"Just open the door,"

"No,"

"Look. I'm sorry for what I did. I just really think you should get out the house more. I wanted to help,"

"Willow just piss off," I mumbled.

I knew she was still outside the locked bedroom door. I heard her feet shuffling around before she spoke up again. "I have something that should make it up to you,"

"What is it?"

"A present,"

"Present huh?"

Her voice became slightly more happy as she heard mine become less annoyed. "Yes, a present just for you,"

I shook my head smiling slightly before I pushed myself off my bed. Pushing my tangled hair behind my ears as I made my way to the door and unlocked it.

Willow gave me a happy smile, her hands behind her back.

"Where's my present?"

She pulled her hands around. A thin square item wrapped in wrapping paper in her hand as she passed it to me.

I took it, looking at it confused. It was thin and light. "What is it?"

"Open it,"

I ripped off the wrapping paper gently, pulling it off as I dropped the rubbish to the floor beside me.

I turned it around in my hand.

I looked down at it, in both my hands reading it carefully. But I had seen this around on posters and TV. I knew what it was. I held an American idiot vinyl in my hands.

"I know... I know its harder... with a break up when you see and you hear him everywhere. And when you shouldn't of broken up anyway and everything was going great. I could tell how much you loved him by the stories you told. And I could tell how much he must've loved you. I know you miss him and you're in denial cause you feel like you shouldn't cause of the time thats passed. But I walked past the vinyl shop and I saw it in the window. Maybe it could give you some closer... or maybe theres something on that album dedicated or you,"

I snorted sarcastically looking back up at her. "Yeah right,"

"You never know. Give it a listen while you get ready eh?"

"Why am I getting ready?" I asked, looking down at my lazy choice of clothing. Joggers and a old top with white paint on. "I'm not going anywhere,"

"You're coming with me to the bar,"

"I am?"

"You are,"

"Since when?"

"Since now,"

"Why?"

"Because you need social interaction with other people other than me, co-workers and customers,"

"And instead of all those... you think it's a better idea to interact with drunk strangers,"

"Hey!" She said quickly pointing her finger towards me. "Some of the greatest conversations I've had have either been with a drunk stranger or me being the drunk stranger!"

I rolled my eyes knowing she was right. Telling your whole entire past story to someone  who you didn't know or knew wouldn't remember these things or tell anyone else since well... they didn't exactly know you.

It was nice to just get everything off your chest and know there would be no backlash.

"So c'mon. You get ready, I'll drive. We can just go to one of the cosy bars in town square and have a night. It'll be fun, I'll keep an eye on you make sure you get in no trouble. How about that huh?"

I sighed staring back at Willow. She was being so nice I would've felt like the hugest bitch in the world If I was to just tell her I didn't want to go for whatever reason I did have. That was if I even had a reason, I don't.

She picked up on my silence. Before she added. "Please?"

Maybe I owed it to her. To not be the hugest dick in the world and actually be a friend who she could enjoy a night with. "Alright, fine,"

"Wait- really?"

"Uhuh,"

"Oh my god... oh my god! Okay! Well... I mean- I need to get ready- you- you need to get ready!"

~

"Got the keys?"

I nodded.

"And your purse?"

I nodded.

"Alright... come on then,"

We both turned to each car door letting ourselves out of Willows parked car. I looked up in front of us up at the bars neon signs that glowed. Looking over at Willow, the reflection of the green sign flashing on her face before she walked in.

I followed shortly behind feeling like her child, keeping close as we made our way over to the bar.

We pulled to empty tall stood up, sitting on them as the bar tender made their way over to Willow first.

"What can I get you?" He asked her cleaning a glass.

The man seemed fairly young, maybe younger than we were. His hair was blonde and fluffy as he pushed it out of his eyes with his arm since his hands were cleaning.

She shrugged smiling. Ordering her drink already as he turned to me. Asking me what I wanted with out exactly speaking. I looked back at him nervously before mumbling. "I'll just have... the same,"

He nodded, walking a bit down the bar as he put the glass down he was cleaning.

I looked around at the people who were already here. There were a few older men surrounding the pool table, having a laugh as one took a shot. His friend quickly nudging him ruining his shot. But they both laughed as he nudged them.

There were a few more quiet people huddled around the tables at the back of the bar. Not one seeming to be on their own.

The glasses were placed down as I spun back around on the stool. Thanking him as I placed the notes down on the bar.

That's when someone else had walked in.

They appeared beside me, ordering a drink.

I moved back slightly to see who it was before Willow began to get giddy.

Sure enough, of course it would have been him. Since Willow and I don't seem to go anywhere with out him anymore.

Austin was Willows boyfriend. Had been for quite a few years now, wasn't sure how many.

I didn't mind Austin as a person. As a person I think he's a great guy. He treats Willow right and makes her happy... so what else really matters?

But I had been reminded why I don't go out anywhere with Willow anymore as he made his way to her giving her a greeting kiss.

Because most of the time I always ended up third wheeling.

"Hey Echo," Austin smiled turning around to me.

I nodded slightly uncomfortable. "Hi Austin, I didn't know you were coming?"

"Oh yeah- I- I- asked Austin to join us," Willow told me. "You don't mind that... right? I didn't think you'd mind or anything but-"

"-No... no it's fine. I don't mind," I lied.

Of course I minded. Who chooses to third wheel?

As the night went on, surely enough I disappear away from the two and found a stranger to ramble with at the bar. Then even enough when the first made an exit.

From what I knew so far about the second stranger, which might've been his whole life story, his name was George . His wife recently just popped out his very first child and he was here taking a break from her nagging and the babies crying. I didn't really have much of a story to tell, but I told him I was here because I was dragged to third wheel.

"That's my friend-" I pointed across the bar at Willow and Austin. "-With her boyfriend,"

"You don't like him?"

"It's not that I don't like him. He's a good guy. I just- third wheeling sucks,"

He nodded, taking a sip from his drink. "I get ya,"

"I just always third wheel with them. It's not that I'm selfish... but I wish she would stop inviting him around so often,"

"Maybe you should just find another person," He suggested.

I looked over at him funny. "A new best friend?" I slurred.

"No- no... but a forth person,"

"Like my own boyfriend?"

He laughed slightly. "Its just a suggestion, maybe then you wont feel like a third wheel."

"Maybe I should... but I dont want to have to find someone only for the reason that I'm not a third wheel. Its gotta happen in time... y'know?"

"You believe in fate then?"

"If we were right for each other you wouldn't have to leave," He whispered.

"Right person, wrong time. If we cross paths in the future we'll know it's fate,"

"But y'know I think fate is bullshit,"

"And y'know I think it too. But I'll put all my faith in fate to bring us together again,"

I nodded. "Desperately,"

"I've never given fate much of a thought," He shrugged. "It seems too far fetched for me,"

"I'll agree with far fetched. I use to think fate was bullshit. A part of me still does. But sometimes I have to convince myself to chill out trying to find someone. If there's really someone out there for me, I wouldn't loose them... right?"

"You talk from experience," He noted, crossing his arms intrigued. "You've got a story, it's on the tip of your tongue,"

I snorted slightly. "Its hardly a story,"

"Well it seems to of changed your perspective on fate,"

"Maybe so..."

"So give me the run down of the story,"

I breathed in. Before sighing. "I was with this guy. He was a really big part of my life- he became everything I had. My relationship with my parents was shit. They planned on dumping me at my grandmas so I left him at a coach station and got the coach to somewhere else. Either way I would've had to leave him. But I chose to do it earlier just so I wouldnt have to live with my own gran,"

"His number?"

"I'd left my phone somewhere else. His had broken,"

He nodded, then gulped down the rest of his drink before he stood up. "Well... I'll believe in fate for you Echo,"

I looked at him confused, took me a moment to realise he was leaving since I wasn't exactly sober right now. "Wha- where you going?"

"I gotta go back home, you have fun with your friends though," He told me putting his coat on.

I looked over at them, the both of them laughing as Willow clutched on to Austin's arm. I breathed out slightly looking back over. "Eh, I'll try,"

"Take care Echo," He told me, friendly tapping my shoulder as he walked off.

"You too George,"

And he walked out the bar.

So me? I was alone... again. Thats the second stranger I've drank with that's had to leave. What time even is it?

I chugged the rest of my drink down, abandoning the glass on the bar as I stumbled making my way over back to Willow and Austin to annoy them again.

I leaned on the bar for balance, reaching the both of them as Willow spotted me. "Your boyfriend leave?"

"He wasn't my boyfriend you freak- hiccup- He was older than me. He was even telling me about his wife and daughter,"

"What about the other person you was talking to?" Austin asked.

"He left ages ago,"

"Was he your boyfriend?"

"He was old- hiccup- old enough to be my dad,"

"So why do you always find older people to talk to at the bar?" Willow questioned laughing slightly.

"Cause they tell good stories," I shrugged obviously.

She gave me a laugh before looking back over at Austin.

As the night carried on I began to feel nauseous. Making my way to the ladies bathroom and obviously ending up with my head faced with a toilet bowl. Yakking up my guts.

Nothing special about throwing up of course, until after 'freshening up' and leaving the bathroom I nearly broke my neck standing on something.

I grunted, looking down as I moved my foot out of the way. Staring down at a black wallet. I picked it up off the bar floor staring at it. What do you do with a found wallet? Any guy will claim its his.

Sighing, I made my way back to Austin and Willow interrupting their conversation as I slid on the bar stood beside Willow. "Guess what I found,"

"Another middle aged guy?" Austin teased.

I sent him a sarcastic smile. "No, actually,"

"So what did you find?"

"A wallet," I lifted it up beside me.

"How muchs in it?"

"I didn't check Austin, it's not mine,"

"Well check," Willow nudged me.

I rolled my eyes flipping it open. Surprisingly enough, in the pouch of the wallet was money. And a lot of it.

"What notes are they?" Willow asked me surprised.

I pulled one out. "I think they're all tens..."

"Steal them!"

"Austin shut up!" Willow scolded, elbowing him.

"I can't steal them. This is loads of money- someone must've worked their ass off for all this they'll want it back,"

"Echo's right," Willow agreed to Austin. "You gotta ask around, see whose lost a wallet,"

"Thats no use, ignorance will agree to loosing it," Austin told her.

I nodded. "He's right,"

Willow, Austin and I looked over to a new guy with shaggy black hair, who leaned over the bar speaking to the bar tender. "Hey erm," He started. "Has anyone handed in a wallet?"

"Let me look," The bar tender responded. Walked over grabbing another wallet that was placed a bit away from him. He opened it up pulling out a card sneakily, looking at it. "What's your name?" The bar tender asked him.

"Oh- Billie Joe Armstrong,"

I froze completely. I couldnt see his face, but I could've kicked myself for not realising I knew the voice. I'd heard him speaking on the TV just a day ago.

"No way," Willow whispered.

I panicked, looking down at the black wallet in my hands. I opened it up again ignoring the money and looking for a card.

"Sorry Billie, this wallets someone else's," The bar tender replied.

I pulled out a card, reading over the name. 'Billie Joe Armstrong'.

I had it.

"Damn... that's alright,"

"Billie," I squeaked. My voice sounded pretty fragile but it sure grabbed his attention as he looked over.

Being faced with the same green eyes from all those years ago. We made eye contact and I swear I lost all senses to breathe.

"Huh?" He replied, before seeing me. I could see the moment his heart sunk through his eyes. "Oh my god,"

I slowly lifted up the wallet in my hand.

His shocked expression broke into a smile. His eyes still big. Before he chuckled slightly. "No way,"

All though I felt absolutely weak and stunned, his expression made me grin before I managed to reply. "Think I've got something of yours,"