northside girl | b.e.

chapter twenty one

*TWO WEEKS LATER*

MADISON
billie introduced me to her brother and his girlfriend. we went to his house and were chilling in his basement. billie and her brother, finneas, were talking, claudia, his girlfriend, was in the kitchen and i was playing with their dog, peaches.

i scratched behind peaches' ear and threw a ball, her running after it.

finneas began to play a song on his big screen thing, im not really sure what it is. billie slapped his arm. "not that one!"

"what you got against that song?" i chuckled, looking at billie.

"it's about you." finneas said and billie slapped his arm once again.

"wait, what?" i asked.

"nothing..." billie trailed off.

"you haven't told her?"

"told me what?" i asked finneas.

"billie..." he sighed.

"fine. madison, me and finneas write music. not that big of a deal. that song, was about you." billie told me and my jaw just hung open.

"so you write songs and you have a whole song about me?"

"uh... yeah." she scratched behind her neck.

"that's... crazy. and you're not gonna let me hear?"

"nah. it's not finished."

"fine. lemme hear another then." i insisted.

"whatever." billie sighed, leaning on my shoulder. "finch, play 'when the party's over.'"

finneas began to play a song and instantly my ears were filled with beautiful humming. these speakers are really good. billie hid her face in my chest and i wrapped my arms around her. "this is all you, bil?" i asked and she nodded.

then, a beautiful voice began to sing through the speakers. billie squeezed me tight and i grabbed her hand, squeezing it. billie's voice was so sweet and angelic, i couldn't stop smiling in contrast to the dark lyrics.

"billie, finneas, this is so beautiful." i told them when it got to the bridge. it was one of the most beautiful songs i had ever heard. "and you haven't put that out?"

"billie doesn't want to." finneas rolled his eyes.

i pulled billie away from my chest and saw that her face was a crimson color. i put my hands on both of her rather hot cheeks and looked in her eye. "that was insane. i'm in awe. why haven't you put it out?" i asked and she shrugged.

"embarrassing."

"you're embarrassed? of your talent?"

"i'd rather focus on my art and graduating college." billie sighed. "nobody'll like it anyway."

"i can guarantee you, everyone will like it. just put it out! you can do that and graduate. it's amazing, i'm proud of you." i told her, kissing her nose. "i wish you'd have told me you can sing earlier, you could sing me to sleep."

billie nuzzled up to one of my hands and looked up at me through her lashes. "maybe one day."

"i say, we put it out right now." finneas said. i forgot that motherfucker was here, to be honest.

"i agree." i shrugged.

"alright, you guys. it's in my name, you know." billie sighed. "sure, why not."

"neat." finneas smiled. he looks like he says neat.

a couple of minutes later, and finneas had posted the song on soundcloud. he went upstairs and me and billie ended up having a full on, hot and heavy makeout. when we were done, we laid on the couch, billie being the little spoon.

"the idea of you singing is kinda hot." i told her and she turned and looked at me weird.

"huh?"

"yeah, it kinda turns me on." i shrugged.

"so serious." i told her with a smirk. "oh, sing to me baby, sing louder." i fake moaned and billie slapped her hand over my mouth. i burst out laughing and billie did too.

"remind me never to sing around you."

"nah, but really, i do wanna hear you sing more."

"download soundcloud." she shrugged.

***

when i got home, i laid in bed on my phone. i know i said i'd make it out of here and i'll be productive but... i'll start that tomorrow.

i saw that someone had messaged me on instagram. i opened it and it was a girl from college. her name was sophie. we talked briefly and we seemed to get along, i guess.

she texted me a "hey madison, how are you? i was wondering if you'd wanna meet up for a catch up!" and i just stared at the screen. she seemed nice... definitely straight. why not?

i typed out "i'm good, you? sure, just send me a place and a time." and sent it to her. i called billie and told her about it and she said it's fine with her and that she's happy i'm talking to someone else, so i didn't have to unsend the message or anything.

"tomorrow at three? let's go to golden mug café!" she wrote back.

"sure, why not?" i replied. she then replied with "see you there!", to which i just liked her message.

"send her a meme or something! don't be dry!" billie told me over facetime.

"a meme? what age are you?" i asked with a laugh.

"girl, whatever. i'm just saying, break the strictly platonic friendship ice, you know?"

"hm. give me a good meme. then."

***

i found myself sitting on a couch that was comfy, but it was so big you could either sit back, or drink your coffee. if you sat back on it, there was no reaching the table.

when sophie came in, i stood up with a smile and awkwardly hugged her. "madison! you look exactly the same! how are you?" she smiled and i smiled back.

we had a conversation and she told me all about her boyfriend, denzel, and how in love they are, and how she's in her first trimester of pregnancy. it was nice, to hear about a life that i didn't already know like the back of my hand.

i then told her all about billie and she seemed genuinely happy for me. she's so nice. "tell me all about her!"

i told her all about billie and how we met and how shy she was, and how different she is now and how she is my soulmate. sophie smiled the whole time. "your eyes lit up the whole time you talked about her. the love is so pure, it's beautiful." she told me.

"thanks." i smiled genuinely. "we should do this more often."

"oh, yeah, a hundred percent." she agreed. "if only we had known how well we got along in college! i wouldn't have to be all alone!"

"you still have no friends?" i asked and she nodded. "man, everyone in that course are bitches, anyway."

"true!" she checked her apple watch and gave me an apologetic look. "i've gotta get to a doctor's appointment in thirty minutes. i'll see you soon, though, right?"

"yeah, sure."

"good." we both got up and hugged like we did when we got here, except it was a comfortable hug this time.

when we both left, i got in my car and facetimed billie. she answered right away and i just smiled at the camera. billie looked at me for a second before smiling too. "it was good?"

"so good, leelee. i think i've got me a new friend!" i beamed and she smiled back.

"proud of you, baby! come over, i'll give you a reward." she suggested and i crossed my legs.

"reward me how?"

"the way i do best." she said nonchalantly. i grinned.

"see you in ten."