chapter ten:

new normal

~💚~

madigan sat on her bed, phone in hand, staring at the most recent message billie had sent.

billie: yo, i've got the day off tomorrow. wanna get coffee?

her heart did a weird little flip, something it had started doing every time billie texted her. it was strange how easily their lives had started to intertwine. despite her initial reluctance, madigan had found herself replying more and more often, saying yes when she didn't plan to. and before she knew it, she and billie were hanging out regularly—almost every other day.

they didn't always do anything extravagant—most of the time it was just coffee, talking about random shit, sometimes billie would take her to a weird little vegan spot she swore had the best food in the world—but each time, the connection between them deepened. it was undeniable.

madigan wasn't sure how she felt about that. she wasn't supposed to get this close, not to someone like billie. and definitely not this close. there were boundaries she'd tried to maintain, like not responding too quickly or not always agreeing to hang out. but that wasn't working anymore. she was fucking drawn to her.

her phone buzzed again.

billie: i know you're awake. don't leave me on read, mads.

madigan sighed, the corners of her mouth twitching up despite herself. she typed back quickly.

madigan: you're annoying as fuck. what time?

billie: is that a yes?

madigan: don't get used to it.

billie: i'm already used to it. 11 sound good?

madigan chuckled, shaking her head as she tossed her phone on the bed. she hadn't expected this—any of this. she wasn't the type of person who got swept up in someone else's life. but there was something about billie that made it easy to forget about all the reasons she'd told herself to keep her distance.

and there was no point pretending anymore. the chemistry between them was ridiculous. the banter, the way billie looked at her sometimes, the small touches that lingered a little too long to be casual. it was like every time they hung out, the air between them thickened with this unspoken tension, but neither of them had crossed that line yet.

the next day, madigan found herself sitting across from billie at their usual café, the familiar warmth of the place wrapping around them like a comfort blanket. it was a little past 11, and billie had already been waiting when she arrived, her usual oversized hoodie on, looking effortlessly cool as she scrolled through her phone. when she saw madigan walk in, billie's face lit up with that easy grin she always had, the one that made madigan's stomach twist.

"you're late," billie teased, sliding madigan her coffee as she sat down.

madigan smirked, taking a sip before replying. "i'm five minutes late. relax."

"five minutes too long without your charming personality," billie shot back, leaning forward with that familiar glint in her eyes.

madigan rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away. "you're ridiculous."

they slipped into their usual rhythm, the conversation flowing easily between them as they talked about everything and nothing. billie brought up her latest songwriting frustrations, and madigan chimed in with her honest, no-bullshit opinions, which billie seemed to appreciate more than anyone else in her life. it was refreshing to not have someone fawning over every word she said.

but then, as the conversation lulled for a moment, billie leaned back in her seat and gave madigan that look. the one that made madigan's skin tingle, like billie could see right through her.

"you know, it's kinda crazy how much time we've been spending together," billie said, her voice casual, but there was something underneath it.

madigan shrugged, taking another sip of her coffee. "i mean, you're the one who keeps texting me. i didn't ask for this."

billie smirked. "yeah, but you keep showing up. you can't stay away, admit it."

madigan shot her a sideways glance. "maybe i'm just bored."

"bullshit," billie shot back immediately, laughing. "you like me."

madigan's stomach flipped again, that familiar sensation of being pulled in, deeper and deeper, without even realizing it. she didn't respond right away, her mind racing. billie wasn't wrong. she did like her—more than she wanted to admit.

billie's smile faded a little as she studied madigan's face, her eyes searching. "you don't have to pretend, mads. i know you're not really into the whole celebrity thing, but i'm not asking you to deal with that. i'm just... i like hanging out with you. and i think you like hanging out with me too."

there it was again, that vulnerability billie had shown her before. it made madigan's heart ache a little. despite all the confidence, the fame, the everything, billie was just a person. and she was putting herself out there, in this raw, real way that madigan wasn't used to.

madigan looked down at her coffee, biting her lip before she spoke. "i do like hanging out with you," she admitted quietly. "i just... this whole thing is weird for me, okay? i'm not used to someone like you. all the attention, the fans, the fucking paparazzi. it's a lot."

billie nodded, leaning forward again, her gaze softening. "i get that. i know it's a lot. but i'm not asking you to be part of that. when we're together, it's just us, right?"

madigan looked up, meeting billie's eyes. and in that moment, she could feel the weight of what billie was saying. there was something deeper happening here—something neither of them had expected.

"it's not that easy, though," madigan said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "you're... billie fucking eilish. that's not just something i can ignore, no matter how much i want to."

billie's expression softened even more, and for a second, madigan thought she might have said too much. but instead of backing off, billie just smiled, this small, sincere smile that made madigan's chest tighten.

"i know," billie said quietly. "but i'm trying to make it easy for you. i want this to be something you don't have to stress about. i like being with you, mads. and if that means keeping it low-key, keeping it just between us, i'm cool with that."

madigan's heart raced at billie's words. the way she said it, so casually but with so much meaning behind it, made madigan's head spin. she didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to say to this girl sitting in front of her who was so much more than what the world saw.

before madigan could say anything, billie leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a low, teasing tone. "besides, i think you're kind of obsessed with me, anyway."

madigan's eyes widened, and she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "fuck off," she muttered, though there was no bite in her words. she could feel her pulse quickening, the familiar pull between them intensifying.

billie laughed, that low, throaty laugh that always made madigan's heart skip. "nah, you totally are. don't worry, i won't tell anyone."

madigan groaned, but she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "you're so full of yourself."

"maybe," billie said, smirking. "but i think i'm right."

they stared at each other for a moment, the teasing giving way to something heavier, something neither of them could ignore. the air between them felt electric, charged with all the things they hadn't said yet but were hovering just beneath the surface.

madigan felt her throat tighten, and before she could stop herself, she said, "you're a lot to deal with, you know that?"

billie's grin softened, and she looked at madigan with those intense blue eyes that always seemed to cut right through her. "yeah, i know. but you're still here."

madigan didn't have a response for that. she didn't need one. billie was right—despite everything, despite her reservations and reluctance, she was still here. and with every passing day, it was getting harder and harder to pull away.

maybe she didn't even want to.