Chapter 4
An actual scream ripped from my throat. Not a girlish squeal, but a sound born of genuine shock—the kind reserved for witnessing a murder. It was accurate, honestly. My reaction was likely calmer than most would have been.
Billie. Fucking. Eilish. Had slid into my DMs.
The initial surge of excitement—the heady rush of attention from someone remotely famous—was quickly shadowed by regret. Regret for not responding sooner. She likely wouldn’t even see it now. She actually *had* a life.
I sighed, bracing myself for disappointment. She probably wouldn't even read it, let alone respond.
Me: hi. uhm holy shit this is really happening. hey
I stared at the message, then shook my head, groaning at how pathetic I sounded.
Needing a distraction, I opened our group chat.
Me: how do you guys feel about Billie Eilish?
Genesis: YOU MEAN THE ACTUAL GODDESS FROM HEAVEN?
Stefanie: I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU FORGOT I TOLD YOU I LOVED HER
Sydney: I THINK SHE IS MY INSPIRATION
Cierra: we both like takis.
Autumn: Cierra, that’s… a choice.
Abigail: Billie is my mom
Me: how would you react if I told you she DM’ed me last night?
Cierra: I would probably toss you in a body bag, hide you in my basement and pretend to *be* you :)
Sydney: sometimes i worry...
Stefanie: let’s all be real for a second. I think she implied that Billie in fact DID text her
Cierra: Oh… Hey Ava wanna come over for a little while? We have ice cream in the basement
Me: still just as lactose intolerant as I was when we went to that cow farm for school.
Cierra: oh… right. Thank you for forcing me to remember that.
The anticipation was a suffocating weight. I checked my DMs, searching for any indication, any reply.
wherearetheavocados: hah. relax, it’s just me
Me: I mean ‘just you’ is kinda the reason I freaked out. Still cannot believe we are talking now.
wherearetheavocados: hey your uhm. voice is really pretty
I couldn’t contain it. A sound escaped me—a strangled cry mixed with a giggle reminiscent of Melanie’s laugh.
Me: shit that means a lot coming from you
wherearetheavocados: i wrote that song to be upbeat, something you can move to, and the way you were so in tune with your guitair, incredible
Me: well I was inspired
wherearetheavocados: hey so i swear I’m not a weird or a stalker or anything but…
wherearetheavocados: some friends and i are having a get together in L.A.
wherearetheavocados: are you up for going? ik we just started talking n shit but I’m intrigued to meet you
There was absolutely no way this was real.
I was dead. I’d died, and because I’d been a terrible sister, I’d ended up in hell. This was my punishment for being hateful, for harboring so much malice.
S mack.
The blood rushed to my cheeks, a searing pain blossoming where someone’s palm connected with my face.
“What the actual f—?”
I looked up to see Autumn looming over me, hands planted on her hips.
“You are such a bitch,” she accused, tossing her hands in the air.
“Wait, why?” I asked, bewildered.
“You dropped a bomb basically saying you’re texting Billie Fucking Eilish and you LEFT ME ON READ.”
Did I?
I glanced at our text thread.
Autumn: bitch what? Autumn: explain tf? Autumn: bitch dont try me. Read at 12:26 pm
Shit. I guess I did.
“Oops?” I tried to brush it off, but Autumn had already snatched my phone. Her eyes scanned the screen, and when she saw the messages from Billie, she squealed.
“We have to go!”
What we?!
“Sorry they’re crashing. Hope you don’t mind.”
Wait… Was that normal?
Oh.
“Why haven’t you responded?” Autumn asked, her tone almost accusatory.
“I haven’t asked mom or da—"
“Let me stop you right there. How old are you?” She began.
I opened my mouth to say ‘seventeen,’ but she cut me off.
“Seventeen yes. You are practically an adult. Act like it, live a little!”
I considered it for a moment.
“Okay. Alright. Let’s do it.”
“Do what exactly?” Autumn pressed.
“We are going to L.A.”