Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

47 -

They were alone, almost as if the entire night belonged to just the two of them. The silence that surrounded them wasn't uncomfortable, but filled with unspoken tension. Ellie, still seated, watched Billie out of the corner of her eye, wondering if she too felt the subtle pull between them.

Billie: "Tell me, that girl who came onto you earlier... do you like her?"

Ellie turned sharply toward her, surprised by the blunt question: "Lina? The girl from the AV team? No, not really. She's nice, but... let's just say she's a bit clingy. That's all."

Billie raised her eyebrows, visibly relieved, before letting out a simple "Good." She'd said it lightly, almost offhand, but the words hung in the air like an unspoken confession.

Ellie didn't even have time to reply. All she could do was glance at Billie, trying to figure out what that "good" really meant. Billie met her look with a mischievous smile, a smile that hinted at far more than it showed.

Before they could continue, Kate and Zoé returned from their "bathroom break," with Kate insisting she felt much better. The intimate moment that had just formed between Ellie and Billie was interrupted, like a bubble popping in the air. Ellie simply nodded, welcoming Kate and Zoé back into the group, though she couldn't help but replay her recent exchange with Billie in her mind.

After a few more minutes of jokes and casual conversation, their Uno game finally ended. With a victorious grin, Billie slapped down her last card on the table.

Billie, raising her arms in triumph: "In your faces, I won again!"

Everyone immediately accused her of cheating, especially Zoé, who knew Billie far too well not to suspect some kind of bluff.

Zoé: "You're such a cheat! Show us the cards you're hiding in that hoodie!"

Billie, feigning outrage, shook her head, laughing: "You're just sore losers, that's all."

Kate, pretending to be indignant, crossed her arms: "No one believes you, Billie."

With the game over, the girls decided to rejoin the rest of the party, where things were in full swing. The room was now packed with people dancing, drinking, or just chatting in quieter corners. The atmosphere was light and happy, perfect for celebrating the end of the Australian tour.

Ellie weaved through the crowd with Kate at her side, joining the lively conversations. A few feet away, Finneas was in his own world. He was both hilarious and clearly very drunk, swaying slightly with a drink in hand. His girlfriend, though exasperated, was laughing, obviously amused by his antics.

Billie leaned over and whispered to Ellie: "I think it's time for Finneas to hit the hay before he does something he regrets."

Ellie: "Good luck dealing with him. He's pretty far gone."

Billie: "Will you help me?"

Ellie didn't hesitate before agreeing, and she already had one arm around Finneas to help him walk. Together, they carefully led him away from the crowd and up to a room upstairs. The scene made the girls laugh, as Finneas, though slim, felt incredibly heavy in his tipsy state.

Ellie: "Come on, buddy, put in a little effort. Time to meet the sandman."

In a moment of clarity, Finneas gave them a big grin: "You're the best sisters ever."

Ellie burst out laughing as she and Billie gently laid him down on the bed. Once he was comfortably settled, Billie sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her brother with a mix of affection and amusement.

Ellie, standing up and brushing a strand of hair from her forehead: "Well, he's out of commission for the night."

Billie: "Thanks for the help. It's cool spending the night like this with you."

Ellie felt something shift in Billie's tone, a move toward something more sincere, deeper. She opened her mouth to reply, but at that very moment, the girl who had flirted with her earlier suddenly stumbled into the room. She was clearly drunk and seemed totally oblivious to the atmosphere between Ellie and Billie.

Lina: "Ellie! I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Ellie, startled, quickly went over to the girl, trying to keep a polite smile despite the situation: "I'm sorry, Lina, but you really shouldn't be here. Finneas is asleep, and we don't want to wake him."

She gently guided the girl out of the room, careful not to be too brusque. As they reached the door, the girl turned to Ellie with a suddenly more serious look: "You know, I really like you. I mean it, you're hot, funny..."

Ellie, a bit taken aback, started to say something, but before she could react, the girl leaned in, her face way too close. Just then, Billie came out of the room, and the whole situation changed in an instant.

Without missing a beat, Billie gently took Ellie's hand and, in an unexpected move, kissed her on the cheek.

Billie: "Thanks for the time in the room, you were amazing," she said, with a smile that suggested far more than her words did.

The girl froze, visibly shocked: "Oh... I... I didn't know you were... together in there. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Ellie, for her part, was just as surprised by Billie's reaction. But before she could say anything, the girl apologized one last time and quickly walked away.

Once they were alone again, Ellie turned to Billie, eyes wide: "What was that?"

Billie shrugged with a playful grin: "She was hanging onto you a little too much, don't you think?"

Ellie stared at her for a moment, caught between amusement and surprise: "You're really unpredictable."

Billie: "That's why you like me, right?"

She headed calmly toward the stairs, leaving Ellie standing there for a moment, her heart pounding harder than usual.