a work of art

chapter 16: tackle, kiss... f**k?

I arrived at the venue the next afternoon, and immediately got tackled by my love.

"Bill," I gasped breathlessly, lying on the floor with her on top of me. "You really went for it."

She grinned. "Told you I would. But look, I caught your head so it didn't explode on the concrete. So it was like a love tackle." She briefly massaged the back of my head, which was cradled in both palms.

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks?"

She grinned and kissed me next, her tongue sliding smoothly in to meet with mine. Her hands still cradling my head, her legs on either side of my body. My hands slid into her soft hair and I had to remind myself how to breathe.

Finneas yelled, "Do I need to leave?!"

Reluctantly, but grinning widely, we broke the kiss. We looked over at him on the green room couch, his hands clapped over his eyes. We laughed, and Billie pressed her mouth against my ear.

"I'll save the 'fuck you' part for later," she whispered, and I shivered head to toe. She grabbed my hand and stood up, pulling me with her.

"Hi, baby," she said, grinning at me.

"Hi, Bill," I sighed, and pecked her lips. "You look pretty."

"Make me prettier," she murmured. "Makeup?"

"As long as you don't eat at the same time," I smirked, remembering the last time. We headed over to the long counter with a mirror in front of it.

"Hi, bro," I said as we passed Finneas on the couch. "Did you miss me?"

"Yeah, yeah," he said, smiling as he fiddled with a guitar. I had a feeling we'd be good friends if we took the time to get to know one another. And it seemed like we'd have an indefinite amount of time.

At that thought, panic swelled in my chest, and I knew I needed to talk to her as soon as possible about my fears. I couldn't let this worry float between us, left unsaid.

I hesitated, unsure if it was the time. But if not now, when? My face was like an open book of emotions. She and I had that in common. She'd find me out.

I swallowed. "Uh, Bill? Can we actually take a walk first?"

She was about to sit at the mirror. "Oh. I guess we could take a short one. You need something, baby?"

"Just you," I smiled, trying to be calm, casual.

I took her hand and led her from the green room. I couldn't help but notice as we slipped out the door that Finneas was watching us carefully. Maybe he and I would never be close. Maybe he loved her too much to be able to like me.

We walked down the hall a moment before I realized we were sort of caged in at this point in the day. The arena was filling with bodies, and Billie had to stay backstage.

She must have thought of that, too. She pulled me to a stop and looked at me. "Is something wrong?" Her voice was filled with apprehension.

I turned and looked at her. "It's... nothing wrong, baby."

"Something's wrong," she said quietly.

"Bill," I started, my voice wavering. "I just wanted to talk to you because... I'm just a little worried about all this."

Her brow scrunched deeply, and she suddenly looked irritated, defensive. "All what?"

I hesitated, suddenly concerned how she would react to an emotionally charged conversation. "Me... being here on tour with you. Together, all the time."