Uncharted Territory

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Billie's phone lit up with a new message just as she wrapped up a long studio session that evening. She didn't need to check to know who it was—Sam had been her regular text buddy since their ghost-hunting video, sending random thoughts, memes, and occasional updates about the video views. She couldn't help but grin as she opened her phone, finding another message from him.

Sam: Ever done an escape room?

Billie: Not sure, depends... is it haunted?

Sam: Nah, this one's ghost-free. Just regular paranoia and panic.

Billie: So basically your idea of a relaxing evening?

Sam: Exactly. Thought I'd ease you back in.

Their plans were made quickly, and soon she was looking forward to another night of whatever "Sam and Colby-style" chaos had in store.

The night of the escape room, Billie arrived early, wrapped in an oversized hoodie with her hands tucked into the pockets. Her heart was beating a little faster than she'd like to admit, but she tried to play it cool as she spotted Sam and Colby strolling up. Sam greeted her with a grin, and Colby tossed her a mock salute.

"Ready to solve puzzles and prove that musicians have brains?" Sam teased.

"More than you two could handle," she shot back, grinning. "And for the record, I don't need to be haunted to feel alive."

The receptionist ushered them into a dimly lit room labeled Cursed Mansion. Billie raised an eyebrow, shooting Sam a look as if to say, Really? He shrugged, not even trying to hide his grin.

"Look, you gotta admit, it's fitting," he said with a wink. "Think of it as ghost-hunting warmup."

"You're lucky I actually like a challenge," she replied, nudging his shoulder.

They were given a brief set of instructions and left alone to start solving the puzzles. The room was filled with eerie old furniture, strange symbols scrawled on the walls, and several locked chests. It was atmospheric enough to give off a haunted vibe without going overboard.

"So, team leader?" Colby asked, looking back and forth between Sam and Billie.

Billie snorted. "Sam, obviously. He has 'natural-born leader' written all over him," she teased.

"Oh, absolutely. Strong sense of direction and everything," Sam said, mocking a humble bow. "Stick with me, Billie, and you might even make it out of here alive."

They set to work on the puzzles, and Billie quickly fell into the rhythm of their banter. She, Sam, and Colby made a surprisingly good team, with Colby's detail-oriented approach, Sam's impulsive guesses, and Billie's knack for spotting the less obvious clues. They cracked jokes with each mistake, Billie throwing sarcastic comments whenever one of them fumbled a lock or misread a clue.

As they worked, Billie felt herself unwinding in a way she hadn't in ages. With them, she didn't feel the pressure to perform, didn't need to put on any kind of act. Just as they were unlocking the final chest, Sam's hand brushed hers as they reached for the lock at the same time. She ignored the slight flutter it sparked and laughed instead.

"Trying to steal my thunder now?" she teased.

"Just didn't want you to take all the credit," Sam replied, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Don't want people thinking you're the real brains of the operation."

"Please, we all know that's true." She smirked, stepping back as Sam and Colby opened the chest and found the final clue to unlock the door. They burst out of the room in victory, with Sam pumping his fists in the air and Colby laughing.

"Alright, Billie, you survived without being cursed," Colby said as they stepped back into the lobby, flashing her a grin.

"Credit goes to my incredible team," she said, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. "Couldn't have done it without you both."

Sam laughed, leaning in with a grin. "So, burritos to celebrate? I think we earned it."

A few minutes later, they were sharing a platter of burritos at a late-night food truck, chatting under the neon glow. It was a mild night, and as they laughed over their food, Billie realized how refreshing it felt to be out like this, talking and joking as if they'd known each other forever.

"This is the weirdest night out I've had in a while," she admitted, licking a bit of sauce off her thumb. "No cameras, no security... just you guys and a whole lot of burritos."

Sam raised an eyebrow, looking over at her with a smirk. "Weirdest night out? Billie Eilish, are you saying we're bad influences?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Nah, just... different. In a good way."

As they finished eating, Billie leaned back against the truck, arms folded, and shot Sam a sidelong glance. "So, escape rooms and haunted mansions—what's next? If I know you guys, this was just the warmup."

Colby caught her eye, his expression a mix of excitement and mischief. "Actually... how do you feel about round two of ghost-hunting?"

"Wait, you're serious?" Billie asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Sam grinned. "Absolutely. I mean, if you're up for it. The first video's already blowing up—we're thinking a sequel with Billie Eilish would be a game-changer."

She looked down, pretending to think it over as if she wasn't secretly thrilled at the idea. "Alright," she said, crossing her arms. "But my schedule is packed. I'll send you a couple dates I'm free, and you guys can pick."

"Deal," Sam said, grinning. "Only the bravest ghost hunter and burrito connoisseur gets to choose."

She gave him a mock glare but couldn't hide her smile. The thought of doing another ghost-hunting adventure with them sounded ridiculous and kind of thrilling. As they wrapped up the night, Billie pulled them both into a quick hug and said her goodbyes.

Later that night, Billie opened her schedule on her phone. Her calendar was filled with dates for interviews, rehearsals, concerts, and everything else that kept her life hectic. After checking her upcoming commitments, she found a couple of windows that were actually free. Taking a deep breath, she typed out a quick text to Sam with the dates:

Billie: Alright, here are a few days I'm free for ghost hunting April 4th, April 18th, or May 1st. Your call.

She felt a weird mixture of excitement and nerves as she hit send. When Sam responded almost immediately, her heart did a small, unexpected flip.

Sam: Consider us booked. April 4th it is. Ghosts, beware.

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