In The Public Eye

Chapter 19 | Defeated

At the threshold, I reach up, catching her chin gently between my fingers. "See you soon," I whisper, leaning in to press the softest kiss to her lips, short, fragile, but enough to remind her that I'm still here.

-

"Ivy, it's a crisis," Millie says dramatically through the phone, her voice carrying that theatrical edge she always uses when she's trying to make me laugh.

My heart skips a beat anyway. "What happened?" I ask quickly, genuine worry in my tone before I even realize I've taken the bait.

"I dropped my fries on the floor," she says, a little giggle bubbling through her words.

I let out a heavy sigh, leaning back against my pillows. "...I hate you."

"Tragic, I know. Please send thoughts and prayers," she laughs again, clearly proud of herself.

I don't laugh this time, though. My chest feels heavier than usual, and the silence on my end lingers just long enough for her to notice. "Can you come over?" I finally ask, my voice breaking just slightly, softer than I intended. "I really need someone to talk to right now."

The playfulness drains out of her tone instantly. "Yeah, of course," Millie says, her voice steady and warm. "I'll be there in five minutes."

By the time she's curled up across from me on my bed, her presence already feels like a weight lifted. She places her hand on mine, grounding me, and her eyes search mine with concern. "Tell me what's on your mind," she says gently, not pushing, just inviting.

The words tumble out before I can stop them. "I just feel so... unappreciated. And the worst part is that Billie can't do anything about it." My throat tightens as I say it, because I hate making it sound like Billie isn't enough, when she's the only thing keeping me sane.

Millie nods slowly, squeezing my hand. "I get that. I would hate it too, honestly. I wouldn't want to hide my relationship either."

I let out a long sigh, dragging my hands down my face. "I just know Bills would be fine with it, she's braver than I'll ever be. But her management? They're such a pain in the ass. They want her image to be nothing but the music, like she's not a real person, like she doesn't get to love or hurt or live. And after everything that happened with Jesse, they're even more obsessed with controlling the narrative."

"Have you talked to them? Like, to her management directly?" Millie asks, her head tilting as she studies me. "To see if maybe they'd change their mind?"

I laugh, but it comes out bitter, almost like a cough. "Yeah, I have. And they really don't give a fuck about me. I swear, that girl Penny, she's the most stubborn person alive. It's like talking to a brick wall. I just don't understand why it has to be this big of a deal. She and Jesse broke up a while ago. It's not like she's hopping from one relationship to the next. She waited. She was careful. But apparently, I'm still this... liability."

For a moment, neither of us speaks. My frustration simmers in the air, making my chest ache. Then Millie scoots closer and pulls me into her arms, her chin resting on my shoulder. Her hug is the kind that tells me she's not going anywhere until I calm down.

"It will come out eventually," she whispers against my hair. "Don't worry. Secrets like this don't last forever. I bet you it'll happen soon. And people will love you two together. They'll get it, Ivy. They'll see what I see."

Her words sting with hope, and even though a part of me doubts every single promise, another part, the tired, vulnerable part, clings to them like oxygen.

-

Sometimes the apartment feels too heavy, like the walls are pressing in, so I grab a hoodie and slip out the door. The air outside is cooler than I expect, carrying that faint dusty sweetness of eucalyptus from somewhere nearby.

I keep my head down at first, out of habit, but it hits me quickly that no one is paying attention. No cameras, no fans, no whispers. Just a couple of joggers, a dog tugging its owner along, and the distant hum of traffic. It feels... freeing.

I head toward the trail by the hills, where the city fades into patches of stubborn green. Gravel crunches under my shoes, the rhythm of it almost meditative. The sun's low, painting everything in gold, and for once I'm not thinking about interviews or headlines. Just the sway of the trees, the flicker of birds darting overhead, the way the sky seems endless.

For a moment, it's like I can breathe again, without anyone watching. Just me, the quiet, and the city stretched out below like it doesn't even know I exist.

The trail curves toward a quieter stretch, and that's when I spot them, Claudia and Finneas, side by side with their two dogs tugging happily at their leashes.

"Ivy!" she calls, when her eyes meet mine.

I smile and walk over. The dogs circle my legs, tails wagging, and I crouch to scratch behind their ears. "Well, this is a surprise," I say. "Out for a family walk?"

"Always," Claudia laughs. "These two basically run our schedule now."

Finneas nods, giving me one of those calm smiles that makes you feel instantly welcome. "Good to see you out here. Taking a little breather?"

"Yeah," I admit, brushing some hair out of my face. "Needed to clear my head a bit."

Together we walk a bit further down the path, the view getting better by every step.

"Finally cooling down, huh?" Claudia says, tugging lightly when one of the dogs veers toward a bush. "I was starting to think LA forgot what autumn feels like."

I laugh. "Tell me about it. Last week I went out in jeans, and I thought I was going to melt on the sidewalk."

Finneas shakes his head. "Classic LA. One day it's ninety degrees, the next day it pretends it's sweater weather. It's like the city can't make up its mind."

"Same as the traffic," Claudia adds. "Either completely jammed or totally dead."

"That's LA," I say with a small smile. "Busy and sleepy at the same time."

Finneas chuckles. "Exactly. It's like it can't commit."

One of the dogs suddenly pulls hard to the left, nose to the ground, dragging Claudia toward a fence. She yelps, laughing. "See? They're obsessed with the neighbor's yard. I swear they're convinced there's some hidden treasure buried there."

"Maybe it's just a squirrel," I say, reaching down to pet the overexcited dog.

"They don't care what it is," Claudia says. "Every single walk turns into a full mission to break in. It's embarrassing."

"Last week," Finneas adds, shaking his head, "we actually had to apologize to the poor neighbor because they almost dug up one of his flower beds."

I grin at the image. "Sounds like they're running the show more than you two are."

"Oh, absolutely," Claudia says. "We're just along for the ride."

We all laugh, and the conversation drifts comfortably, the kind of light chatter that makes the walk feel easy.

Eventually, Finneas glances at me. "Billie's been working nonstop on the upcoming performance. Like... nonstop. I swear she's living in the rehearsal room."

My chest warms at that, though I keep my tone light. "Sounds like her."

"She's really putting everything she has into it," he continues. "I'm not gonna be on stage this time, just helping from backstage. But you're coming too, right?"

I nod quickly. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it."

Claudia smiles at that. "She'll love having you there. You're basically her anchor, you know?"

I glance down at the dogs, suddenly very interested in their wagging tails. "I'll be there," I repeat softly.

By the time the trail splits, we all slow down. Claudia pulls me into a warm hug, and Finneas follows with one of his quick, brotherly squeezes. "See you soon," he says.

"See you," I answer, waving as they head off in the opposite direction.

The path feels quieter again as I walk back toward home, the city lights just beginning to flicker on in the distance.