behind the velvet rope | billie eilish wlw

CH2/ Part 3

Once they took her to the guest room bed, Claire sat down at the foot of the bed, leaning on the mattress, breathless from the exercise.

Claire took in the area they were resting in. It was a small, dimly lit room that was used as a study aside from being a guest room. It was filled with bookshelves and the ground was covered in cushions.

After taking off Odessa's shoes and tucking her in as best as possible, Billie went to close the door, muffling the sounds of the party.

She turned to Claire, her expression more serious now. "This is better," she said softly.

Claire nodded, feeling the shift in atmosphere, she pulled her coat from the top of the bed to put it over herself like a blanket and hugged her legs. Billie joined her on the floor, sitting across from Claire, close enough that their legs touched. The intimacy of the moment wrapped around them, suffocatingly.

"So," Billie began, her voice low, "tell me something about yourself that you haven't told anyone."

Claire laughed softly. "Is this an interview, or are you trying to get inside my head"

Billie chuckled. "Sorry, I guess that did sound a bit cliché, but no, I mean it. What's on your mind"

Claire hesitated for a moment, then decided to open up. "Well, I guess I've been thinking a lot about how I always feel outside of reality," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even back home in Paris, I always felt like I was an observer of life. Looking at things from the outside, and never really involved? Coming here, trying to make it as a director... it's like I'm constantly trying to prove myself. I'm always trying to feel like I'm over all the mansplaining and shit, but actually, my confidence is still pretty fragile. Even though most of the time, the guys who try to impress me are underqualified, I've achieved far more. I don't know if that makes sense".

Billie listened intently, her gaze fixed on Claire's lips. "I get that," she said after a moment, her voice softening. "Most of the time, I'm trying to pull a confident image and look like I don't give fucks about people's comments, but I'm actually soooo fucking scared all the time."

Claire's heart ached with a newfound understanding. She reached out, her fingers grazing Billie's cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. "You seem so sure of yourself," she whispered.

Billie leaned into Claire's touch, her eyes fluttering closed. "It's better to keep it together."

Claire's hand lingered on Billie's cheek, her thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. "You don't have to all the time," she murmured, her breath mingling with Billie's.

Billie's lips parted slightly, and her eyes darkened with a mix of emotions. "I guess you're right," she murmured. "I gotta loosen up" She smiled, then looked at Claire's lips.

The tension between them was palpable, and the air thick with desire. Claire felt the urge to kiss Billie; the magnetic pull between them was almost unbearable.
Instead, she let her fingers trail down Billie's arm, their skin brushing lightly, making her flutter. She finally rested her hand on her own thigh, looking away briefly to gather her composure.

"You know," Billie said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really have many people to talk to about stuff like this. Like, when I do, it often feels like they're either looking down on me, or they just can't relate. Most people don't really want to listen."

Claire squeezed her hand gently, her eyes locking onto Billie's with intensity. "It's ok; I'm here, though, and I'm listening."

Billie's eyes softened. "Thanks, Claire. That's sweet."