Dirty Little Secret

Sparks in the Shadows

The night was winding down, and the adrenaline from the ghost hunt had faded, leaving Billie feeling a bit drained but buzzing from the thrill of it all. She and the guys were packing up equipment, joking and swapping stories about their favorite parts of the night.

Billie dusted off her hands and shot Sam a grin. "Remind me to never do that again...unless you guys bribe me with a lifetime supply of burritos."

Sam laughed, flashing that mischievous smile. "Deal. But only if you promise not to call us at three in the morning when you hear something creak in the dark."

"Oh, you'd love that," Billie said, nudging him. "You ghost-hunting nerd."

Colby smirked from the other side of the room, throwing his equipment into a bag. "You survived tonight. That's gotta be enough to last a lifetime, right?"

Billie laughed, rolling her eyes. "Just wait until you hear my nightmares about that creepy basement. I'm not calling you two, so don't worry."

As she said her goodbyes and headed home, the memory of the night stayed with her. Even once she was back in her own space, she couldn't quite shake the whole vibe—how natural it felt to be around Sam and Colby, the laughter, the little thrill of facing her fear together with them. Ghost-hunting wasn't anything like her usual world, but for some reason, it made sense with them there.

A few days later, Billie was in the middle of a long rehearsal when her phone buzzed with a message. She checked the screen, seeing an unknown number pop up, and opened it, curious.

Unknown Number: Hey, Billie! It's Sam (the ghost boy). Finally wrapped up editing the ghost hunt vid—any chance you want to see it before it goes live?

She felt a little spark of excitement, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She replied quickly, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Billie: Ghost boy himself! Haha, I'm in. Gotta see if I look brave or totally terrified.

Sam's reply came instantly.

Sam: Oh, you'll love it. I promise it's nothing but bravery.

She rolled her eyes, laughing to herself, and opened the link he sent. The video began with Sam narrating in his usual tone, half-serious, half-joking, as he described each creepy room they'd explored. Every jump scare, every little scream or laugh was woven together seamlessly. Billie watched, cringing at her own reactions but laughing out loud as she saw herself back on screen, darting from shadow to shadow and taunting Sam whenever he looked nervous.

When it ended, she instantly texted him back.

Billie: Okay, okay, that was actually fun. Who knew ghost-hunting could be such a blast?

From there, their texts kept going, flowing back and forth like they'd been talking for ages. Their messages were quick and natural, laced with inside jokes from that night, teasing about their "paranormal pro" status, and a lot of banter about who would've fared better alone in that creepy basement. She found herself laughing every time her phone buzzed with his reply.

The late-night chats soon became something Billie looked forward to. After a long day or during quiet moments between rehearsals, she'd pull out her phone, scrolling back through their thread. It was funny how easy it was to talk to Sam—like they had a shorthand only they understood. They'd send photos, too; she'd snap random shots of life on tour, while he'd send photos from filming or behind-the-scenes moments editing.

One night, after a particularly rough rehearsal, she sent him a message.

Billie: Rough day—tell me something ghostly to make me laugh.

Sam: Ghostly, huh? Fine. Here's a good one—your autograph appeared on my mirror this morning. Real spooky, considering you're across the country.

Billie: Liar!

Sam: No lie—looks like you're haunting me now.

She couldn't help herself, bursting out laughing in the middle of the green room, earning a few confused looks from her team. Before she knew it, the texts went from laughing about ghosts to something a little more...personal. She'd send him jokes about her hectic tour life, and he'd send back support, sometimes surprising her with little messages that hit deeper than she expected.

One night, after one of his messages, Billie got an idea. She didn't know if Sam was into concerts, but why not bring him into her world?

Billie: Hey, how about a taste of my world? VIP tickets are on me for the next show. Colby too, as long as he promises not to ghost-hunt from the audience.

A moment later, her phone buzzed.

Sam: Deal. But only if we get front row. Wouldn't want to miss a second.

Billie: Done.

She smiled, imagining them in the crowd, Sam's excitement, Colby's curiosity. It felt like a little connection between her world and theirs, and she was looking forward to seeing them again.

The night of the concert arrived, and Billie scanned the crowd from backstage, searching until she finally saw them—Sam and Colby, waiting in the front row. She couldn't help but grin, the sight of them there bringing a spark of excitement she hadn't expected.

As the concert went on, she caught their eyes a few times, shooting little smirks in their direction and laughing when Sam gave her an exaggerated thumbs-up. Midway through her set, she couldn't resist bringing them into the spotlight. Walking to the edge of the stage, she pointed them out, motioning for the two of them to stand up.

The crowd went wild as they rose, Colby looking stunned, and Sam looking slightly embarrassed but smiling like he was having the time of his life.

"These are my paranormal buddies, Sam and Colby," she said, grinning as she heard the audience cheer. "If you see any weird shadows or ghostly vibes tonight, it's probably their fault."

The audience roared with laughter, and Sam met her gaze, giving her a little wave. For a moment, their eyes held, something electric sparking in that quick exchange. She brushed it off with a wink, but she couldn't deny the flutter in her stomach.

After the show, they met up backstage, the energy still high as they shared laughs and joked about the concert. Sam and Colby seemed almost overwhelmed by the experience, but their excitement was contagious.

"Okay, I get why you love this," Sam admitted, leaning against the wall with a grin. "That was insane. I'll never hear music the same way again."

"Oh, so ghost-hunting isn't as cool?" Billie teased, nudging him.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Not even close."

The conversation kept flowing, easy and natural, but as the night wore on, Billie noticed something different in Sam's gaze—a warmth that hadn't been there before, or maybe just one she hadn't seen. They still joked and teased each other, but something unspoken lingered, a spark that flickered every time their eyes met.

When it was finally time to say goodbye, Sam gave her a quick hug, his smile softer than before. "Thanks for the tickets, Billie," he said, his voice low. "That was...unforgettable."

Her heart thudded a little faster, but she just smiled back, shrugging it off. "You're welcome, ghost boy."

As they walked away, she pulled out her phone, scrolling back through their texts with a grin. The applause from the concert was still ringing in her ears, but somehow, it didn't feel quite as thrilling as the message she knew he'd send when he got home.

And just like that, Billie's world felt a little fuller, like she had something—or someone—to look forward to beyond the stage lights and the music.