come out and play (billie eilish christmas story)

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hello, and welcome!

i bring to you all my billie eilish christmas book.... i had quite a time convincing myself to actually do this, since I was mostly certain I wouldn't finish it in time. if you're reading this, then I have at least 20 chapters finished if not the whole book. yay!

i'll be posting one chapter a day until christmas, since there are (or will be) 25 chapters. most of these are between 800-1000 words, with a few exceptions, because I knew if I told myself to write more i wouldn't do it. this is a short story, with probably somewhere around 25,000 words. it's meant to just be a short, cute story for you all to enjoy over this festive month! so if you're noticing the lack of a well-thought plot.... that's because there isn't one. i started writing this end of october with a goal of writing one part a day which means sometimes what I wrote i was coming up with on the spot, since I only had a couple chapters with important points properly thought-out.

and remember, if you haven't got something nice to say don't say it at all. I'll be deleting any negative comments because I really don't need to lose any more confidence. this book isn't heavily edited, so please let me know if there are any mistakes with spelling/grammar or conciseness issues, just be nice about it. anyway, I hope you enjoy!

At the next intersection, turn left.

I put my hand above my eyes to block the snow and glanced up, uncertain. I could barely see the green streetlights indicating my next turn, and trudged onward, plowing through the snow that was accumulating on the ground quickly.

At the intersection, I paused. Looking up, and blinking rapidly as snowflakes flew into my eyes, I couldn't help but smile at the workers putting up the Christmas lights on the streetlamps. Even if I was in a new city, at least that was still the same.

I put my head down again and crossed the street as the light turned red, my cold, gloved fingers fumbling with the straps of my backpack.

Continue straight, and in 20 meters, your destination with be on the left.

I sighed with relief at that, shoving my frigid hands into my coat pockets and speeding up. I could see the grocery store now; it was only a little ways ahead.

As I entered the store, a rush of warmth overcame me, melting the snowflakes that had built up on my eyelashes. I took off my hood and my gloves, rubbing my hands together quickly in an attempt to warm them up.

With my bare- but still frozen- fingers, I shakily pulled out my earbud and stuffed it into its case, grabbing my phone meanwhile to check my grocery list.

Yogurt, bread, snack foods, cookie ingredients.... Okay, pretty much everything, I chuckled at myself, putting my phone back into my pocket. I would probably have to come back tomorrow; I wouldn't be able to carry all that.

I looked up to see which aisle I would have to go to get what I needed, only to groan internally as I realized the store didn't have the signs indicating what was where, only the aisle numbers.

I inhaled deeply and steeled myself. It's not so bad... just a few minutes of looking like an idiot while trying to find where the damn bread is... in public... no big deal!

My mental pep talk didn't help much, but I wasn't about to turn around now and so I set off to the back of the store, where the dairy was usually located.

I smiled a little when I saw I was right, and quickly scooped up some strawberry yogurt and cheese, then turned around to go down the next aisle, wanting to get away from the fridges as quickly as possible.

This aisle was just laundry detergent, which I didn't need. The next, toys and magazines... and baking!

Turning into the aisle, I yelped as I walked straight into something solid.

I quickly stepped back, staring with wide eyes at the girl who I had just ran straight into.

"I'm so sorry!" I gasped, noting with some admiration her bright hair; red roots that faded to black. She still looked surprised; I wasn't sure if anger was coming.

"Oh- oh, no it's all right. Happens to everyone," She smiled sweetly at me, and I exhaled with relief, smiling back at her as I walked by into the aisle.

"Hey, wait-" I turned around, but the girl had been cut off by an older lady talking to her, pushing a cart, and I was able to quickly grab what I needed and slip away.

After several more minutes in the store, I headed to the cashier and dumped all my things onto the conveyor belt, loading them into my bag as the guy scanned them.

"Your total is $57.81," He informed me cheerfully. I tapped my card as I swung my backpack over my shoulders, anxious to go back to my apartment and bake cookies and forget about all the stress I had had today.

I thanked him when he handed me my receipt, stuffing that into my pocket with everything else. My fingers brushed over my earbud case, but after a moment I decided I would be alright without directions. It was only a ten-minute walk.

I gasped as I stepped outside, shocked at how much worse the blizzard had gotten during the half-hour I had been in the store. Swallowing nervously, I yanked my gloves on and pulled my winter coat hood over my head.

I could barely see through the snow. I had to squint and try to block the snow from falling into my eyes. I walked faster when I saw the streetlights up ahead, positive they were my turn.

When I reached the lights, I decided to check my phone quickly to make sure I was going the right way. I pulled off my glove with my teeth and tapped the screen, but nothing happened. I held down the power button, and as I thought, it was dead.

Oh well, I'm pretty sure this is my turn, I brushed it off, crossing the street as the light changed.

However, as I trudged onward, I grew less certain. The snow was so heavy now I could only see a few meters ahead of me, and it didn't seem familiar.

I noticed an outlet on the outside of a building, and immediately dropped to my knees beside it. I yanked my backpack off and fished out my phone charger, stabbing the box into the outlet and fumbling to get the other end in my phone.

After a bit of a struggle, my phone lit up with the charging sign. I sighed with relief and slumped against the building.

I flinched when someone tapped my shoulder, and looked up, surprised.

Although her fiery hair was covered by a beanie, I already recognized her eyes. It was the girl from the store.