Adopted by Billie Eilish

25

⚠️WARNING⚠️

If you're squeamish, I suggest you skip this chapter. I can mention what happened later since it's not important that you read this chapter if it makes you uncomfortable.

When we pull up in the Taco Bell parking lot, she slides on her sunglasses and puts on a camo baseball cap. 

"Come on," she says, opening her door. "Let's get some burritos and eat!"

Eat . . . eat . . . eat? The word thunders throughout my mind. It's been a month since I've eaten last, and I'm so used to hunger that it makes me feel sick to my stomach to even think about eating. I don't want to eat. I can't even eat.

"Brooke? What's wrong?" she asks me.

I look at Billie. "Oh. Uh, nothing," I lie. I can't stand to tell her that I haven't eaten in ages. It would break her heart. She would probably feel like she's already failing as a mom, and I don't want her to think that. It would ruin her, the angel she is. I don't want her to be like a fallen angel. I love her, and I know she loves me. I can't break her. "Just thinking, that's all."

She looks like she doesn't believe me, but nods. "Okay. You seem kind of off is all. Is it anything that I need to know about?" I shake my head. "Are you positive? I nod. "Okay then. Let's go inside."

We walk inside. She motions for me to sit down inside of a booth. I walk over and start to sit down but then decide to use the bathroom. I motion for her to give me a moment, and she nods. I open the bathroom door and step inside. I don't really have to use the bathroom. I turn on the faucet and begin splashing cold water on my face, attempting to cool down. 

I hear some whispering behind me, but I ignore it, thinking it's my imagination. But, like always, I'm wrong.

I feel somebody grab my hair and pull me down to the ground. I let out a cry as a see a group of girls approaches me. One of them is carrying a pocket knife, and the other is carrying a small bag filled with stuff. They all look a little bit older than me.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here?" one girl asks, positioned in the front of the crowd. I think she's the leader. "If it isn't Little Miss Eilish wannabe?"

"How do you know who I am?" I ask her, my eyes focused on the knife. "And who are you?"

"We own everything," the leader says with a smirk, "from the restaurant to even this town.

"How can teenagers run this whole place? Are you the mayor?"

"My father is," she replies snarkily. "He passed the job down to me, and so now I own everything. Easy as that. What, are you stupid or something?"

I shake my head. "No, I don't think so," I say.

The girl slaps me in the face. Hard. "I don't take no for an answer," she says. "I'm going to ask this again. Are . . . you . . . stupid?" 

I nod. "Yes, I am."

"Good. And I'm going to make sure you remember that."

Everybody begins to surround me. One holds my ankles down while the other pins my wrists down to the ground. The leader lifts up my shirt and puts the point of the knife down on my flat stomach.

"Well, it looks like you're already doing a good job of not eating," she tells me. "You can't be as fat as you originally must've been."

I blush. "I know. I haven't eaten in a month."

"Good," she says. "Now get ready for some torture."

"Wait . . . tor — ?"

I feel the point tear into my skin. I open my mouth to scream for Billie, but a different girl pushes her hand over my mouth. The leader moves the blade across my skin until a bloody letter S appears on my stomach. I stare down at my stomach, my heart pounding as she begins to make a letter T. I wish that Billie could find me, to stop these girls from what they're doing. But she's probably eating her burritos, probably expecting me to be taking a while because . . . you know. But I'm not. I'm getting attacked and she doesn't know. They finish cutting out a U, a P, an I, and a D before I have a plan formed in my mind.

Adrenaline pumps through my body. I immediately bite the girl's hand. When she lets go, I scream for Billie at the top of my lungs. I ignore the pain of the knife that's digging deeper into my skin. I hear footsteps running my way, and the door jiggling. It's locked. Of course. Just my luck!

"Brooke? Everything okay in there?" she asks. "What's going on?"

"Everything's — ugh! Everything's fine! I just ran my knee into the sink — ow! It hurts is all! Don't worry about me, I'm fine!" I say quickly, my voice sounding like a mouse.

"Yeah, you're not okay. I'm coming in!"

I hear something getting jammed into the lock, and then the door opens. Immediately, the girls let me go and run out the door, probably rushing out of the restaurant and getting out of the scene.

Billie helps me sit up since I'm in pain. I let out a small cry as the cuts explode in strong pain. Eventually, I'm sobbing in Billie's arms while she holds me against her.

"What did they do to you?" she whispers, surveying the damage. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there, Brooke. I'm so sorry!"

"It wasn't your fault. I just want to go home," I whimper.

She nods. "Okay, baby. I'll treat the wounds when we get back home. Look up at me, Brooke." I look up. "You're going to be okay. I promise. Alright?" I nod. "Okay. I'll help you up."

She helps me stand up, in which I have to double back down because of intense pain. She's patient with me and eventually helps. When we leave the bathroom, several people approach me, asking if I'm okay. I don't feel like talking to them since they could be news people or paparazzi. Some might even have cameras in their bags that they don't have out right now. I don't want to be the center of attention. I answer them with a brief nod of my head as she leads me outside. We get in her car and begin the drive home.

IMPORTANT A/N: Alright, so in the last chapter, I came out to you guys as bi, which is a HUGE weight off of my chest. I don't entirely know if my parents are homophobic, but we are Catholic so they may not support me. However, I'm thinking about coming out to them, but I'm too scared to do so. Should I wait until I move out to tell them so they won't be as mad or should I find a way to tell them kind of soon? It's bothering me and I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of this. If you guys could help me in any way, I would be extremely grateful to you guys. I love you all so much. Thank you for reading and being nice to me when I need it in my life. You guys are the best. Thank you for being here.