Part 43

The next few weeks passed in a blur - filled with tones of work and too little sleep. I was always on my feet running around getting coffee for people or organizing photoshoots - which meant booking venues, make-up artists, hair stylists, and a lot more stuff.

I barely had time for myself, always immediately crashing into bed once I returned home. But still, I took my time in the day to text Billie. She would always check in on me, asking if I ate anything yet and wasn't only running on coffin.

It was cute. It was a small gesture that still meant so much to me. Because Billie was trying. She'd ask me about my day , would call me at night, and let me fall asleep while on call while she hummed soft melodies through the speaker of my phone.

She wanted to be present in my life, which meant the world to me.

Eventhoug, I'd been too busy to meet up with her. She still was around and didn't let me go crazy because of all the work I had to do.

It was late in the day, and the sun just dipped behind the horizon, casting the sky into a soft pink - turning into this soft dark blue.

I was hunched over my laptop, currently looking for a venue for the next photoshoot that was only 3 days away. I was stressed because I was running out of time and because the venue I had originally booked had to cancel basically last minute.

It was nearly impossible to find venues that still had slots open. My brain was running solely on energy drinks like it had for the last past few weeks.

I had barely any social contacts anymore besides random people at work. I always woke up earlier than Grace and Chris and only returned late at night when eighter, both of them were already asleep or out partying.

They'd invite me, of course, but I was just happy to be home and would just immediately crash.

And besides Billie and Is FaceTime calls, I also hadn't seen her in like 2 weeks.

"Would their still be a time slot available at 3 pm?" I asked the guy on the phone after endlessly scrolling on my laptop for venues that would meet Miranda's standards.

"No? OK, how about 11 am?"

"5pm?"

"Unfortunately, not."

"9 am?"

"No."

"Do you even have any slots available?"

"Unfortunately, at this time, we dont have any slots available. we are all booked out for the next few weeks. "

"Oh ok no problem, sorry. But thank you for your time." I said before hanging up.

"What an asshole. " I cursed.  He could have just told me that their were no available slots. That would have saved me a tone of time.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. My eyes felt havy with sleep like they did most of the time these past few weeks. All that work was catching up with me. I knew back then when I accepted this job offer that it would be hard work, but this felt more like I was a secretary than a photographer.

I reached for my red bull can taking the last sip. This was like my 3rd red bull today. If I continued like that, Im sure Im gonna die of a heart attack.

I crushed the can before tossing it somewhere over my shoulder. My room was a mess of clothes scattered around the floor, empty red bull cans and coffee mugs scattered around my desk and nightstand.

I started into nothing, letting my mind go blank for a second. Simply enjoying the quiet for a moment . The ringing of the door bell startled me pulling me out of whatever trance I had fallen into.

I was home alone. Chris was enjoying the empty beaches and high waves while Grace was out for dinner with some of her colleagues. So there was no one that could open the door except of me.

I pushed my chair back getting up from my desk for the first time in hours. My legs and back were aching from sitting so uncomfortablely all this time. I didn't even realize how bad my posture had been until getting up and feeling the pain spread through my spine.

My legs were slow and sting a little from muscle pain. Walking around in heels all day long really killed my calfs. It wasn't my choice to wear heals, though. Unfortunately, it was part of the dress code .

The apartment was dark, and only the faint light of my desk lamp coming from my room illuminated the hallway. Once I reached the front door, I took a deep breath, quickly collecting myself before opening the door.

"Hey Val." Billie spoke , lazily leaning against the doorframe a soft smile spreading across her lips as her eyes met mine.

"Billie, hey! What are you doing here. " I asked a little surprise. I wasn't mad that she was here. To be honest, I was glad because I actually kinda missed her. Still, she was the last person I expected to open the door to.

"I texted you like an hour ago that Im coming over. " She chuckled lowly.

"Oh sorry. I didn't check my phone I was busy. " I said as I stepped to the side letting Billie slip inside before closing the door behind her.

"Don't worry. Its what I thought." Billie said kicking of her Jordan's - my eyes landing on the paper bag in her hand.

Billie followed my gace before smiling. " I brought food because I'm sure you were to busy to actually eat." She said  holding up the bag a little. Taco Bell. Of course.

My heart fluttered a little. " Thanks B. Im actually starving. " I smiled. " Of course. Im officially your personal lifesaver. You can thank me later. " She snickered walking into my kitchen like it was the most normal thing ever. Like we've had  done this multiple times before. But we didn't.

I playfully shook my head but couldn't keep the smile from forming on my lips as I followed her.

Billie flipped on the lights in the kitchen and started to unpack what looked like could be dinner for a family of 5.

"How was you day?" Billie asked as she grabbed plates from the cabinet. I dont know how she knew where my plates were, but I let it slide.

"Long." I stated, slipping onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island opposite Billie.

Her eyes flickered up to me for a second as she loaded up our plates.

"Yeah?"

" Yeah."

I started to tell her about my long day, how I had to get this bitch Katelyn coffee 5 times eventhoug I wasn't even assigned to her.

It felt good to be able to complain about work. But most of the time I didn't let myself because I didn't want to sound ungrateful. Which i wasn't. I was so so greatfull for this opportunity but it was hard.

And I knew Billie would be the last person to judge me because she had felt like this aswell when she started off her career.

We devoured a tone of food , while talking and laughing together. It felt easy. It was easy.

With Billie it was always easy to just exist. No presser no prejudice no nothing . Just a comfortable company.

"And then this morning a got a call." I continued even after we finished eating while Billie did the dishes. I told her not to but she insisted . And I knew there was no use in fighting Billie.

"-They canceled the venue for the photoshoot in 3 days. So I spend all of my evening today calling different venues but there are all unavailable at such short notice. "

"Damn what bitches for cancelingso late. " Billie exclaimed over her shoulder as she cleaned the last cup.

"Did you find a new venue?"

"No." I whined letting my head fall forward onto the counter- the marble felt cool against my forehead. I was simply so exhausted.

"Hey it's ok." Billie said her voice full of empathy, closing the cupboard above and walking over to me. Her hand rupped up and down my back in soothing circles.

"Im so tired. " I mumbled against the countertop.

"Do you wanna go to bed?" Billie asked quietly. I shook my head." No not until I found a venue. This is really important. " I murmured my words a little slurred from the exhaustion flooding my body.

I could hear Billie slip onto the seat next to me, her hand not leaving my back. The little massage she was giving me felt amazing. Maybe a little too good because I could feel my body slip in and out of sleep. I really needed to fight to stay awake .

"Hey look at me." Billie spoke her hand sliding from my back to my jaw, carefully lifting my head of the counter. My eyes found hers in an instance.

"How about you just go to bed and Ill make some calls tomorrow. I know some people ok?" She said softly looking deep into my dropy eyes. Dark circles probably painted my undereyes. " You would do that?" I asked hopefully.

"Of course. " Billie smiled softly. " Ok." I nooded letting Billie pull me off my chair towards my bedroom.

"Sorry it's a total mess." I excused myself as we stepped into my messy bedroom." I would clean it if I had time."

"Don't worry. You should see my room. Its a mess too but unlike you, I do have the time to clean it. I just dont." She laughed, pulling a little smile from my lips.

I cleaned the mess of my bed as Billie just stood there, taking in my room. It wasn't the first time she'd been in my room, but still, she admired it like it was the key to my soul or something.

I turned around, looking at her , her eyes instantly snapping to me." You staying the night ?" I asked . Billie contemplated for a split second before nodding.

"Of course.  Not missing out on cuddles." She chuckled, and I nooded, pulling some spare clothes for Billie out of my closet.

I reached for my own pj's before slipping off my shirt. I didn't care that Billie was right infront of me or that she was noticeably staring. I wasn't sure if it was because of how tired I was that I didn't care or if something inside me wanted Billie to see  me.

She bit her lip as I pulled off my jeans , only standing in front of her in my underwear.

"Are you gonna change too, or are you just staring." I asked. I was too tired to flirt or whatever. I was internally just counting down the seconds until I could slip into my bed .

Billie smirked at my words before pulling her shirt of aswell, her eyes not leaving mine while.

I stood there for a second admiring her upper body. It felt like there was this force coming from her that made me unable to pull my eyes away.

Still, I slipped on my shorts and my tanktop, while Billie changed into the only pair of oversized shorts that I owned and some random shirt I totally forgot I had. The fit was random, but Billie was still able to pull it off.

I reached my arm around my back, fiddling with the clip of my bra before Billie spoke again. "Let me." She said her voice barely above a whisper as she carefully came closer giving me time to pull away if I wanted . But I didn't.  I simply turned my back to her and gathered my hair so it wouldn't be in the way.

Billies ands slowly slipped under the hem of my tanktop, crawling up until her fingertips graced the clip of my bra. She easily unclipsed it with out a problem.

She was standing close behind me. Maybe a little too close but I didn't mind. I enjoyed the feeling of her fingertips against my bare skin and the feeling of her warm breath against my neck.

Billies fingers slipped higher carefully pulling the straps of my shoulders before removing my bra completely.  She was taking her time. Prolonging the time where her finger were against my back a little longer.

"Thanks." I whispered as I turned back around.

"No problem. " She said a cocky smile on her lips. I gave her a playful push which was barely a push anyway as I was just way to to exhausted.

"Come on lets get you to bed before you fall asleep standing ." Billie said softly.

She lifted the covers for me to slip under before getting in aswell. Like always her hands found my waist instantly pulling  me into her. I let out a content sight as soon as I laid my head onto Billies chest.

Billie flipped off the light on my nightstand before her hand returned to my back , continuing to rub my back like in the kitchen.

"Valerie?" Billie whispered after a second. "Mh?"" Don't overwork yourself, ok? Because I can't stand this look of exhaustion on your face. It breaks my heart. Like I lowkey worry about you." She whispered into the darkness that swallowed both of us.

My heart fluttered once again.

"Don't worry, I won't." I whispered back. And I meant it. I loved this job but I wouldn't let it ruin me. I wouldn't let it destroy my mental health like I had almost let school done it. Billie had been there when I almost burned myself out because I always wanted to be the best.

I had a history of working to hard on something while not realizing how it destroyed me.

Almost like it had been with me and Billie back then.

And I had promised myself then that I would always put myself first even if it destroyed something else.

But with Billie I hoped I would never have to put myself first .

Because this time it was different with Billie . She tried and she showed it. She didn't try to hide it and she cared about my feelings too.

Both of us feel into a comfortable silence again. I contemplated for a second before lifting my head off of Billie's chest and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. It wasn't much but it was definitely enough.

"Thank you for coming over tonight and for taking care of me." I said basically whispering.

"Always." Billie smiled , the moon light through the blinds casting her face in a beautiful glow.

"I care about you Val." She added a second later.

"I care about you too." I smiled before laying my haed back on her chest and finally letting go. Letting sleep pull me away while staying wrapped up in Billies tight and comforting embrace.

A.NYall Im sorry it's been so long. I kinda lost my motivation but it's back now I hope. Definitely not my favorite chapter but I though something is better than nothing.Hope yall enjoyed anyway.