Behind Closed Doors // Billie Eilish

Chapter 23

My mom crinkles her nose at me. "Are you sure you don't wanna... put some makeup on or anything?"

"Uh..." All makeup is gonna do is waste my time and possibly give me acne. No amount of makeup can help me, unfortunately. "No... no. I need to go, don't I? What time is it?"

"4:19," my mom answers. "Come on."

We get in the car and she drives me to an unfamiliar restaurant. This is a little frustrating. It's Billie's birthday today. All I've been able to do is text her. My mom wouldn't let me go anywhere earlier and now I have to work. This shit sucks ass.

"Go. Don't embarrass me."

I get out of the car and go inside.

"Camilla," somebody says excitedly. I turn around to see Rosa smiling and holding her arms out for a hug. I don't know her very well so I don't necessarily want to hug her, but of course, I still hug her—as to not "embarrass" my mom. "Okay. She's gonna help you." She grabs the arms of a girl that looks to be around my age. She has a dark bronze complexion that contrasts well with her blonde finger waves. I haven't seen anybody with finger waves in a long time. It suits her. She's really pretty and she looks familiar. "I'll let her help you out."

"Okay. Put this on." She hands me a black apron that ties around my waist.  "My name is—"

"Astro," I reply quietly, finally remembering her.

"Uh... yeah. How'd you know?"

"Camilla." I raise my eyebrows, hoping it rings a bell.

She furrows her eyebrows, shrugging. "I don't..."

"We were in middle school together. When I lived with David, that fence fell and we'd always play outside together with your brother, King."

Her face lights up and her mouth opens. "Wow. Oh my God. Sorry. It's just been so long."

"I know. I thought you had to move."

"Yeah. Well, I loved it here so when I turned eighteen, I came back." She smiles.

"That's crazy."

"I know. Anyways, Rosa said that you've had a job as a waitress before so you already know what's up, right?"

"Mm-hm."

"Good. I'll show you your tables."

-

"I need to see your ID," I say.

"Camilla, you've got another table over there," Astro points out.

"Okay." The man hands me his ID and I look at it before handing it back. "Okay."

"Camilla, did you hear me?"

"Yes. I'll be back with your drink in just a minute."

I turn around and Astro nods towards a different table. "Right there."

"Okay." I walk over to the table, pulling a notepad out. "What can I get you guys to—" I look up at the table to see Billie, Finneas, Claudia, Maggie, and Patrick gathered around it. I didn't expect this. My face heats up from embarrassment as I click my pen.

"Camilla?" Billie's eyebrows furrow as she looks at me confusedly.

I bite my lip nervously. Why did I have to get this table? "Yep. Can I get your drink orders now?"

"I didn't know that you work here."

"It's a recent thing. Happy birthday, by the way. Now... do you wanna tell me what you want to drink?"

"Water."

"Coke."

"Coke."

"Water."

"Water."

"I'll be back shortly with your drinks." I write everything down before walking away.

"Damn, she's fine," Billie jokes as I walk off, making me laugh.

"She's really pretty, huh," Astro asks, walking beside me as I make my way to the kitchen.

"What? Who?"

"That girl with the green and black hair."

"Oh," I breathe. "Definitely."

"And she's gotta have money too because she paid a lot to make sure that there's was nobody else around her."

"Yeah." I laugh, deciding not to comment on her fame.

"Hey." She leans towards me. "I will keep my mouth closed if you decide to ask her for her number," she whispers with a wink.

My cheeks heat up and I shake my head. "I already have her number. That's my best friend."

"Oh. My bad. It didn't really seem like it."

I nod in agreement. "She's been a little off lately."

-

"Can we get the check," Maggie asks.

"Yeah. Are you guys paying separately or all together."

"All together," Billie chimes in, pulling out a card.

"Okay." I grab their receipt and bring them the checkbook. Billie signs a messy signature on it and hands it back to me with her card in it. Her signature is so cute. I swipe the card and then bring it back to her. They all get up and leave besides Billie, who lags behind.

"Can you come over and hang out tomorrow?"

I smile and nod. "Yeah. Sure."

"Cool. I'll text you. Oh, yeah. Also, please tell your mom that I don't worship the devil."

I laugh. "Okay."

"Alright. Bye, baby."

"Bye." I start picking up the plates.

"Baby," Astro questions.

I shrug, my face heating up. "That's just what she calls people."

"Mm-hm. Well, if you don't like like her, I guess there's no reason that I can't get her number then."

"Okay, no." I sigh. "I do like her."

"See? I knew it. You need to seal the deal before she moves on." She raises her eyebrows.

I lick my lips as we walk to the kitchen. "I know. I just... she doesn't really like commitment when it comes to relationships."

"Well, if she really likes you, she won't have a problem with being in a relationship with you."

I shrug. "I guess."

I put the dishes up and walk back out to see Astro wiping down a table. There aren't many people left. We close in a few minutes.

Okay. I had to go ahead and put this out so I can put out the chapter that you guys actually are gonna wanna read tomorrow. Also, if you didn't catch that "Party Favor" reference up there, you're fake. (Jkjk please don't kill me I'm sorry)

Also... I've been watching too much Sabrina if you guys didn't catch on when I was describing Astro. Do any of you watch Chilling Adventures of Sabrina?