Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

16 -

The next morning, she woke up slowly, the sun's rays piercing through the curtains of her hotel room. A well-deserved lie-in, she thought. She reached for her phone on the bedside table and noticed a notification.

Billie: "If you're free, meet me tomorrow morning at my hotel. We can have a coffee and chat about the rest of the tour. Have a good night."

Ellie shot up in bed. She looked at the time: 10:30. Her heart began to race.

Ellie: "Shit, I'm so sorry, I passed out like crap last night without setting an alarm, just saw your message."

She nervously waited for a response, feeling embarrassed. Billie was probably thinking she wasn't serious or wasn't taking this whole thing seriously.

A few minutes later, her phone vibrated.

Billie: "No worries, you need time to get used to the concert pace, it's intense at first! We'll catch up. I had my coffee with Finneas, it was about as bearable as it gets."

Ellie sighed in relief. Billie was really understanding, which immediately eased her anxiety. She definitely didn't want to give the impression that she wasn't taking her work seriously. Billie kept typing another message.

Billie: "Actually, Finn just reminded me, there's another thing tonight if you're up for it. Vogue's having a little event to celebrate the concert. It'd be cool if you came."

Ellie's eyes widened as she read those words. Vogue. Event. Her, at an event like that? It was unexpected and way beyond anything she had imagined when she first got here. She quickly tapped out a response.

Ellie: "Are you sure you want me to come? I'm not really used to those kinds of events, back home it's more beer cans than champagne flutes."

As soon as she sent the message, she realized how out of place she felt. She still saw herself as a kid in her dinosaur sweatshirts, not someone who would be invited to a glamorous event like this.

Billie responded almost instantly.

Billie: "Me neither, I never really got the hang of these kinds of parties. Don't worry, it's gonna be fun, I promise!"

The message made Ellie smile. The thought of not being alone in this weird situation reassured her a little. If even Billie Eilish wasn't comfortable at events like this, maybe it wouldn't be so terrible after all.

Ellie: "Okay, sounds good! See you tonight then."

Billie: "See you tonight :)"

She put her phone down on the bed and stretched. The plan for the day was clear: she had a few hours to find an outfit for this event. Her first instinct would've been to grab one of her favorite sweatshirts, but she knew that even though the event was supposed to be "casual," she couldn't show up dressed like a seven-year-old boy.

Ellie found herself walking the streets of New York, once again amazed by the size of the city. Today, however, she wasn't here to visit hidden cafes or charming bookstores. No, she had a mission: find an outfit.

She remembered some stores she'd seen the day before, so she made her way to the shopping district. After several stops at stores that weren't her style at all, Ellie stumbled upon a small boutique with local designers. The window display was simple, but one outfit immediately caught her attention.

A black jumpsuit, oversized but elegant, with silver details. The fabric looked both casual and chic, exactly what she was looking for. The loose fit appealed to her, as she never felt comfortable in anything too tight. Plus, the silver details added just the right touch of sophistication for a Vogue event. She entered the store, a little nervous.

She approached the jumpsuit and picked it up. The fabric was soft and flowy. She quickly checked the label: 200 dollars. Ellie gulped. It wasn't cheap, but she remembered that she was now in a new chapter of her life. She had a paid job and a brighter future than she'd ever imagined.

After trying the outfit on in the fitting room, she looked at herself in the mirror. The jumpsuit fit perfectly. It was both comfortable and elegant, exactly what she wanted. Ellie almost felt transformed into someone else. Someone who could walk into a Vogue party without feeling completely out of place. She didn't hesitate for long before pulling out her credit card and heading to the counter.

Back at the hotel, Ellie got ready with care. She still had a hard time believing she was going to a Vogue event. After a quick shower, she slipped into the jumpsuit, adjusted the silver details, and chose a simple pair of black Nike sneakers to keep the casual touch she was so fond of. She couldn't picture herself in high heels, even for an event like this.

Before leaving, she took one last look at herself in the hotel bathroom mirror. For the first time, she felt both true to herself and ready for something bigger, something more glamorous. It was a strange feeling, but a pleasant one.

She grabbed her purse, checked her phone, and headed to the hotel entrance, where a car was waiting to take her to the event.