Work Text:
It’s been 3 months since your one year anniversary with Billie. Meaning it has also been 3 months since the lie detector interview came out, 3 months since your girlfriend found out about the hate you’ve been receiving from her fans. As far as Billie is concerned, their behaviour and attitude towards you has stopped. In all reality though, it hasn’t. In fact you could argue it got even worse.
It was your first date day in over a month, something you that busy schedules has made you so sad about, but at the same time, insanely happy about it. Billie’s schedule picked up with team meetings and interviews here and there, and while you missed her like crazy it meant that she wouldn’t be able to see the growing hell you’ve been living in. After her ‘fans’ saw the lie detector interview, there wasn’t a day you were happy to wake up anymore. Your day consisted of waking up and seeing the flood of notifications from various social media that were posted while you were asleep. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok… you name it. They took to any platform they could get their hands on to blast your name. They make tweets about you, calling you a snitch and blaming you for her decrease in post frequency. Instagram posts where they took your photos and photoshopped to change everything about your appearance to ‘reflect’ your personality. They had no clue what you were actually like, the kind of person you were, the kind of girlfriend you were. They knew nothing, but they acted like they did. They composed compilations for TikTok, taking videos of you and Billie that you two had posted, fans’ videos, or the occasional Claudia vlog that you both appeared in. Snipping all the moments that your girlfriend apparently looked ‘fed up’ or ‘done’ with you, most of it being eyerolls or her face deadpanned. You were never close enough to the camera for them to hear what the conversation was between you two, and the cutting of Claudia’s vlogs meant that the context of those looks was missed. You didn’t know what you did to deserve this hate in the first place, and you definitely didn’t know now.
The two of you had spent the day playing games, taking Shark on a hike to see the sunset, and now you were cuddling on her couch watching rom-coms on repeat. However, for the entire day it’s like you weren’t there. Billie could tell that you were hiding something, not sticking to your daily routine of answering the countless texts you get from friends, never watching anything on your phone. Instead you’d fleetingly laugh and then send it to her via text messages so you both could watch it on her phone instead. She knew something was off, but you couldn’t notice it. You’ve been in your head for the last 3 months, overthinking everything you’ve ever posted, everything you’ve ever said, the way you look in the mirror. Those thoughts were no stranger to you now. With your lover’s arms around you, you couldn’t help but think of how you weren’t enough for her. The hate never got to you before, but now you agreed with them.
“I’m gonna go to the toilet real quick, do you want anything while I’m up Bils?” You asked as you untangled yourself from her.
“No, I’m okay baby, thank you though.” Billie said with a smile
Before you left for the bathroom, you checked the time and saw your best friend had asked for outfit help for an impromptu dinner date they’re going on. You sent a quick text to your best friend before chucking your phone back onto the couch and leaving for the bathroom. One thing you forgot to do though, was lock your phone. Fuck.
By the time you realised your mistake it was too late. Billie heard your phone bing, like obsessively bing. She picked it up, going to put it on silent before she realised your phone was unlocked. She knew she shouldn’t do it, knew she shouldn’t snoop on your phone. You weren’t that kind of couple. You trusted each other with you lives, but Billie knew something was wrong with you and all she wanted was to help.
She swiped to bring up your notification centre and what she saw made her heart drop. Notifications from Tiktok and Instagram, both of the same account. ‘*EverbodyHatesY/N tagged you in a post*.’ The username alone triggered alarm bells in her head. Wondering if this explains your change in behaviour, she clicked on the Instagram notification.
Your phone opened up the app and Billie felt sick. The newest post contained photos from your Instagram, each slide was annotated to highlight the flaws in your appearance. There were comments agreeing that you looked ugly in all the photos. Billie saw red. She clicked on the profile and was flooded with the countless posts of compilations, photoshops, and screenshots of in-between faces from videos. She watched and read every single post, and every single comment there was too. She was on the last post when you came back into the room.
“Hey Bils, could we watch Parks and Re- Wha-What are you doing?” You stopped in your tracks at seeing her on your phone.
“When were you gonna tell me Y/N?”
“Uh… tell you what?” Acting clueless… not the best idea but you were too off guard to care.
“This!” Billie said as she turned the phone around to you, “When were you gonna tell me that they didn’t stop? That they’re still treating you like this?”
You didn’t know what to say. You never thought that she’d find out they hadn’t stopped. You started crying immediately.
“I’m so sorry Bils, I- I should’ve told you sooner. I didn’t want you to hate me too.”
Her gaze on you softened. The anger and betrayal she felt, though not actually aimed at you, disappeared.
“Baby, no. Stop. Listen to me honey.” She said as she walked over to you and grabbed your hands. “There is nothing you’ve done wrong. This isn’t your fault, it was never your fault.”
You sighed. “I just didn’t want you to know. I don’t want to be part of the reason you stopped doing what you love. Please… anything else but that.”
“I know you don’t sweetheart. How about this, we give them all one more chance. One more chance to not fuck up or it’s over. Does that sound good to you?”
“Ye-Yeah.” You said as you sniffled.
“Please know my love that no matter what, it would never be your fault. Their actions are not your own and you never deserved it. If they continue after I tell them to stop again, the end of my career is on them… And I’ll make sure they know that.”
She pulled you back over to the couch, laying down and making grabby hands at you. You folded immediately and joined her, entwining your limbs once again.
After roughly 10 minutes of lying down… you think. You weren’t really sure how long you’d both been like that, especially not when your eyes were closed. The two of you not moving, just enjoying each other’s company and the comfort of her hand stroking along your back. When Billie was sure you had calmed down, you felt her shift slightly.
Opening your eyes, you looked up at her. Realising she had her phone in her hand opened on Instagram. She took a picture. A black screen. Oh. You knew what was coming.
You would be lying if you said your mind wasn’t racing. Wondering whether they’d realise that they were in trouble, or whether they thought nothing of the solid colour. She typed, “Going live in an hour.” Straight to the point. Exactly what your girlfriend thought it should be.
Your mind calmed down when she put her phone back down and kissed your forehead. This. This is what home feels like.
-
The hour had passed. To say you were nervous was an understatement.
Billie sat up and held her phone up. You moved off to the side, close enough to see her screen but not too close that you’d be in frame.
She pressed the button.
Immediately, fans started flooding into the live. Endless comments came in. The fleeting glance of each one told you the viewers were saying variations of hi, how they missed her lives, asking how she and her family were, and asking for information drops about any upcoming projects.
On any other occasion, Billie would respond to some comments. That’s one thing you always loved about your girlfriend. How much she cared about her fans was something to admire.
“So… Quite a few of you are still being mean to my girl.”
Some comments practically begged her not to end her carer. Others started having a go at the others who were known for their hateful posts.
“Now y’all are lucky that Y/N is so nice to you guys. I was ready to quit this shit as soon as I saw it, but because of her I won’t.” Her head turned towards you and flashed a toothy smile.
“They’re the best person in the world, and nothing could ever warrant all of your behaviours. I mean photoshopping, compilations and straight-up name calling makes me sick that y’all are my fans. Not all of you partook in this disgusting shit, but yall aren’t off the hook either. To you guys, you’re all bystanders. You did nothing to stop those people from hurting my girlfriend, did nothing to bring this to my attention earlier. And I’m disappointed in that.”
The air in the room felt tense. You felt like you couldn’t breathe anymore until Billie pulled you towards her.
“I’m saying this ONE last time. If I see a single post of your foul behaviour again from now on. If I hear one word from this beautiful girl right here of what you’re doing. That’s it. No more music. No more appearances or interviews. No more concerts. No more posts. Nothing. I’ll be gone with everything wiped. And before I go, I will personally call out the user who ruined this for everyone. This girl is my whole world. I will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and harassment towards her.”
The comments changed to apologies from everyone watching. Either feeling sorry for doing nothing or for their out of line behaviour towards you.
After a few seconds Billie ended the live. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. She once again kissed your forehead before kissing your lips. You both didn’t know what the future would hold, or how long it would last for. But at least you’d always have each other.