Chapter 15

The morning sun rose casting sunlight through the room, painting lines across the tangled sheets. The room smelled like vanilla and something warmer, something unmistakably her.My eyes fluttered open, the world slow to come into focus, but the steady weight of Billie's arm draped over my waist grounded me instantly.I held my breath, afraid any moving might shatter the fragile quiet of the morning.

Her fingers twitched against my skin, and I turned my head just enough to see her - her face relaxed; mouth slightly parted, dark hair spilling across the pillow.She was beautiful And still here.

I traced a fingertip lightly along the curve of her arm, barely touching, just enough to feel her, to make sure she was real. My heart thudded against my ribs, too fast for the stillness of the room, and I wondered if she could feel it, if she could sense the chaos she left in her wake.

Billie shifted, her breath catching before her eyes blinked open, lashes heavy with sleep. She looked at me, confusion flickering for a heart beat before something softer settled in its place.

"Hey" she whispered, voice harsh from sleeping.

"Hey" I whispered back, my mouth tugging into a nervous smile.

Her fingers flexed against my waist, like she was checking to see if I'd disappear. When I didn't, she let her head fall back onto the pillow, exhaling slowly.

"You stayed" she murmured like she wasn't sure it really happened.

I shifted to face her, propping myself on my elbow, letting my gaze take her in."You asked me too"

Billie's lips curled into the faintest smile, eyes searching mine like she was looking for an answer to a question she hadn't asked yet.

"Are you okay?" She finally whispered, like the night before might have cracked something open in me.

I nodded, biting my lip, the weight of everything settled on my chest. "Are you?"

She hesitated, then nodded too. But there was something fragile in her expression, something guarded, like she wasn't ready to unpack whatever had unraveled between us yet. I didn't push

Instead, I lifted a hand, brushing her hair back form her face, and leaned in, pressing the softest kiss to her forehead.Billie closed her eyes, breathing me in like she needed it, maybe this - this quiet, this softness was what she'd been craving all along.

"We should probably get up". She said eventually, but she didn't move.

"Probably" I agreed, but I stayed exactly where I was; letting the morning stretch out around us, tangled in eachother like it was the hardest thing ever to let go.

-

We managed to somehow go back to sleep. The sunlight was still creeping its way into Billie's room. My eyes fluttered open slowly, I shifted, the fabric of my skirt twisted around my waist, and my shirt hanging off my shoulder.Billie was already awake, lying on her side. Propped up on her elbow, watching me. Her face was relaxed, eyes still heavy with sleep but her gaze didn't waver.

"Morning" she whispered

"Morning" I whispered back, heart stuttering in my chest. She's got me back under her trance that I so badly tried to get control of last night.

She reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear, her fingers lingering along my jaw.

"You want a shower?" she asked, her thumb brushing over my skin like she couldn't help herself."You're still in your clothes from last night"

I laughed softly, glancing down at myself"Yeah... that might be a good idea"

Billie sat up, stretching her arms above her head before slipping out of bed. She rummaged through her closet, pulling out a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, then placed them on the edge of the bed.

"These should fit okay" she said, a little shy, rubbing the back of her neck.

I sat up, pulling the blanket around my shoulders as I watched her. "Thanks"

She nodded toward the en-suite bathroom. "Towels are under the sink, take your time" she smiled

I hesitated for a second, but Billie caught it. She's steeped closer, brushing her fingers along my knuckles, her voice gentler than I'd ever heard.

"I'll be right here" she promised, like she could read the hesitation in my bones.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodded, and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. My reflection stared back at me in the mirror. Flushed cheeks, swollen lips, hair a mess. I traced my fingertips across my collarbone still feeling the weight of her touch.

I turned on the water, stepping under the warm stream, letting it wash over me as my heart continued its wild, chaotic Rhythm.

When I finally emerged from the shower, the scent of coffee lingered in the air. I dried off, slipped into Billie's clothes - the hoodie smelt just like her. I walked my way back into the bedroom with damp hair. Billie sat cross legged on the bed, a mug in her hands, steam curling in lazy ribbons towards the ceiling. She looked up, her smile small but genuine.

"I made coffee" she said, offering the cup to me like it was some kind of peace offering.I took it, fingers brushing against hers. "Thank you"

We sat there in comfortable silence; the weight of the night still hanging between us. Billie played with a loose thread on the comforter, chewing her lip like she was trying to decide whether to say something.

Finally, she glanced up. "Are you...okay?"

I swallowed, warmth pilling in my chest at her concern. "Yeah" I said and I meant it."I am"

Billie exhaled, relieved, and leaned back against the headboard."Good"

I sipped my coffee, the taste rich and bitter, I watched her out of the corner of my eye. For the first time in days, my heart didn't feel like it was trying to beat its way out of my ribs.Because maybe, just maybe, I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Billie stretched her legs out, feet brushing against mine beneath the blankets. She tilted her head, studying me like she was memorising the way I looked in her clothes, in her space.

"You don't have to rush out" she said quietly, tracing the rim of her empty coffee cup. "You can stay. As long as you want"

I set my mug down on the nightstand. Shifting to face her fully. My heart thudded, steady though.

"Maybe i want to stay" I admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Billie's smile grew, slow and tentative, but real. She leaned over, pressing a kiss to my temple, her lips lingering like she didn't want to pull away.

"Good" she murmured, her breath warm against my skin. "I want you to stay too"

And just like that, the knot in my chest unraveled, and I let myself breathe.

-

The day stretched out in easy, golden hours, after coffee, Billie pulled me out onto her balcony, where we sat cross legged, watching the city stir awake breath the haze of the morning light. We talked about nothing and everything - music, childhood, the stupid inside jokes we'd make up over the years.

Billie played guitar, fingers lazy on the strings, humming half formed melodies as I braided strands of her hair. We made pancakes, vegan, of course. Burning the first batch because we couldn't stop laughing, powdered sugar dusting her nose when she tried to flick it at me.It felt easy, natural. Like the version of us we were too afraid to admit we wanted.

But eventually, the day started slipping into dusk, and my phone buzzed.

Ivy:Outside, whenever your ready ;)

My heart sank, and Billie must've seen it because her smile faltered.

"You have to go?" She said, trying to keep her voice light.

I nodded, setting my empty cup on the counter."Unfortunately"

She laughed, walking me to the door, her fingers brushing mine, lingering like she wasn't ready to let go. I turned to face her, heart tight in my chest.

"I'll see you?" I asked, hating how uncertain I sounded.

Billie's leaned in, pressing a soft gentle kiss to my lips. Her lips lingering.

"You will" she promised.

I stepped outside, my chest slightly aching. Climbing into Ivy's car, she glance over, raising an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

As we pulled away, I looked back.Billie stood in the entryway, watching me go.And I already miss her.I'm fucked.