BLUEPRINTS || Billie Eilish

Street signs

Kai sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she stared at her phone, the harsh words from her father still ringing in her ears. She ran her hands through her hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. It wasn't the first time they'd argued, but today felt heavier. The air felt thick with tension, as though the weight of all their unspoken issues had finally snapped.

"I'm not!" Kai yelled at her phone, pacing the small room, her voice tight and shaky.

Her father's voice shot back, harsh and unrelenting, "You're asking for more and more days off, you're getting sloppy! What do you expect me to think?!"

Kai clenched her jaw, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I'm getting injured left and right! Maybe this job just isn't for me anymore! Have you ever thought of that?"

"I've trained you to be my best worker. You've been outstanding until now. Is it a boy or something distracting you? Because you know how I feel about boys—" her dad started, his voice rising, but Kai quickly cut him off.

"It's not a boy!" she snapped. "I've been working nonstop since I was seventeen. I'm tired, Dad. Is it so bad that I want more days off? It's like I have no life outside of work." Her voice broke slightly, the exhaustion from years of pushing herself finally creeping in.

A bitter laugh echoed through the phone. "No life? Samuel showed me pictures of you at a party just two weeks ago. Seems like you've got plenty of time if you can party."

Kai's jaw clenched. She didn't even know how Samuel got those pictures—she didn't have him on Instagram. Her fists clenched, heat rising in her face. "I'm injured, and I need rest. You can't force me to go to work. I'm not a little girl anymore, Dad," her tone sharp as she fought to hold her ground.

Her father's response was immediate, louder than before, making her flinch. "You're still young and immature. You're still my little girl, Kai. It's my responsibility to be on top of you, preparing you for the future!"

A surge of anger welled up in Kai's chest. She bit her lip hard, trying to keep it together but the bitterness rolled off her tongue like venom. "That's really fucking funny, considering you only seemed to care about your 'little girl' after Mom left and everything fell apart, huh?" she spat bitterly.

Silence. The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. For a moment, it felt like everything had frozen, the weight of years of unspoken pain finally coming to the surface. Neither of them said anything. Kai felt a knot form in her throat, but before it could take root, a knock came from her door. She seized the opportunity, hanging up abruptly without another word.

Tossing her phone onto the bed, she quickly glanced around, checking that everything was somewhat tidy before limping toward the living room. Her leg injury flared up with each step, but she pushed through the discomfort, straightening the couch pillows when another knock echoed through the apartment.

"I'm coming!" she shouted, hurrying to the door.

When she opened the door, she was met with Billie, standing there in an oversized black hoodie and sweatpants. The hood was pulled up, and sunglasses covered half her face, making her look like she was in hiding.

Kai's tense expression softened. "Hi," she said quietly, stepping forward to pull Billie into a tight hug. There was something comforting about the way Billie fit into her arms, something that made everything else melt away for a moment. Ever since the party, they had been making an effort to see each other more, and tonight was the first time Billie had come over.

"Hi," Billie whispered against Kai's neck, her arms slipping around Kai's waist as she smiled into the embrace, taking in the warmth of the moment and curiously glancing around.