Photograph

Eleven

She gripped onto my hand tighter, more tears flowing.

Maggie had let go of Billie's other manicured hand and it was now running through her green roots.

"But the tour is planned for the rest of the year, mom."

"I know, sweetheart, but—"

"The fuck asked you? Who even are you? When did you get here?" Billie snapped at the older woman next to me.

The small doctor swallowed hard and responded to the green haired girl. Whilst Maggie was telling Billie about her injury, she had walked in and stood beside me, observing.

Billie didn't like that.

"Billie, my name is Fiona, and I'm your doctor. Your mom is right when she says you gotta take it easy, you have a grade 3 ankle sprain that could only get worse if you continue at the pace you're at. You're on medication for pain relief, and we aren't rushing you into surgery right away, okay? You have time."

"Bullshit!"

Maggie patted her daughter on the arm and leaned towards her. "Don't talk to the doctor like that, she's here to help."

"Yeah? Well, I don't need you or the doctor's stupid help. This has happened so many times before and all I gotta do is wear a boot and get the fuck on with it! I'll do my stretches and I'll do my exercises and I'll take it easy. But, please, doc. I'm good, I don't need surgery."

"I'm sorry, honey. It doesn't work like that. It'll be amazing if you did that during your recovery, though!" Fiona beamed.

This outburst wasn't on purpose. Well, all of them weren't, but I could tell Billie was really regretting the words that were coming out of her mouth as she spoke harsh words to her mother.

"Okay." She suddenly said. "I don't know why this is a big deal anyway. It's just tour. I didn't even wanna do that stupid shit anyway." She mumbled.

"Bils—"

"All of you, get the fuck out!"

Finneas shot up suddenly to interfere, furrowing his brows at his sister. "But-"

"Did I stutter or something? Are you waiting for me to hold your hand? Get out and leave me alone!"

And with that, Finneas and the doctor both scrambled out the door, leaving me and Maggie both astounded on either side of her small bed.

I untangled my hand with her and slowly started walking to the door as her and Maggie shared whispered conversation.

I hesitantly turned the door handle before sucking in a breath and stepping out.

I really was hoping for her to tell me to stay.

"Mom, I'm scared." Is the last thing I heard, her small voice breaking as I clicked the door shut behind me and exhaled that short breath.

My heart had shattered on the floor right then and there for Billie, as it was her first show back and she was already not feeling herself. I couldn't even imagine what it was like to go through that and an injury and the world watching her through a microscope, judging her every move.

I saw Katie on the end of the corner, running down the white halls of the ward and soon enough, engulfing me in a warm hug as a sob escaped my lips.

"Hey, Alex, it's okay. She'll be okay."

//

We were at a local food joint, and Katie was sipping on her milkshake, popping fries into her mouth every few minutes. We were sitting on stools infront of a big window that overlooked the street, the buzz of the busy people filling up the restaurant behind us.

She had taken me outside to calm me down.

My mind was racing.

"Dude, you sure you're okay? I can basically see your head spinning off your spine."

I gave her a sympathetic smile. "Kate, I'm just anxious. I don't know why I'm so... Shaken up."

I wasn't expecting Katie to be so nice to me after that whole ice skating incident where she saw her best friend literally kiss me, but she had been so welcoming and we'd shared small banter ever since.

"That's love." She muttered.

I let the silence drag on as I ignored her statement.

I sighed, though.

I'd never really thought of Billie even remotely liking me in that way before. It's always been one sided.

Fuck, I don't even know if I like her like that.

Yeah, she's great. She makes me smile and laugh and blush a lot, and she's insanely beautiful.

Even if she did,

She doesn't roll that way.

"—She really likes you, you know." She mumbled like she had read my thoughts.

Why do we always talk like this while sitting on stools?

I rolled my eyes. "What? Don't—"

"No, seriously, Alex. We were chatting a few hours ago, and she told me she really likes you."

"She's straight, Kate. I know you just really, really ship us, but whatever you're talking about isn't real. Sorry, babe."

She scoffed. "Yeah right. Because straight bitches totally go around kiss—"

"Not again. I already told you. Don't. I'm her client, she's paying me to take pictures of her for her website. It's completely immoral if we fell in love or whatever." I said, "Plus, Rob already hates me. I've told you. We've had this conversation already, Katie."

She sat up on the creaky stool, straightening her back from her slouch. "Alright, feisty. But at least answer this." She said.

I rolled my eyes. "What?"

"Do you like her?"

I let out a throaty chuckle, placing my hand on my chest to pretend to catch my breath.

"What is it with you? What are you? Cupid Katie? You can't fix something that isn't broken, you'll only just break it."

"Sometimes you have to break down to break open. Now, answer the question, Alex. She really—"

"I get it. She reaaaally likes me. And, yeah, sure, I might like her too. But, she's straight and famous and I'm a loser and we have absolutely zero chance to be together."

She smirked.

"What?" I asked.

"That's all I needed." She grinned.

Did I say something?