CHIHIRO | Billie Eilish

Chapter 21: Home.

Saying goodbye to Leila and Amara the next morning was harder than I expected. I hugged them tightly, thanking them for their support and hospitality. "You take care of yourself, Nayla," Leila said, squeezing my hand. "And call us if you need anything."

"I will," I promised, trying to keep my voice steady. "Thank you both for everything."

Leaving without talking to my family was painful, but I knew it was for the best. I needed space and time to process everything that had happened. No one even tried to look for me last night after I left.

Billie sent me my ticket, and I was surprised when I saw that it was for business class. I quickly texted her, "You didn't have to book business class! Economy would have been fine."

Billie replied almost immediately, "Stop complaining and enjoy your flight. I'll be waiting for you at the airport."

I couldn't help but smile at her message. The thought of seeing Billie again made me feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.

At the airport, I navigated through security and boarded the plane. The business class experience was incredible—a far cry from the cramped economy seats I was used to. The flight attendants were attentive, and the food was surprisingly good. I reclined my seat, wrapped myself in the provided blanket, and tried to relax. The luxury of it all was a welcome distraction from the turmoil of the past few days.

When the plane landed in LA, I felt a rush of emotions. I grabbed my luggage and made my way through the terminal. As I walked towards the arrivals area, I saw Billie standing there with a bouquet of flowers. The sight of her brought tears to my eyes, and I hurried over to her.

"Hey," she said softly, handing me the flowers. "Welcome back."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I broke down in her arms, the weight of everything hitting me all at once. Billie held me tightly, whispering comforting words. The sound of cameras clicking reminded me of the paparazzi, but in that moment, I didn't care.

Billie guided me through the crowd, shielding me from the flashing lights and curious onlookers. We made our way to her car, and she drove us to her place.

Once inside, the familiar surroundings brought a sense of comfort. Billie led me to the living room, where I collapsed onto the couch. She sat beside me, her hand resting on my back.

After settling in, we went to Billie's bedroom. The soft light and familiar scent were comforting, and as soon as I lay down on the bed, I felt some of the tension in my body start to ease. Billie slid in beside me, wrapping her arms around me. We lay there, our bodies close, the warmth of her presence soothing my frayed nerves.

"You're safe here," Billie whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "I promise, everything will be okay."

I buried my face in her shoulder, breathing in her scent. "Thank you," I murmured. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Billie stroked my hair gently, her fingers running through the strands in a calming rhythm. "You're stronger than you think, Nayla. I'm so proud of you."

Her words made my heart swell, and I couldn't help but smile despite everything. "I just... it was so hard. I never imagined it would be like that."

Billie held me tighter. "I know. But you did it. You stood up for yourself, and that takes incredible courage."

We lay there in silence for a while, the comfort of her embrace making me feel more at peace than I had in days. Eventually, Billie spoke again, her voice soft but serious.

"I've talked to my family and my team," she said. "We can make everything public whenever you're ready. I want to do this right, for both of us."

I pulled back slightly to look at her, a new resolve forming in my mind. "Since I already told my family, it doesn't matter anymore. We can make it public whenever."