The Other Side ~ b.e

First Encounter

June 13th 2018 ~ Beverly Hills

Chantel POV

"Claudia..."

I was absolutely flabbergasted, possibly bamboozled.

Claudia, the girl I consoled crying on the bathroom floor and have told many personal things too, was Billie Eilish.

"Surprise?"

Billie tried to smile but it was more of an awkward getting caught face.

I stood there speechless, "I..I got nothing."

Billie sighs, dropping her smile,"Char-Chantel, I wanted to tell you but, I thought that if I did I'd lose you as a friend and I didn't want to because I really like you."

"You wouldn't have lost me." I tell her.

She looks up at me with these sad eyes, "Really?"

"Of course. You really think I'd willingly let one of the best friendships I've ever had go down the drain like that?,"

"And here I thought you knew me." I pretend to be offended.

Billie smiles, she says something but I couldn't hear over the music seeming to get louder.

"What was that?" I ask leaning closer.

Billie repeats herself but I still couldn't hear.

I hop to Billie's side and link my arm with hers, I lead her towards the outdoor balcony to get a quieter area, and Billie speaks up, "Why are we out here?"

I shrug, "It's quieter. What was it that you were trying to say?"

Billie leans her back against the rail of the balcony and I lean against it, supporting my arms.

"I'm just really glad it's you."

I could feel my heart swell and a smile creeping on my face that I tried so hard to hide.

"I'm glad it's you too, Billie."

We smile at each other and Billie's eyes travel to the ground.

"Oh wow." She says.

"What?"

"You're wearing the shoes I picked out." Billie says softly.

"Of course I am, And I see you're wearing the ones I picked out." I point at the blue shoes.

"I think I like them a lot more now." Billie nods, smiling at me.

"Really?," I raise my eyebrow. "What changed?"

"You." Billie says diverting her gaze back to the floor.

Me? What does that mean.

"Me?"

"Yeah, they're my favorite now, because you picked them." Billie says almost in a whisper.

When Billie says that I could feel that familiar fluttery feeling in my stomach, every time I talked to her.

But this time, it was different, it was more intense.

I could tell she was nervous, she was fiddling with her hands and playing with the hem of her jacket.

Before I could respond, Danny comes onto the balcony almost out of breath, "There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you,"

Billie looks at me with a puzzled look, "Who's this?"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Danny. Chantel's manager." Danny holds out his hand for Billie to shake which she does.

"I'm Billie."