𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 - 𝐁.𝐄

fifteen - movies

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julia.
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july 25th, 9:21 p.m.

i had invited her over to watch a movie of her choice, the kind of casual invitation that felt anything but casual as the moments ticked by.

truth is, i had never made anything like stuffed shells before. i had ended up shoving claire out the door earlier, practically forcing a large container of leftovers into her hands, hoping she and her family might enjoy them the next day, hoping they'd remember me when they did.

but now, my focus was entirely on the basement, the makeshift theater i'd meticulously prepped for billie. the middle seats in the front row full of beige leather recliners were almost embarrassingly curated. i placed small snack-sized bags of takis, a giant bowl of skinny-pop for us to share, skittles and a handful of other unopened sweets spread across the armrests like a promise of something sweet to come. i'd even put unopened bottled water in the cup holder, thinking maybe she wouldn't trust me to offer her a drink and not spike it. but i still put my own light pink hydroflask sat in my cupholder, it being filled to the brim with fresh iced water that had been chilling for the past thirty minutes i've spent preparing for billie's arrival.

a giant blanket, the kind of thick, plush faux fur ones you'd see on tiktok, was draped across the recliners. it was white and soft, like something out of a dream, and as i smoothed it out, i couldn't help but remember the video that had inspired me to buy it in the first place. everything felt ready, yet my nerves still fluttered in my chest like a butterfly in a cage, trapped and desperate to escape.

i glanced at my phone, checking the time. 9:30 was when she was supposed to arrive, but the minutes felt like they were dragging on, each tick feeling like an eternity.

i'd already seen her once before, but somehow this felt different, more nerve-wracking. i tried to tell myself to chill, to remember she was just a person, just a girl. but was it normal for a person, a mere human being, to make you feel so many things at once? uncertainty, envy, desire? they all hit me hard, like waves crashing against the shore, relentless and unforgiving.

the doorbell rang, cutting through my spiraling thoughts. i pushed myself off the couch, legs feeling a little limp as i hurried my way to the front door. through the small windows, i caught a glimpse of her—billie. she was standing there with flowers in her hand, and something about the sight made me smile. this small secret thing that felt too fragile to share had its cute moments.

"hey," i breathed out as i opened the door, my voice low, almost shy, but it matched the smile that spread across her face, mirroring mine.

"hi," she replied, holding out the bouquet of pink peonies, her voice soft and sweet. "i didn't know what to bring, so i brought these."

how did she know? how did she somehow get it exactly right, like in all those cheesy romance movies where the love interest just happens to know what flowers to bring without being told? it was cliché, yes, but god i loved it. it felt like a sign, a small promise of something enduring between us. "i love them," i smiled, taking the flowers from her hand and stepping aside so she could come in. she noticed my shoes were off and followed suit, slipping hers off at the doormat. i kicked the door shut with my hip, keeping my eyes on her as i confessed, "peonies are one of my favorites." it wasn't entirely true. they were second on the list, but it felt close enough.

she raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "oh yeah? let me know your favorites for next time," she teased, her voice warm and full of confidence.

i shrugged, feeling a blush rise in my cheeks at the thought of a next time. i felt at ease with the thought and which she assumed there would be one. "...blue hydrangeas," i admitted, the words slipping out almost like a secret. it was really because of lana del rey, a deep-seated love from when i was little that never quite faded.