Nightcall - Billie Eilish

10

It's been a few days now with no word from Billie. Her "talk to you later" just sort of... hung there, and I'm not even sure why it's getting to me so much. Honestly, it's just... confusing. I mean, what would Billie Eilish even want from me? It all started as a thing about a vinyl, and now here I am, overthinking this for no reason.

I'm deep in thought, stacking vinyls on a ladder, when Dylan walks in, all smiles as usual. That guy's seriously chill. I couldn't have asked for a better coworker, honestly.

"Did you send her a message?"

"A message?"

"Yeah, you know, that customer who had an issue with her vinyl."

"Oh, right. Yeah, sorted it out, wasn't anything major."

He pauses for a moment, like he's about to tell me something serious.

"Good... So, Dina."

"Yes, Dylan?"

"You're gonna think I'm crazy but..."

He cuts himself off as a customer approaches to ask for help. When the customer leaves, I look at him, amused.

"Pretty sure I already think you're crazy."

"Oh, thanks..." He gives me a mock pout and goes on, "But seriously, that customer... she looked a lot like Billie Eilish, don't you think?"

I can't help but laugh, feeling my cheeks warm a bit. Like, yeah, dude, it was really her. But he doesn't need to know that.

"You really think Billie Eilish would give me her number?"

"Who knows, maybe... but, nah, forget it, I'm just talking crap."

With that, he heads off to help another customer who's desperately searching for Ariana Grande's latest album for his daughter. Lucky kid...

I don't even know why I'm keeping this to myself, like the fact that I'm the only one who knows it was actually Billie somehow makes this... a thing, a weird little bond between us. Maybe I'm just messed up. Wouldn't be the first time.

During my break, a message pops up from Kate. It's Saturday, so I can already guess where this is going.

✒︎

Kate
ready for tonight bby ?

Dina
do i even have a choice?

Kate
nop
10 pm at scott's
we'll have time to catch a few episodes

✒︎

I hate the control Kate has over me, but honestly, without her, I'd probably have never met my best friends. I'm not super hyped about going out, but Scott would kill me if I didn't show.

After a few more hours of work, I finally close up shop. Dylan's closing tonight, couldn't be better timing.

When I get home, Kate's already there, parked on the couch like she's been there forever. She must've gotten off early. I join her, and we start our usual Saturday debate about who'll be at the party, what we're wearing, and end up, as always, with our phones out, ordering food. Tacos tonight.

Three episodes later, we finally motivate ourselves to get out of the apartment and head to Scott's place. He lives in a huge house right in the middle of L.A. With his parents' inheritance, he could basically do nothing with his life, but they push him to do something, hence his job at the café where he gets to charm everyone.

When we arrive, the place is already packed. I glance at Kate, who's beaming like a kid at the sight of the crowd. Normally, I'm more low-key, but tonight, maybe thanks to a few pre-party drinks, I feel pretty damn good, almost euphoric. Kate looks over at me, "Scott said there'd be at least a hundred people here tonight."