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Angels— Khalid
•••
This couldn't possibly be more awkward.

I breathe out. Taking a chance, I glance over to Billie, who's fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. Her slightly curled lips and hung head remain immobile as she taps her foot against the planks. We both sit silently under the rotting wooded roof of the play castle, and, I'm sure, both contemplating what to talk about.

"I bumped into Jenny, by the way. A few days ago, when I dropped you off at your house, " I say but immediately regret it. Billie's curled lips are now pressed together into a thin line.

Am I f*cking stupid?

"Did she say anything?" She whispers, her voice gruff.

"Uh, not really. It was weird, though. She was getting too close and asking me to be friends with h–"

"What did you say?" Finally, she lifts her head up and meets my stare.

"Nothing... I only said I had to go." My heart rate starts to pick up once Billie's jaw begins to quiver, and she looks back down at her hands.

I messed up. Great.

"You didn't tell her you know me, right?" Billie's voice cracked almost unnoticeably. My stomach clenches, but I shake my head in response.

"No, I didn't." The urge to ask her what happened between them increases by the second, so I lock it at the back of my head as best as I can.

It's none of my business, but...

We revert to silence once more. Her jaw is loosened, even if her lips are firmly pressed together still. My gaze is drawn hands, which are now fiddling with her shoelaces.

I wish I could just... take away whatever Jenny did to her.

I start picking at my nails mindlessly. Wind blows through the planks of wood, creating these hollow noises that echo throughout the tiny playground. The gusts brush Billie and I's hair into a messy bundle, and we both laugh softly as we smooth our hair back into place.

"You know," she starts. "I feel like I should tell you about what happened."

Instantly, my heart sinks to my stomach.

Wait, actually?

"Are-are you sure? You don't have to or anything." I pull my knees to my chest.

"Yeah, but I'm pissed at my brother for thinking I'm some idiot. So, at this point, I don't really care," she laughs, but she strains it slightly. Almost as if she were already reconsidering.

We once again sat in silence, neither daring to initiate the conversation. Just then, thunder strikes.

"Oh, sh*t!" we both gasp, looking back over the wooden railings. Droplets fall on our cheeks, and I can't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Billie nudges my arm.

"We always seem to get caught in the rain." I smile, and I don't know what exactly about what I said triggered something in Billie, but she instantly looks down.

Really, Ash? You messed up again? Oh, wait... sh*t, I forgot that she hates the rain...

"I wanna show you something. Will you come with me?" She stands up and extends her hand for me to take, to which I hesitantly took into my own. She leads me down the stairs, looking back at the castle like she wants to run back up and isolate herself.

"Better get going before I start to panic," she laughs, but I only tilt my head, confused.

"But... it's gonna start raining. And there was lightning..." I murmur, yet she ignores me and starts dragging me away. We speed down the streets and past my school until we reach the woods' entrance.

That's right. I forget that there are woods here.

Billie halts as soon as she takes the first step past the first tree. A deep breath enters her lungs, then she lets it out after a few moments.

"This is probably a bad idea," she laughs awkwardly. I stare at the back of her head as we stand there for what feels like hours, but maybe it's because of how fast my thoughts are racing.

"Listen, what I want to show you, uh, I haven't been there in a long time. But, for some reason... I really want to show you. I want to tell someone about what happened. What really happened. And I want it to be you..." her voice went quiet, and her grip on my hand tightened. Biting my lip, my heart swells in an overwhelming emotion that I can't quite describe, so I squeeze her hand and step forward so we're standing side by side.

"Hey," I whisper, "I'm glad you trust me enough to show me." She lifts her head up, and I almost gasp at the sight of her rosy cheeks and red eyes.

She's holding back tears...

"Billie?" I lean down, but she catches me off guard and pulls me into a hug.

"I don't want you to look at my face right now..." she says against my shoulder, sounding muffled. "This is embarrassing," she laughs, though it sounds strained.

"No, it isn't, okay? I've got you." I wrap my arms around her torso and listen as Billie breathes in and out, her blonde curls brushing against my nose with every inhale.

We stay there for a while, listening to each other breathe. Billie finally lifts her head off my shoulder and places her hands on them to look me straight in the eyes.

"I'm ready."

I nod, and she immediately takes my hand to drag me to wherever it is that Jenny hurt her. At that thought, I grimace slightly, wondering what could have happened.

"There's this, like, tiny lake nearby. I don't know if you know about it, but..." she stops and looks around for a second. "Never mind."

I furrow my brows but decide not to insist. Clearly, she's already nervous enough. The thin tension between us seems to grow by the minute, which worries me. Billie's grip on my hand keeps tightening and loosening, but I can't tell if she is doing it on purpose or not.

"We're almost there," she says, and just then thunder strikes again, making us both jolt. Instead of laughing it off, Billie and I continue down the path with our nerves stricken.

After what feels like an hour, Billie lets go of my hand abruptly at the sight of a lake with a rather tall bridge built over it.

What the...?

As we get closer, I take a better look at the railings only to realize how dangerous they are.

Those don't look sturdy nor safe... any kid small enough could fall right through.

I look over to Billie, who's practically shaking before she breathes in, cupping her mouth with her hands.

"This is the place," she mutters into her palms. I step toward her, glancing at the bridge for a second.

"This is where I almost drowned."

A/N:.... 😁

(Billie's met gala dress {and after party outfits}made me fall to my knees. I screamed so loudly. She looked so fking stunning and drop dead gorgeous okay bye)