Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

38 -

The sun gently hit the car windows as Ellie watched the landscape pass by, a slight knot in her stomach. She knew the day was going to be intense: accompanying Billie to an interview wasn't something casual, and the idea of facing an army of fans and paparazzi made her a little nervous. Billie, sitting next to her, quickly noticed.

Billie: "Hey, you good?" She murmured, gently placing her hand over Ellie's to grab her attention. She gave her a reassuring smile. "I swear it's never as terrifying as it seems."

Ellie nodded, trying to relax a little, but her mind kept racing. She wasn't used to these kinds of situations at all, and the thought of being scrutinized or even questioned by strangers felt weird. Still, Billie's hand on hers helped calm some of her nerves.

As they got closer to their destination, bits and pieces of the previous night began to resurface in Ellie's mind, creating an unexpected warmth in her stomach. She had trouble remembering every detail, but she knew something electrifying had happened between them.

The car finally stopped in front of the interview location, a studio tucked in the heart of Portland. As soon as they parked, a small crowd of fans and paparazzi quickly gathered around the entrance. Camera shutters clicked, flashlights illuminated the place, and shouts rang out around them. Billie seemed to handle it all with natural ease, but Ellie felt the tension rise.

As they walked toward the entrance, a few particularly excited fans started calling out to them. Billie smiled, waved, but the looks quickly shifted toward Ellie, sitting next to her.

A young guy asked, "Hey, who are you to Billie?"

Another girl added, "Are you a new friend of Billie's?"

Ellie froze for a second, unsure how to answer. She hadn't really anticipated this, and for a few seconds, she wondered what would be the smartest thing to say. After all, it was complicated...

Finally, she decided to go for it, she replied : "Just a friend"

The fans nodded, some of them smiling or complimenting her, and a few even asked for a photo, which surprised her a lot. She had never seen herself as someone special or important, and she felt a little awkward about all the attention. But she ended up agreeing to pose for a few pictures, blushing slightly from all the sudden curiosity.

Billie, whispered in her ear : "You're handling this like a pro, babygirl"

Ellie smiled despite herself.

After briefly greeting the crowd, they entered the studio, where Billie's interview was about to start. Inside, things were quieter, and Ellie found a corner to settle into, ready to observe everything that was about to unfold. She wasn't used to these types of events, but she was curious to see Billie in action. Throughout the interview, Billie responded with ease and charm, smiling at the questions while staying relaxed.

But even through her professional answers, Ellie noticed that Billie would occasionally glance at her. She wasn't sure what it meant, but each time, her heart raced a little faster. Was it just camaraderie, or was there something more? The atmosphere between them had shifted since the night before, and even though Ellie tried not to think too much about it, she knew something was in the air.

Once the interview was over, Billie joined Ellie outside the studio. The day's tension seemed to finally ease, and they relaxed a little while waiting for their driver. Fans were still around, but this time, there wasn't the same frenzy as when they first arrived. Billie began chatting with a few of them, while Ellie stayed slightly on the sidelines, observing the scene.

Ellie: "How did it go?"

Billie: "Very well, thanks for coming with me."

Ellie: "It was cool seeing all that from the inside, dven though I have to admit, I'm not totally comfortable with the cameras."

Billie shrugged, amused. "Aren't you supposed to be a photographer?"

The car arrived shortly after, and they headed back to Joan and Aubrey's place. Once back at the apartment, Billie, clearly exhausted, mentioned that she had an important interview the next day in another city, meaning she had to pack her suitcase for her departure.

Ellie followed her to her room while Billie began organizing her things. The suitcase was open on the bed, and she was stacking some clothes and toiletries, casually talking about the day's interview.

As the day went on, the memories of the night started to come back to Ellie. She gradually remembered the moments when she had flirted with Billie, the exchanged glances full of tension, and the laughs they shared that warmed her heart. The fact that all of that had been real made her heart beat a little faster.

Ellie: "Are you really comfortable with all this media stuff?"

Billie glanced over her shoulder with a smile: "I think it comes with time. At first, it was hell. Now, I almost act like it's normal, sadly it's part of my life."

Ellie leaned against the doorframe, watching Billie pack her suitcase. The atmosphere was light, but Ellie couldn't help but replay their moments from the night. She wondered if it was just the alcohol, or if something deeper was starting to form between them.

As she was about to leave the room to let Billie finish her preparations, Billie stopped her with one word: "Hey, Ellie..."

Ellie turned around: "Hmm?"

Billie: "Did you enjoy today?" her voice holding a note of hesitation, as if she was asking a question with many layers of meaning.

Ellie : "Yeah, it was cool seeing how you work, and..."

Billie: "And?" She waited for her to finish with a smirk.

Ellie hesitated for a second, the words stuck in her throat. Then she shrugged : "And spending time with you."

Billie seemed satisfied with that answer, her smile widening a bit more. "Me too, I'm glad you were with me."

After that exchange, they continued chatting about anything and everything, their conversation growing lighter. When Billie's suitcase was finally ready, they decided to spend the evening watching a movie, enjoying these last moments together before Billie left for her professional commitments.