Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

44 -

Ten days had passed since that fateful night in the trailer, and Ellie was doing her best to ignore what had almost happened. Neither she nor Billie had texted to talk about it, and the distance seemed to suit Ellie, or at least, it was easier this way. Ignoring the situation helped maintain some sense of stability. The Australian tour was in full swing, with three concerts already behind them, two in Melbourne and one in Sydney, leaving little chance to run into Billie. Too many people, too much chaos, too many things to manage. The last Australian concert was set for tonight in Sydney, and Ellie was trying her hardest to focus on her work.

The fact that she hadn't had to face Billie directly, aside from watching her onstage from afar, allowed Ellie to set aside the confusion that kept tugging at her. Every night, she would take her place among the crowd, hidden among the fans, capturing moments of the concert with her camera, but nothing hinted to Billie that Ellie was there. Billie shone on stage, the audience adored her, and Ellie couldn't help but be impressed by the way the singer transformed every time she took control of the stage.

During this time, Ellie had grown much closer to Kate. They spent their free time together, either debriefing about the concerts over coffee or watching movies in the hotel room. Kate brought a sort of lightness to this period. The warmth of her friendship was comforting, and sometimes, Ellie found herself talking about Billie without even realizing it, letting slip details about their interactions. Kate, always listening, would just smile softly, as if she understood more than Ellie was willing to admit.

The day before the last concert, while Ellie and Kate were having coffee in a small bistro in Sydney, Ellie received a message from Finneas. He was inviting both of them to a special party, an event to mark the end of the Australian tour before heading on to the European leg. The idea of a celebration made Ellie grimace. She wasn't sure she was ready to see Billie outside of a strictly professional setting. The space she'd allowed herself felt fragile, and she worried that everything would get just as complicated as that night in the trailer.

Kate, on the other hand, seemed excited by the idea: "It could be fun, don't you think?" she said with a mischievous smile, setting her coffee cup on the table.

Ellie shrugged, stirring her spoon in her cup: "I don't know. I'm not really in the mood to be stuck in a house full of people."

Kate looked at her, amused: "Full of people? Or Billie?"

Ellie: "It's complicated, ever since that night in the trailer... I don't know what to think anymore. Now I'm stuck between wanting to avoid her and wanting to understand. I'm acting like a damn kid, and that's not me."

Kate: "I know it's hard, but you can't avoid this conversation forever. Maybe this party could be a chance to talk it out, or at least to see how you two feel around each other."

Ellie bit her lip, hesitant: "What if it was a mistake? What if what almost happened would've driven us apart instead of bringing us closer?"

Kate took a moment before responding: "Look, I don't know exactly what's going on between you and Billie, but there's only one way to find out where you two actually stand, and that's by seeing her again."

Ellie looked down at her cup, lost in thought. Kate was right, of course. She couldn't keep running from this situation, and maybe this party was a chance to sort out what was weighing on her. Either way, the European tour was approaching, and they would be spending a lot of time together. Better to face the situation now than to let it get worse.

They fell silent for a moment, interrupted only by the hum of the other customers in the café. Then Ellie finally gave in with a slight smile.

Ellie: "Fine, we'll go to the party. But if things get weird, I'm counting on you to help me sneak out."

Kate burst out laughing: "I promise, I'll be the perfect alibi."

As they left the café, thoughts of the party lingered in Ellie's mind. She wondered what Billie thought, if she was also questioning what had happened in the trailer. Maybe none of it mattered to her after all. Billie hadn't done anything to bring it up, nothing to suggest she wanted to take things further.

Before getting ready for the concert, Ellie took a moment for herself. She sat down at her computer, rereading the messages she had exchanged with Joan and Aubrey. They had confirmed they would meet her in Paris and London, which gave her a jolt of excitement. The idea of reuniting with her roommates in Europe thrilled her, offering a lighter perspective on the weeks to come.

As the concert time approached, Ellie felt her heartbeat quicken. This last concert marked the end of a chapter, and even though she tried not to dwell on it, she knew that tonight's party could change everything.