3 | snap out of it

- saylor's pov -

"you off work today?" i asked tatum as i walked up to her at the kitchen island.

"yup," she said as she slid a glass cup to me that had a smoothie in it. "and after that 12 hour shift yesterday, i plan on sitting on this couch all day."

"i don't even blame you," i chuckled as i took a sip of the smoothie. "well im about to head to the rink to help teach a class. harley is outside waiting on me."

"okay cool," she started. "but hey moony? like how are you, really?"

"im doing good tay," i nodded. "swear."

she squinted at me. "you guys may breakup and get back together all the time but you actually being physically away from her?"

"it's only been 2 days," i chuckled.

"exactly," she said. "look, i just wanna make sure you're okay."

"i am," i pinched her cheeks. "promise darling."

she playfully rolled her eyes. "alright fine," she started as she walked to the couch. "have fun, be safe!"

"yes ma'am," i exclaimed as i walked out the door.

i got in the car with harley and we headed to the rink. harley is another girl in LA that im fairly close with. we became friends through figure skating when we met in competition a couple years back.

as we drove to the rink, the events from friday night started replaying in my head. no, that wasn't the first time something like that has happened but i swear it was the last.

i will not put up with shit like that anymore. and no, i haven't told anybody that paige is abusive because it's embarrassing and shaming. and i can handle it on my own.

-

we made it to the rink and i excitedly got out of harley's car, dragging my mini duffel bag with me. i had on a compression jacket with some tights.

once we made it in, we greeted the instructors and other girls who were professionals. some of them already knew me so we were ready to get straight into it.

class started, and we were going and going. kids, teens, and even adults were all here and it was really fun. this isn't my first time doing this, but i love teaching people my passion.

"okay so be sure to maintain balance," i told one teenage girl as i skated to her. sister was not getting it. "don't worry about tricks just yet. right now really focus on-"

then i glanced up and noticed someone sitting in the stands. a certain someone who has black hair and wears baggy clothes. she had on shades but what good does that do?

im surprised no one else in the stands has noticed her yet, but honestly it's mostly just parents.

i squinted as i was very confused. "um hold on one second," i told the girl i was helping.

i then skated over to the stands where my new friend was and held on to the barricade. she just looked at me as if this was normal for her and i tilted my head.

"billie?" i furrowed my eyebrows.

she slowly took her shades off and grinned.

"fancy seeing you here," i folded my arms.

"is it?" she tilted her head.

"yeah, it is. what are you doing?" i chuckled.

"i can't come watch a class?" she asked in a defensive tone.

"you can," i started. "but you never come here."

"how would you know?" she squinted.

"i teach here all the time billie," i told her. "that's one reason im always visiting."

"oh," she slightly looked down.

caught.

"did you come here for me?" i rose my eyebrows with a slight smirk.

"wh- what no i- i-"

"mhm," i nodded. "sure."

"look," she started. "i just wanted to see you in action. ya know, really see if you're as good as you say."

"you tryna question my skills, eilish?" i rose my eyebrows with a smirk. "you don't know me."

billie slightly bit her lip and leaned forward. "show me something then."

i nodded and skated back to show her a simple spin.

i did that and skated back up to the barricade where i began smiling as billie was clapping for me with a nod of approval.

"that was actually really beautiful," she rose her eyebrows like she's impressed.

"thank you thank you," i giggled as i playfully bowed. "so how bout you join me? we're about to let everyone free skate," i shrugged.

"oh no no no," billie quickly shook her head. "i do not wanna get caught right now. way too many potential fans out there on that rink."

"that's true," i nodded. "well maybe i'll bring you back one day for a private lesson."

she just smiled and looked down. "go, saylor."

i sighed with a smile and skated away.

- billie's pov -

saylor is such a pretty girl. and she definitely knows how to make me smile. i think we're definitely gonna be good friends.

her catching me here was kinda embarrassing but i guess that was sorta my intention? i don't know. i wasn't thinking, i just knew i wanted to see her.

she began free skating and it was honestly one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. it was so graceful and impressive.

how fast she could go, they way she would spin and the technique too. this girl is flexible as hell. when she was done, my jaw was dropped.

she continued to free skate with some of the other professionals that were out there for like another hour.

soon after, she skated back over to me and started taking her shoes off. "hey, my shift is over."

"oh," i started. "uh okay, guess im gonna go then-"

"come eat with me- us," she said.

"us?" i rose my eyebrows.

"yeah some of the girls and i are going to chipotle," she started as she walked up on the stands where i was. "why don't you come."

"i mean," i paused. "if you're sure."

"yeah," she nodded as she held her hand out to help me stand up. "come eat with us. let me make it up to you for what you heard yesterday."

oh my god.

"you don't have to makeup for that," i mumbled as i grabbed her hand and she helped me up.

she glanced at me and playfully rolled her eyes. "cmon."

we walked outside the rink and one girl turned to saylor and asked "you're riding with me still orrr?"

"oh um," she looked at me. "no im gonna ride with billie."

oh.

"okay cool," the girl grinned. "see you guys there."

well good thing i cleaned my car out the other day.

saylor looked at me. "i hope that's okay."

"yeah," i nervously chuckled. "i was hoping you would anyway."

"why?" she asked me.

"i could use some company," i said, kinda mocking her from yesterday.

she laughed. "you're funny."

we got in my car and she immediately goes "oh this is niceeeeee. way cooler than my nissan altima."

"hey the newer nissans are pretty nice," i told her. "don't degrade your car."

"you're right," she giggled. "but my statement still stands."

i began driving and saylor had her window rolled down, sticking her arm out with the biggest smile on her face.

i smiled as i watched her close her eyes and enjoy the breeze that hit her skin.

how could anybody hurt this girl?

we made it to chipotle and i put my shades on as we walked in so i wouldn't be recognized. saylor looked at me and i can tell she realized what was going on in my head.

"here how bout you go sit down and i'll just get your food," she started. "just tell me what you want."

"okay yeah," i quickly nodded, loving the idea. "but i get a whole bowl, you probably won't remember if i told you right now."

"then text it to me," she quickly grabbed my phone and entered her number. "now go sit," she whispered.

i went and found a seat at a table and texted her my order. i turned around and watched as she looked back and forth from her phone to the worker as they made my bowl.

man, she's so sweet.

all the girls came and sat down with their food, including mine. "how much?" i asked saylor.

"no," she shook her head.

"cmon-"

"no no no," she said. "you bought my breakfast, i buy your lunch."

i smiled and shook my head before eating my food.

saylor also giggled and slightly rolled up the sleeves of her jacket before she began eating. i noticed the same bruise on her forearm that i saw yesterday.

but i quickly looked away and proceeded to my meal.

-

"thanks for the ride," saylor told me as i pulled into tatum's driveway. "sorry for just jumping in your car without asking."

"i don't mind," i waved in dismissal. "it was cute seeing you stick your head out the window like a happy puppy."

"shush," she pushed my shoulder with a giggle.

i turned my car off and unbuckled my seatbelt.

"oh you're coming in?" saylor paused as she looked at me.

"yeah im gonna speak to tatum," i told her. "you forget that's my best friend too?" i rose my eyebrows.

"oop well excuse me miss eyelash," she put her hands up in defense.

we walked inside and tatum smiled as she sat there on the couch. "oh hey b," she said with a confused tone as she was clueless as to how saylor and i ended up together today.

tatum knew that saylor and i got to know each other a bit yesterday because saylor told her how i bought her breakfast and ate with her. but im sure she didn't expect us to be together today too.

"billie came to skating lessons today," saylor told tatum.

tate rose her eyebrows and looked at me in disbelief. "oh really?"

"well i didn't actually skate," i chuckled.

"so what did you do?" tate squinted.

"watch me," saylor smirked.

i just glanced at her, trying my hardest not smile or blush. i just shook my head as i playfully rolled my eyes.

this girl.

"well im gonna go shower," saylor yawned. "thanks again, billie."

i then watched as she turned around and walked into her room, closing the door.

"snap out of it eilish," tatum chuckled.

"bro," i laughed softly as i wiped my hand down my face.

"i didn't know you were into ice skating," tatum smirked as she walked over to me.

"me neither," i chuckled.

tatum just rolled her eyes. "im about to order in dinner. you staying?"

"no thanks, im supposed to go to fin's to work on music," i told her.

"oh how's that been going?" she asked.

"still uninspired," i shrugged. "im starting to lose hope."

"oh b don't," she looked at me with a straight face. "it'll come to you."

"yeah yeah," i sighed, wanting to get off this topic. "hey can i ask you something though?"

"sure, what's up?" she leaned back on the counter.

"was saylor and her ex's relationship abusive?" i whispered.

"no," she started. "why?"

"i saw a bruise on her arm yesterday," i told tate. "like on her forearm area. you don't think that girl was hitting her do you?"

"really?" tatum furrowed her eyebrows. "i've known paige for years now every since they've started dating, and i never got that vibe from her. i mean of course im not always around them but its always cool whenever we're around each other."

"so you don't think it could've been anything like that?" i asked.

"well honestly," she started. "those two go all in whenever they argue so i wouldn't be surprised if it were some pulling and tugging maybe that could've resulted in a bruise. but i just can't see paige doing anything worse than that. plus i feel like saylor would've told me."

"what is there to even argue about that would result in pulling and tugging?" i furrowed my eyebrows.

"well," tatum came closer to me, whispering. "paige has had a substance abuse problem for awhile now."

"really?" i rose my eyebrows.

she just nodded. "yeah, i think that's the main reason they argue. at least that's what moony told me."

"oh okay," i nodded.

tatum obviously knows saylor more than me so if she knows her ex and doesn't get an abusive vibe, then maybe it really was just some pulling and tugging from them.