Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

46 -

Tonight's concert had been absolutely explosive. Billie had literally set the stage on fire with her boundless energy. Ellie, as usual, was everywhere with her camera, capturing the moments of grace and vulnerability, the way Billie shone under the lights, lifted by the crowd's cheers.

There was something different about Billie tonight. She seemed more... present, as if she was giving herself entirely to the moment, and Ellie couldn't help but be captivated. Every movement, every expression she captured with her lens felt infused with a new intensity.

After putting away her gear at the end of the show, Ellie met up with Kate at the hotel. They were heading to the party Finneas had organized to celebrate the end of the Australian tour. Ellie, naturally laid-back, had gone with a comfortable outfit, a black tank top with a sweater draped over her shoulders. Kate, on the other hand, had dressed up in an elegant dress that contrasted with Ellie's simplicity.

Ellie: "You look amazing. Think of me if you ever decide to ditch your boyfriend."

Kate laughed, grabbing her bag: "I think about it every day. And you? Going for the comfort look, huh?"

Ellie: "Takes a lot more than this to make me put in any effort."

Kate: "Can't wait to see what 'a lot more' looks like."

They left the hotel and headed to the party. Finneas had sent them the address earlier in the day, and they arrived a bit late, thanks to Kate taking forever to get ready. By the time they got there, the atmosphere was already in full swing. Laughter, lively conversations, and soft background music all contributed to a relaxed vibe.

Ellie and Kate made their way around the room, greeting members of the team. Finneas, as welcoming as ever, soon came over to greet them, smiling with his girlfriend at his side, whom he couldn't stop complimenting. She looked gorgeous, and Ellie didn't hesitate to say so.

Kate: "So, where's Billie?"

Instead of answering directly, Finneas looked at Ellie with a knowing smile: "She's with Zoé, but she won't be long."

Ellie remembered that Zoé was Billie's childhood best friend, and the thought made her smile. They probably had a lot of catching up to do. The evening continued smoothly, and after her second drink, Ellie was feeling perfectly at ease, even a little more confident than usual.

At one point, a girl from the team approached Ellie and started chatting with a bit of charm, even flirting subtly, with not-so-veiled compliments and discreet gestures. Ellie, amused by the attention, kept a slight distance, smiling politely at her comments. This light flirtation kept her occupied until she suddenly felt a hand rest gently on her hip.

Surprised, Ellie turned to see Billie, as radiant as ever, with a smile on her face. Behind her was Zoé, but Ellie's attention was entirely on Billie.

Billie: "Hey Ellie, I've been looking for you everywhere."

Ellie: "I was just here, chatting. Looks like you snuck in quietly."

Billie: "You know me, I don't like to make a big entrance."

Zoé gave Ellie a quick hello and then wandered off to chat with someone else, leaving the two of them alone. A light conversation began between them, without the awkwardness of last time. Maybe the alcohol was helping make things flow more easily, or maybe they'd both decided to move forward without overthinking.

Billie: "Did you get some photos tonight?"

She was fidgeting with one of her rings, a gesture Ellie had noticed many times before.

Ellie: "Yeah, tons. I got some great shots of you... amazing as always."

Billie: "You'll have to show me sometime."

Ellie: "Sometime? Like after the tour?"

Billie: "No, way sooner than that. I'm not that patient."

Their conversation continued, light and playful, and the tension between them seemed almost forgotten, replaced by the natural connection that had always drawn them together. Kate joined them a bit later, and they all settled around a table to start a game of Uno.

As the game went on, Zoé told a few hilarious stories from her and Billie's childhood, making everyone at the table burst into laughter. Ellie, though entertained by the stories, couldn't help but sneak a few glances at Billie. She seemed relaxed, smiling, but every now and then their eyes would meet, and something unsaid passed between them.

In the middle of the game, Kate shot a knowing look at Zoé and leaned in to whisper something. Zoé nodded with a smile before turning to the others.

Zoé: "I'm going to take Kate to the bathroom. She's not feeling great, probably too much to drink."

Ellie: "Oh damn, want me to come too?"

Kate: "No, no, stay here. Make sure Billie doesn't cheat while we're gone."

Ellie nodded, amused, and watched them leave. Once they were alone, she and Billie exchanged a smile.

Billie: "So, you're going to keep an eye on me, huh?"

Ellie leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her drink: "Shouldn't be too hard."

A new silence settled between them, but this time, there was nothing awkward about it. Instead, it was a calm moment where the two of them just felt at ease in each other's presence. Ellie felt her heart slow down, though part of her was still keenly aware of the attraction between them.

Billie broke the silence: "I'm glad you're here."

Ellie, a bit surprised by this spontaneous confession, turned to look at her: "Me too, Billie."

The words were simple, but heavy with meaning. Maybe they didn't need to say everything, didn't need to analyze it all. They were here, together, and for now, that was enough.