Hostage to you

Crowds

Raven's POV

Backstage is always buzzing. There's a current of nervous energy running through the team as everyone scrambles to get everything perfect for the show. It's familiar by now-organized chaos that I've learned to move through without thinking much. I've got one job: keep Billie safe.

The door to Billie's dressing room opens, and she steps out, her hair slightly damp, dressed down in a loose T-shirt and jeans that hang off her in a way that somehow makes her look effortlessly cool. She's on her phone, glancing at something, but when she looks up and locks eyes with me, there's that flicker of something-something I've been feeling more often lately.

"You ready for tonight?" she asks, her voice casual, but her eyes are studying me, like she's trying to gauge something.

I push off the wall I've been leaning against and nod. "Yeah, always."

She's close enough now that I catch the scent of her shampoo-something light and fresh. She pauses in front of me, not moving away like she usually does. Her fingers play with the edge of her shirt for a second before she looks up, her gaze lingering on mine.

"You seem... tense," she says, the corner of her mouth quirking up slightly.

I raise an eyebrow. "Just focused."

Billie doesn't say anything for a moment, just watches me with that small smile, like she knows something I don't. Then, without warning, she leans in, her shoulder brushing against mine as she moves past. The touch is light-barely anything-but it's enough to make me shift slightly, like I'm suddenly too aware of the space between us.

"I'll see you out there," she says over her shoulder, her voice low but teasing.

I watch her go, my heart giving a small, unexpected thud as I replay that moment in my head. I shouldn't be thinking about it, but I can't help it. It's like there's this unspoken thing hanging in the air between us now-something that wasn't there before, but is making itself known in the smallest ways.

The next hour flies by in a blur of final checks, coordinating with security, and keeping an eye on the crowd as the venue fills up. The noise is deafening when the lights go down and Billie steps on stage, and I'm in my usual spot near the side, watching her command the crowd.

She's in her element, moving effortlessly across the stage, but between songs, every so often, she glances over at me. Not in a way that would be obvious to anyone else, but I see it-the quick flick of her eyes, just checking in. It's subtle, but it's there.

As she takes a break between songs, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from her face, she throws me a quick smile, her eyes locking onto mine for just a beat longer than they should. I nod back, trying to keep things professional, but there's a part of me that can't shake the feeling that something's different now.

After the show, the energy backstage is electric. The team is buzzing, and Billie's glowing from the adrenaline, still riding the high of a successful performance. I'm standing by the door as she walks off stage, her towel slung over her shoulder, her hair damp with sweat.

She makes her way toward me, wiping her face and giving quick nods to the crew as they congratulate her. When she reaches me, she stops, her breath still a little heavy from the show.

"You good?" she asks, her eyes searching mine like she's looking for something deeper.

"Yeah, all good," I reply, my voice steady, though there's something about the way she's looking at me that makes me feel off-balance.

Billie doesn't move away right away. She lingers there, standing close enough that I can see the faint sheen of sweat on her skin, the way her chest rises and falls with each breath. The noise around us fades slightly as she leans in, just a little, like she's going to say something.

But she doesn't.

Instead, she lets out a breath and takes a small step back, the moment breaking. "You did great tonight," she says, her voice softer now, almost like there's more she wants to say but doesn't.

I nod, unsure of what else to do. "Thanks."

For a moment, we just stand there, the air between us thick with something unspoken. I should be moving, checking on security, making sure everything is in place for her exit. But I can't seem to pull myself away from the gravity of this moment.

Billie's the one who finally breaks the tension, her tone lighter as she gives me a teasing smile. "You want a ride?"

It's the same offer she's made before, but tonight, it feels different. More loaded. I hesitate for just a second, but then I nod. "Yeah, sure."

The ride back is quiet. The city lights blur past the windows, and Billie's leaning back against the seat, her phone resting on her lap as she scrolls aimlessly. There's no need for small talk, but I can feel her glancing at me every now and then, like she's trying to figure something out.

After a while, she sets her phone down, turning slightly to look at me. "You're always so calm," she says quietly, her voice almost drowned out by the hum of the car's engine.

I glance over at her, my brow furrowing slightly. "That's the job, right?"

She laughs softly, but it's more thoughtful than amused. "Yeah. But it's nice... knowing you're always there. I don't have to worry about anything when you're around."

Her words hang between us, and I feel a strange tightening in my chest. I don't know if it's the way she's looking at me, or the quiet sincerity in her voice, but there's something about this moment that feels heavier than it should.

We pull up to my building, and Billie turns to me again, her eyes lingering on mine for just a second longer than necessary.

"Get some rest," she says, her voice soft.

"Yeah," I reply, my throat dry. "You too."

I step out of the car and watch as it pulls away, disappearing into the night. The air feels cooler now, the buzz from earlier finally starting to fade, but something inside me is still humming.

Something is definitely shifting between us. Slowly, quietly. And I don't know what to make of it yet.