Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

34 -

The party was in full swing. The guests, although initially surprised to see Billie Eilish among them, had eventually gotten used to her presence, respecting the laid-back vibe that Joan had promised. A box for phones sat at the entrance, ensuring everyone had a distraction-free evening.

Ellie and Billie spent a lot of time together, laughing and sharing stories. Their connection was evident and drew a few amused glances. Joan, ever the jokester, couldn't help but throw in playful comments whenever she got the chance. Aubrey, meanwhile, observed quietly, knowing that Ellie and Billie had become inseparable over the past few weeks.

As they chatted near the couch, Ellie felt an unusual commotion near the entrance. She turned her head and saw a familiar figure walk through the front door. Chloe.

Her stomach twisted instantly. Chloe, her ex, had shown up unannounced, clearly uncomfortable in a setting where she no longer felt welcome. Without wasting a second, Ellie abandoned Billie, offering a brief apology, and hurried toward Chloe.

"Chloe, what are you doing here?" Ellie asked, a mix of surprise and tension in her voice.

Chloe shrugged with a forced smile. "I heard about the party... I thought it would be a good idea to come."

Without waiting for a response, Ellie took her by the arm and quickly led her toward her bedroom, away from the curious eyes of the other guests. She didn't want the situation to escalate in front of Billie, nor did she want Chloe to draw attention to herself. Once inside the bedroom, Ellie closed the door behind her and turned to her ex with an annoyed look.

"Chloe, I told you I didn't want any drama here..."

Chloe, clearly nervous, sighed. "I didn't want to cause any problems, Ellie. But I miss you, and I... I don't know what to do anymore."

Ellie ran a hand through her hair, trying to keep her cool. "We've talked about all this. It's over between us. You can't just show up and expect everything to go back to normal."

Meanwhile, in the living room, Billie had noticed the quick exchange between Ellie and the newcomer. Her curiosity piqued, she turned to Aubrey, who was nearby.

"Who's that girl?" Billie asked, trying not to seem too worried but clearly troubled by how quickly Ellie had reacted.

Aubrey raised her eyebrows before replying softly, "That's Chloe, Ellie's ex. They were together before you came into the picture. The breakup was... complicated, and Chloe is still very attached to her." She paused, watching Billie. "I guess Ellie is trying to avoid a scene by taking her aside."

Billie nodded, a bit perplexed, unable to really explain what she felt. It wasn't jealousy, but rather a subtle concern, an unease at this situation she didn't fully understand.

Back in the bedroom, the tension escalated.

"Ellie, you can't just go on with your life like nothing happened!" Chloe exclaimed, her voice breaking with emotion. "Did you ever have feelings for me?"

Ellie sighed, tired of these confrontations that seemed to repeat every time they crossed paths. "Damn it, it doesn't work like that, Chloe... I tried to make things work between us, but you know it was falling apart."

Chloe, her eyes welling with tears, shook her head. "I don't believe you..." She let out a sob before continuing in a broken voice, "I saw how you look at that girl, Billie. How long have you been sleeping together?"

The question hit Ellie like a punch. She froze for a moment, stunned by the accusation. "What? Chloe, you're completely delusional. Whatever happens, it's none of your business. You're not a part of my life anymore."

Chloe wiped her tears, her gaze filled with despair. "Then why are you so close to her? Why does she follow you everywhere?"

Ellie shook her head, exasperated. "She's here because we're friends, that's it. I don't owe you any explanations, Chloe. You have to accept that it's over between us. fuck, get that into your head."

At that moment, Ellie heard someone knock gently on the door. She glanced at Chloe, then went to open it. Billie was standing there in the doorway, looking a bit lost but mostly concerned.

"Is everything okay?" Billie asked, her voice soft but tinged with worry.

Ellie, still tense from the confrontation, nodded quickly. "Yeah, everything's fine..." She turned to Chloe, a hard look in her eyes. "We're done here."

Chloe, visibly hurt, avoided Billie's gaze and left the room without another word, her shoulders slumped under the weight of humiliation. Ellie watched her leave before closing the door behind her, letting out a deep sigh.

She turned to Billie, who was watching her with barely concealed concern. "Sorry about that. She's... complicated."

Billie, trying to lighten the mood, managed a smile. "It's okay. But are you sure you're alright? You looked... really red."

Ellie let out a nervous little laugh, aware that the tension of the situation had made her cheeks flush. "Yeah, it's just..." She searched for her words, suddenly feeling vulnerable in front of Billie. "It was intense."

Billie nodded, not pressing further. "I get it. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

Ellie smiled at her, touched by Billie's concern. "Thanks. Really." Then, in an effort to relax and change the subject, she suggested, "What if we go back to the party?"

Billie agreed, a small smirk on her face. "Yeah, let's go. I think Joan is starting to drink a bit too much."

The two girls returned to the living room, where Joan, Aubrey, and the other guests were continuing to have fun. Ellie felt a bit lighter now, even though a certain tension lingered around Chloe.