63 -

The first date of the European tour was fast approaching, and Billie was in her dressing room in London, surrounded by a few close friends. She was laughing with them, an easy smile on her lips, as they chatted about this and that. Zoé was sharing stories from their travels in Europe, little adventures they'd had, and Billie let her mind wander, enjoying the moment.

Sitting on a couch, she stroked her dog's head as he lay at her feet, while the conversation carried on around her. Billie joined in their laughter, savoring this moment of lightness. The tension of the upcoming concert was still faint, hidden behind the excitement of this new tour stage.

When Zoé and the others decided to leave so she could get ready, Billie was left alone with Shark. She took a few moments to play gently with her dog, a smirk on her face, before standing up to take care of the final details of her outfit. In front of the mirror, she was still hesitating between a few options. Her fingers absentmindedly ran over an oversized, colorful football jersey and a red, striped XXL polo, simpler but just as comfortable.

She frowned, trying to focus.

Billie: "Which one's cooler, Shark?" she murmured to her dog, who looked back at her with his tongue hanging out, not really understanding.

As she continued to ponder, the door to her dressing room quietly opened. Billie, without turning around, assumed it was Finneas coming to talk about last-minute concert details.

Billie: "You ready, Finn?"

The silence that followed surprised her. No response. She was about to turn around to see what he was doing, but before she could move, a soft, familiar voice broke the silence.

Ellie: "Billie..."

Her heart skipped a beat. That single word was enough to bring back a wave of memories, of hurt, of unanswered questions. She froze for a moment, unable to react. She knew that voice. Slowly, she turned around and saw Ellie standing at the doorway, hesitant, looking almost awkward in her stance.

A torrent of conflicting emotions washed over Billie. Part of her wanted to smile, to run to Ellie, but another part, darker, more hurt, kept her rooted in place. Everything that had happened, the way Ellie had left without a word, without an explanation, all of it came rushing back.

Billie: "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice colder than she had intended.

Ellie lowered her eyes, her face tight with a mix of awkwardness and regret. She took a hesitant step into the room, searching for the right words.

Ellie: "Billie... I'm sorry. I know I messed up, and I get it if you're mad at me. I just... didn't know how to handle all of this."

She paused, visibly uncomfortable. Billie stared at her, unmoving, her arms crossed over her chest, trying to hide the impact this sudden appearance had on her.

Ellie: "I hate myself for leaving like that. Without a word, no explanation. You didn't deserve that, I know. I realize how... stupid it was."

Ellie's words seemed to hang in the air, but Billie didn't know what to do with them. She still felt that simmering anger, that wound Ellie's sudden disappearance had left behind. She remembered the days spent wondering if Ellie was okay, if she was safe, if she would ever come back.

Billie: "Do you realize how scared I was for you?" she whispered, her voice almost breaking. "I've lost people like that before."

Ellie looked up, her eyes filled with deep guilt. She opened her mouth to respond, but Billie wasn't finished.

Billie: "You left without saying anything, Ellie. Not even a message to let me know you were okay. I didn't know if you were coming back, if you needed me or even wanted to see me... And that, that's unbearable."

The silence that followed was heavy. Ellie clenched her fists, feeling suddenly so small under Billie's gaze. She wanted to find the right words, but nothing seemed to be able to fix what she had done. She lowered her head, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Ellie: "I know... I know I messed everything up. I know a simple 'sorry' can't fix this... but I want you to know that I'm ready to do whatever it takes to make things right. I want to be here for you."

Billie stayed silent, looking at her for a long time. She could see how much Ellie regretted it, but that didn't erase what she had felt. Still, deep down, she also knew she didn't want to lose Ellie. Not again, and especially not like this.

She moved closer, reaching out to gently take Ellie's hand. The contact was a shock, but also a relief. Ellie looked up, surprised, and their eyes met.

Billie: "I don't want to lose you, you mean so much to me," she murmured. "You have to promise me this won't happen again, I couldn't go through that again."

Ellie: "I promise, Billie."

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She knew that just saying sorry wasn't enough, so she started to say what she really meant, her voice steadier this time.

Ellie: "I've taken the time to deal with everything, to face my fears, my anxieties. I've worked on myself, on what I went through, on what I did... and on what my dad did."

Billie: "Never let anyone abuse their power over you like your father did, you're worth so much more than that, and you deserve so much better."

Ellie: "I know... The person standing here now, this is the real me, the Ellie you met at the beginning. The one who got lost in your dressing room the first time we met, and I'm not letting her disappear again."

Billie: "Good, she's the one I prefer."

Billie stared at her intensely, her blue eyes watching every word, every emotion that crossed Ellie's face. Their eyes met, and in that moment, a subtle shift happened in the atmosphere. Billie's lips formed a quiet smile, but her eyes held something different. A glint of something indescribable, but definitely not friendly.

Ellie felt a warmth rise within her, a nervousness she could no longer control. Billie moved a little closer, shrinking the distance between them and creating a palpable tension in the air.

Billie: "So..." she said softly, her eyes fixed on Ellie's. "Are we picking up where we left off?"

Ellie swallowed, feeling suddenly thrown off by the way Billie was looking at her. That question brought her right back to the moment when everything had shifted between them: that intense kiss, the electricity that had surged through their bodies that night, just before they were interrupted.

Ellie: "Billie, I..." She hesitated, lost in the whirlwind of her own emotions. She didn't know how to respond. Her heart raced as the pressure mounted. Billie, with her piercing gaze, had this unique way of making her feel vulnerable.

Without waiting for an answer, Billie continued, her voice softer, almost playful:

Billie: "Maybe we should just stay friends. Just friends. That way we won't mess up what we have, right?"

But despite her words, her actions betrayed the idea. She moved even closer to Ellie, her hands brushing against hers. The tension between them was becoming unbearable, their closeness creating an electric atmosphere. Billie was toying with Ellie's nerves, testing her boundaries, watching to see how she would react.

Ellie tried to respond, her throat dry, aware that she was getting lost in this dangerous game.

Ellie: "Totally... it's probably better, it's cool to be friends," she murmured, trying to keep her composure.

But Billie knew Ellie wasn't convinced. She could read it in her gaze, hear the hesitation in her voice. Their faces drew closer, their breaths almost mingling. There were just a few centimeters between their lips, as if time had slowed around them.

Their eyes stayed locked, and Ellie felt her body tense with the pressure, her heart pounding in her chest. She was so close to Billie she could almost feel the warmth of her skin.

Then, suddenly, a sharp knock echoed at the door.

Both girls jumped back, taking a step away from each other as if they'd been caught in the act. The magic of the moment instantly evaporated.

Billie cast a quick glance at the door, and her assistant entered, disrupting the moment. He announced something about the time, but his words seemed to float in the air, unimportant.

Billie, still a little breathless, turned back to Ellie with a teasing smile, clearly amused by the situation.

Billie: "You're easy to crack, you know?" she joked, proud of the effect she'd had on Ellie.

Ellie looked at her, both relieved and still shaken by what had just happened. She managed a shy smile, unsure how to respond to the teasing.

Ellie: "Don't be so pretentious" she replied softly, trying to regain some composure.

But Billie knew she'd won this round. With a final wink, she turned to finish getting ready. She adjusted her outfit and checked a few details in the mirror.

Billie: "Well, I better go. The concert won't wait," she said, grabbing her mic and last few accessories, throwing one last look at Ellie.

Ellie stayed silent, still a bit rattled by the intensity of their reunion, but she smiled timidly as she watched Billie leave the dressing room with confidence. She had this power over her, this undeniable magnetism.

Once alone, Ellie took a deep breath and ran a nervous hand through her hair. Then she went over to her bag, taking out her camera. Tonight, she had another mission: capturing Billie on stage, the Billie she knew well, but also a new side of her she still struggled to understand.

The concert was about to begin, and Ellie, feeling a bit lighter after that intense encounter, headed toward the wings to take her position. She didn't know what the future held for them, but this moment of tension and reconciliation made her realize she wasn't ready to close the chapter on Billie. Not yet.

With the camera in hand, ready to capture every moment, she felt connected again to the part of herself she'd lost. The next chapter of their story would unfold right in front of her eyes, and she was there, ready to capture it all.

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