Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

20 -

Ellie slowly opened her eyes after a two-hour nap, still a little tired but already grateful for the brief moment of rest. She hadn't been able to sleep on the plane, too caught up in her thoughts. But now, lying in her bed, she felt a little more rested. Glancing at her phone, she saw that it was 8:04 PM.

Without wasting time, Ellie sent a message to Kate:

Ellie: "Hey! Have you eaten yet? If not, we can go down together!"

Kate: "No, I haven't eaten yet! I'm starving, let's meet by the elevator in 5 minutes?"

Ellie sat up, adjusted her outfit, and quickly grabbed her phone before leaving her room. A few minutes later, she met Kate in front of the elevator, the latter sporting a tired but knowing smile.

Kate: "Did you sleep well?"

Ellie: "Two hours, not enough to make up for it, but better than nothing, and you, did you have a big nap?"

Kate: "Not really, I just messed around on TikTok like a lazy ass."

Ellie smiled and pressed the button to go down. The elevator started quietly, and the two girls used the time to briefly discuss their plans for the evening.

Ellie: "I hope the hotel food lives up to the room,"

Kate: "I think I saw they have an all-you-can-eat restaurant. I hope they have enough food 'cause I'm really craving some greasy stuff, like a huge burger."

The elevator stopped with a soft chime, and the doors opened to the lobby. However, as soon as they stepped out, a commotion filled the hotel's walls. Shouts, frantic calls... Billie's name echoed through the voices of fans and paparazzi gathered outside, eagerly waiting for the star's arrival.

Ellie and Kate exchanged a knowing look.

Ellie: "Perfect timing."

They made their way toward the restaurant, which was just beside the hotel's main entrance. The layout of the place forced them to pass by the crowd, although they were shielded by the walls and windows. It was almost like they were following the bus that was bringing Billie and the rest of her team.

As they entered the restaurant, the girls came face to face with Finneas, who had just escaped the crowd of fans. He sighed, a slightly ironic smile on his face, clearly relieved to have survived the crowd.

Kate: "Still alive?"

Finneas: "I haven't checked yet, it's insane out there."

Ellie: "We thought we saw that, so how was the trip?"

Finneas: "Not too bad, pretty long and boring, but we're used to it. And you, the flight?"

Ellie: "No crash, and a nice meal with food still unidentified, so all good."

Finneas smiled at Ellie's response. They exchanged some small talk before Ellie asked the question that had been on her mind for a few minutes.

Ellie: "And Billie? Did she get kidnapped outside?"

Finneas: "Nah, don't worry, she's probably still stuck out there with the journalists and the fans. You know how she is, she can't say no, and she hates the idea of letting anyone down. All it takes is one fan asking for a hug, and she's stuck there for another fifteen minutes."

Suddenly, the noise in the lobby seemed to intensify. The servers in the restaurant instinctively turned, and the girls followed their gazes. There, in the hotel entrance, Billie appeared, smiling, clearly happy to have met her fans despite the chaos.

Ellie: "How is it possible to have that much energy??"

Billie quickly joined the small group, her smile radiant and her eyes sparkling. She headed straight for Ellie.

Billie: "Hey guys! So, how was the flight?"

Ellie: "A bit long but no problems."

Kate gave a small smile, amused by how much attention Billie was giving Ellie. She knew the pop star didn't usually spend that much time with everyone.

Kate: "You guys must've gotten sick of the bus, right?"

Finneas: "A little, but it's fine. I had time to write some good lyrics for my next album."

Ellie: "You're always working, man, it's fascinating."

Finneas shrugged modestly.

Finneas: "The bus is a good place to let my mind wander, you know? It's quiet, I can think, create while watching the scenery roll by."

Ellie turned to Billie.

Ellie: "Do you work during the trip too?"

Billie burst out laughing: "I literally spent the whole trip sleeping, I let Finneas's brilliant mind smoke while I recharge my batteries."

Kate: "That explains your energy right now."

The conversation flowed naturally, the four young adults chatting about their respective tour experiences. They talked about the different cities, the fans, the moments of calm and stress. Finneas shared a funny story about a particularly creative fan in New York, and Billie recalled a laughing fit she had during one of her performances.

After about ten minutes of light conversation, Ellie shyly suggested:

Ellie: "What if we all had dinner together tonight? You guys and us, just to relax a bit?"

Finneas: "We already had a quick sandwich on the bus, and I'm fucking dead tired, so I'm out."

Billie agreed, clearly feeling the same way.

Billie: "Same here, I can't wait to lay down in a nice bed, we can do it tomorrow, at worst?"

Ellie: "Yes, tomorrow works."

They exchanged a few more words before parting ways. Billie and Finneas went up to their rooms, while Kate and Ellie finally headed to the buffet. The calm of the restaurant contrasted with the still-chaotic scene outside, and the girls took advantage of the quiet to relax and enjoy their meal.

Sitting at a table, Ellie and Kate talked about everything and nothing, but the most memorable part of the evening was Billie's constant energy and how easily she got along with Ellie. Kate didn't miss the chance to tease her friend about it throughout dinner, amused by the attention the pop star seemed to be giving her.

Finally, after a good meal, the two girls quietly made their way back to their rooms, ready to rest once again.