gone girl

9

november 3, 2017
fifteen years old

"marley," billie drags out as she holds my body close to her. "baby, wake up."

"fuck off," I grumble, hiding my face in the blanket. "i was up all damn night with your whiney ass."

"that's because you love me," she murmurs into my ear, burying her face into my neck.

"i do, but that doesnt mean that im gonna get up at-" i open my eyes slightly and look at the alarm clock on the nightstand. "six in the morning, billie."

"ill buy you breakfast if you leave with me right now," she murmurs, pressing her lips to my jaw. "and ill even throw in a manicure."

"fuck the manicure," i grumble, looking at her with sleepy eyes. "give me food, though."

"get up and we'll go," she murmurs, her lips brushing against mine slightly.

"fine," i murmur softly, my hands gently pushing her body away from my own. "where are we going?"

"you wanna grab some ihop and go sit at the park?" she asks, crossing her legs as she sits on my bed. "or would you rather go get something from starbucks and bring it home?"

"is it cold outside?" i ask her as i walk over to my closet, tugging my tshirt off of my body.

"it's in the seventies, I think." she says, looking at me with slightly wide eyes.

"okay," I sigh, chewing on my bottom lip as i look at my abundance of clothes. "should i wear a hoodie and leggings or should i wear a dress with a cardigan?"

"depends," she tells me, standing from my bed and wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. "what dress were you thinking about?"

"this one," i reply, grabbing the hanger out of the closet. the colorful floral dress with a lace neckline, elastic waist, and pockets on the side went perfectly with the slightly transparent cardigan still hanging up. "what do you think?"

"just above the knee?" she asks, resting her chin on my shoulder.  I hum in confirmation, looking over at her. "I say, go with the dress and cardigan - you look good in bright colors anyway."

"you literally say that about everything i wear." i say with a laugh, leaning into her body. the cold air of the ceiling fan caused goosebumps to rise on the bare skin of my torso.

"because its true," she mumbles, pulling away from my body reluctantly. "you need to get dressed - weve got a long day."

two hours later, we're sitting on a picnic blanket in an abandoned park. my head leaning on billies shoulder, the soft sound of "adore you" by miley cyrus playing through the speaker of my phone.

"do you ever wonder about what would happen if i just disappeared?" i ask billie, my eyes trained on the trees in front of us. "like, what if something happens to me?"

"nothing is gonna happen to you," she murmurs, her fingers fiddling with mine. "i wouldnt let anything happen to you."

"what if it does?" i ask her, sitting up slightly. "what if i just vanish and no one knew where i was?"

"marley," she mumbles, twisting so she has a better look at me. "you mean the world to me - i wouldn't let you go missing without a fight; i will spend my last dying breath, fighting to be sure that you're okay."

"but-"

"no," billie tells me, her hands cupping my cheeks. "you're my best friend. if anything happens to you, that's gonna be on me - that means that i wasnt doing my job."

"i love you," i murmur, leaning into her touch. "more than just a friend, bil."

"i know," she murmurs, pressing her lips to my nose. "i love you, more than just a friend...happy birthday, marley."