The Alchemists

Billie was so quiet after the incident and it got Jean to worry. He never saw Billie looking so depressed and vulnerable like today.

"Wait for me here, okay? Lock the door and turn off the TV and all communication devices. I will go to the penthouse to shower and change my clothes, then I'll come back with some drinks," Jean said after taking Billie to her suite.

The girl nodded with her body still trembling slightly. She then closed the door and lay down on the couch, trying to forget what happened at the stadium earlier.

Jean took shower and tried to get rid off the image of the incident earlier. He was worried about Billie's mental health and at the same time he was worried about Marion. He remembered Marion turned off her phone right after the shooting and he hadn't heard from her for hours.

After he managed to look fresh and calm, he went out of the penthouse to accompany Billie, like he promised. On the way out he saw Caspar's liquor cabinet and decided to take the strongest drink available. At the moment he needed something strong to distract his mind.

When he arrived back at Billie's suite, the beautiful was still lying on the couch motionless, and her eyes staring at the ceiling. She looked scared and shaken at the same time.

"Let me pour us some drinks so that we can calm down," Jean said as he walked to the pantry and prepare the drinks. Five minutes later, the couple was sitting on the couch, enjoying their shots.

Billie still looked shaken. She was mostly silent and on occasions did not respond to Jean's words.

"Mmm ... what are you thinking about?" he asked her softly. Billie turned and shook her head slowly, looking away. Jean frowned, "Do you want to cancel your other concerts and go back to America?"

Billie shook her head again. No one spoke for a long time, before finally the sad-eyed girl poured her heart out. "You have made an offer for us to retire several times, and my answer had always been no. However, after tonight's incident, I feel like I no longer want to be in this industry, even though I really love music."

"Oh ..." Jean turned to Billie and looked at her closely, waiting for the next sentence to come out of her lips. "So?"

The girl looked back at him with a pair of sad-looking eyes.

"I won't ask for us to get married or have children," Billie's voice was rather shaky because she said it with all her heart. "I will also retire from the entertainment industry so I can start a new and peaceful life in Switzerland or wherever ... but I cannot do it alone. I want to know if the offer for us to start a life together still is still on the table."

Jean looked at Billie carefully and realized that the girl was very serious about what she had just said. Billie, who ended their relationship a year ago, who told him to find his own happiness because they do not share the same principles of life, now told him that she was willing to live with Jean and follow his life's principles, provided they could be together.

"Billie ... Honey," Jean was speechless. He really loved this girl. But a year had passed and his feelings had changed. Now he loved her like a sister.

"I'm scared, Jean. I'm scared that something like this will happen again and I don't have anyone with me," Billie cupped her hands to her face trying to hold back tears. Jean placed his glass on the table and hugged Billie.

"Sshh ... calm down, I'm here." He coaxed the girl with gentle words and allowed her to cry on his shoulder, to release her feelings that had been pent up earlier. Billie could no longer hold back her tears and her body shook in Jean's embrace. The man tried his best to calm her down.

After her crying subsided. Billie raised her face and looked at Jean with a pleading look, "Could you please stay with me tonight? Please ... I know I won't be able to sleep. I took a few sleeping pills earlier but my head just feels empty and I can't feel the medicine working."

"Yes, of course," Jean nodded. "It's past midnight, you should try to sleep."

Billie agreed to Jean's suggestion but when she tried to stand up, she lost her balance and would have fallen to the floor if Jean hadn't caught her in time, "Uhm ... I'm sorry, maybe I drank too much."

"It's okay. Let me carry you to your bed," Jean said softly. He carried Billie, took her to her bedroom, and laid her on the bed. After covering Billie and adjusting the temperature of the room, he sat next to her and looked at her.

"Jean ... I can't sleep." Billie complained ten minutes later. She was holding Jean's hand and he patted her lightly. "Just leave. It's useless if you wait for me here, I won't sleep."

"Sshh ... don't say that. Tonight you experienced something horrific. You must rest and prepare yourself for tomorrow." Jean pondered for a moment and finally decided to help Billie sleep. "I will accompany you. Calm down and try to get some sleep."

He then took off his shoes and climbed unto the bed, then laid next to Billie and hugged her. The girl took a deep breath and tried to close her eyes. Five minutes later, she was asleep. Jean's hug calmed her tense body that she was finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.

Jean made sure Billie was completely asleep before he decided to go back to the penthouse. Billie was beautiful and delicate and soft and fragile, and he felt responsible for looking after her, especially since she was his girlfriend for a dozen years.

He then remembered the 89 missed calls from Marion and felt his chest tighten.