Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

18 -

Ellie returned from the party later than she'd planned. Her mind was still a bit fuzzy from all the events of the evening: the conversations with Billie, the shared laughs, and of course, the champagne incident. But as soon as she stepped through the door of her hotel room, she fell into her usual routine: a quick shower to wash away the exhaustion and sweat, then she slipped into bed. Ellie had a superpower that many envied: she could fall asleep in seconds. That night, like most nights, it only took her a moment before sleep took over.

The next morning, she woke up slowly, the memories of the night still fresh in her mind. As she started packing for the next leg of the tour, she found herself smiling. Baltimore was next, a new city to explore, though she felt a little sad to have already broken her own record for the most cities visited. At 20, she hadn't had much chance to travel, but this tour with Billie Eilish was changing all of that. She was enjoying this new adventure, even though there was sometimes a touch of nostalgia for her old life.

Once she finished packing and double-checked that she hadn't forgotten anything, Ellie hopped in a taxi to the airport. To her surprise, Kate was already there when she arrived. Their last meeting at the Vogue concert had brought them closer, and this time, they decided not to leave it to chance.

Ellie: "Hey! Kate, fate is really bringing us together"

Kate: "Ellie! That's crazy, I was just thinking we should exchange numbers. That way, we won't always be running into each other randomly!"

Ellie smiled and pulled out her phone. They quickly exchanged details, a simple gesture, but one that strengthened their growing bond. Once they passed through security, they found themselves side by side again at the departure gate. Maybe chance really did have a hand in things after all.

The two women settled into their seats, ready for the flight to Baltimore. Ellie felt lucky to be with Kate. She enjoyed her company, the lightness of their conversations, the sincerity as well. It was nice to talk to someone who understood her environment, her doubts, and who was living the same adventure.

"So, what did you think of the party last night?" Ellie asked, adjusting her seatbelt.

Kate: "It was a Vogue party, lots of people, some pretty overdressed folks, and a ton of shallow conversations. But I had a good time! And you? You seemed to enjoy yourself."

Ellie: "Yeah, not bad, despite the champagne shower, I had a pretty good time."

Kate: "Luxury shower, huh? But seriously, you were with Billie the whole night, right?"

Ellie blinked, a little surprised by the comment. She hadn't really realized that it was the case, but now that Kate mentioned it, it was true. She had spent a good chunk of the evening with Billie, talking and laughing together.

Ellie: "Yeah, we were together most of the time, why?"

Kate: "Billie's always nice to everyone, she's close with the team. But she doesn't usually spend the whole night with someone like she did with you, that was surprising."

Ellie didn't really know how to respond to that. She hadn't paid much attention to the detail. For her, it was natural, she and Billie got along well, and the night just flowed. But now, as Kate pointed it out, she started thinking about it.

Ellie: "That much? It didn't seem weird to me."

Kate: "Yeah, she's always smiling, kind, but this time, it was different. I saw how she looked at you, how she took the time to talk to you. It's not usually like that."

Ellie felt a slight flush rise to her cheeks. She wasn't sure what to make of it all. To her, Billie was simply Billie, a lovely person with whom she had been lucky to form a connection.

Ellie: "I don't know, maybe we just get along, and she helped me a lot last night. I was really nervous at the start of the evening."

Kate gave her a sideways smile: "Billie really likes you. It's obvious. Enjoy it, you're lucky."

Ellie bit her lip, not sure what to say to that. She was flattered, of course, but she didn't want to get any ideas. She respected Billie a lot, but she had never thought there might be something more.

Ellie: "If you say so... Anyway, this adventure is pretty great, I don't regret quitting my job and my classes."

Kate: "And it's just the beginning, girl, we've got so much more to experience on this tour. I can't wait to see how it all turns out."

They continued chatting for a few more minutes, switching from light topics like the outfits of the guests at the party to deeper subjects like their ambitions and dreams. Ellie found herself enjoying these moments more and more with Kate, and she realized she had made a real friend.

At some point, the conversation naturally quieted. Ellie looked out the airplane window. The sky was a pure blue, and below, the clouds stretched out like an ocean of cotton. It was peaceful, almost hypnotizing. She took out her headphones and started playing a Frank Ocean album. As soon as the first notes played, she felt her body relax. The calm of the music, the soft melodies, helped her disconnect from everything.

But instead of falling asleep as she'd hoped, her thoughts began to wander. They brought her back to Portland, to her hometown. She thought about her friends she hadn't seen in a while, and especially her dog, Livai. She had always been close to him, and she missed his cuddles terribly.

Ellie sighed softly, her eyes closed, letting the memories soothe her. She could see Livai running in the park where she often took him, his ears flapping in the wind, his joyful eyes always turned toward her. This tour was an amazing adventure, but sometimes it reminded her of everything she had left behind.

A smile spread across her face as she immersed herself in the music, letting the waves of sound and memories carry her away. The tiredness slowly crept over her, and even though her thoughts kept her awake, she felt strangely calm.

Baltimore was waiting, another step in this incredible journey. But for now, she savored the moment of peace, between the sky and the earth, lost in melodies and memories that comforted her.