𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 - 𝐁.𝐄

thirteen - difference

•
billie.
•

july 24th.

the firepit crackled softly, the flames casting a warm, flickering glow that danced across her pretty face. her backyard was a testament to luxury, everything carefully curated. from the sleek cement firepit that seamlessly blended with the stone patio to the sprawling gardens that whispered stories of wealth and quiet refinement.

i sat there, knees drawn close to my chest and my arms draped loosely over them, my gaze locked onto hers. she was fidgety, her anxiety palpable, yet she seemed determined to mask it, to let it ebb away in the comfortable silence between us.

my fingers absentmindedly toyed with the edge of my basketball shorts, the fabric rough against my skin as i maintained eye contact, unwilling to break the connection. there was something about her that pulled me in, something that made me want to unravel the mystery she seemed to be, layer by delicate layer.

"julia," i echoed her name, letting it roll off my tongue as if tasting it, savoring the way it felt within the air between us. "short for anything?" i asked, my voice laced with curiosity, trying to break the ice, to dig a little deeper.

she smiled then, a shy, almost bashful smile that made her cheeks flush ever so slightly, a blush that spread like a soft bloom on her lips. across the pit, she looked at me through the haze of the fire's warmth. "no," she let out a soft, wry giggle, her voice light, almost airy. "just julia."

i mirrored her smile, a subtle tilt of my chin in acknowledgment. "pretty name," i mused, my voice tinged with a quiet appreciation. i hesitated for a moment, then added, "billie," offering her my name as though it was a piece of myself i was willing to share. not that she didn't already know.

she repeated me, testing it on her lips. "...billie," she repeated, her smile widening, playful now. "that short for anything? william, perhaps?" she teased, her voice dancing with a playful lilt that felt like a small unspoken challenge.

i chuckled with a low and amused sound that rumbled from deep within. she had a spark within her eyes. something i hadn't caught from anybody in a while—something genuine. "haha," i mocked a laugh, rolling my eyes in exaggerated playfulness. "funny. very original." i've been called "william" a countless amount of times. it's getting old, but it's still funny to hear it occasionally. or maybe i'm just allowing it from her.

she leaned in then, her elbows resting on her knees, hands clasped tightly together as she looked at me with a furrowed brow, her expression suddenly serious, almost intense. "tell me something about you... something the world doesn't know," she said, her voice dropping to a soft murmur, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. i forced myself to keep my gaze steady, not to let it wander to those lips that seemed to be drawing me in.

i sighed, a quiet exhale as i shrugged, my eyes meeting hers without wavering. "there's not much i keep from the world," i admitted, a small smile playing on my lips. "i'm pretty honest with everyone. can't stand lying, fucking hate that shit."

she nodded, a slow, deliberate movement, her eyes dropping to the ground for a moment before lifting back to meet mine. "i feel you," she murmured, her voice in a soft grumble.

but something told me she wasn't completely at ease with me yet. maybe i hadn't cracked the code to understanding her, not fully. maybe there was more beneath the surface, more that i needed to uncover to really know her, to make her feel comfortable with me. sure, that takes time. but that time could start now, couldn't it?

"...how old are you again?" i asked, my voice careful, not wanting to overstep but needing to know, needing to find some common ground or at least know where the lines were drawn.