Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Thirty-One: Fog.

Right? It was... and did Venable feel comfortable around Emma? She did, more than she had felt around many people in a long time. But... was it enough? I wish I could feel like I do with Billie Dean. But Billie was only her friend... that's why it felt so right. "You're right..." But then again, when had she ever felt comfortable enough to not even brush her hair nor look at herself in the mirror while being with someone else? And she wasn't even scared of being judged... being judged was always there. But not when it came to Billie Dean, it seemed. I don't think I'd ever allow Emma to see me like that.

I should stop. The thought crossed Billie Dean's mind once again. She decided to listen to it. "Just know I'm here if you ever need to talk about it."

Wilhemina nodded. Something had shifted deep inside.

Billie Dean offered her a comforting smile and reached for the chocolate syrup; she poured a good amount of it all over her pancakes before taking another bite. A hum left her lips. "This is really good," she commented.

Venable nodded as she ate, mind struggling to stay present. Why don't I feel as comfortable with Emma? She couldn't shake that question off of her mind. "I'm glad you like it." She focused on Billie Dean again. "What time do you have to be on set today?"

"Only at six." Billie took another bite. "We should wrap it up today, which means we'll film until tomorrow morning."

"Gosh, you should rest." Wilhemina reached for her glass.

"Yeah," Billie Dean nodded. "I should go home." She didn't want to impose her presence on Venable, after all; surely Wilhemina had better things to do.

Brown eyes fell down to her plate as Venable took a sip of her juice. "You can stay here, if you'd like... I can cook us lunch, and then you can take a nap in my bedroom..." Slowly, she looked back up at Billie. "If you'd like," she repeated. I don't like asking for things. It made Venable feel vulnerable, for what if Billie denied? It was a decision she couldn't be in control of.

Something in the way Wilhemina made that offer caused Billie Dean to squeeze the fork in her hand; she was as calm and collected as always, but there was a hint of something there. Something longed for. And once again, Billie found herself asking how could she deny such a thing? "I don't want to bother..."

"You won't." Perhaps Venable had answered too fast. She shifted on her seat. "You won't. I'll be home all day anyways. Truly."

With a small smile, Billie Dean nodded. "Alright, then. But I'll help with lunch." She took another bite. "We can even order something. I'll pay."

"Absolutely not," Wilhemina chuckled. "We'll share." She took a forkful.

"You're already sharing your house."

"That doesn't count." But not many people were invited over to Venable's house... and even fewer were actually welcomed enough to sleep there. In fact, no one had ever been in her house in the past years. Would I be comfortable with Emma spending that much time here? The answer was one Wilhemina didn't enjoy. Playfully, Billie Dean rolled her eyes. And funny enough, Venable felt like laughing instead of feeling disrespected. Is this intimacy? She didn't know, but she could only assume so.

Honey eyes fixated on dark ones, and Wilhemina looked so damn lovely Billie wondered how someone like her could even be real, with her hair up and face so fresh from the morning, mouth full of pancakes. "Sharing it is, then," she said after a moment, voice as soft as velvet.

"Thank you."

Billie Dean nodded. Their plates had gotten empty by now, and so Billie got up to grab the dishes. "I'll wash them."