Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

19 -

Arriving in Baltimore, Ellie and Kate stepped off the plane, relieved to leave the hustle and bustle of New York for a slightly more laid-back atmosphere. Although Baltimore was still a big city, there was already a clear difference, even just at the airport, where the crowd seemed far less overwhelming. It felt calmer, more peaceful. They took their time heading toward security, joking around and chatting about anything and everything, their conversations marked by the growing camaraderie they'd built over the past few days.

Ellie: "I think I already like this city better."

Kate: "Yeah, I get it. After the madness of New York, it's nice to breathe a little. But you'll see, Baltimore's got its own charm."

Once they passed through security, they headed toward the exit where a woman was waiting with a sign displaying both of their names. Upon seeing her, Ellie burst out laughing, followed by Kate.

Ellie: "I feel like I'm the fucking star of this story."

Kate: "Welcome to the world of showbiz."

They approached the woman, still laughing, but a question was already nagging at Ellie. She wondered where the rest of the team was. Why were they the only ones getting this treatment? A bit puzzled, she turned to Kate with a slightly hesitant tone.

Ellie: "Hey, where's the rest of the team? Was it just us on that flight?"

Kate: "Yeah, most of the time, some of the team takes the smaller bus trips, like from New York to Baltimore. It's easier for them, and Billie prefers to travel by road when she can. As for the others, they're often on different flights, depends on ticket availability. Since everything's usually booked last minute, we end up scattered sometimes."

Ellie nodded, satisfied with the explanation, though still finding it a bit surreal. She hadn't fully grasped the logistics and the workings of a tour of this scale. It was a whole new world, full of surprises.

Once they arrived at the hotel, Ellie couldn't help but notice the swarm of paparazzi gathered near the main entrance. There was a certain buzz around the place, as if something big was about to happen. Flashing lights erupted from every direction, cameras poised to capture every movement. Ellie quickly realized the photographers were waiting for Billie. The thought that she was sharing the same hotel as Billie this time crossed her mind.

Ellie: "Looks like we're going to run into Billie a lot more here."

Kate: "Yeah, it might be. It's not every day you get this kind of treatment, but sometimes the whole team stays in the same hotel as Billie, especially if it's a big chain she's partnered with. We're lucky!"

Their taxi finally managed to navigate through the barrier of photographers, and they were quickly greeted at the reception. Ellie and Kate picked up their room keys and, at the last moment, they parted ways, their rooms being right across from each other.

Kate: "Rest up, and message me if you want to grab a bite together."

Ellie nodded with a smile and entered her room. She closed the door behind her and sighed, exhausted from the journey but happy to have finally arrived. The luxury of the room didn't escape her notice. It was more than she had expected. A spacious room with calming tones, thick curtains, and a massive bed. She immediately spotted a bag placed on the bed, containing various little accessories: a soft robe, slippers, luxurious bath products, and even a small bottle of champagne.

"Well, I guess we really are in a luxury hotel," Ellie muttered to herself with a smile.

Ellie approached the bag and picked up the robe, surprised by its softness. She found herself imagining the extravagance of this life. She was still far from getting used to it, but she definitely wasn't going to complain. She then opened the bottle of champagne, just to pour a small glass, not for the love of alcohol, but more to mark the occasion.

After finishing her glass, Ellie took a quick shower, enjoying the products provided by the hotel. The warm water instantly relaxed her, washing away the fatigue and tension she'd built up. When she stepped out, she slipped into the robe, feeling like she was wrapped in a cocoon of luxury.

Sitting on the bed, she checked her phone and noticed a few message notifications. Nothing urgent, just some texts from her friends back in Portland, curious about how her tour was going. She quickly responded to their questions, sharing a few funny anecdotes but not going into too much detail. She wanted to save the best stories for when they'd meet in person.

Once her messages were sent, she let herself fall back onto the bed, her gaze drifting to the ceiling as she reflected on everything she'd experienced in the past few days. Everything seemed to be happening at a crazy pace, from the concerts, the interactions with Billie, to the good times spent with Kate. She hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath since arriving in New York.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for this adventure unfolding before her. Working alongside Billie Eilish, being immersed in this world of artists and creatives... it was a dream come true. And though all of this was still so new to her, she already felt like she had found her place.

After all, Baltimore was just getting started for her, and the concert was still three days away.