𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 - 𝐁.𝐄

ninteen - casual

•
billie.
•

august 5th.

i'm sitting in julia's living room tonight, but it's just us and the weight of the late hour pressing down softly upon our shoulders. the air smells faintly of freshly poured popcorn with the murmur of "love island" playing on the tv screen.

i've given up the couch for the floor, settling right in front of her, back resting between her knees as she carefully sections off my hair into two boxer braids. she's become something of an expert at it, weaving my dark brown strands through her fingers like it's second nature. i watch the tv almost mindlessly, the flashing colors and chaotic drama blending into a dull hum in the background.

it's become a habit of ours, me coming over every night to binge watch episodes together. the nights stretch into early mornings and the two of us often fall into this soft, sleepy routine that feels like it could go on forever. i usually end up slipping out the door between around two a.m. and five a.m with the sky still dark, and the world around us completely hushed. tonight feels no different.

julia's voice cuts through my thoughts, a little rough around the edges, like she's just waking up. "that too tight?" she asks, her fingers pausing as she pulls at the top of the second braid, her voice tender but a little hoarse, a sound that makes my stomach twist in ways that i'm trying oh-so to ignore.

i shake my head, not trusting my voice. "i'm good," i manage to murmur, though the truth is, i like the tightness, the way her hands seem to know exactly how to handle me. she doesn't waste any time, her fingers moving methodically, twisting and pulling at my hair as if she's done this her whole life.

and god, i love her hands on me. it's embarrassing how much i look forward to these moments and how often i've asked her to braid my hair just so i can simply feel her touch. and yeah, she's pretty fucking good at it too.

there's a bowl of skinny pop resting in my lap. she occasionally leans over my shoulder to grab a few kernels. it forces me to feed her every now and then when her fingers are still holding onto my hair. we act like it's the most normal thing in the world. but every time i do it, her lips brush against my fingertips in a way that sends electricity sparking down my spine.

"i want boba," julia says suddenly, half her words muffled by the popcorn in her mouth. "it's like right down the street from bayside," she adds.

bayside is a small café we visited a few days ago. it was one of those rare outings where, for once, nobody recognized me. that's one of the beauties of this coastal town. people don't really expect to see celebrities around here, unless they're like teenagers or young adults, then they'd notice me. i might've gotten a couple of double takes, but nothing more than that. not a single soul shoved a phone in my face. no awkward, anxious smiles asking for a picture. just me and julia, walking together like we were nothing special. i can't say i hated it.

"why can't we go now?" i ask, frowning slightly. it's only eight-thirty, and most places around here don't close until nine or ten. there's still time, and a part of me craves the idea of walking the quiet streets with her again, just the two of us against the world.

julia scoffs, a soft sound that makes me glance up at her as she ties off the end of my braid with a hair tie she's been keeping on her wrist. "because it's late," she says like it's not the most obvious thing in the world. "and we're two girls walking alone at night." she pauses, my fresh braid gently falling to my shoulder as i shift to face her. i get up on my knees so i can look at her properly. "and i'm not even sure if they're open," she adds, her voice softening as she meets my gaze.