BLUEPRINTS || Billie Eilish

Parasaurolophus

Kai stood on the doorstep of her mother's house, her body tense as she waited for someone to answer. The familiar sound of laughter floated through the thin walls, a jarring contrast to the tightness she felt in her chest. Her fingers drummed nervously against her thigh, the sound of shuffling footsteps behind the door growing louder. Finally, it creaked open.

"Kai! Wonderful to see you," John, her stepdad, greeted her with his usual bright smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners like they always did. It was the same forced warmth that made Kai's skin prickle.

She forced a polite, if thin, smile, not wanting to linger. "Where's Nicky?" she asked, getting right to the point. She wasn't in the mood for small talk, and she knew John could drag out conversations for ages if she let him. She just wanted to get her little brother and leave.

John's smile didn't falter as he stepped aside to let her in. "Oh, he's upstairs with your mom. They've been having quite the afternoon," he said with a chuckle.

Kai didn't bother responding, slipping past him and heading straight for the stairs. The smell of her mom's perfume clung to the air, triggering memories she'd rather forget. Her footsteps were quick, almost automatic, as she ascended the steps, her mind already on Nicky and away from the house she never felt comfortable in.

As she reached the top, the familiar thudding of little feet racing toward her made her heart lift.

"Kai!" Nicky's little voice rang out as he bolted from his room, his face lighting up with excitement as he collided with her legs, wrapping his little arms around her.

Kai's face immediately brightened as she scooped him up effortlessly. "Hi, bubba," she murmured, cradling him against her chest and planting a dozen playful kisses across his cheek. Nicky squealed with laughter, squirming and pushing her hands away as best he could, though his giggles betrayed how much he loved the attention.

"What's up with your shirt?" Kai asked, still smiling as she examined the dirty, stained mess of a shirt he was wearing. There were smudges of dirt, some sticky patches that might've been from food, and a few unidentifiable marks that made Kai raise her eyebrows.

Nicky shrugged, grinning sheepishly, his little hands fiddling with the bottom of his stained shirt.

Kai sighed dramatically, still smiling as she set him down. "Let's get you cleaned up. Go grab me your backpack, okay?" she instructed, giving him a gentle nudge toward his closet. As Nicky darted off, Kai made her way to his dresser, sifting through the drawers for something clean. She eventually pulled out a pair of tiny blue jean overalls and a simple white shirt decorated with colorful dinosaurs prints—one of his favorites.

She folded the extra pants and shirts neatly on the floor, her hands moving automatically as she prepared a few extra sets of clothes for their night at Billie's. As she continued choosing outfits, she noticed Nicky was taking longer than expected.

"Nicky? What's taking so long?" she called, half-expecting him to be distracted by something.

A moment later, Nicky emerged from the closet, his tiny arms filled with toy dinosaurs, barely holding onto his small backpack with one hand. The sight of him wobbling out with all his toys made Kai chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You're bringing all those?" she asked, one eyebrow raised in mock surprise.

"They want to come too!" Nicky said seriously, dropping the toys onto the floor as he sat down, his little knees tucked under him. His face was a picture of pure innocence, as if the dinosaurs themselves had requested to join the trip.

Kai smiled softly, touched by his earnestness. "Alright, alright," she said, bending down to pack the dinosaurs and clothes alongside some diapers. "I don't see why not." As she continued packing, she added, "But you really need to start using the potty like a big boy, huh?"