Scattered [A Mallory Winston Spin-Off]

[Epilogue Part 3]

I start walking down the driveway away from a confused Billie and hear him stand up, running to follow me. I stop and wait for him.

"Lead the way, Armstrong," I say, biting back a giggle as his expression gets more confused.

"The way to where...?" He asks, and I link my arm through his.

"Wherever you're going; doesn't much matter to me," I reply vaguely, and he shakes his head.

"I'm confused, angel. Aren't you staying here? With your family?"

I shake my head, leaning into his shoulder.

"I am staying with my family; just not Anna and Tyler," I reply, seeing him smile out of the corner of my eye, though he still looks unsure.

"You sure you don't wanna stay here angel?"

I just nodd, wrapping my arm around his waist.

"I don't wanna lose you again Beej..."

He laughs softly and puts his arm around my shoulder, giving me a major flash of deja vu.

"Alright kid, then c'mon, I'm seriously about to fall asleep standing up."

I snort at that but find myself yawning too.

Huh. Who would've thought dead people get tired?

We walk along the empty street in silence, and I pick out Billie's house before we even reach it.

It's his old house, and I find myself smiling as I remember my first guitar lesson here, along with all the other memories attached to this place.

He unlocks the door and walks in, us still basically attached at the hip as we just flop down onto his couch. Although it goes unsaid, it's obvious we're both still a bit anxious about losing each other.

The silence between us is comfortable and nice, a welcome break from all the noise and chaos of the day. I close my eyes, feeling completely exhausted, and curl up against Billie's chest, wrapping my arms around his middle.

After a few moments, I feel him lift me up bridal style, but I don't protest, just give him a confused look.

"You're falling asleep, angel; you gotta go to bed," he explains and I just shrug in agreement, my arms loosely around his neck.

We reach a fairly empty-looking room, and he sets my feet back down on the ground, flicking on the lightswitch.

He smiles at me and brushes hair out of my face, kissing my cheek as I hug him again, arms still around his neck.

After a moment he gently breaks off the hug, looking into my eyes questioningly.

"You gonna be okay here?"

I nod, and he smiles, kissing my temple.

"Alright kid; I love you," he says with a smile, and I smile back.

"Love you too, Beej."

He grins and taps my nose lightly before leaving, shutting the door behind him. I flop down onto the comfortable bed, shutting the light off before I do, feeling the exhaustion coursing through me.

I close my eyes into the pillow, expecting sleep to take me away immediately, but instead, I continue to lie there, tired but awake.

Ten minutes pass, then thirty, then sixty, and I'm still in this miserable state of tiredness without being able to sleep.

And the longer I lie there sleeplessly, the more my mind starts to worry.

What if Anna remembers dying?