L'AMOUR DE MA VIE - Billie Eilish

Chapter 24

Em's POV

I knocked on the door of Ky's house, my other hand holding a gift bag. I heard shuffling from the other side of the door before it finally opened. I gave Ky a small smile as I stepped into her house.

I was nervous. Today was Claudia's birthday party, meaning I'd be seeing Billie for the first time in over a month. I'd debated whether or not I'd show up to the party. I knew everyone would understand if I'd decided against it, but I knew I'd have to face Billie one way or another. Plus, I loved Claudia and was excited to celebrate her birthday.

Ky embraced me in a hug, before leading me towards the living room.

"Is she here? I know I'm a bit late," I admitted sheepishly.

"Nah, don't worry about it. She'll be here soon, though."

The living room was filled with pink balloons, some of which were decorated with glitter. A huge banner sat above the fireplace, displaying a big Happy Birthday Claudia!. A massive table sat in the middle of the room. The table was littered with Claudia's favorite foods and a bunch of different drinks.

Ky grabbed the present out of my hand and headed towards the kitchen.

"Emily!" Ky's parents greeted me before taking me into their arms. "Thank you for coming!"

"Thanks for the invite," I nodded gratefully. Maggie and Patrick approached me next.

"It's good to see you, sweetie," Maggie cupped my cheeks with her hands and smiled fondly.

"It's good to see you guys, too," I smiled back at the both of them. Before I could engage in any more conversation, I felt someone lifting me up from the ground.

"Em!" I giggled at Finneas' voice. He quickly put me down and turned me around. He embraced me tightly.

"I'm happy to see you, I honestly thought you were gonna bail," he whispered in my ear.

"Thought about it," I chuckled, pulling back from him. "I'm happy to be here." His face showed skepticism. I shot him a reassuring smile. I was genuinely glad to be here, despite the nerves swimming around in my body.

"Hey," Billie's soft voice was suddenly heard.

I looked over my shoulder, spotting her next to the table. She wore an uneasy look as she scratched the back of her neck. She was clearly just as nervous as me. Pushing aside my own anxiety, I walked towards her and gave her a small hug.

"Hey, Bil. Nice to see you."

"You, too," she mumbled, her cheeks tinted red.

As everyone gathered in the living room to wait for Claudia, the tension between Billie and I was evident. Since pretty much everyone knew about our precarious situation, nobody seemed surprised by the awkwardness lingering in the air. Thankfully, we heard the doorknob jiggling, indicating that someone was here.

"Ok, everyone! She's here! Hide behind the couches or something," Finn whisper yelled at everyone. I rolled my eyes playfully at his seriousness. I didn't mind, though. It was kind of cute how serious he was about surprising his girlfriend.

I hid behind a love seat. Billie quickly joined me before sending me an awkward look.

"I-um–there's no room left behind the other couches."

I squeezed Billie's shoulder, a reassuring smile gracing my face. I was also anxious about our inevitable conversation, but I didn't want her to be uncomfortable.

"Bil, relax, it's fine. I'm not gonna bite," I whispered. She nodded her head as she exhaled a big breath. I frowned slightly at her actions. It's like she was scared of me or something.