Nightcall - Billie Eilish

25 -

My fingers rested delicately in the palm of her hand, letting myself be guided by this girl who had a hold on me I couldn't quite admit yet.

She placed her hand on the slightly ajar door handle, then turned to me with that faint smile that made me question her intentions.

What did she want from me?

The door creaked open slowly as Billie peeked inside. But she froze abruptly.

"Ah, sorry, we thought it was empty."

Who's she talking to?

Suddenly, a voice I'd heard earlier in the day cut through the quiet.

"I'm looking for Skeet. You seen him?"

I leaned forward into the doorway and immediately locked eyes with the one person I least wanted to see tonight.

"Lina?!"

She looked up at me, her glare already sharp with aggression.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

I had zero energy to argue. Not tonight.

Billie caught onto the tension immediately and shot me a questioning glance. Before I could answer, I sighed at Lina, already tired of this.

"Skeet invited me to chill for a bit after being called a bitch, like, ten times today. Ring a bell?"

Lina raised an eyebrow, visibly annoyed.

"I told him he wasn't allowed to see you."

Excuse me?

Billie's head snapped up, just as baffled as I was.

"Not allowed? What the hell is this?"

I let out a dry, bitter laugh, trying to keep calm while still making my irritation clear.

"She thinks Skeet and I are still fucking."

Billie chuckled softly, amused, before turning to Lina.

"And even if they were, what's it to you?"

I answered for her, more out of reflex than anything.

"They've been dating for, like, two days."

Then I looked back at Lina.

"So, what are you doing here? Skeet told me you were at your sister's."

She stepped closer, visibly offended.

"That asshole told me he was spending the night with two friends and that there was no point in me coming."

Billie muttered "What a dick" under her breath, clearly fed up with Skeet's immaturity, while Lina continued, her voice shaking slightly.

"Then I saw in Luca's story that he'd played me for a fool."

Okay, now he's just being an idiot.

I glanced at Lina. For a moment, she actually looked hurt.

I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

"Look, you'll find him in the garage playing beer pong. But honestly, Lina, don't waste your time on him."

Lina seemed caught off guard, almost destabilized by my sincerity.

"Thanks."

She walked past Billie and me, leaving the room without another word.

Billie watched her go, then turned her amused gaze back to me.

"Damn. What was that?"

I let out a small laugh.