Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

17 -

Ellie nervously waited in the hotel lobby, occasionally glancing at her phone. She had received a message from Billie with the address of the party and a taxi sent to pick her up. The event was taking place at a chic venue in downtown Manhattan, a historic building. It was a world far removed from everything Ellie knew, though she felt a little more confident thanks to the outfit she had carefully chosen earlier that day.

Finally, the taxi arrived, and Ellie climbed into the back, her hands slightly sweaty with anticipation. Even though she knew she would be meeting Billie, this night was still a huge first for her. Events like this, she had only seen on TV or in magazines. Vogue throwing a party for a concert was impressive enough, but now, she was going to be there, surrounded by celebrities, influential people, and photographers... quite a contrast for her, who suddenly found herself on the other side of the lens.

The ride was brief, but it felt like it lasted forever. The taxi weaved through the streets of Manhattan, illuminated by the city's signs and lights, until it arrived at an imposing building bathed in golden light. The architecture was majestic, with marble columns and huge windows, giving the impression that this place belonged to another era, yet it had been modernized to host an event of this scale.

When she got out of the taxi, Ellie barely had time to adjust before she was immediately immersed in a completely different world. Everywhere she looked, photographers were ready, their cameras aimed at the arrivals. She even recognized a few familiar faces, ones she had seen in magazines or on social media. These people were stylish, dressed in bold designs, and walked with an unsettling confidence. Billie had told her it wouldn't be too formal, but at that moment, Ellie wondered what Billie actually considered a "formal" event. The chic, high-society atmosphere was overwhelming, but she didn't show it, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

As she prepared to enter the building, she locked eyes with a familiar face. Kate, her friend and colleague from the audiovisual team, was there too, and Ellie immediately felt reassured. She hadn't even known Kate was invited.

Ellie: "Kate!" Ellie exclaimed with a smile, relieved to see a familiar face.

Kate smiled back and walked over to her, clearly just as happy to find an ally in the crowd.

Ellie: "Shit, I'm so relieved to see you here! I almost thought I was going to have to spend the night alone."

Kate: "Don't worry, I was clearly nervous too. I came with my boyfriend. He's one of Finneas' best friends."

Ellie raised an eyebrow. She hadn't known Kate was dating someone connected to Finneas, but she was happy for her. As they chatted, another familiar face caught Ellie's attention. None other than Finneas himself, smiling warmly as he made his way toward them.

Finneas: "Ellie! How's it going? So, how's the tour going on your end?" he asked, hands in the pockets of his stylish yet laid-back jacket.

Ellie: "It's been amazing, really. You're amazing! I'm still having trouble believing I'm part of all this."

Finneas: "I've heard rumors that you're doing an awesome job. Keep it up," he said, before being interrupted by a familiar voice.

Billie: "Give her a break, Finn," Billie joked, appearing beside her brother, dressed in an outfit that was very much her style: bold, eccentric, but surprisingly elegant.

Ellie couldn't help but notice how charismatic Billie was, even in such an imposing setting. She radiated, her presence effortlessly drawing attention. But despite all of that, she remained authentic, true to herself.

Billie: "Hey Ellie, you look amazing tonight! Your outfit is really cool," she commented, eyeing the black jumpsuit Ellie had chosen.

Ellie: "Your outfit is pretty charming too."

The two girls continued chatting for a few minutes. Billie asked if Ellie was enjoying being part of the team and if she saw herself sticking around after these first few days. Ellie's answer was without hesitation: of course she wanted to stay. The concerts, the atmosphere, the people... it all filled her with a joy she hadn't anticipated.

On the way to the bar for a drink, Billie and Ellie stayed side by side, despite Billie being constantly interrupted by people wanting to talk to her, congratulate her, or simply be seen with her. Ellie hung back a bit, watching this social ballet with a mix of amusement and fascination. It was a whole world she had never had access to before, but she still felt at ease thanks to Billie's reassuring presence.

As they approached the bar, an unexpected scene unfolded. A server, clearly caught up in the hustle, spilled a glass of champagne directly onto Ellie's outfit. The golden liquid spread across the black fabric, creating a noticeable stain.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" the server immediately apologized, looking panicked.

Ellie froze for a moment, then, against all expectations, burst out laughing. "Don't worry, dude, a fancy night and a wardrobe disaster, that's classic, right?"

Billie, who had been both surprised and concerned, started laughing too at Ellie's relaxed reaction. "Come on, follow me, we'll try to clean this up in the bathroom."

They quickly made their way to the bathroom, where Ellie took off her soaked jacket, ending up in her bra. Her almost-naked body caught Billie off guard for a moment, causing her to quickly look away, slightly blushing. It was such a brief moment that Ellie didn't even notice, as she focused on cleaning the champagne stain.

Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the champagne wasn't really coming off. In fact, their attempts to wipe it only seemed to make it worse.

"Well, I guess we're calling it a loss," Ellie said with a laugh, finally putting her jacket back on despite the stains.

Billie: "Shit, we lost the battle."

They left the bathroom laughing and headed back toward the main hall. But it was already late, the event was winding down. It was after one in the morning, and most of the guests had already left. Ellie felt exhausted, but happy about the night, which, despite some surprises, had been unforgettable.

Ellie: "It's getting pretty late, I'm going to head back before I start a new trend with my stain."

Billie: "You still look hot in that outfit."

Ellie responded to the compliment with a genuine smile. It had been a memorable night, without a doubt. She thanked Billie one last time before leaving the party and taking a taxi back to her hotel.

During the ride back, Ellie reflected on everything that had happened. She had taken a step into a completely unknown world, but strangely, she had felt like she belonged. That night, not only had she gotten closer to Billie, but she had also realized that she could find her own path in this world that once seemed completely out of reach.