I awake again at what feels like a more reasonable time. I check my phone. 10:10am. I head to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She's got some press at 12pm and I want to go get the stage ready and sound check done whilst she's busy. I decide on navy blue chinos, a white tshirt, a grey pullover and my chunky white sneakers. Harry actually packed a decent suitcase for me. Like the control freak he is, he packed complete outfits for me.
When I emerge from the bathroom, Billie is propped up on her elbow and looking at her phone. She looks up to see me. "Morning" I say cheerfully to her. She takes in the sight of me; plain black underwear and a white bra with nothing else. "Hi" she responds and looks back to her phone sighing. I busy myself getting dressed for the day. "Is everything OK?" I ask her. "Mmm" she says "It will be after this day is over". After only managing to put my pants on, I sit on the edge of the bed to look at her. "Big day?" "Yeah" she says and heads to the bathroom. Did I do or say something to upset her?
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Texts between us were sporadic and were mainly about each others plans for the day. I finish up with the stage set up and start sound check. First the mics, then the instruments. Putting them all together, I sing and play 'Finally // Beautiful Stranger'. Feeling the lyrics now more than when I wrote it. "Oh I've never seen a mouth that I would kill to kiss. And I'm terrified but the truth is this. And I say, beautiful stranger here you are, in my arms and I know, that beautiful strangers only come along to do me wrong and I hope, beautiful stranger here you are in my arms and I think it's finally, finally, finally, finally safe, for me to fall." I finish sound check happy with how everything travelled. She's not here yet. I text her: