for tomorrow night" Billie murmured, poking at a piece of pancake with her fork." I was thinking of adding a song, but I dunno if it'll flow right"

I tilted my head"which one?"

She hesitated, then grabbed her phone and played a demo she'd been working on. A soft, stripped down ballad, her voice barely above a whisper, the kind of song that pulled at something deep inside your chest. I closed my eyes, letting it wash over me.

When it ended, I opened my eyes to find her staring at me.

"well?" she asked, biting her lip.

I set my coffee down."you should do it. it's beautiful, and the fans will love it, they love anything you do."

Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled, nudging me with her knee under the blankets."thanks pretty, maybe you should be my manager instead of Mia"

I snorted "she'd have a heart attack"

As if summoned, a knock sounded at the door, we both groaned.

Mias voice filtered through"Billie, Ember, soundcheck, Now."

Billie flopped dramatically back against the pillows"nooooooo"

I laughed throwing off the covers."come on lazy girl, the stage awaits."

--

The drive to the venue was one of those perfect moments where everything felt right. Billie had the windows cracked, letting the warm Australian air sweep through the car as we sped down the road. She played music on her phone, belting out lyrics with dramatic flair, and I joined in, both of us completely off key but not caring in the slightest.At a stoplight, she reached over and laced her fingers through mine, giving my hand a squeeze, I squeezed back smiling at her, she leaned over and gave me the softest peck on the lips, I felt my cheeks blush immediately.

"you excited for tomorrow night?" I asked, watching her as she tapped her fingers against her lap.

She let out a breathy laugh."always. but also nervous, the first show in a place you haven't been too in awhile always gets me"

I squeezed her hand again. "you're gonna kill it. you always do"

She shot me a grateful smile." you staying backstage or watching from the crowd?"

I thought about it."both, probably, I want to see you do your thing from every angle"

She smirked."so basically, you're my biggest fan"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but grin.Obviously"

--

When we arrived at the arena, Billie practically dragged me inside, her excitement vibrating through her like electricity. The space was massive, the high ceilings stretching overhead, the stage looming empty but waiting for her. Crew members buzzed around, adjusting equipment, testing lights, making sure everything was set up perfectly for tomorrow night.

Billie immediately jumped onto the stage, spinning in a slow circle."I'll never get over this" She murmured , voiced filled with awe.

I sat crossed legged at the edge of the stage, watching her as she checked the sound levels with the techs. She ran through a couple of songs, her voice filling the empty space, the notes reverting through my bones. Every now and then she'd glance at me, a small grin tugging at her lips.

After awhile, she jogged over and flopped down beside me, slightly out of breath."wanna try the mic?" she teased, nudging me

I laughed shaking my head.No way, this is your world"

She leaned closer, her voice quieter."my worlds better when you're in it"

My chest tightened, and I looked away for a second, trying to gather my thoughts"you really mean that?"

She tilted her head"of course I do. I love having you here"

I swallowed hard looking at her, the words were quiet but sure and they hung between us, weighty and warm. I reached for her hand and squeezed it." I love being here too. even when you're being cheesy"

She laughs and gives a small kiss to my hand before returning to her songs.

By the time soundcheck wrapped up the sun was already starting to set. Instead of leaving immediately Billie grabbed my hand and pulled me backstage, leading me through dimly lit hallways like she was on a mission.

"where are we going". I laughed

"you'll see"

A few turns later we emerged onto the empty arena floor, the massive space stretching around us. The seats were vacant, the stage lights casting long shadows across the floor. Billie spun in a slow circle, then looked at me with a grin.

"ever danced in an empty arena?"

i raised an eyebrow"cant say I have"

She grabbed my hands."first time for everything"

And just like that she started swaying, pulling me with her. There was no music, no rhythm, just the sound of our laughter echoing through the space. She dipped me dramatically, nearly dropping me in the process I shrieked before collapsing into her, both of us breathless with laughter

" i'm never letting you lead again" I gasped

she pouted"rude"

--

Eventually we made our way back to the hotel, exhausted but still buzzing from the day. We collapsed onto the bed, Billie tracing lazy circles on my arm, her touch lighter than a feather and grounding all at once. Her voice was a quiet hum as she talked about the setlist again, about the show, about how much she loved me being here.

"it never gets old, you know" she murmured, her fingers still moving across my skin, patterns that sent warmth through me. "that feeling of stepping on stage, hearing them scream. its like--" she let out a soft breath"I don't know. like home"

I turned onto my side, watching her in the dim light filtering through the curtains"i get that" I said"it's like nothing else exists for those couple of hours. just you and them"

She nodded then grinned"and you"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips"obviously"

She shifted closer, her forehead brushing against mine."thanks for being here"

"you don't have to thank me. theres nowhere else i'd rather be"

She studied me for a moment, then reached up, fingers gazing across my cheek before she let them drop."it's hard sometimes. Wanting to just-- be, without everyone watching"

I swallowed my chest tightening, a feeling I know all too well."i know"

Before I could think twice, I reached up tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Billies breath hitched slightly, and for a moment the space between us felt smaller, charged. Then, she leaned in just enough that I could feel her breath against my lips. My heart pounded as i closed the distance, our lips meeting in a soft lingering kiss. it wasn't hurried or desperate, just quiet. like an unspoken promise.

When we pulled back, her eyes searching mine, something unreadable flickering there before she let out a small, breathy laugh."well. thats one way to escape the world for a second"

I smiled, my fingers still resting slightly on her jaw"yeah"

She squeezed my hand before settling back against the pillows, a small, content smile playing on her lips.

" I should be asleep, tomorrows gonna be insane" she murmured, her voice already heavy

I smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face"then stop talking and go to sleep Eilish"

she rolled her eyes but gave a soft chuckle"you're impossible"

I hesitated for a moment then sat up"I should probably go back to my room, you need a good sleep tonight bill"

Billie blinked, her expression unreadable for a second before she nodded"yeah, okay I guess your right" she smiled

I grabbed my keycard and stood, hesitating in the doorway. She looked so small curled up in the sheets, her hair a mess, her lips slightly parted""goodnight Bill"

"night Em"

As I walked back to my room, my heart pounded, my thoughts tangled and restless. I climbed into bed staring at the ceiling, replaying every touch, every lingering glance, the way her voice had softened when she spoke to me.

I wanted her. More than anything, more than I could put into words and god, it was getting harder and harder to pretend I didn't.

A/N:

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