Chapter 28

The energy in the arena was electric, a tangible force buzzing in the air as the minutes ticked down to showtime. Understage, the atmosphere was a whirlwind. Crew members moving with precision, last minute checks happening in every direction. The setlist had been confirmed, in ears tested and the final countdown had begun.I stood off to the side, leaning against a case of equipment, watching Billie with a small smirk as she paced near the stage entrance. She was practically vibrating with excitement, anticipation burning in her eyes as she bounced on her toes, shaking out her hands.

"you ready" I asked, tilting my head as I watched her.

She turned to me with a wide grin, her blue eyes shining under the dim backstage lights." absolutely, you're not ready for it pretty"

The nickname sent a small shiver down my spine, but I didn't let it show, instead, I just smirked, crossing my arms"Big talk. think you can back it up?"

Billie stepped closer, dropping her voice so only I could hear over the distant roar of the crowd.

"you doubt me?"

I raised a teasing eyebrow"I don't know... maybe I need some proof"

A slow, knowing smile curled at her lips."Stick around Pretty. I'll make sure you get all the proof you need"

I barely had time to react before Mia stepped in, clapping her hands once."alright Billie, it's show time"

Billie exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders back as the first deep bass notes of the intro started rumbling through the venue. The screams of the audience intensified, A wave of sound shaking the floor above us. She turned back to me one last time, eyes locking onto mine.

"be watching?"she murmured

I nodded, unable to fight the smile tugging at my lips"always"

and then, she was gone, stepping onto the platform as the intro started.

The moment Billie was on stage the entire arena erupted, the roar of the crowd swallowing everything else. I stood under the stage, watching the cameras.She commanded the stage effortlessly, her presence magnetic as she moved with the music, pouring every ounce of herself in the performance. The energy was palpable, every lyric hitting deep, every beat syncing perfectly with the pulsing lights. I had seen her perform before, but something about this felt different. More electric, more alive.Even though thousands of eyes were on her, I felt like I was seeing a side of Billie that was just for me -- the way she grinned after nailing a high note, the satisfied gleam in her eyes after a seamless transition, the way she completely lost herself in the music.

I barely noticed Mia standing beside me until she leaned in , voice just audible over the music."she's killing it"

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from the screen"yeah. She really is"

Song after song, the setlist unfolded, Billie shifting between high energy anthems and haunting, intimate ballads that had the entire crowd swaying in sync. The connection she had with her fans was undeniable, the way they screamed every lyric, hands reaching toward her like she was something otherworldly.When she performed 'happier than ever' the entire arena seemed to vibrate with emotion. The way she delivered the song-- raw, unapologetic, powerful -- sent a shiver down my spine. It was impossible not to get lost in the moment, to feel the weight of every word she sang.

As the final song of the night approached, Billie took a moment to soak in the energy of the crowd, the stage lights dimmed slightly, casting a golden glow over her as she stood in the middle of the stage, gazing out and thousands of fans who adored her.She didn't have to say much. just a simple, breathless, "sydney, I love you" before launching into the last song.

and just like that, the show came to an end. The final note rang out, the confetti dropped and the lights faded, billie took her bow, waving and blowing kisses as she disappeared under the stage.The moment she was offstage, her entire body sagged with exhaustion and adrenaline, a breathless laugh escaping her lips as she reached for the nearest water bottle.

"that" she panted, turning to me with wild, exhilarated eyed "was insane"

I grinned, stepping closer"you were insane. You killed it"

She beamed, wiping sweat from her forehead"did you see that crowd?!"

"I don't think they wanted you to go" I laughed

She let out another breathless laugh, still buzzing from the high of performing."god I love this. I love doing this"

I didn't even hesitate, I reached out, pulling her into a tight hug. She melted into it, arms wrapping around me, still catching her breath. I felt the way her heart was racing, the way she was still trembling slightly from the energy of the stage.

"you were incredible" I murmured against her hair

She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, a slow, tired smile curling at her lips"you think so?"

I nodded"i know so"

For a moment, we just stood there, the noise of the crew moving around us fading into the background. Billies fingers lingered on my waist, her gaze flickering over my face like she was committing this moment to a memory

Then, Mias voice cut through the haze"Alright, let's get you changed and out of here before security has a nightmare on their hands."

billie exhaled, reluctantly stepping back"duty calls"

I smirked"Go do what you need to do"

She shot me a wink before disappearing toward her dressing room, leaving me standing there with my heart still pounding, already counting down the minutes until I could see her again.