Chapter 2
Mikey was not hiding.
She was just… standing very still behind a pillar, watching the party go on without her. That wasn’t hiding. That was—strategic retreat.
But even as she tried to disappear, she felt it. That tingle on the back of her neck, the weight of someone’s gaze.
Then—
“I found you.”
Mikey jumped.
Billie was right there, leaning against the pillar like she’d known Mikey would run and had all the time in the world to catch her.
Mikey swallowed. “I—wasn’t hiding.”
Billie grinned. “Mhm.”
Mikey shifted awkwardly, gripping the hem of her hoodie. “…You followed me.”
Billie tilted her head, eyes glinting. “And?”
Mikey opened her mouth, then closed it.
Billie leaned in. “You always run like that?”
Mikey froze.
Billie watched her, amused. “You did it earlier, too. Someone calls you cute, and suddenly you’ve got somewhere else to be.”
Mikey’s fingers curled. “I—”
“You don’t like it?” Billie asked, fake innocent.
Mikey tried to glare, but Billie just smirked.
Yeah. This was not a fight she could win.
Billie reached up, adjusting Mikey’s hoodie slightly like she had every right to. Her touch was light, but Mikey still locked up, every muscle tense.
Billie noticed. And liked it.
“That’s what I thought.”
Mikey took a slow step back, brain short-circuiting. “I should go.”
Billie just laughed. “I know.”
And then she let her go.
Mikey all but escaped, heat crawling up her neck as Billie’s laughter followed her.
Flirty Friendship (That’s Definitely Something More)
The worst part? It kept happening.
Every time they ran into each other, Billie would push, Mikey would panic, and Billie would love it.
It wasn’t even mean. It was playful.
Billie would throw an arm over Mikey’s shoulders like they were best friends, lean in too close just to watch Mikey’s brain short-circuit, casually call her babe just to see her reaction.
And Mikey?
Mikey just let it happen.
She’d freeze up, ears burning, and Billie would just smile like she knew. Like she enjoyed seeing Mikey struggle to process her.
And the worst part?
Mikey liked it.
The Night Everything Changed
It wasn’t supposed to happen.
They were just hanging out—talking, laughing, Billie giving Mikey shit like always.
And then somehow they were kissing.
Mikey had no idea how it started. One second they were sitting too close, the next Billie was looking at her with that knowing smirk, and then—
Soft lips. Billie’s fingers curled into Mikey’s hoodie. The feeling of Billie giving in, letting Mikey take the lead even though Billie was the one who started it.
Mikey’s brain shut down.
And then, just as fast, panic hit.
Because Billie wasn’t supposed to like her.
Billie was straight.
The world knew Billie was straight.
So why was she kissing Mikey like she wasn’t?
Mikey pulled back, breath shaky. Billie’s lips were parted, eyes dark, and she looked—
She looked like she wanted more.
Mikey ran.
Billie called after her, confused, but Mikey was already out the door, heart hammering.
She didn’t stop.
She didn’t look back.
Because if she did, she might have to face the fact that Billie wanted her.
And she didn’t know if she could handle that.