eleven

im standing at the back entrance to work, waiting for kai or finneas to arrive.

although finneas wasn't supposed to be working today.

kai was, but they're not answering their phone.

I think it might have something to do with the fact they were drunk texting me until three this morning.

im not sure whether finneas is pissed at me or not but I couldn't not call him.

even though he didn't sound very happy with me when he heard I was still stuck outside....alone.

and to be honest, even if I did have a key, I'd have no idea how to open up and how to work the AC.

I don't even know where the lights are.

I sit down on the floor, leaning against the door, waiting for someone to let me in, a book perched on my knees.

luckily im in the shade and it's still pretty early so im not too hot, although this is the last place I thought id be this morning.

ive been thinking all night about gabrielle and whether theres even a small possibility she could be pirate.

and ive decided last night that im going to talk to her again.

and ive been thinking about it all day.

"hey princess" I look up and see billie walking towards me, a key dangling from her hand. "you alone?" I shove my book into my bag and stand up, wiping my ass.

"do I look like im with anyone?" I lean against the wall, watching her open the back door and turn left, flicking the lights on.

I follow her inside and billie flicks on the AC, walking through to the  'staff room' to dump something on the table.

"damn baby, I could leave you alone here in the store with that attitude. don't you my help?"

"where's finneas?" I pick up my name badge and pin it to my sweater.

"he's taking peaches to the vet and luckily, im not working today so you're stuck with me"

"are you gonna leave when kai comes?"

"depends, now come on, this place isn't gonna open by itself"

billie turns everything on and I walk over to the ipad, finding a music station I like and opening up the register, watching billie as she finally turns to sign from 'closed' to 'open' and opening the door, apologising to the customers waiting outside.

eventually people fill in and out and billie is still in the store, helping me and the customers who need help with anything.

billie has tried to talk to me but ive avoided her all all costs.

apart from right now.

"sage, sage, sage" billie repeats from beside me, pocking me in the arm.

"you know when someone is ignoring you, it probably means they don't want to talk" I say, ignoring her, writing the new customer who's coming in to use the studio in the morning.

"you wanna talk to me princess, don't lie"

"what could I possibly wanna talk to you about?"

"where do you live?" billie asks me and I roll my eyes, folding my arms over my chest.

"in a house"

"where?"

"beverly hills"

"holy shit" billies eyes widen and I smirk, knowing she wasn't expecting it.

"I got you right then"

"huh?"

"when I say you were a little rich daddies girl"

"do I look like a rich daddies girl?"

"well no but-"

"but nothing. im staying with my grandma and I live in a tiny ass apartment with my dad back home. don't fucking judge what you don't know"

"im sorry ma, lemme get to know you then"

"im good"

"baby" billie huffs, stepping closer and I step back, turning back to continue writing in the book like I was doing "come on ma' I wanna be your friend"

what is it with all these nicknames?

"when?" I drop the pen and turn to face her, folding my arms across my chest.

"when what?" billie furrows her brows and I smile.

"when did I ask?"

billie goes to speak in defense but someone comes up to the desk followed by two girls our age.

they let me know that they have a booking for the studio and I sign them in, handing them the key.

the woman comes down five minutes later asking for help so billie goes upstairs to help her and ends up being in there for another half an hour.

and there was still no answer from kai.

"hey" I turn and see finneas walking in, running his fingers through his hair which is getting longer. "hey, have you spoken to kai?"

"yeah I called past their apartment and they're showering but will be in later"

"are they in trouble?"

"no, this is one of the first times they've ever been late to work, don't worry. go and have lunch, I got this"

"okay, billie is still here. she's in the first recording studio, helping a woman"

"she's here?"

"yeah, she's been with me since she opened"

"oh" finneas pins his badge to his t-shirt "I thought she was just opening up for you"

"well she's been here" I shrug, turning around to deal with the customer waiting before I go on my lunch.

in the middle of my lunch I decide just to sit on a bench in-front of the beach and draw the scenery, eating my lunch.

I check my phone on my way back and see an apology text from kai and I smile, replying with a frowning emoji.

when I walk back into work, kai is looking at me with a pout "I brought you a cookie" they hand me the cookie and in icing 'sorry' is written on the front.

"thanks, billie was here so it wasn't too bad"

work picks up after lunch so kai goes to refill some stock and I stay on the register, servicing customers and helping them locate records or cd's they're unsure of.

"you got plans next weelend?" kai asks me, watching a customer touching the strings on a guitar.

"I don't know. why?"

I never have plans.

"there's a party next weekend"

"yeah z told me about it"

"it's a hella good party and they're always fun, me and my girlfriend are going and since you're still new, I can introduce you to some really cool people"

I want to go knowing billie will be there.

fuck, no I don't.

"sure, im down" before I know it, im telling kai where my grandma lives and we're making plans for them to pick me up.

I guess I need to go out.

or maybe I just need a better chance at finding pirate.

and a party full of people my age might just give me that.

✪pirate is online!

pirate: ive had a really confusing day

blossom:  do you wanna talk about it?

blossom: or I could read you your horoscope and see if that helps

pirate: im listening.....

blossom:  life is giving you a choice to say yes to a new person or new experience. say yes.

pirate: interesting

pirate: whats yours?

blossom:  go on an adventure and meet new people because you have no idea what or who you're gonna find.

blossom: holy shit mine is crazy

pirate: I think your horoscope are telling you to come to to la

blossom: maybe, maybe not pirate

blossom: maybe I need to actually need to go on an adventure

blossom: and whatever you're doing right now, I think you should say yes

pirate: ask me a question then

blossom: did your horoscope help with the confusion?

pirate: yes