I gotta get over this... why am I being so weak?? This is so stupid!! Mandy growled in her mind, glaring at the ceiling. Her fists clenched the wrinkled blanket underneath her, the girl still lying on the bed where Grim had last left her. Mandy wanted to tear herself from the bed, go outside, and pretend that Billy's death never occurred. She sighed, only wishing she had the will power to do so.

A knock on her bedroom door soon brought Mandy out of her personal thoughts, her eyeballs snapping over to glance at it through the corner of her view. "Go away, bonehead." Mandy mumbled, assuming it was her paranormal friend come again.

Outside the door, Grim and Billy stood still holding each other's hands, the small ghost no longer trembling. Grim, after hearing Mandy's rejection to his visitation, looked down at Billy. "Well," He began, taking a breath, "go on in and talk to her."

Billy felt his ghostly hand drop as Grim released it. "But she just said to go away." Billy whined softly, eyes on the door.

Grim shook his head, "She needs to talk to you, Billy."

Mandy furrowed her eyebrows, hearing the creak of her door as it eased open. "I told you, I don't want to talk!" She snapped, eyelids refusing to lift and allow her to see.

Billy walked in, pouting. "But Grim says I needs to talk to you." He explained, Grim closing the door behind Billy.

Eyelids instantaneously fluttering open, Mandy gaped at the sight of Billy in surprise. The girl quickly shook the expression off, sitting up on her bed. As much as she tried, she couldn't replace her more-than-interested look on her with the usual stone face, eyes looking the ghost over. "Billy, how are you... I saw your body... you can't be..."

Billy, confused, merely tilted his head in response to Mandy's jumbled words. Unable to contain her feelings inside herself any longer, Mandy jumped off the bed and stepped towards Billy, wrapping her arms around her best friend. Billy blinked, certainly not expecting such an action from Mandy. Despite Mandy's irregular behavior, Billy returned the hug, his arms embracing around the girl's waist. Their small bodies were pressed together, each holding the other in a affectionate reunion.

Just as the touching moment had begun, however, it ended as Mandy pulled away and slapped Billy across the face. The stunned boy collapsed onto the ground at the girl's feet, his tongue flopping out.

As Billy recovered, Mandy watched him with an angry expression on her façade. "You're so stupid! Do you know that? I knew your thick-headed skull would get you killed someday."

Billy struggled to his feet, rubbing his cheek. "Huh? Killed?" He questioned, glimpsing Mandy before almost falling again.

Mandy paused, eyes narrowing. "Yes, Billy. Why else would you be a ghost?" Obviously the young girl had figured that since Billy was VERY cold and slightly transparent, he was a ghost, and assumed Grim had somehow gotten him safely to their realm.

"I'm a ghost?" Billy asked, utterly confused. He looked down at himself, scratching his head.

"You didn't know you were a ghost?" Mandy said blandly, giving Billy a look of irritation.

"I guess that does explain why I could walk right through my bed..."

Rolling her eyes, Mandy sighed. "I really do NOT know why I missed you..."

While Mandy shook her head, gaze at her feet, Billy smiled. "I know why I missed you."

For once the boy sounded at least slightly intelligent, Mandy ceasing the motion of her head and looking up at him, waiting for him to continue.

Billy stepped closer to Mandy, and to her astonishment took her hand in his. "Because you're my bestest friend." Although Billy had added an unnecessary suffix to a word, it was still one of the most- if not THE most- sweetest things Billy had ever said to Mandy.

Outside of the now silent room, a cloaked skeleton leaned against the door, smiling.


Just so you all understand, this is NOT a Billy/Mandy romance. They just happened to have a nice FRIENDLY moment together. Alone. In a bedroom. :)

They're entitled to have their moments, aren't they?