"-I wanted to know if there was a chance at all that when I start this tour you'll... come with me," He blurted out, his eyes wide as he looked back at me.

I looked at him for a moment, could he be serious?

"Here's your coffee Sir," The same waitress beamed, placing his coffee cup down infront of him.

He didn't even realise. He looked at me still as the waiter walked away. Then added. "Then come back home with me. " He gulped. "Back home to California..."

He was serious.

How could he be?

Did he really care that much?

I didn't know what to say. Normally I knew what to reply with in any situation. But here? What do I say? I was tongue tied. I couldn't form a sentence even if I tried. All that would come out if I opened my mouth was gibberish. So I just... stared.

He looked more nervous now. "You don't have to answer yet,"

"Billie Joe, what about my work?"

"I can buy you another studio," he told me quickly. "A bigger one. With more space- or even a small one if that's what you want,"

"What about Willow?"

"You don't have to answer yet- just... think about it,"

I nodded. Small smile. I could promise that I'd think about it. But my mind didn't know what I was gonna do. I wanted to go with him- but would it be best?

"And- give me a call if you decide. Whatever the answer is," He whispered, pulling a pen out of his jeans pocket before scrawling his number on a napkin. Sliding it across the table over to me.

~

"I think I found out when Billie was gonna tell me," I announced walking back inside my house.

I heard Willows voice from the living room. "What happened?"

After Billie finished his coffee he drove me home. It was beginning to get dark already outside. I made my way into the living room as Willow looked over at me.

"Billie came to visit me at work today,"

"What did he say?"

I sat down on the carpet infront of Willow. It was such a big thing. And he asked me straight out of nowhere- what would Willow think?

"He wants me to go with him," I breathed out.

Willows eyes squinted. Her brows down as she looked over at me a little confused. Surely to say she didn't understand. "Huh?"

"On tour,"

"Oh-? I mean- wouldn't that be fun? To spend some time with Billie on tour before he-"

"-Then he wants me to go back with him Willow," I quickly cut off. "To live with him back in California,"

She slowly closed her mouth, her eyes flickering away for a few split seconds before looking back at me. She didn't know what to say. And neither did I.

"I haven't gave him an answer yet," I admitted, awkwardly looking down at the carpet.

"You've got to go,"

My eyes sprung back up to her. "What?"

"Well- I mean c'mon Echo it's a no brainer,"

"Really?"

"Duh." She chuckled. "I mean- you have to leave the guy because of some tragedy. He gets famous, you find him. You live with him-"

"-But Willow I don't know what I'm-"

"-nonsense." She cut me off, sitting up as she took my hand. Unwarningly yanking me up to my feet too. "What happened years ago when you had to leave looked like the end for you both. Now you've got this other chance and-"

"-What happened years ago was sad. But it wasn't my fault. Or his! It had to happen and-"

"-Alright alright," she let go of my hand rolling her eyes. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't have a choice. And now you've been given one and you're even considering not taking it?"

She had truth in what she was saying. I'd spent years being angry at the world because what happened had to. But it doesn't have to go this way this time.

"It's your choice now," Willow continued. "You make it a tragedy. Or you make it a happy ending like you wanted,"

"But what if it doesn't work out?" Was all I had going against me not going.

Willows expression slowly turned confused. "Wha-?"

"Well... Billies changed. What if I have? What if it doesn't work? Then I'm half way across America and I'm stuck back in California. Or what about if I run into someone I use to know?"

"You're being pessimistic,"

"Im just thinking!"

"Billie Joe Armstrong has asked you to go with him. How can you even question it- say yes!"

"I'm scared about leaving again," I finally mumbled. Pressing my lips together before looking away. "I'll be leaving everything again,"

Willow took both my hands as I looked back up. She had a supportive smile on. Bright and large. "What about what you'll leave if you stay?"

~

Although the topic had moved on hours and hours ago from the question Billie sprang yesterday, I still couldn't get it off my mind.

I sat with Austin and Willow in an old bar. Not a cosy one in town spare close to my tattoo shop- one Austin had picked out.

At the bar sat a few drunken, rough, tired men. I could only guess they'd been back from work. Then there was Willow, Austin and I. I was the unsteady third wheel of the trio, so whatever they were talking about I had no clue.

And it wasn't hard to guess where my mind was at the minute.

I felt an elbow in my arm as I looked over confused at willow. "Tell him Echo," she smiled. Oblivious I had no clue what she was speaking about.

My eyes tried to stay on willow, to get a rough idea on what she was on about. But I failed, because willow grunted.

"About Billie,"

"What... about Billie?"

"How he asked you to tour and move with him,"

"Oh! Right... well-" I rubbed my neck embaressdly, looking at Austin. "-I don't know if I will yet. But Billie still lives back in California. Long story short he wants me to go with him,"

"Why are you not sure?" Austin asked me. He seemed to be looking at me a little judgementally. Like there was an obvious answer here.

"Well... it's a lot to process. There's a lot at stake to loose either way I-"

"-Echo?"

I turned away from Austin and Willow. To a voice who seemed to stand behind me.

When I twirled my ass around on the bar stool, I was looking up at the pair of mikes eyes.

"Mike!" I smiled relieved. Standing up and hugging him.

"Nice to see you here," He chuckled hugging me back.

"You don't understand the relief to see you,"

When Mike pulled away, he pulled a bar stool closer over to me sitting down. I noticed Austin and Willow had gone back to their one on one conversation- and it didn't matter anyway now since I had someone else to speak with.

"Third wheel?" Mike mumbled, looking at the couple too.

"All night,"

"So... how'd things go with Billie yesterday?"

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. "Did you know what he asked?"

"He'd planned it since he met you again. I think I just accidentally rushed him having to ask,"

When I opened my eyes back up, Mike gave me a tiny smile. I tried to smile back before taking a huge gulp of my drink.

"That gulp doesn't seem like a good sign," He noted, before flagging the bartender down.

I thought about how I was gonna word this to Mike as he ordered himself a drink. Because- at the end of the day. Mikes Billies friend.

Now I love Billie- of course. But I don't have a good way with words, I don't wanna word this the wrong way and have him get the idea I don't love him.

Mike nodded his head to the bartender, taking his drink and sliding it closer to himself. "Thank you very much," He told him, before eyes went back to me. "So...?"

"So...?"

"What did you think? Of what Billie asked?"

Itching my bottom lip with my top teeth, I tried to think of how to word a sentence right as I stared in front behind the bar. "I don't know," I admitted, holding my glass of beer by the rim as I looked over at Mike. "What do you think of it?"

"Me?"

I nodded.

"Well... I think it's a big decision. And it's your decision. It's a big step to move back to where you grew up and- well... tour around with us. But I can't say if you say yes you'll be making a mistake. I think you'll be making one if you stay,"

"You're right," I turned to face him on my bar stool. "I wanna follow Billie. I wanna be there- I wanna go wherever he goes. But- what if it doesn't work out? And I'm stranded in California? Or what if he meets someone else?"

"You can't possible think it wouldn't work out between you guys," Mike chuckled. "Right?"

"We're not the same people anymore Mike," I sighed. "Y'know? I'm not- you're not. Billie, Tre- we're all different. We grew up. Billies not the same guy I left behind-" I snorted. "-And I'm definitely not the same girl who left him behind,"

"Well- of course Echo but- everyone changes. It's bound to happen,"

"So what If things come out for worse?"

"And you're really questioning that?"

Mikes question came out a bit fast. I looked at him confused. "Huh?"

"C'mon- I mean I wasn't there but I can imagine how distraught this whole situation left you. You've got another chance- it's been placed right in your hands. And you're hanging on if, buts and maybes?"

Mikes tone was right in heart. Although it came across a little less friendly than before, it was what I needed. And he had a point.

I couldn't fool myself. No matter what I said to myself- or Mike. Or willow. Or even Billie. I knew down in my heart I would say yes to Billie.

How could I not?

I spent years feeling sorry for myself that mine and Billies story was a tragedy. But it's not. It can have this happy ending if it let it.

"I know I'm gonna go Mike," I breathed out finally after a few silent seconds. "I'll follow that guy to the end of the world. But I guess I just feel like it's something I'm suppose to think about,"

"But you've said it Echo. You wanna go,"

"Of course I do,"

"So then why-"

"-Hey Mike," a third voice butted in, unaware Mike had been speaking.

A hand had patted on Mikes right shoulder, when I followed the hand I noticed it was Billie Joe. As Billie Joe noticed it was me too.

"Oh- Hey Echo?"

"I'm here with them," I smiled, directing my head back to the couple at the other side of me.

Billies eyes flickered over to them for a moment before he nodded. "Third wheel?"

"All night,"

When someone else took the stool on the other side of Mike. I realised Tre had also come with Billie.

He wasn't quiet of course. Giving Mike his loud greeting as he asked what he was drinking, taking a gulp, leaning around on the stool and trying to grab the attention of the bar tender all in thirty seconds as I watched him.

Billie must've watched my eyes. I felt a gentle nudge from behind.

"Huh?" I mumbled, looking back at Billie Joe.

He nodded his head to the door, which I'm guessing he was asking me to come outside with him.

Willow might be a little annoyed if I just leave for a little with out telling her that... but I realised Willow was still invested in what Austin was saying.

So I nodded back to Billie, finishing off the drink left in my glass before following him out the bar.

When the bar doors closed behind us, Billie pulled out a packet of camels cigarettes from his skinny Jeans pockets. "You still smoke?" He asked, taking one out as he placed it between his lips.

I shrugged. "Gave it up when I moved in with Willow,"

"Mind if I smoke this?" He pointed to the cig in his mouth. His speech slightly muffled from it.

I waved my hand in front of him. "Knock yourself out,"

We leaned with our backs to the bar. Hearing everything from inside since the bars doors frequently open and closed from time to time.

Billie lit his cigarette, taking his first drag before looking over to me.

"How you feeling?"

"About... the question?"

"No- just. Tonight- y'know? How is Echo Green feeling tonight?"

I crossed my arms, smiling down to the floor. "She's good," I nodded. Looking back. "How's Billie Joe Armstrong doing?"

"Stressed," He laughed breathily.

"What is he stressed about...?" For a second I felt guilty it might've been me. If this was really his way of re bringing up the conversation.

But of course, Billie was still the same Billie I always knew deep down. So it wasn't. "Organising everything for the tour coming up," he told me. Blowing out smoke. "It really puts a hold on you,"

"Your tours coming up... soon?"

He nodded, taking another drag.

"Well... how soon?"

"Maybe a week or so?"

"That's not far,"

"You're telling me,"

I've got a week!?  "You mean to tell me I've got a week left here?"

"Well that's if you decide to come," He shrugged. Taking another long drag as he stared off over the roar of the bar. Over to a local shop. Before he realised. Taking the cig out his mouth. "Wait- you're coming?"

I couldn't help but beam over at him. "Of course I am Billie Joe," I smiled. "How could I let you go with out me?"