One step closer

The day passed too fast.

Nat had kept herself busy, avoiding the way Billie lingered in the café longer than necessary, the way her eyes always seemed to find Nat in a room full of people.

But now, as the last customers trickled out and the sky outside deepened into twilight, it was just the two of them again.

Nat wiped down the counter, pretending not to notice Billie leaning against it, watching her with that lazy, half-smirk that made Nat's pulse stupidly unsteady.

"You don't have to stay, you know," Nat muttered.

Billie shrugged. "I want to."

Nat huffed. "Why?"

Billie tilted her head slightly. "Maybe I like the company."

Nat froze for half a second before scoffing, focusing back on the counter. "You should probably get out more, then."

Billie chuckled, but it was soft, like she saw right through her.

Of course, she did.

Billie always did.

Fifteen minutes later, the café was locked up, and they were walking toward Nat's car together.

Billie had parked down the street, but when Nat offered her a ride home, she didn't hesitate.

The air was cool, the city humming around them, but the space between them felt different.

Heavier.

Billie shoved her hands into her hoodie pocket. "Long day?"

Nat nodded. "Yeah. You?"

Billie hummed. "A lot on my mind."

Nat glanced at her. "Good things?"

Billie hesitated. Then, softly—"I think so."

Something in her tone made Nat's chest tighten.

They reached the car, and Nat unlocked it, but neither of them moved to get in.

For a second, it was just silence.

Then Billie said, "Hey."

Nat looked up. "Yeah?"

Billie hesitated, something flickering in her expression.

Like she wanted to say something important.

But instead, she just exhaled, shaking her head with a small smile. "Nothing. Just... thanks for today."

Nat frowned slightly, studying her. "For what?"

Billie shrugged. "Just being you."

And God, what was Nat supposed to do with that?

Her throat felt tight, her fingers gripping the car door like she needed to ground herself.

Because this—whatever was happening between them—was starting to feel real.

And that scared her.

More than anything.

So instead of saying anything stupid, she forced a smirk. "You getting sentimental on me again, superstar?"

Billie huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "Nah. Just honest."

Nat swallowed. "Dangerous habit."

Billie's eyes flicked to hers, unreadable in the dim streetlight. "Yeah. But maybe not a bad one."

Nat's pulse pounded.

But before she could even begin to unpack that, Billie opened the passenger door and got in, leaving Nat standing there for a second, trying to remember how to breathe.

This was getting complicated.

And Nat had no idea what she was supposed to do about it.The car ride started in silence.Not the comfortable kind they sometimes fell into, but a loaded silence—one that buzzed under Nat's skin, making it impossible to focus on the road.

Billie was too close.

She always was, but tonight, it felt different. More dangerous. Like if Nat let her guard slip even slightly, something would spill out that she couldn't take back.

She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "You wanna put on some music or something?"

Billie glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "What, am I making you nervous?"

Nat scoffed. "No."

Liar.

Billie just chuckled, reaching for her phone and connecting it to the car's speakers. A second later, a soft melody filled the space between them—something slow, something that made the air even heavier.

Nat clenched her jaw.

Of course Billie would pick something like this.

"You okay?" Billie asked after a moment, voice softer now.

Nat nodded. "Yeah."

Another lie.

She could feel Billie watching her, even in the dim glow of the streetlights passing by.

And then—

"I meant what I said earlier."

Nat swallowed. "About what?"

Billie hesitated. Then—

"Liking your company."

Nat's hands tightened around the wheel.

Because what was she supposed to do with that?

She forced out a laugh, trying to play it off. "Wow. Billie Eilish likes me. Should I be honored?"

Billie didn't laugh.

Didn't even smile.

Instead, she just murmured, "Maybe."

And shit.

That one word sent something sharp and undeniable straight through Nat's chest.

She felt it like a warning—like a line she was standing at the edge of.

One more step, and she wasn't sure she'd come back.

She licked her lips, forcing her voice to stay steady. "You're being weird."

Billie chuckled, low and knowing. "Am I?"

"Yes."

Silence.

Then—

"You ever gonna let yourself just feel something, Martez?"

Nat stopped breathing.

Because Billie had just said her last name in that lazy, teasing way, and it was like a hand wrapping around her throat.

She forced her grip to loosen, forced her pulse to slow the hell down.

"What the hell does that mean?" she muttered.

Billie hummed. "You know what it means."

Nat swallowed, her pulse hammering.

She wanted to ignore it.

Wanted to push it away, to pretend she didn't feel the way Billie was looking at her right now—like she knew.

Knew exactly what Nat was so scared of.

But then they hit a red light.

And Nat made the mistake of looking over.

Billie was already watching her.

Soft. Unwavering.

Like she was seeing straight through Nat's bullshit, straight through the walls she had spent years building.

Like she knew Nat wanted her.

And Nat hated that.

Because she did.

She wanted Billie so badly it ached.

The light turned green.

Nat tore her gaze away, pressing the gas a little too hard as they lurched forward.

Billie just smirked.

But for the rest of the ride, she didn't say a word.

And somehow, that was worse.