Chapter 54

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Billie's bedroom. I slowly blinked awake, my body still heavy with sleep, but the excitement humming beneath my skin reminded me what day it was.

Concert day.

I stretched lazily, feeling the warmth of Billie beside me. She was still sleeping, her face relaxed, her dark lashes resting against her cheeks. Her arm was draped over my waist, holding me close even in sleep. I smiled to myself, not wanting to move, not wanting to disturb this perfect moment.

But my mind was already running through everything ahead-soundcheck, last-minute rehearsals, the press backstage, the sheer adrenaline of stepping onto that stage tonight.

I sighed softly, shifting slightly. Billie stirred, making a sleepy sound as she tightened her hold on me.

"Mm-mm, don't move yet," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

I laughed lightly, turning onto my side to face her. "I have to, B. Big day, remember?"

She cracked one eye open, a lazy smile forming on her lips. "Mmm... yeah. Your big, badass, superstar day." She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, her fingers lingering against my cheek. "How are you feeling?"

I thought about it for a second. "Excited. A little nervous. Mostly just... ready."

"You should be. You're gonna kill it." She stretched, rolling onto her back before looking at me again. "You want me to come with you to soundcheck?"

My heart warmed at the offer. "I'd love that, but you don't have to. I know you've got stuff to do today."

Billie shook her head. "Nothing's more important than being there for you."

The sincerity in her voice made my chest tighten. I leaned in and kissed her, slow and lingering, letting my gratitude show in the way my lips moved against hers. When I pulled away, she was smiling, her thumb brushing against my cheek.

"Alright, rockstar," she said, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. "Let's get you ready to take over the world."

I grinned, my nerves easing just a little. As long as Billie was by my side, I knew I could take on anything

As much as I wanted to stay tangled up with Billie, I knew I had to get moving. I forced myself out of bed, stretching as I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. My notifications were already blowing up-messages from my team, Ivy, Aidan, and a flood of social media tags hyping up the concert tonight.

Billie rolled onto her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows as she watched me. "You ready for the chaos?"

I laughed, running a hand through my hair. "As ready as I'll ever be."

She smirked. "You thrive in chaos. You're gonna own that stage tonight."

My chest tightened, warmth spreading through me at how much she believed in me. I leaned down, kissing her quickly before heading toward the bathroom. "Give me fifteen minutes, and then we can head out."

"Take your time," she said, watching me with a lazy smile. "I like this view."

I rolled my eyes playfully but felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I disappeared into the bathroom.

After showering and getting ready, I stepped out to find Billie dressed and scrolling through her phone. She looked up and grinned. "You're glowing, em."

"Shut up." I nudged her with my hip as I grabbed my bag.

She laughed, grabbing her keys. "C'mon, let's get you to rehearsal before your team has a meltdown."

The drive to the venue was filled with Billie playing DJ, blasting songs that she swore would hype me up. We sang at the top of our lungs, the nervous energy in my chest easing with every laugh, every stolen glance at her.

When we pulled up to the venue, I exhaled slowly, looking up at the massive arena that would be packed with thousands of people tonight. My name flashed on the marquee, and for a moment, the reality of it all hit me like a tidal wave.

Billie reached over, squeezing my hand. "You got this. And I'll be right there watching."

I turned to her, feeling my nerves settle under the weight of her gaze. "Promise?"

"Promise."

I leaned over, kissing her softly. "I love you."

Her lips curved into a smile against mine. "I love you more."

With that, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, ready to take on the biggest night of my life.

Inside the venue, the energy was already buzzing. Crew members moved around, setting up lighting cues, adjusting sound levels, and finalizing stage details. The massive arena, empty for now, still felt overwhelming. I took a deep breath, grounding myself as I walked toward the stage.

Danny was already there, running through sound checks with the band. He glanced up when he saw me and grinned. "There she is. Ready to make history?"

I smirked, shaking off the nerves. "That's the plan."

Ivy and Aidan were off to the side, sipping on iced coffees like they had all the time in the world. "Took you long enough," Ivy teased.

"Yeah, we were starting to think you got lost," Aidan added.

I rolled my eyes. "You guys are so dramatic."

I hopped onto the stage, adjusting the mic stand as Danny signaled to the crew. "Alright, let's start with the first track," he called out.

The opening chords of my first song filled the arena, and as soon as I started singing, something inside me clicked into place. The nerves, the pressure-they all melted away, leaving only the music.

I ran through the setlist, adjusting minor things here and there. The sound team tweaked the levels, the band tightened transitions, and I worked on finding the perfect spots to engage with the audience. By the time we hit the final song, I was drenched in adrenaline, completely locked into performance mode.

As the last note echoed through the arena, Danny gave me a thumbs-up. "That was solid. Feeling good?"

I nodded, wiping sweat from my brow. "Yeah. It's gonna be a good night."

Ivy and Aidan clapped from the pit, beaming up at me. "You look like a damn superstar up there," Ivy said.

Aidan nodded. "If this is the rehearsal, I can't wait to see you shut it down tonight."

my eyes immediately found Billie.

She was standing near the side of the stage, arms crossed, watching me with that familiar mix of admiration and something deeper-something that made my stomach flip. As I walked over to her, she grinned.

"You already sound insane," she said, her voice full of pride. "I'm so proud of you. Can't wait to watch you kill it tonight, rockstar."

A slow, warm smile spread across my lips. I stepped closer, reaching for her hand and lacing our fingers together. "Yeah?" I murmured, my voice quieter now, just for her.

Billie squeezed my hand, her gaze unwavering. "Yeah."

Something about the moment-the empty arena, the soft hum of instruments being tuned, the way she looked at me like I was something special-made my heart clench in the best way. Without hesitation, I whispered, "I love you."

Her expression softened instantly, a small, breathy laugh escaping her lips before she pulled me in, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead. "I love you more," she murmured against my skin. Then she pulled back, grinning. "Now go be the legend you were born to be."

I exhaled, my heart feeling impossibly full. With Billie in my corner, my best friends cheering me on, and the music thrumming in my veins-tonight was going to be unforgettable.

The hours leading up to the show passed in a blur of final rehearsals, last-minute sound adjustments, and an endless stream of people coming in and out of my dressing room. My team moved like a well-oiled machine, touching up makeup, adjusting wardrobe pieces, and making sure everything was in place.

But despite the chaos, I felt... steady.

Billie stuck close, always lingering near, offering a reassuring smile or a light touch when she saw the nerves creeping in. Ivy and Aidan were bouncing off the walls with excitement, hyping me up every chance they got. Danny gave me a thumbs-up after one final check-in with the band, his expression one of quiet confidence.

The venue buzzed with energy. I could hear the distant roar of the crowd as they began to fill the arena, an electric hum that made my skin tingle. I'd done this before, but tonight felt different. Bigger. More important.

Backstage, just minutes before showtime, I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the rings on my fingers, taking a slow, steadying breath. Billie appeared behind me in the reflection, her hands sliding gently onto my shoulders.

"You ready?" she asked, her voice low and warm.

I met her gaze in the mirror and nodded. "Yeah. I am."

She smiled, squeezing my shoulders before turning me around to face her. "I hope you know how insane this moment is," she said. "You're about to go out there and make history. You deserve every second of this."

The emotion in her voice made something tighten in my chest. I reached for her hand, squeezing it. "Stay close?"

She chuckled. "Always."

A knock sounded at the door. "Five minutes!"

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders back, shaking out my hands. The nerves were there, but so was the thrill, the hunger for the stage. I turned back to Billie one last time, and she gave me a grin that sent a wave of warmth through me.

"Go be legendary," she murmured.

I nodded, stepping toward the door, heart pounding as I walked into the wings of the stage, where the first few notes of the intro track began to play.

Showtime