Sibling spotlight - billie and Finneas story

The notification

Chapter 36: The Notification

The room was still filled with the warm scent of buttered popcorn, the light laughter between Y/N, Billie, and Finneas settling into a comfortable silence. They were still basking in the simplicity of the moment, their little sister’s innocence and joy filling the space around them.

But then Y/N’s phone, which had been lying on the edge of the coffee table, lit up with a notification.

The sound was soft, just a subtle ping, but it cut through the calm like a sharp blade. Y/N’s gaze immediately shifted to the phone, her lighthearted demeanor dimming just a bit. Billie and Finneas exchanged a quick glance—both of them suddenly tense. They knew all too well what a single notification could mean for Y/N. It could be anything—a fan comment, an article, or worse, something cruel that could drag her back down into the dark place they were trying so hard to keep her from.

Y/N reached for the phone casually, not yet sensing the tension that had quickly filled the room.

Billie’s voice was careful but edged with worry. “Hey, Y/N... maybe just leave your phone for a bit, yeah? We’re having fun.”

Y/N’s hand paused mid-reach, and she glanced back at Billie, her brows knitting together in mild confusion. “Why? It’s just a notification.”

Finneas shifted uneasily beside Billie, his voice softer, trying not to make her feel defensive. “We just don’t want anything to ruin your mood, that’s all.”

Y/N hesitated, her hand hovering over the phone as she looked between her siblings. There was a flicker of suspicion in her eyes now, and she slowly pulled her hand back, but not without a slight frown. “You guys are being weird. I’m not a baby, you know.”

Billie sighed softly, trying to keep her tone light. “We know, we just... we don’t want you to get upset over something stupid, especially when we’re having such a good time.”

Y/N glanced back at the phone, her curiosity clearly piqued now. She grabbed it anyway, despite their warnings, and unlocked it. Her eyes scanned the screen, and for a moment, there was no reaction.

Billie and Finneas held their breath, watching her every move. They were both trying to act casual, but the tension in the room was palpable. What if it was another hateful comment? What if it was something worse?

Y/N’s eyes flicked across the screen as she read the notification. For a brief second, there was no visible reaction—just her focused expression as she scrolled through whatever had popped up.

Then, she set the phone down.

“It’s nothing,” she muttered, her tone dismissive as she went back to picking at the popcorn. But Billie and Finneas could see the slight shift in her posture, the subtle way her shoulders tensed, as though something had changed.

Billie wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure? You look... off.”

Y/N forced a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... it’s nothing important.”

Finneas, sensing something was off but not wanting to push too hard, leaned in slightly. “You know, if it’s something bothering you, you can talk to us about it. You don’t have to brush it off.”

Y/N shook her head, more insistent this time. “Seriously, it’s nothing. Can we just watch a movie or something?”

Billie frowned but nodded slowly. “Yeah... sure.”

The uneasy silence that followed was heavy. Finneas reached for the remote to turn on a movie, but he kept stealing glances at Y/N, who was now staring blankly at the screen. Her earlier joy and lightheartedness had dimmed, and though she was trying to hide it, both Billie and Finneas could tell something had shifted in her.

They knew better than to push her, but the worry gnawed at them. They had no idea what had been on that notification, and now the tension in the air felt like a ticking time bomb.

Y/N sat quietly as the opening scenes of the movie played on the screen, but Billie and Finneas could sense that her mind was far away. Whatever she had seen on her phone was lingering in her thoughts, and despite her attempts to act normal, her mood had changed.

Billie leaned over slightly and whispered to Finneas, her voice barely audible. “We need to be careful. I don’t want to smother her, but... she’s clearly upset.”

Finneas nodded, his jaw tight. “Yeah, but she won’t talk about it. Let’s just keep an eye on her for now.”

They sat in silence after that, their eyes flicking between the movie and Y/N, who remained quiet, her face unreadable as the screen flickered in front of her. They knew this wasn’t over—that whatever had been on her phone was still looming over her like a shadow.

And as much as they wanted to protect her, they knew they could only do so much. All they could do now was be there for her, hoping that when she was ready, she would let them in.

For now, they just had to wait.