SLIPPING (B.E.)

{eleven}

i watched billie sadly as she prepared for us to leave, packing up mine and her things in her backpack.

i sat on the floor by the kitchen island with my pacifier in my mouth. i wanted to go find wolfie, but i was feeling shy and didn't want to draw billie's attention to me by crawling past her.

suddenly, though, a loud beeping echoes through the room. billie looks up, her eyes searching for me.

i shift a little behind the island. i knew i was supposed to "stop whatever i'm doing and hug" but i was feeling really anxious for some reason.

billie must have noticed my movement, though, because her eyes flicked to mine, and bright smile spreading over her face.

"there you are!" she came over and scooped me up into her arms. i blushed and tucked my face into her neck.

she giggled and kissed my cheek, then set me down. "you almost ready to go?" she asked, tilting her head.

i looked up at her sadly, then at the bag by the door. she pouted and crouched down by me.

"aww, i know you don't wanna go, babylove. you're gonna be with finneas this time, though. you guys are gonna have so much fun!" she squealed. i knew her enthusiasm was at least partly fake, but i still felt a bit better.

until her words sank in.

"no! no, don' weave me!" i spat out my paci and grabbed her shirt. billies' eyes widened in surprise, but she picked me up again anyway and tookme to the couch.

"shh, calm down sweetheart. you'll be with finneas, he's gonna take care of you for a couple hours.

"no," i cried. billie hugged me close to her chest and kissed the top of my head.

"don't worry, shhh, you're gonna be fine," she murmured, bouncing her knee up and down a little to calm me.

i sniffled and looked at her pleadingly. she sighed.

"your only other option is to come with me and stay in the corner like last time," she warned me.

i didn't want that, but i was scared to be away from her while i was little.

"no," i whimpered again, this time in defeat.

"there, there, it's gonna be okay. it's only for a little while, you'll be fine," she comforted me, rubbing my back in circles.

i swallowed and nodded. she stood up again with me still in her arms and set me down on the bench by the door to help me put my rain boots and coat on, since it was pouring outside.

she carried me into the car and buckled me in before going back for the backpack, which she threw into the backseat.

finneas only lived five minutes away. he was nice, but he wasn't billie.

i'd come out of my headspace as we were driving, so billie didn't carry me as she probably would have if i'd still been regressed. as it was, she still took my hand to lead me inside.

claudia, finneas' girlfriend, answered to door and greeted us warmly. i saw finneas in the living room playing a game on the oculus headset as we stepped in.

"hey, billie. hi gwen!" she hugged billie then turned to me. i was a little surprised that she also hugged me, since i'd only met her once before for a very brief ten minutes, but it was nice.

"finneas, billie and gwen are here," claudia scolded her boyfriend, rolling her eyes playfully.

he started and tried to tug off the headset, but it proved to be a bigger challenge than he'd originally thought. he tried to throw the remotes onto the couch so he could use his hands, but forgot they were tied to his wrists. when he finally got them off, he was able to loosen and pull off the headset. only that his hair stuck straight up and out to the side, plus he had a red raccoon mask over his eyes.

he smiled sheepishly and waved.

i giggled with billie and claudia, while finneas went red and set down the headset to come say hi.

"well, i should go," billie finally said, with a sigh. i looked up at her in panic.

she smiled and kissed my forehead. "i'll be back before you know it. promise," then, turning to finneas, she added, "you guys are gonna have so much fun! right, finneas?"

i couldn't see what sort of look billie was giving him, but his eyes widened and he looked nervous.

"uh, yep, of course. i-i've got the time all planned out," he looked as if he regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth, but billie didn't seem to notice.

i giggled, and billie left. i glanced at finneas, who was still looking frazzled and confused.

"you have no idea what to do, do you?" i asked, emboldened by my own amusement.

he smiled a tight smile and shrugged. claudia sighed and cut in.

"of course he doesn't. don't worry, though, gwen. i have a couple ideas," she beckoned me with her hand into the kitchen. feeling shy again, i scurried after her.

she had set out some hot glue guns, water, parchment paper, and red, white, and green paint on the table. i gasped.

"oh my gosh, are we making hot glue mushrooms?" i squealed.

claudia smiled at my enthusiasm. "you've done this before, then?"

i nodded eagerly. "i made tons and put them in terrariums,"

"well, then, i guess i don't have to explain anything to you. just be careful with the hot glue gun, i'm not actually sure if billie is okay with you using one,"

i rolled my eyes. "i've burned myself hundreds of times on a hot glue gun, its no big deal. billie is just overprotective," i muttered.

i could tell she didn't completely agree with me, but she didn't bother to argue.

just as we were getting started, finneas walked in. he had managed to flatten his hair with copius amounts of gel, but he still hadhis raccoon mask.

he saw us already in the middle of something, and relief spread across his face. he slumped down in a chair and joined us.

claudia grinned at me from across the table, and i tried to quiet my giggles.

1056 words.

been writing as fast as i can so i can get as many updates as possible in. love u guys <3