Nightcall - Billie Eilish

37 -

i walk out of the bathroom already changed, waiting by the glass doors that open onto the pool

the night is quiet, and i put on bieber's new album in the background, plugging my phone into the speaker

shark is already curled up by the loungers, like he's waiting for us to sit down too

the door opens softly behind me. dina shows up, tugging nervously at the straps of her swimsuit

"you definitely underestimated my boobs"

i stare at her for a second

wow

my eyes drop without permission, stuck on her chest long enough that i completely forget to answer

she frowns

"my eyes are still a bit higher, you know"

i snap out of it, a nervous smile on my lips

"shit, yeah, sorry... i was just thinking you should keep that swimsuit. it really suits you"

she shakes her head, amused, then lets her gaze travel slowly up and down my body, way too slowly

"yours looks pretty good too"

she brushes my shoulder as she walks past me, and i freeze, a grimace slipping out. fuck, i'm losing my mind

i hear the water behind me, the sign she's going down the steps into the pool. i turn, watching her, unable to stop myself

she feels my stare and halfway in, she glances back at me with a smirk

"you planning to stare at me like a creep all night, or are you joining me, eilish?"

i bite my lip, smiling, then head toward her

the water swallows us completely. dina swims a couple laps underwater, while i stroke shark, still lying at the edge

she finally comes over, resting her hand on my dog too, so close i can almost feel her breathing against my skin

she breaks the silence

"did you buy this place to throw parties? like, rebel mode?"

i laugh softly

"nah, not even. i just wanted my own secret spot. away from everything. away from the noise, the people..."

she gives a faint smile

"i get that. i built a treehouse in my parents' backyard. had the idea, just not the same budget"

"and no one bothered you there?"

she hesitates, then her eyes soften

"yeah... matt. he helped me build it, but only if he could play guitar there whenever our parents got sick of it."

i raise a brow

"which was often?"

she chuckles

"all the time. wasn't the same with your brother?"

i think about him and our old memories for a second

"yeah... but our parents encouraged us. they'd clear space just for us, like, give us the whole living room to rehearse till stupid late"

a silence falls, soft rather than awkward

dina tilts her head back, eyes on the sky above us, stars crystal clear

"i miss this," she whispers. "having a place like that... where you can just be yourself, without anyone telling you what to do, what to say, or how to act"