Billie can't get out of that recording studio quick enough. She can still feel her heart thumping rapidly against her chest, cheeks burning in a way she hasn't experienced in quite some time. No one made Billie Fields flustered. Well, no one except for Ezra Moore.

God, how could she have been stupid enough to fall right into his trap? Was it really worth knowing how the male smelled in trade of her dignity? Frankly, Billie wishes she hadn't taken those steps forward to catch a whiff. Then, she wouldn't have the aroma of cedarwood stuck in her nostrils. It wasn't even close to cigarettes or piss.

Her fingertips instinctively reach for the strand of hair that he brushed against, only to let out a groan when reminded of the cigarette nestled behind her ear. She moves to dislodge it from her tresses, bringing it closer to inspect it further. Her brows furrow at the sight of dried petals and cloves nestled amongst the tobacco. Did he roll his own cigarettes? The femme's mind momentarily wanders to his tongue wetting the rolling paper, and it warms her core.

At first instinct, she's nearly disgusted with herself. Could she really be attracted to that coke-loving, egomaniac? In her momentary crisis, Billie remembers a crucial detail to their interaction. Ezra loves getting under her skin and has been proving that fact time after time again. The taunting, the cigarette, their proximity, it was all some ruse to get her flustered.

Who the hell does he think he is to toy with her emotions like that? To get her all worked up for his own amusement?

She nearly lets out a frustrated huff, while almost crushing the cigarette in her palm. If he wanted to play dirty, so would she. 

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As much as she wanted to prove the male wrong, Billie could not get Ezra out of her mind since their interaction that morning. Instead, she mentally formulated a way to get back at him while practicing with Sloane. When her mind had drawn a blank, it only infuriated her more. She had to beat him at his own game, but how?

By the time she had a practice session with Jude and Callie, Billie figured she could use the opportunity to dig up any information on the male. Besides, no real work actually got done at these sessions. Instead, she just babysat Jude and Callie while they flirted with each other without realizing or admitting it. Today, of course, is no different as the femme slumps into the couch while Jude helps her guitarist better position her fingers on a new set of chords they're learning.

"See?" Jude coaches, "It's much better if you place them here so that you can transition easier. It's a little trick Ezra taught me."

"Wow, you're right," Callie muses with a soft grin, sweet eyes looking up at him for a moment, before turning back to the guitar.

Though Billie tended to zone out during these sessions, the mention of Ezra's name nearly causes her to jump out of her seat. She tries to remain unbothered at the subject, body shifting slightly towards the two. "How long has Ezra played for?"

Jude shrugs for a moment, and it appears as if he's just remembering that the singer is there with them. "Oh, I think since he was a kid. His dad taught him. We took lessons together for quite some time back when we were younger."

"How long have you known him for?" She questions, letting her curiosity get the better of her.

"We met when I was fifteen. I guess that's a pretty long time ago ... about ten years."

Billie's eyes widen a bit, lips parting to ask another question before Callie interjects. "Wow," she exclaims, "That is a long time to know someone. You've been through a lot together, huh?"

The blonde silently thanks her guitarist for making her digging that much easier. With Callie in the room, Jude would likely say anything to keep her attention.

"Yeah," he offers with a short chuckle before carding a hand through his blonde curls, "I know it's hard for you all to see it, but we knew Ezra before he, uh ... well, before he was like this. I think that's why we all still have his back. He's just going through a rough time right now, and we're the only ones who can really see it."

It's the kindest thing anyone has ever said about Ezra. Part of her feels somewhat guilty for using his bandmate's confession as a means to get under his skin, but Billie knows she'd never kick someone while they're down in the ways that mattered. Ezra just needed a little taste of his own medicine.

"We haven't been the most fair to him," Billie offers truthfully, "We have no idea what's really going on, and I'm sorry if we've made the situation more difficult for you and Ambrose."

Jude shakes his head immediately, a soft smile returning to his features. "No, actually I think having you girls here with us has made things a lot better. I mean, he's been doing really well in the past month despite everything."

"Despite everything?" Callie repeats with a worried frown. It's clear she's actually worried for the male, while Billie is just interested in figuring out what exactly makes him tick.

Jude pauses for a moment, mentally debating on whether or not to say anything. Now, Billie is practically restraining herself from appearing too interested in what he's about to share.

"Don't say anything," he warns, "But Ezra's ex, Madison, really fucked him up. I mean, they were both bad for each other. But when they finally broke up last year, I think something just snapped in him. Whenever he's on the mend, she finds a way to worm her way back in. So, I think that's why he stopped fixing himself this last time."

"I didn't know that the break up was so hard on him," Billie offers with a dumbfounded look. She never kept tabs on the band before she knew they were opening for them, but Madison and Ezra's breakup, well, multiple breakups, were fairly public. She knew of the other girl, but never really drew the connection between his heartbreak and steady decline over the past year.

"He doesn't like to talk about it much, and he would never admit it to you all, but I think he likes being here rather than being alone. It's the first time he's actually been invested in our music since the break up. So, thank you for sticking through it with us."

Billie offers a small smile, heart sinking in her chest. Clearly Ezra had more depth than she ever cared to give him. Could she really toy with someone so clearly broken?

"This experience is one in a million. You don't need to thank us," Billie replies.

"Well, Ezra mentioned how much you look up to him as an artist. So, I'm sure it's exciting to be working with someone you admire. And, to be honest, we're learning a lot from girlcrush, too."

The words cause Billie to almost flinch. If she were playing the short game, she'd laugh in Jude's face at the absurdity of his comment. The fact that Ezra had gone out of his way to lie about her approval of him seems more on brand for the singer than this lovesick, heartbroken puppy act Jude is playing up.

Instead, she offers a quick nod so that Callie doesn't give her away. With all the shit talking Billie had been doing over the past few months, no one in girlcrush would ever believe that she was a fan of Ezra Moore.

"It's an honor," she replies with a forced smile, and finally the idea hits her. If Ezra Moore wanted to make her out to be some obsessed fan, she would have him on his knees. "You know, this whole experience before the tour has been amazing. We've made such great progress. I think we should have a party to celebrate at the end of this month before we start the tour."

Jude's features show clear disapproval and worry for obvious reasons, but before he can outwardly reject the idea, Callie lets out an excited squeal.

"Oh my god, yes! I love planning parties. Do you think Jeff and Monica would be okay with a lowkey celebration on the rooftop?" She turns to Jude, fingertips resting on his knee out of excitement. "Nothing crazy, I promise."

The male appears immobilized by her touch, a hesitant nod following so as not to ruin the moment. "Yeah, I don't see why not," he replies reluctantly, "As long as we keep it small. If anything, it might be good to start mingling with the outside world again."

"Then it's settled," Billie confirms before he has a chance to change his mind, "A rooftop celebration on our last weekend here."

Her eyes catch Jude's, and Billie is somewhat caught off guard by what those hazel orbs are conveying. For a moment, she's convinced he's trying to tell her what she already knows. She offers a sympathetic smile at the realization that he and everyone else is aware that Ezra isn't getting better by any means.