✮⋆˙⭒NIGHTS LIKE THIS✮⋆˙⭒

✮⋆˙⭒NIGHTS LIKE THIS✮⋆˙⭒

CHAPTER II: UNCHARTED ROADS

pairing: street racer!reader x billie eilish

MASTERLIST

warnings: cussing, implications of death…that’s really it

wc: 3.8k on the dot

authors note: i know i’ve been gone, life’s been lifing but please take this as a peace offering and enjoy. 🙏🏾 and if you haven’t read the previous chapter, i suggest that you do.

Your heart raced painfully in your chest as you sped off into the inky blackness of the night. The world around you melded into a dizzying blur of colors and shapes as you weaved through the escaping cars. The wailing sirens faded into a distant echo, barely piercing the adrenaline-fueled haze surrounding you as you tore down the familiar streets toward home.

Images of her flooded your mind like an unrelenting tide. You could picture her standing in the chaotic aftermath, eyes wide with shock, watching you rush to leave, her gaze lingering on your car until it vanished from sight, swallowed by the darkness.

“Focus,” you muttered under your breath, hands gripping the steering wheel tighter as you veered onto a dimly lit side street, expertly dodging an oncoming vehicle. The screech of tires and blaring horns melded into a chaotic symphony, the world outside a cacophony of noise. You glanced into your rearview mirror, catching the furious expression of the driver you cut off, who promptly flashed you their middle finger. A smirk crept across your lips as you returned the gesture, your irritation boiling to the surface.

The flashing lights of the pursuing police cars flickered in your rearview mirror like erratic strobe lights, their sirens blaring through the night air. You leaned forward, adrenaline surging through your veins with every second. The pulse of the chase throbbed within you, but all you could think about was Billie.

How the streetlights cast a soft glow over her, illuminating her freckles that twinkled like stars scattered across a night sky. Her blue eyes transformed into a stormy grey as she looked at you with admiration, a smile dancing on her plump pink lips, making your heart skip.

Butterflies fluttered wildly in your stomach at the memory of her compliment. Why had you gotten so flustered when she smiled at you like that? What was it about her that sent your heart into a frenzy?

You took a deep breath, trying to regain your focus. The narrow alleyways and sharp turns of the backstreets were your territory—you knew them like the back of your hand. With a swift flick of your wrist, you downshifted and swerved around a tight corner, the wail of the sirens fading as you pulled ahead. You pressed the accelerator harder, your tires squealing in protest as you sped up, until the only thing left in the rearview was darkness.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you pulled into a shadowy driveway, cutting the engine. Silence enveloped you like a soft cocoon, broken only by your ragged breathing. The adrenaline that had fueled you moments ago drained from your body, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. Leaning back in your seat, you closed your eyes, trying to steady your breath.

“Goodness gracious,” you whispered, letting the words slip into the stillness. Your hands slid down your face, trying to gather your thoughts and regain composure.

With a resigned sigh, you pulled out your phone and sent a quick text to EJ.

me: You good?

Almost immediately, your phone buzzed with a reply.

emani janae🤞🏾: Yeah, I’m straight. We’re just chilling back at my place. Come through when you’re done being all miss mysterious.

me: Trust, I’mma be there. I just need to get ready first.

emani janae: For?🤨

Read at 1:24 AM

You shook your head, a chuckle escaping your lips. Of course, EJ was already back home, probably making fun of you with Zoe. Your fingers hovered over the keyboard as you contemplated responding. Instead, you pulled the keys out of the ignition and walked up the driveway, the cool night air brushing against your skin.

As you entered your house, you kicked off your shoes and flicked on the lights, rushing straight to your bedroom. The scent of cashmere and vanilla enveloped the air, a comforting reminder that you had tidied up before you left. You quickly headed to the connected bathroom, turning on the shower to let the water heat up before returning to your room.

After rifling through your clothes, you settled on an old graphic tee and a pair of comfy shorts. The soft hum of music filtered through the air as you tied your hair up and hopped into the shower, slipping into your familiar routine.

The room around Zoe buzzed with fragmented flashes of color and sound—bright bursts of a game show, the low murmur of a news anchor, the explosive chaos of an action movie. None of it captivated her attention. Zoe’s thumb tapped impatiently on the remote, flicking through channels like shuffling a deck of cards. Each scene dissolved into the next before she could even focus, leaving her feeling disconnected, craving something to latch onto.

Billie lounged on the couch, limbs sprawled out as she leaned her head against Zoe’s shoulder, letting out a long sigh as she watched and waited. Her mind buzzed with boredom while she waited for you to arrive. Heart still thrumming with adrenaline from tonight’s events, she reflected on how close she had been to not coming out at all, too consumed by her work. But the moment she stepped into the crowd, all that stress faded away.

The way the cars swerved and drifted sent an electrifying thrill coursing through her veins. But when the race ended and you emerged from your vehicle, all her worries evaporated like the smoke that lingered in the air.

How the streaks of grey and purple danced across your face, a captivating sight. The streetlights illuminated your lips, gloss shimmering against your soft skin as you flashed her a sly smile.

Hi, Billie.

She remembered how your voice flowed like honey when you called out to her. She could still smell the faint remnants of weed mingling with the warm vanilla scent that radiated off you.

A smile crept across her face as she continued to reminisce about you. Coming out of her daze, her eyes roamed around the room, taking in the space. Picture frames filled the walls, frozen moments encased in glossy prints. Scattered items dotted the surface until her gaze landed on a clock.

1:43

A groan escaped her lips as she read it. Almost 2 AM, and you still weren’t here. Her lips pushed into a dramatic pout, voice rising in a soft plea. “Zoe…” she dragged out your best friend’s name, eyes pleading, teetering on the edge of desperation. Zoe cast a quick glance her way before doing a double take.

“Oh my god, no, you do it.” With a resigned sigh, Zoe decided to give in, settling on a random education channel. Images of paint and canvas flashed on the screen before panning out to a pale man with a red afro.

“Bob Ross…really?” At this, Zoe shrugged and walked to the kitchen, Billie trailing closely behind. Billie leaned against the marble island, watching as Zoe rummaged through various cabinets, seemingly on a quest for snacks.

“Can’t you at least just text her or something?” she asked, tapping her knuckles against the smooth surface, the silver rings clashing with the cold marble as Zoe turned to her, a bag of Takis in hand.

“Can’t you just text her? No, you do it; you have her number.” She tilted the bag, silently offering Billie some. Billie stepped closer, pressing her back against the island as she took a handful of chips.

“But like I’m scared… What if I seem desperate?”

“Scared of what? I promise you, your girlfriend’s not going to care; she’s chill as fuck, so just do it.” A warm flush crept up Billie’s neck, spreading across her cheeks at the name. “Shut up,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, trying hard to keep a smile from breaking through as she playfully shoved Zoe’s shoulder.

“Ohhh my god, can you just do it, please? As my best friend, I’ll love you forever.”

“You’re already supposed to do that, but whatever.” Fishing into her pocket, Zoe withdrew her phone, the screen lighting up as she unlocked it and pressed on your contact. Billie sidled up next to her, peering at the bright screen.

zoe📸: Hey, you still coming over?

Your phone buzzed in your hand as you slipped on your fuzzy slides and made your way to your car, opening it to see a new message from Zoe.

you: Yeah, omw now.

you: Why, wassup?

Billie watched as her best friend immediately started to text back, fingers tapping on the blue arrow, sending a new message before catching what it said.

Your phone buzzed once again as it sat in the cup holder. Quickly glancing down with practiced ease, you managed to catch a glimpse of the preview message on your lock screen.

zoe📸: Nothing, Billie just—

You reached for it, taking stray glances at the road ahead, unlocking your phone. But by the time you opened the chat, it had vanished, replaced with:

zoe📸 unsent a message.

Your brows furrowed in confusion as you wondered what had just been deleted. In response, you sent a final message back.

you: Huh?

you: ???

Delivered

The two friends exchanged wide-eyed glances, processing what had just transpired. Billie had panicked, snatching the phone to delete the text before you could see it.

“Dude, what the actual fuck?” Zoe let out a quiet laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Billie’s gaze was glued to the phone, her heart racing as it chimed with your double texts. Fighting against her impulse to respond, she flipped the phone face down on the counter, choosing instead to breathe deeply and calm the wave of panic that was beginning to swell inside her.

“Why the fuck would you say that?” she finally managed to ask, her voice edged with disbelief.

“It’s true, is it not?” Zoe grabbed her phone from the counter and slipped it into her pocket as she headed back into the living room.

“I swear you hate me,” Billie groaned under her breath, watching Zoe walk away. A rough sigh escaped her lips as she slouched against the island, silently praying you hadn’t caught the message.

The faint creak of footsteps echoed down the stairs, growing closer with each soft patter until the familiar jangle of jewelry announced EJ’s arrival. Notes of cherry and jasmine wafted through the air, catching Billie’s attention.

“Please don’t piss me off right now,” Billie heard EJ say as she stepped aside, allowing you to come into view.

“What?” Your brows arched in confusion at the girl in front of you.

“I know you weren’t just talking about some ‘oh, I gotta go home and change and blah blah blah,’ while you’re wearing the most basic fit,” EJ teased, her voice rising a few pitches as she mockingly mimicked you.

“So?” you shrugged her shoulders, kicking off your shoes and setting them by the doorway. “So? You know what…bye, ’cause I’m not even—” You watched as EJ turned her back, making a right turn and disappearing into the kitchen, frustration radiating from her retreat.

You turned to the mirror on your left, checking yourself out. You hadn’t put much effort into your outfit, not expecting to need to dress up. “What is it, bad?” you muttered softly, picking at your clothes.

“Hey!” A small gasp escaped your lips as a voice sliced through the quiet. You hadn’t even realized they were standing so close. Her voice was the one you’d been thinking about all night, and a soft laugh escaped her lips as her blue eyes met yours in the mirror. Spinning around to face her, you cracked a smile, her laughter so infectious that it was hard not to return it. “Hey” you said in response, playfully rolling your eyes at yourself.

“So…that was really something, huh?”

“What, the race?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

She let out a soft “mhmm,” head bobbing slightly in a light nod.

“I mean, it happens…are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” she reassured you, trying to shake off the adrenaline that still coursed through her veins. “But what about you? That was…intense.”

“I’m used to it.” You shrugged, remembering the countless raids you’ve endured since you learned to race. Cops were just people you learned not to fear as long as you knew what you were doing and laid low. EJ emerged from the kitchen, stepping in between the two of you.

“Can you go get some food? I forgot to ask you to get something, and I don’t feel like going out,” she said, annoyance creeping into her voice. You smacked your lips against your teeth in irritation as you grabbed your keys and started to put your shoes back on.

“Fine, but I hope you know you’re putting gas in my tank for the next two days.” Pressing the button, you unlocked your car.

Suddenly, Billie piped up, “I’ll go with you…if you want me to, that is.”

“Kay’, I’ll be waiting, but you’re driving; I’m tired.” You tossed her the keys with a flick of your wrist and bolted toward your vehicle, the cold rain falling against the bare skin of your legs as you slid into the passenger seat. You hurried to turn on the heat, shivering slightly. Damn, I should’ve worn my pants, you thought to yourself

A low, rhythmic hum filled the car as your phone vibrated with subtle urgency in the cup holder where you’d left it. Stretching out your hand, your fingers brushed against the cool edges of the phone as you picked it up. Leaning your head against the window, rain and condensation clouded the glass, the light of your screen casting a soft glow that reflected off your face as your eyes adjusted.

4 new messages from Nia💞

Your thumb scrolled through your notifications as you immediately began to reply back.

The dull interior lights flickered on as the door opened with a chime. Glancing up from your phone, you saw a shivering Billie sitting before you, inhaling deeply through her nose as she attempted to steady her breathing. You swiftly switched off your phone and placed it back in the cup holder, your hand reaching smoothly from the passenger seat to lightly brush the console, deftly pressing for the heating. You turned her air vent closer to you, a small gesture that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Thanks,” Billie said quietly as she tied her hair up in a messy ponytail before relaxing into her seat, the heat creeping up her arms and providing her with much-needed warmth.

The melody of End by Frank Ocean flowed through the car, breaking the slight awkward tension that hung in the atmosphere. Billie quietly hummed along, finally gathering herself.

“So, where am I going?” The engine purred to life as her fingers pressed on the push-start ignition. Her calloused fingers wrapped around the wheel, the cool metal of her rings rubbing against the black leather. Her face lit up, eyes wide and lips curling into a grin as the external lavender lights illuminated the streets before her when she pressed down on the gas and revved the engine.

You couldn’t help but be in awe at the sight, the way she marveled over the car’s little decals. It was undeniably cute. “You’re gonna pull out and make a left over here.” You pointed out as she reached for the gear, shifting into drive. For what felt like the millionth time that night, your phone started going off with notifications even after you switched it to Do Not Disturb. Trying your best to ignore it, you leaned over, turning up the volume on the stereo as it transitioned into another song.

“Are you gonna get that?” Billie asked, glancing at you before returning her focus to the road.

“Nah, it’s just some…family stuff.” A rough sigh escaped your lips as you rubbed your temple, silently hoping she wouldn’t press further. You leaned back into your seat, watching raindrops race down the glass, and listened to the soft music, occasionally giving her directions until she turned into the parking lot of a diner.

Twisting in your chair, you reached for something in the backseat of your car. As your arm stretched, your shirt lifted just enough to reveal the soft curve of your waist. Black ink lined your hip, swirls of plumeria flowers and other intricate designs etched into your skin, disappearing upwards, the rest concealed by your top.

From the driver’s seat, Billie’s gaze flicked down, caught off guard by the unexpected glimpse. Her heart skipped a beat as she traced the edges of the tattoo, her mind racing to figure out what it was without seeming too obvious. She forced herself to look away, feeling her cheeks flush, but her eyes kept drifting back, lingering on the exposed skin until you finally settled back into your seat with two hoodies in hand.

“Girl, are you okay?” Genuine concern laced your voice as you noticed the blush on her cheeks.

“Yeah…yeah, thanks,” she replied, her face burning even more as she accepted the black zip-up from you. The scent that belonged to you lingered on the jacket, notes of neroli, vanilla, and amber embracing her senses as she shrugged it on while you slipped your own hoodie over your torso, pulling the hood up over your head.

Both of you climbed out of the car and dashed into the pouring rain, making a beeline for the entrance of the little diner.

It had a vintage charm, rows of worn leather booths in deep red shades, giving each table a cozy look, as if they’d held countless late-night conversations over the years. Behind the counter, the neon glow of an old sign buzzed faintly, casting a warm, comforting light across the room, though it flickered from time to time.

The diner was fairly empty, save for a few patrons scattered about—a couple at the bar nursing drinks while another sat in a booth, indulging in whatever hot meal had been placed before them.

Fluorescent overhead lights cast a soft but somewhat washed-out glow over everything, adding to the sense of isolation. The walls were lined with mirrors and framed photos, relics of nostalgia. The faint hum of the grill could be heard, alongside the clinking of dishes from behind the counter—a steady rhythm that filled the silence between conversations. The air was thick with the scents of coffee, fried food, and something sweet, reminiscent of pies baked earlier in the day.

Your feet moved under you, guiding you to the counter you’d touched countless times before. The tip of your acrylics played with the cracks and grooves embedded into the smooth mahogany wood. The cashier took your long order and informed you it would be about a forty five-minute wait. You both decided to slide into a random booth across from each other. The moonlight streamed through the large window, highlighting the droplets of rain that clung to the glass.

“So tell me…” Billie adjusted in her seat, her curiosity evident as she spoke up.

“Tell you what?” you replied, glancing at her with a hint of confusion.

“How the hell did you get involved in street racing?” Her elbows rested on the tabletop, hands folding into one another as she laid her head on top, her blue eyes watching you intently. You noticed how her gaze made your body briefly tense before you turned your head to face her.

“Really?” you asked, surprised by her interest. She nodded, her head tilting slightly, cheek resting against her cold rings.

“My older brother… he taught me everything I know.” You pulled the hood from off your head, hair framing your face, snuggling a little tighter in the jacket as the memory began to unfold. “When I was about twelve or thirteen, I caught him trying to sneak out one night. I told him I would snitch if he didn’t take me with him—” Billie watched, her eyes lighting up as you recounted the story. A small smile played on your lips at the memory, and she scooted closer, hanging on every word.

“I remember us pulling up into the lot, and there were all these different kinds of people and sporty ass cars. I thought my brother was so cool…” you breathed out, your fingertips tapping lightly against the table. “Then the race started, and he was driving at speeds I didn’t even know were possible. You never forget the feeling of your first show, and you never forget the adrenaline of your first race. It made me feel…” You bit your bottom lip in thought, trying to find the right words to convey your feelings.

“—alive. I truly had fun that night, and I wanted to keep feeling that way, so I started racing with him.”

Billie smiled to herself, imagining a younger version of you, wide-eyed and eager, learning how to drive. “He sounds cool as fuck,” she said, her admiration clear.

“Yeah, he was…”

Billie’s eyes flickered to your solemn expression, her own softening with empathy. Reaching across the table, she took your hand in her own, her touch gentle. You noticed the intricate details of the angel tattoos etched into her skin that you hadn’t seen before, and how soothing it felt when her thumb rubbed the back of your hand. That simple gesture was enough to convey her own sorrows, a silent understanding passing between you.

A waiter approached with a complimentary basket of fries, sliding it toward the two of you. You both delivered brief thanks, the scent of the golden fries wafting through the air.

“Anyways, enough of the sad stuff. There’s something I wanted to ask you,” you said, shifting the mood back to lightheartedness.

“Yeah?” Billie picked up a fry and nibbled on it slowly, her hand still holding yours, maintaining eye contact.

“Well, if you’re interested in tonight’s race, there’s a car show in a couple of weeks. I’ll be speaking, and I was hoping you could come.”

“Yeah, I’d really like that,” she replied, her enthusiasm evident.

Relief washed over you at her response, the weight lifting off your shoulders. “Okay, cool. Now enough about me, let’s talk about you.”

And for the rest of the night, you two talked for what felt like hours, conversations flowing easily as you shared stories and laughter. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, the outside rain creating a comforting backdrop to your connection. Finally, your name was called, and you picked up your order, the heavy rain seeping through your clothes once more, chilling your skin as you headed back to your car.

As the neon lights from the diner flickered in the wet streets, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this night would etch itself into your memory, a turning point in the chaotic journey of your life.

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