Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

6 -

It had been a month since Ellie last heard from Billie. After the incredible offer to shoot at other dates on her tour, the conversation had suddenly gone silent. No messages, no new exchanges. Ellie found herself checking her phone more often than she'd like, always hesitating to send a follow-up message. But a little voice inside her kept her from taking that step.

"What if I'm being too pushy? She must be busy with her tour," she kept telling herself. The wait was becoming hard. Despite her doubts, her friends Joan and Aubrey kept teasing her about it.

Joan: "You should message her, dude."

Aubrey: "What's the worst that could happen? She offered you a job, wouldn't be weird to follow up?"

But Ellie did nothing. She decided to let time do its thing, despite the little anxiety that grew each time she caught herself hoping for a notification from Billie.

Meanwhile, Ellie's life moved on. Even though she hadn't talked to Billie again, she had still made huge progress in her photography career. The Detroit newspaper had bought a few of her concert photos, which felt like a real victory. Those images were now published in their pages and even displayed in some local cafés. To celebrate, Joan and Aubrey insisted on framing one of the prints and proudly hanging it in their living room.

Joan: "Check this out!" he would say, pointing at the photo on the wall every time someone entered the apartment. "My best friend is Billie Eilish's official photographer, what about you?"

Ellie laughed every time, but part of her felt a little strange hearing those words. After all, she hadn't really worked for Billie yet, not officially. It was just a simple exchange of a few photos. Nothing more...

That morning, Ellie had woken up early to take Livai for a walk. He seemed to know when his owner needed a break from everything. As usual, he trotted ahead with his usual energy, ears perked and nose buried in every new scent he came across.

The neighborhood was quiet at that time of the day, bathed in the soft light of the morning sun. Ellie enjoyed these calm moments, away from the chaos of her café job and the studies that didn't excite her much. It was her time, away from everything.

Lost in thought, Ellie felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. At first, she didn't pay much attention, assuming it was just a notification or a message from Joan or Aubrey. She kept walking, Livai happily bounding beside her. Then, out of curiosity, she finally took out her phone to take a look.

That's when her heart skipped a beat.

An Instagram notification. And not just any notification. Billie Eilish had sent her a message.

Ellie stopped dead in her tracks, breathless. Livai looked at her for a moment, puzzled, before returning to his sniffing adventures. Shaking, Ellie opened the message.

Billie: "Hey Ellie, sorry for going quiet. The tour's been pretty crazy lately. Hope everything's good with you! I've been thinking about you... Would you be available to shoot at my next concert in Chicago next week? It'd be awesome to see you there."

Ellie stood frozen, eyes glued to her screen. Did she read that right? She reread the message several times. Not only was Billie apologizing for the silence, but she was offering her the chance to come photograph one of her shows. Not months from now, but next week. In Chicago. It was a huge opportunity, even bigger than the last one.

A wave of warmth surged through her, a mix of excitement and nerves. Without wasting a second, she started typing a reply, trying to stay as chill as possible.

Ellie: "No worries, I figured you were super busy. I'm good, hope you are too?? Chicago? Wow, that would be amazing! I just need to check my schedule, but I should be able to make it."

She bit her lip after sending the message, hoping she didn't sound too eager. Her mind was already racing. She had to figure out a way to make it work. Chicago wasn't exactly around the corner, but it wasn't impossible either. And for an opportunity like this, she'd do whatever it took to be there.

A few seconds later, a new vibration.

Billie: "Awesome! Let me know as soon as you're sure, and I'll get everything set up for you to come. It's gonna be a big show, I can't wait to see what you'll do with the photos this time."

Ellie froze for a moment, the reality of the situation starting to sink in. This was real. She had just received a second chance to work with Billie Eilish, and this time it wasn't some vague idea—it was a specific date. She could already feel the excitement building inside her.

Back home, Ellie couldn't help but share the news with Joan and Aubrey, who were just as excited as she was.

Joan: "See? You were stressing for nothing."

Aubrey: "Chicago?? That's gonna be amazing."

Ellie nodded slowly, still a little in shock. She was so caught up in the news that she almost forgot about the logistical challenges ahead. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that she had this opportunity, and she wasn't about to let it slip away.