Chapter 17

A few days later.

The studio smelled like old coffee and anticipation. I sat crossed legged on the couch, a notebook balanced on my knee, scribbling lyrics that refused to fit into anything coherent. The melody looped in my head, haunting and half done.I chewed on the end of my pen, glaring at the soundboard like it had personally offended me. Aidan was in the recording booth playing the same guitar riff for the fifth time, fingers sliding along the frets with ease, Ivy sat on the floor; scrolling through her phone. This is the first time I've bought either of them to the studio. I think they're regretting saying yes now.We've been here for hours. And my brain was somewhere else entirely. My phone buzzed beside me; and my pulse jumped like I'd been caught doing something I shouldn't. I snatched it up, heart beating faster when I saw her name.

Billss: What are you doing?

I smiled, typing out a response

Emmy:Trying to write, failing miserablyyy

Billss:I'm sure it's genius

Emmy:Girl you haven't even heard it 😭

Billie:I don't need too, I've heard your songs, they're amazing Em

I bit my lip, warmth spreading through me. It had been like this for days - constant, easy, endless talking, texting until I fell asleep, waking up to her messages like it was the most natural thing in the world. But we hadn't seen eachother since that night at her house, since I'd left in Ivy's car with my heart tangled up in knots I still hadn't unraveled.I tried not to thing about it too much, to which I failed miserably doing.My phone buzzed again

Billss:Come over

Emmy:I'm at the studio, I've got to finish this song Bills

Billie:Leave

I snorted, shaking my head earning a glance from Ivy

Emmy:Bossy

Billie: You like it

I swallowed, my heart pounding against my ribs.Ivy glanced back up to me from her phone

"Why are you blushing?"

"I'm not" I said, immediately blushing harder

Aidan stepped out of the booth, wiping sweat off his forehead with the hem of his shirt. "You totally are Em. Who are you texting?"

I shoved my phone under my leg."No one..."

Ivy grinned. "It's so Billie."

I sighed, rubbing my face"Maybe"

Aidan collapsed onto the couch next to me, throwing an arm over the back of the cushions.

"Are you seriously going to sit here and pretend like you don't want to go see her?"

"I have work to do." I argued, gesturing to my notebook although it was eating at me inside how much I wanted to see her

Ivy raised an eyebrows

"When's the last time you actually wrote anything down?"

I looked at the empty page and groaned

Billss:Please?

I chewed on my lip so hard, pretty much contemplating my career or Billie.

"Go" Aidan said, stealing my pen and twirling it between his fingers "We'll hold down the fort"

Ivy nodded, already gathering her stuff "You're useless right now anyway"

I glared at her, but my phone buzzed again, and I couldn't stop myself from looking.

Billie:I miss you

I shoved my notebook into my bag and stood up so fast I almost tripped over my own feet.

Ivy snickered,

"Yeah, that's what I thought"

---

It didn't take long to get to Billie's house, but my heart pounded the whole way there. My palms were slick against the steering wheel, and I kept checking my reflection in the rear view mirror .

She opened the door before I even knocked

Billie stood there, in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, hair sprawled across her shoulders. She looked soft and warm and exactly the place I wanted to be.

"Hey Em"She said, voice low

I stepped inside, she closed the door behind me, lingering close -close enough that the air shifted, close enough that I could feel the buzz of her body like a live wire.

"I'm glad you came"She whispered, eyes searching mine.

My throat tightened

"Me too"

Billie smiled, tugging gently on the sleeve of my jacket "Come on, I made pizza" she wiggled her eyebrows at me making me laugh I followed her into the kitchen, where two plates sat on the counter and candles flickered on the windowsill, their glow casting soft shadows against the tiles. The pizza was slightly burnt, and Billie looked sheepish as she handed me a slice, but I couldn't stop smiling.

We ate on the floor, backs against the cabinets, talking about nothing and everything - her setlist for tour, the weird guy who lived next door to me, Aidan's extremely tragic attempts at baking. The hours melted, and the space between us kept shrinking, like we were magnets.

We eventually made our way to the couch, both sprawled out comfortably whilst a quiet movie played on. I laid my head on Billie's chest, her hand wrapped tight around my waist. Her thumb rubbing smalls circled along my stomach every now and then.

"I don't want to leave" I confessed, voice quiet

Billie turned her hand over, grabbing mine and lacing her fingers through mine."Then don't"

I exhaled, leaning my head against her shoulder, and for the first time in days, my brain was quiet.I was so uncertain what would happen when she left for tour. Something I know we should talk about. But right now, I didn't care.

Billie shifted, tilting her head down toward me. "Stay with me tonight?" She said, voice tentative."I can grab you some clothes"

I smiled against her shoulder "I'd like that."

She squeezed my hand and stood, disappearing down the hall. I stayed where I was. Eyes tracing the flicker of candlelight along the wall.When she came back, she handed me a folded shirt and a pair of sweat shorts.

"You remember where my room is?" She asked, walking closer to me standing right in front of me. I moved my legs so she could stand between them.

" yes, I do" I smiled. She placed a hand against my thigh, I grabbed it and gave it a tight squeeze.

"I-I like having you here" she admitted biting her lip

"I like being here" I replyHer smirk was small but it burned bright,Leaving is going to get so much harder every time.

-

The next morning I was wide awake.Sitting on Billies counter in her hoodie, fingers wrapped around a steamy mug of coffee. Billie shuffled around the kitchen, hair a wild mess, humming as she made toast. Her voice was beautiful, truely, there was something magnetic about it, it pulled me in every time.

"Want peanut butter or jam?" She asked

I smiled over the rim of my mug."Both"

Billie shot me a grin, spreading thick layers of each before handing over the plate.We are in companionable silence, Billie tapping her foot against mine under the table, it was easy, even when my heart kept tripping over itself.

"You have a session today?" She asked, picking at the crust of her toast.

"Yeahh I should probably go soon." I admitted, even though it made my body ache to say

Billie's mouth pulled into a slight pout."You could stay"

I set my coffee down, watching the way her fingers traced the edge of her plate."I'll come back after" I promised, and the way her face softens made me want to call Danny and cancel.

"Okay" she whispered.

We lingered a little longer, until I finally forced myself to get dressed and head out. Billie walked me to the door, lingering like she wanted to say something else - but instead, she kissed me, soft and lingering.

I carried that feeling with me all day.