Chapter 3
Billie didn’t waste time.
The moment Mikey ran, she was on her feet, shoving her phone into her pocket and heading for the door.
“Mikey!” she called, stepping out into the night air. The street was busy, neon lights reflecting off wet pavement, but Mikey was already a silhouette in the distance, hoodie up, moving fast.
Billie swore under her breath.
She wasn’t gonna let this slide.
She pushed past the lingering crowd outside the venue, ignoring the few people who called her name. Her mind was locked on Mikey—on the way she froze up, on the panic in her eyes, on the way she ran like she’d seen a ghost.
Billie didn’t play games.
Not with this.
And if Mikey thought she could just bolt and pretend this never happened?
She had another thing coming.
Catching Up
It took a while to track her down. Mikey was quick and determined to disappear, slipping through side streets like she knew them by heart. But Billie wasn’t an amateur.
She caught up to her three blocks down, right outside some 24-hour convenience store.
Mikey was standing there, back against the wall, hood up, breathing heavy like she’d been trying to calm herself down.
Billie didn’t hesitate.
“Mikey.”
Mikey’s head snapped up, eyes wide.
Billie stepped closer. “What the hell was that?”
Mikey immediately pushed off the wall, looking away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on,” Billie scoffed, throwing her hands up. “You run out on me after that and expect me to just let it go?”
Mikey clenched her jaw. “I didn’t run.”
Billie let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, really? Because it sure looked like you ran.”
Silence.
Mikey’s fingers curled, gripping the hem of her hoodie like it was the only thing keeping her together.
Billie exhaled, trying to steady herself. She wasn’t here to fight. She just—she needed Mikey to hear her.
She stepped forward. “Mikey, talk to me.”
Mikey shook her head. “I don’t— I can’t.”
Billie searched her face. “Can’t what?”
Mikey swallowed. “This isn’t— You’re—” She exhaled sharply, voice barely above a whisper. “You said you were straight.”
Billie’s chest tightened. “And?”
Mikey looked at her like it was obvious. “And you are!”
Billie huffed. “Says who?”
Mikey scoffed, gesturing vaguely. “The world, Billie! Everyone! You’ve said it! You’ve never—” She cut herself off, taking a shaky breath. “You’ve never acted like you were into girls before.”
Billie raised a brow. “So?”
Mikey’s jaw clenched. “So why would you start with me?”
Billie stared at her, thrown.
“That’s what this is really about?” she asked, voice softer.
Mikey didn’t answer. But the way her hands tightened in her hoodie—the way her shoulders hunched, like she was trying to make herself smaller—told Billie everything.
Billie’s heart ached.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Mikey.”
Mikey shook her head again. “You’re gonna regret it.”
Billie frowned. “What?”
Mikey exhaled shakily, voice breaking. “You’re gonna wake up tomorrow and realize it was just the moment, just the heat of it, just—just me being different enough to make you curious.”
Billie took another step forward. “Mikey, stop.”
But Mikey wasn’t done. “You’ll regret it, and then I’ll have to live with it.” She let out a bitter laugh. “And I already know how that story goes.”
Billie’s stomach twisted.
She didn’t know what the hell Mikey had been through before, but god, she hated the way she said that. Like it had already happened. Like she’d already lost.
And Billie wasn’t about to let her think that.
She grabbed Mikey’s wrist—gentle, firm. “Look at me.”
Mikey hesitated.
Billie squeezed lightly. “I don’t regret it.”
Mikey’s breath hitched.
Billie softened. “And I’m not gonna.”
Mikey didn’t pull away, but she didn’t relax either. “You say that now.”
Billie exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “Mikey, do you really think I do things I don’t wanna do?”
Mikey blinked.
Billie let out a dry chuckle. “You think I go around kissing people just because? That I’m out here experimenting?” She shook her head. “I wanted you.”
Mikey flinched.
Billie searched her face. “I want you.”
Mikey’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Billie let go of her wrist, only to reach up and gently tug Mikey’s hood down, making her look at her properly.
“You’re not some phase,” Billie said quietly.
Mikey swallowed hard.
Billie held her gaze. “And I’m not gonna let you run from me.”
Mikey’s breath was uneven. “You should.”
Billie huffed. “Not happening.”
Silence.
Then—finally—Mikey broke.
She slumped against the wall, rubbing a hand down her face. “Billie…”
Billie gave her space, crossing her arms. “Yeah?”
Mikey exhaled. “I don’t know how to do this.”
Billie’s lips twitched. “Good thing I do.”
Mikey glanced at her, wary. “…You do?”
Billie smirked, stepping closer again. “Oh, babe, I’ve been running this whole time.”
Mikey’s eyes widened. “Wait—”
Billie grinned. “You just never noticed.”
Mikey stared, flustered. “That’s—”
Billie cut her off by bumping their shoulders together. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here.”
Mikey hesitated. “…Where?”
Billie tilted her head. “Where do you want to go?”
Mikey blinked at her.
And then, finally—finally—she let herself breathe.
“…Alright,” she mumbled, shoving her hands in her hoodie pocket. “Fine.”
Billie grinned. “Thought so.”
And just like that, she won.
But this time, she wasn’t just playing.
This time, she was in it.