chapter twenty-one:

stars

~💚~

the moment billie suggested getting away, madigan didn't hesitate. the constant pressure from the media and billie's fans was starting to weigh on her, and a trip to a secluded cabin sounded like exactly what she needed. billie had a place about three hours away from la—far enough to feel removed from the chaos but close enough for a quick escape. it wasn't a massive celebrity getaway spot, just a simple, quiet place where they could breathe.

they packed light—madigan throwing a few essentials into a duffle bag while billie handled the rest. as they got into billie's car, the tension they'd both been feeling seemed to dissolve a little. billie's hand found madigan's the moment they hit the road, her thumb stroking lazy circles on her skin. madigan looked out the window, watching the city disappear behind them, her body sinking into the seat, relaxing for the first time in days.

for a while, they didn't say much. the sound of billie's playlist quietly filled the car, songs that madigan had come to love just because billie loved them. she caught billie glancing at her from time to time, and when their eyes met, there was this warmth, this silent understanding between them.

"thanks for doing this," madigan finally said, breaking the comfortable silence.

billie squeezed her hand, keeping her eyes on the road. "i'd do anything for you, mads. you know that, right?"

madigan nodded, leaning her head against the window. there was a part of her that still felt out of place in billie's world, but moments like this, where it was just the two of them, made everything feel simple again.

they arrived at the cabin just as the sun was setting, the sky turning soft shades of pink and orange. it was tucked away in the woods, surrounded by towering trees that offered privacy and peace. the air was cool, crisp, and smelled like pine, a far cry from the busy streets of la. the cabin itself was small but cozy, with a wrap-around porch and large windows that faced a nearby lake.

"this is perfect," madigan said as she stepped out of the car, taking in the quiet serenity of the place.

billie came up behind her, slipping her arms around madigan's waist, pulling her close. "i thought you'd like it," she murmured into her ear, pressing a soft kiss against her neck.

madigan leaned back into billie's embrace, closing her eyes and letting the moment sink in. "i needed this," she admitted softly.

"i know," billie said, her voice full of affection. "so did i."

inside the cabin, they dropped their bags and explored the space together. it was cozy, with rustic wooden furniture, a fireplace, and large windows that let in the natural light. there was a small kitchen, a living room with an old leather couch, and a bedroom with a large, inviting bed that looked perfect for lazy mornings.

they decided to keep things simple for dinner, grabbing some takeout on their way in, which they ate by the fire. billie had lit it as soon as they arrived, and now they sat in front of it, sharing food and laughing at nothing in particular.

"you're staring," madigan teased, catching billie's gaze on her.

billie grinned, not looking away. "can you blame me?" she said, her tone playful but her eyes soft. "you're kinda the most gorgeous person i've ever met."

madigan felt her cheeks warm, but she rolled her eyes. "you're such a smooth talker."

"only when it comes to you," billie shot back, leaning in to steal a quick kiss.

the kiss lingered a little longer than they both intended, turning into something deeper. billie's hand slid into madigan's hair, pulling her closer. they made out for a while, the warmth of the fire adding to the heat between them. when they finally pulled apart, both breathless, billie just smiled against madigan's lips.

"god, i love kissing you," she whispered, her forehead resting against madigan's.

madigan smiled, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on billie's arm. "i love it too," she admitted, her voice soft.

as the night wore on, they found themselves curled up on the couch, wrapped in blankets, the fire still crackling softly. they didn't need to talk much; their connection was strong enough that silence felt comfortable. billie's arms were around madigan, holding her close, her fingers gently playing with madigan's hair as they watched the flames dance.

"i've never felt this way about anyone before," billie said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

madigan shifted slightly, turning her head to meet billie's gaze. "what do you mean?"

billie looked down at her, her blue eyes soft and filled with something deeper than just affection. "i don't know... it's just...you get me, mads. like, really get me. it's not just the physical stuff. i mean, yeah, i'm obsessed with kissing you and all that," she added with a grin, making madigan laugh softly. "but it's more than that. i feel...calm when i'm with you. like the rest of the world doesn't matter."

madigan's heart skipped a beat at billie's words, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. she felt the same way but hadn't been sure how to express it. "i feel it too," she finally said, her voice quiet. "it's like...when we're together, everything else just fades away."

billie smiled, her hand gently cupping madigan's cheek. "i'm so glad you're here with me," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to madigan's lips.

they stayed up late, talking about everything and nothing. billie shared stories about her life on the road, her music, the pressures she faced. madigan opened up about her fears, her struggles, the things she kept hidden from the world. it felt like they were peeling back layers, revealing more of themselves with every word.

at one point, they decided to step outside, drawn to the stillness of the night. they sat on the porch, wrapped in each other's arms, gazing up at the stars. the world around them was quiet, just the sound of crickets and the distant rustle of the wind through the trees.

"i don't want this to end," madigan said softly, leaning her head against billie's shoulder.

billie kissed the top of her head. "it doesn't have to," she whispered. "not if we don't want it to."

and in that moment, as they sat there under the stars, everything felt perfect. just them, together, away from the chaos, their connection growing deeper with every passing moment.

they lay outside on a blanket under the endless night sky, the air cool and crisp with the soft sounds of the forest surrounding them. madigan was sitting up on the grass, legs outstretched, while billie laid back between her legs, her head resting comfortably against madigan's chest. billie sighed contentedly, her fingers lazily tracing circles on madigan's knee as she looked up at the stars above them.

madigan pointed to the sky. "you see that one over there?" she said, her voice calm and soothing. "that's orion's belt. it's part of a larger constellation called orion, the hunter. in greek mythology, orion was this great hunter who was placed among the stars after he died."

billie's gaze followed madigan's finger, nodding as she listened. "and how did he die?" billie asked, genuinely curious.

madigan smiled softly, a little surprised by the question. "there are a few different versions of the story. some say artemis, the goddess of the hunt, fell in love with him, and her brother apollo tricked her into killing him. others say he was killed by a scorpion sent by the gods."

billie hummed thoughtfully, her hand moving up to rest on madigan's arm, which was wrapped protectively around her shoulders. "that's kinda messed up, being tricked like that. but i guess the gods were always a little... dramatic, huh?"

madigan chuckled. "yeah, pretty much. the greeks loved their tragedies."

billie tilted her head back a bit, looking up at madigan from where she lay. "what about that one?" she asked, pointing toward another cluster of stars.

"that's cassiopeia," madigan explained. "she was a queen in greek mythology, and she was really vain. she bragged about being more beautiful than the sea nymphs, and poseidon got pissed and punished her by putting her in the sky, upside down on her throne."

billie laughed, clearly enjoying the stories. "so, a queen who gets punished for being too full of herself. sounds like she got what was coming."

"pretty much," madigan agreed, her voice soft. "she's one of the easiest constellations to find because she's shaped like a w."

billie looked impressed, nodding as she absorbed everything madigan was saying. "you really know your stuff," she said, tilting her head slightly, brushing a hand through her hair.

madigan looked down at billie, surprised by how attentive she was. "yeah, i guess i do," she said modestly, brushing a strand of hair from billie's face. "i've always loved stargazing. when i was a kid, i used to sneak out at night just to sit in the backyard and watch the stars. it was the one thing that made me feel... i don't know, connected to something bigger."

billie turned her head slightly, looking up at madigan with a gentle smile. "that's really cool. i've never thought about the stars like that before." her voice was soft but filled with genuine interest. "do you have a favorite constellation?"

madigan thought for a moment, tracing patterns in the sky with her finger. "i think... probably the pleiades. it's a cluster of stars in the taurus constellation. they're also called the seven sisters, and there's this myth about them being the daughters of a titan, pursued by orion. zeus turned them into stars to protect them."

billie smiled, her fingers gently squeezing madigan's knee as she listened. "that's beautiful. and kinda poetic."

madigan nodded. "yeah. it always made me feel... safe, i guess. like, no matter what happens down here, the stars are always there, watching over us."

there was a comfortable silence for a few moments, the stars twinkling above them as the night grew darker. madigan's fingers played absentmindedly in billie's hair, her mind wandering back to all the times she'd shared these stories with herself but never really had anyone to share them with.

billie shifted slightly, her eyes still trained on the sky. "you're really good at this, mads. you could teach a whole class about stars," she teased lightly, but her tone held admiration.

madigan chuckled softly, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "i just... i've always loved it," she said, her voice quieter now. "but no one's ever really asked me about it. or cared enough to listen."

billie lifted her head slightly, turning to look at madigan, her brows furrowed in confusion. "what do you mean?"

madigan shrugged, a little embarrassed by her admission. "i mean... most people just don't care. i've brought it up before, and usually, they either change the subject or just don't ask questions. it's not something anyone's ever shown interest in."

billie's expression softened, her hand moving up to gently cup madigan's cheek. "well, i'm interested," she said simply, her voice full of sincerity. "i like hearing you talk about it. you're passionate, and that's... attractive."

madigan felt a wave of warmth spread through her chest, her heart swelling at billie's words. "thank you," she whispered, leaning down to press a soft kiss to billie's forehead. "that means a lot."

billie smiled up at her, her eyes filled with affection. "you don't have to thank me. i love learning about the things you love."

madigan's heart fluttered at that, her fingers still gently playing with billie's hair as they sat in the quiet of the night. she was so used to feeling like she had to hide parts of herself, to keep things like her love for stargazing tucked away because no one else seemed to care. but here was billie, asking questions, showing genuine interest, and it made her feel seen in a way she hadn't before.

they sat like that for a while longer, talking about the stars, billie occasionally asking more questions, and madigan answering with a smile.

billie gazed up at the sky, her head resting against madigan's chest, eyes wandering over the twinkling constellations above them. she was lost in thought, a peaceful silence wrapping around them like a blanket, when a question suddenly popped into her head.

"what's your favorite star?" billie asked softly, her voice curious, breaking the quiet. she didn't move, still staring up at the vast sky. "not constellation, just... star." she waited for madigan to answer, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on madigan's leg, expecting her to point toward some distant point in the night sky, something with a beautiful name and an equally poetic backstory.

madigan paused, her arms tightening slightly around billie, her lips curving into a small smile. she looked down at billie's face, her heart fluttering at how serene she looked in the soft glow of the moonlight. for a moment, she just watched her—the way billie's lips parted ever so slightly, the way her lashes cast faint shadows against her cheeks, the soft rise and fall of her chest. it made madigan's chest ache with affection.

madigan's eyes, usually sharp and guarded, softened as she thought about her answer, a warmth blooming in her chest. she spoke gently, her voice quiet but firm, "my favorite star?"

billie hummed, still looking up, waiting for madigan to point up at the sky and name some far-off star she'd never heard of. she didn't see madigan's playful smile widen, or the way her gaze shifted to something much closer than the night sky.

"i'm sorry for all the stars up there," madigan continued, her voice lowering with a hint of something mischievous and tender. billie's brow furrowed slightly in confusion, and madigan could see the question forming in her eyes even before billie opened her mouth to ask.

madigan's hand moved gently, cupping billie's cheek, her thumb brushing lightly over her skin, grounding the both of them in this intimate moment. "but my favorite star isn't up there," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

billie's brow furrowed deeper, the confusion clear in her eyes as she turned her head slightly to look up at madigan, searching for clarity. her lips parted, about to ask, but madigan cut her off, her own heart pounding in her chest.

"you," she said, her voice trembling just slightly. "you're my favorite star, billie."

billie blinked, her breath catching in her throat. for a second, she didn't move, her eyes wide and searching madigan's face as if trying to figure out if she'd heard her correctly. there was a flicker of surprise in billie's gaze, and then something warmer, softer—a kind of awe that lit up her entire face.

"wait, what?" billie's voice was a little shaky, a soft laugh escaping her lips, but her eyes were wide, filled with something vulnerable and deep as she turned fully to look at madigan now.

madigan's smile softened, her eyes locking with billie's, full of sincerity and affection. "you're my favorite star, billie," she repeated, her voice steady now. "you're the brightest, the most beautiful. the one i look up to."

billie's breath hitched, her heart thudding hard in her chest. she blinked quickly, her mouth opening but no words coming out at first. her hand moved instinctively to rest against madigan's, pressing it gently against her cheek, grounding herself in the warmth of her touch.

for a long moment, billie just stared at her, her eyes wide and shimmering with something madigan had never quite seen before. there was no trace of her usual playful banter, no teasing smirk. just... raw emotion.

"you're... unbelievable," billie finally whispered, her voice thick, barely above a breath. her lips curved into a slow, soft smile, her eyes never leaving madigan's. "i don't even know what to say."

madigan chuckled softly, feeling the warmth in her chest spread. she leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to billie's forehead, letting her lips linger there for a moment, feeling billie's breath against her skin.

"you don't have to say anything," madigan murmured against her skin, her heart pounding in her chest. "just... know that it's true."

billie's hand tightened on madigan's, pulling it down from her cheek and holding it firmly against her chest, right over her heart. she exhaled shakily, her eyes searching madigan's face, still stunned by the depth of her words.

"god, mads," billie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "you always know how to mess with my head, don't you?"

madigan grinned, her eyes sparkling with affection as she looked down at billie, her hand now gently cupping the back of her neck. "maybe a little," she teased softly, though her voice was still filled with warmth.

billie let out a soft laugh, but her eyes were still full of something tender and vulnerable, something she wasn't quite used to letting out. she reached up, pulling madigan's face closer to hers, her lips brushing against madigan's in the softest kiss, one that was full of gratitude and love.

when they finally pulled back, their foreheads resting together, billie exhaled softly, her eyes still locked with madigan's. "thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible, but the weight of it unmistakable. "for... seeing me like that."

madigan smiled, brushing her thumb along billie's cheek. "i always see you, billie."

and in that moment, as they sat under the stars with nothing but the quiet night surrounding them, billie felt more grounded than she ever had before—like she was finally home.