her ocean eyez

chapter 5

 "You made ocean eyes when you were fourteen?" We sat on the back of the golf cart, facing out at the road behind us, the lights of Coachella painting the sky. I was looking at her, mouth open in shock.

She turned to look at me. "Don't act like you even like that song." She rolled her eyes and laughed. "It sounds like a fourteen-year-old sang it."

"Whatever, dude." I shook my head. "I cannot believe how talented you are."

I watched her as she looked down at her shoes. "Okay, okay. Can we please talk about something besides how 'talented' you think I am?" She put talented in air quotes.

"Fine." I took a sip of monster. "But I will remind you, I am only speaking facts here."

"Shut up." She pushed me lightly and I was aware of the way her hand fell away from my shoulder to rest close to my own. "Okay, where did you grow up?"

"Out of all the questions you could ask me, that's your opener?"

"It's a fair question." She shifted so she was facing me more directly within the golf cart seat, her hand leaving the space next to mine.

"Oceanside." I said. "It's like an hour and a half from LA"

She pondered for a moment. "Oh yeah! It's like after San Clemente."

"Bingo."

"What was it like?" She leaned forward in interest resting her head on her hand. I smiled and looked away. It was cute, the way she wanted to get to know me.

"You want to know what Oceanside was like?"

She scoffed and sat up. "You are terrible at this whole get to know you thing."

"Fuck you. It wasn't very interesting." She returned to her previous position when she saw I was going to continue, looking up at me. I paused, thinking on my words, but admittedly distracted by the way her eyes were following my every move. "I grew up surfing. Stereotypical, I know, but it was an outlet for me. I'd get up monday before school and surf for a few hours. I'd wash my hair with the beach showers and change in my car." I looked away from Billie, remembering those mornings fondly. "Um, my friends lived there too. The ones you saw me with at your show. Skylar is the one with the brown hair and freckles. She is in love with country music and insanely.." I searched for the right word. "Compassionate. And never afraid to call you out on your bullshit." Billie laughed a little. "Luna was the blonde one. We've probably known each other the longest, but truth be told I used to hate her. She's crazy about her friends, always has been. She's very pinteresty, which," I looked over at Billie, "I don't think you'd like but you get used to it. It makes me laugh." She smiled as I turned away again. "Dakota was the tall one. She's my best friend. Hard to describe her in an all-encapsulating way, but she is one of the most loving people. She is consistently down for any stupid idea I have. Which, there are a lot of those." I looked back at Billie, still watching me intently with a smile on her face. "She's a fan of you too." She laughed lightly before her face softened. I looked down at the floor sheepishly, suddenly aware of how much I'd just talked. "Sorry. Didn't mean to talk that much."

"No! I like it." She sat up. "Plus, I did ask for it."

I was about to respond when the golf cart stopped. I had never wished for a golf cart ride to last longer until that moment. I sighed, inwardly disappointed, but trying to hide it. I hopped off the back and Billie followed.

"So, do I get to meet your friends now?" She asked as we walked along the backstage path.

I grinned. "If you want."