come out and play (billie eilish christmas story)

3

It's strange how quickly life can do a complete 180 on you.

One month, I was watching movies every Friday night with my parents, baking cookies on Sunday... and we had just started getting ready for Christmas. We had got our tree and had begun slowly decorating the house.

And the next month, that was all gone. Now, I was alone in an entirely different city. My parents were gone... I might never see them again, depending on what happens after death. I never knew my grandparents, since they had died before I was born. My parents were both only children, and so was I. I had no brothers or sisters, cousins, aunts or uncles... no relatives to speak of. I never really had any close friends, and now that I had moved, anyone at all that I might have considered a friend had lost touch.

No family, no friends. That's how I would be spending Christmas in 22 days. Completely alone, in my tiny apartment. Was it even worth getting a Christmas tree? Probably not.

I sighed as I walked dejectedly to work. I had only managed to scrape a job with a local café, but it would do. It was a really cute place, so I was happy even if the job didn't pay amazing. I would still be getting monthly payments from my parent's life insurance for the next 2 years, so I didn't have to worry yet. I was only just getting on my feet, so I would worry about getting a higher paying job once I was better settled.

I arrived at the little shop and stopped to take a quick look at the outside, having only been here once before when I dropped off my resume. The sign on the front read The Cozy Cup.

I swallowed nervously, then stepped inside, being met with the beaming face of my new manager.

***

The last hour of my eight hour shift my manager, Leah, started trusting me to make a few drinks on my own. It was just her and one other girl besides me. They were both nice enough, but I only spoke as much as I had too.

I'll get more comfortable soon, I assured myself as I prepared an oat milk decaf latte for... Pilly?

I snorted a little at the name as I made my way over to the pick-up counter but managed to compose myself before I had to shout it out.

"Pilly?" I called, pressing my lips into a firm line to prevent myself from giggling.

"It's Billie, I swear to fuckin' God-" A familiar red-haired girl stepped up to the counter, looking surprised as she met my eyes.

I blushed a little. "Oh, hey, Billie. Um, here's your drink. Sorry about the name mix-up," I rushed out, hastily shoving the cup into her hands.

"Wait, when do you get off?" Billie called as I turned around. I sighed and turned back, forcing a small smile onto my face.

"Uh, in half an hour?" I scrunched my brow together, glancing around for a clock. "Yeah, at 4," I told her after I found it.

"Okay, I'll wait for you!" She said cheerfully, grabbing her drink.

"Oh- no, that's okay..." But she was already out of earshot, sitting at a table too far away for her to hear me easily. I sighed as she caught my eye and sent me a wink, turning away to hide my blush.

I hung up my apron as the clock struck 4 and Leah told me I could go. She also said my girlfriend was still waiting for me. I tried to explain that we weren't together, I had only just met her yesterday- but she hadn't listened, just shaking her head with amusement, and rolling her eyes playfully, causing me to give up.

But Billie was still there, her drink long finished, a pair of oval, clear, unprescribed glasses resting on her nose as she scrolled on her phone, looking bored. I felt guilty, even after reminding myself that she was the one who had offered to wait.

I grabbed my bag, hoping to just say hi, bye, and get home. My social battery was drained after learning how to make drinks and run the cash register all day.

"Hey, Billie," I piped up bashfully as I made it to her table, fumbling with the straps of my backpack and only meeting her eyes for a moment.

"Hi, Willow!" She sounded much too excited considering we had met just yesterday, but maybe she's just one of those people who absolutely love making new friends. How, I would never understand.

"Sit down, want me to buy you a drink?" She offered, gesturing for me to rest opposite her.

"Oh no, that's alright, but thanks. I've actually gotta get home but I thought I should say hi, so..." I trailed off, scratching the back of my neck uncertainly.

"Oh, okay then. Want me to walk you to your car?" Billie stood up, gathering her garbage and things together.

"No, I walked here, but thank you," I said again, beginning to feel bad.

"You walked? But it's like a 20-minute walk, and it's over -20 out there. How about I give you a ride?"

Does this girl ever give up? I thought resignedly as I finally accepted, feeling too bad to say no again.