the lights dimmed low with soft murmurs bubbling through the venue like anticipation itself had a heartbeat. the stadium pulsed with the energy of thousands, all waiting for the next song. billie was glowing under the spotlight

you watched from the vip section, your heart hammering harder than the bass from the last track. you hadnt seen her in person in almost eight months. not since that quiet lunch in la where you both decided to finally stop dragging your love behind you like a worn out suitcase but you were still so soft with each other. no screaming or betrayal and just a thousand unspoken things but tonight wasnt about regrets. it was about the kind of love that never really leaves

billie was seated at the piano now. a familiar intro rang out, the opening notes of ocean eyes. you froze and your throat tightened. you hadnt heard her sing it live in years and certainly not since everything had changed

she began playing, voice as breathless and vulnerable as the first time you heard her sing it in her childhood bedroom when you were sixteen and she was fifteen. her face was red with nerves and yours was wide with awe

in the middle of the chorus she finally saw you and it wasnt subtle. her fingers faltered for a second on the keys, her voice caught in her throat, and her eyes widened just enough for those in the front row to notice but she didnt stop. she powered through the verse, eyes flicking to you again and again like she couldnt believe you were real

you saw her lips quirk into a tiny smile as a tear slid down her cheek before she even made it to the bridge. by the time she finished the song, the stadium was still like everyone had collectively forgotten to breathe. billie wiped her face, laughing softly into the microphone

"okay.. okay i messed up a little there" she said, her voice shaking just enough to give her away "sorry guys. wasnt expecting.. that"

the camera cut to you without warning and the screen lit up with your face and the crowd gasped

billie smiled again, the kind that cracked something inside of you open "okay so uh.. for anyone who doesnt know" she leaned into the microphone, pushing her hair back "thats y/n. we grew up together. like.. since we were like babies. shes.. shes been in my life forever"

a wave of cheers swept the crowd

"we started dating when i was fifteen. she asked me out in this city actually. on this night eight years ago and um.. we broke up when i was sixteen then got back together when i was eighteen and we were together until i was twenty two. it was never bad just sad you know?" she smiled painfully "her and my family are still tight. my mom like texts her more than she texts me"

the crowd laughed

"i didnt know she was coming tonight" she said, wiping under her eyes again "and yeah this songs always been about her. still is"

the audience erupted in applause and awws and you couldnt stop the tears that spilled down your face. you werent even trying to look composed. this was real and it always had been

she looked at you one last time before glancing down at the piano keys again "i think i just need a sec" she whispered into the mic, voice trembling "im gonna sing something else for her. if thats okay"

the lights dimmed again an another melody began

you werent sure if the rest of the show even made it into your memory after that. all you knew was that she kept looking your way, her voice cracked more than once, and that the last song she sang before leaving the stage was everything i wanted

after the show,a crew member found you in the vip section and guided you backstage. your hands were shaking

you stepped into her dressing room just as she was wiping her face with a towel, her body still glistening with sweat and adrenaline. the moment she saw you she dropped the towel. you stared at each other in silence. it was unbearable and perfect all at once then she ran toward you