Photograph

Eight

BILLIE'S POV

She was glowing.

Her face lit up behind the object as the lights in the arena dimmed down, the twinkle of the stage lights bouncing off the lens and back into my face as she snapped shots against the barrier, screaming bodies eloping against her, as if she was going to get consumed in the sea of motion.

She looked peaceful. I didn't mind the fact she wasn't tearing the ground up along with the others, though. But then again, Ilomilo was a peaceful song.

"Bounce with me everybody!"

I was bobbing up and down, hundreds of thousands of people were bouncing too as the melody of the swift song was blasting through the room, echoing off each wall— the bass making my chest vibrate.

I couldn't keep the smile off my face. I had forgotten what it was like having sweaty faces singing my lyrics again. I had thought I was gonna be miserable, but I fucking loved the adrenaline.

I watched as multiple of them were either singing, sobbing or just standing there like a fucking lunatic not saying anything.

Don't come to a fucking show if you're just gonna stand and watch and not participate. That's like taking Shark on a walk and just telling him to sit in one damn spot the entire time. Pointless, and you look like a fucking idiot.

Anyway.

My heart was beating out of my chest as the cute song kept on playing. I wanted this feeling to last forever.

But, it didn't last. At that very moment, it literally got whisked away.

And all I could recall in the next sudden moment was pain.

Those happy tears from the younger members of the audience had initially turned into panic and stifled sobs started coming out of their mouths. I even saw Alex tense up and put the camera down.

Just my fucking luck.

I had jumped, not bounced, jumped, at the wrong ass time.

As soon as my foot touched the ground again at that peculiar angle, my ankle rolled under me, and I heard a familiar crack as I tumbled to the ground, the crowd screaming in fear as I looked at them all with a blank expression to my face.

Like Milano Rocks all over again.

I instantly saw Finneas untangle himself from his guitar and run to me and try and pull me up, before beckoning Sully to help him carry me offstage, the microphone being ripped away from me.

He picked me up and swung me over his shoulder like I was a fucking five year old, Finneas following behind him, making severe eye contact with me.

If anything goes wrong, pretend it isn't.

"Give me the fucking mic! I need to give them a show! We only have a few songs left! Let me do this!"

I had never shouted like that before.

I hated disappointing people.

I was now being carried into the green room, a small entourage behind me and infront of me, as well as screaming people chanting 'Billie!' echoing the walls of the whole arena.

"Get the fuck off of me! They're still out there! They need a show!"

I scrambled around in Sully's embrace, which only made him grip me tighter. "Careful, Billie."

"No! The fuck? Last time this happened we just had a group hug and got on with it! Get the fuck off me! Let me down! Where's Alex?"

Finneas shook his head in disappointment.

"Billie, it's okay. They'll get refunds, just focus on getting better from now on."

But, I wasn't going into the green room. We carried on walking down the hall, straight past the green room.

"Where are we going? Where the fuck are we going? I just rolled my ankle, I'm not dying."

"I don't know, Bil. I think someone's calling a paramedic for you or something. Keep breathing, okay?"

All I could do was obey. I couldn't just lean over and argue.

I was too stressed on how fast the world was moving to focus on the fact my ankle was in excruciating pain. Nobody would slow down to tell me what was happening, and I even heard Sully start panting in confusion as to where to go.

As soon as we got outside, my warm cheeks got hit with warm air, and sirens could be heard.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks.

No longer than a few minutes ago I was blushing at the dark haired girl in the crowd, but now she was nowhere to be seen anymore, and the world was a little blurry. I couldn't see anyone, and Sully was now placing me down on a cold, hard surface.

Or, maybe it was my eyes.