Vulnerable

Chapter 12

Waking up the next morning and eating breakfast with my girlfriend felt like the most riveting experience of my life. The way her eyes rolled back in her head when she tasted my homemade banana bread, the way her bangs never wanted to cooperate regardless of how many times she fussed with them, and how her eyes seemed an even lighter shade of blue in the morning.

Then, watching Billie trample around with Jax in nothing but her socks and one of my old college t-shirts, somehow made all of the struggles in my life worth it. If they brought me here, I'd happily live them all again.

To my distaste, the morning quickly turned hectic as Billie shifted into pre-show mode. We were in her car now on the way to the venue I had met her at just a couple nights ago, this time feeling much more like I was supposed to be here and less like a crazed fan sneaking in through a back door. This time, Billie held my hand as we went inside, proudly toting me along.

And it felt so damn good.

"This is where the magic happens." Billie yelled animatedly as she pulled me into the arena, gesturing at the empty seats and the stage that was way bigger than I had anticipated.

She let go of my hand to jump up on a speaker in front of the cat walk, reaching down and helping me up with her.

I held her hand tightly, looking around and taking in the vantage point she was so used to having. It was intimidating as hell, and there wasn't a soul in the crowd right now. I didn't know how she did it.

I turned around to face her after I finished gawking, she was smiling at me, eyes glistening.

"This view is insane, Billie."

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing." Her eyebrows bounced at me and she pulled me closer to her.

I cackled at her cheesy line, but kissed her anyway.

The kiss was immediately sloppy, Billie's hands were on my ass and her teeth were biting at my tongue. I forgot where we were for who knows how long before I pulled away, breathless.

Billie's eyes scanned my body, "Tonight...when I'm up here," she pointed down at our feet and leaned in again so her mouth was hovering over my ear.

"I'm going to be thinking about your tongue." She kissed behind my ear, "Your lips."

This time her teeth found my earlobe and I shivered, frozen in place on her stage.

"Your-"

"Get a room!!" Finneas' voice suddenly echoed in the empty arena, I jumped out of my skin and away from Billie, who was laughing casually as if she didn't just have me wet for her in front of thousands of empty seats.

"Thought we had one!" Billie yelled back at him, grabbing my hand and laughing lowly at my flustered state as she pulled me backstage where Finneas was messing with some equipment that I had never seen before.

"Hey Finneas." I said, hoping he didn't care too much that his sister's mouth was just on my neck.

"Hey, Aria. Nice to see you again." He said, seemingly meaning it. I relaxed a bit.

"Billie was a real ass last week, I'm relieved to have you here so she's more tolerable."

Billie punched his shoulder hard and he huffed, "What!? It's true and you know it." He shrugged.

Billie rolled her eyes and her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink.

"That's my bad." I admitted, squeezing Billie's hand and looking over at her. "Won't happen again." I promised, smiling softly at her.