Riot time in Paris // Billie Eilish G!P

Twenty-one

"Kai, can I talk to you?" Kai looked up from the rose bush she was cutting and wiped her forehead. A grim feeling started to spread throughout her belly. A talk was never good news in her experience.

"Sure," she said, trying to sound calm. She straightened her back, put down her garden scissors and turned to Billie.

"Not here." Billie pointed to the terrace.

"Could we sit down, please?" Kai nodded. Definitely not good news.

"What's up, Bil?" She asked as she sat down in front of the pot of coffee Billie had made them earlier.

"I've been offered a second job interview," Billie said. "With that firm in Singapore. I had my first interview yesterday over Skype and it went well. They just called to inform me that I got through and to tell me that the CEO is in New York at the moment. He wants to see me." She paused and took a deep breath.

"So, I'm thinking about getting a flight out there tomorrow. It will be a lot easier if I can do the interview there, and then go to LA  straight after to pack up my things and wrap up the sale of the apartment. I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone." Her eyes were searching for Kai's, but she avoided her gaze.

Kai had imagined this moment many times, but living it was so much worse. The agonizing brick that suddenly weighed on her stomach made her feel sick as she swallowed down the lump in her throat. She tried to calm herself, but was unable to suppress the anger that welled up inside of her.

"Don't say you're thinking about going, Bil. You don't need my approval for anything, it's your life. Just tell me you'll be gone tomorrow, there's no point beating around the bush." Her expression was cold, her hands balled into fists under the table. She always knew the day would come soon, but she never expected it to be tomorrow. It stung in more ways than she'd anticipated. It's over.

"But I'll come back," Billie said in a defensive tone. "We talked about this, didn't we? Even if they offer me the job right there and then, which is highly unlikely by the way, I doubt they'll expect me to move there straight away. There's always a lot of paperwork involved in relocation. I'd have at least another four weeks here before I'd have to move."

"And then what?" Kai finally looked up and shot her a fierce look. "Then you'd be off again, and I'll be here picking myself back up. It doesn't work like that, Bil. I'm not just here for your convenience."

Billie blinked and stared at her in surprise. "I don't understand. I thought we talked this through. I mean, I know I wasn't supposed to leave for another three weeks, but what's three weeks in the grand scheme of things? I know we can make this work, Kai."

Kai shook her head. Who had she been kidding? This was never going to work. Billie hadn't even left yet, and the familiar stab of loss was already starting to spread out from her gut. She recognized the pain because she'd been through this before, and she knew there was no point in trying. Sure, she was happy with Billie, perhaps happier than she'd ever been. But she'd also been happy with Selma and look where that got her. Three years of her life wasted on trying to get over her.

"You're right," she said. "We did talk this through but talking and reality are two different things." She stood up. "I can't do this."

"No!" Billie slammed her hand on the table. "You can't just walk away, Kai. You have to try at least. I'm willing to try."

"How do I know you're not going to fuck me over and run off with someone else? That you won't meet someone who's more suited to you?" Kai looked at Billie as if she was already guilty of doing just that.

"I'm not Selma, Kai." Billie tried to stay calm but it was hard when Kai was accusing her of cheating when she hadn't even left yet.

"No you're not. But the situation is the same. Before you know it, our contact will be reduced to one lousy phone call a week and you'll be snuggling up to one of your new colleagues, wondering how the hell you're going to let me down easy."