VALERIE SAT CROSS-LEGGED ON HER COUCH, the glow of her laptop lighting up her face as her phone buzzed with an incoming facetime call. seeing billie's name pop up, she smiled, swiping to answer.
billie's face appeared on the screen, her hair slightly messy, like she'd just woken up from a nap. "hey, vei," she greeted, her voice low and warm.
valerie leaned back into the cushions, biting back a grin. "hey, b."
"what are you up to?" billie asked, adjusting the camera to lean on her bed.
"just recovering from last night," valerie said, stretching her legs out. "you? still basking in the glory of our big night?"
"always," billie said with a teasing smirk. "but honestly, i've been thinking about how you looked in that dress. you seriously outdid yourself."
valerie raised an eyebrow, trying not to blush. "oh, so *now* you're gonna hit me with the compliments? where was this energy last night?"
"i was a little busy trying not to make it obvious how distracted i was," billie shot back, her tone laced with playful honesty.
valerie laughed softly, shaking her head. "you're ridiculous."
"am i, though?" billie leaned closer to the camera, her green eyes gleaming. "or am i just saying what you already know?"
valerie rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "you're really laying it on thick, huh?"
"just calling it like i see it," billie replied smoothly. "but fine, i'll stop. don't want your ego getting bigger than mine."
"oh, don't worry. i'd have to work pretty hard to catch up to yours," valerie quipped, settling into the playful back-and-forth that always came so easily with billie.
they fell into an easy rhythm, talking about random things—the chaos at the party, the celebrity cameos, and the aftermath of their song release.
"by the way," billie said after a pause, her tone softening slightly, "we should hang out later this week. like, something chill. just us."
valerie's stomach fluttered at the suggestion, though she kept her tone light. "just us, huh? sounds suspiciously like a date."
billie's lips curved into a slow smile, and she leaned back on her pillows. "it's a date, then."
valerie mirrored her smile, her voice quieter now. "it's a date."
there was a beat of silence, not awkward, just charged. neither of them broke eye contact through the screen, both of them wearing matching, knowing smiles.
billie was the first to speak again, her tone returning to its usual teasing lilt. "i'll even let you pick the place. but only if it's somewhere with good food. none of that 'just coffee' crap."
valerie laughed, the tension breaking but still lingering underneath. "deal. but if you end up hating my choice, you can't complain. those are the rules."
"i'd never complain," billie said, her voice dropping slightly. "at least not with you."
valerie's breath hitched for just a moment before she masked it with a laugh. "you're impossible, you know that?"
"and yet, here you are," billie replied with a grin.
the conversation continued, flowing effortlessly between playful and meaningful, both of them holding onto the unspoken truths beneath their words. when they finally said goodbye, valerie closed the app with a small, lingering smile, already counting down the days until their next "not-a-date" hangout.
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