event

Billy adjusted his sports suit again, sipping on some orange juice, as there were only two days left to wrap up the campaign. Today was the big stunt: the jump from the airplane.

-So, the jump is happening this time?- Kate asked.

-Yeah, I guess we have to go through with it,- Billy replied, watching as the helicopter gradually ascended and moved toward the designated drop zone.

-You were about to tell me something not long ago,-Billy inquired.

-Nothing important. I just had a strange feeling, but now I know it wasn't true... I had to jump three times to get used to this kind of thing. Now, even though my legs still shake a little, I feel braver. I used to think being daring required a different kind of attitude, but I'd much rather hit a club or stay home than chase this so-called 'life on the edge.' Don't get me wrong, I think it's amazing that you can do this, but I wouldn't attempt it on my own,- Kate said, letting out a deep sigh.

-Where's Jack?- Billy asked, realizing Jack had become somewhat of an afterthought, almost completely forgotten.

-I have no idea. He just vanished one day, and everything was going great,- Kate answered with a hint of disdain. The fact that Jack hadn't said anything when he disappeared left a sour taste, creating an odd mix of anger and longing, though it was clear that things between Kate and Jack had ended on bad terms.

-Okay, let's hope we're lucky,- Billy said, changing the subject. It seemed tactless to dwell on Jack, and Spencer's words about people like Jack now made sense—perhaps Billy and Jack were more alike than they appeared, the kind who ruin things when they're close to something important. Maybe the fear of commitment or simply their inability to do things right held them back.

-When I first saw you jump, I thought, 'Damn, this guy's crazy.' But when I heard you sing, those preconceptions vanished. It takes a certain natural arrogance to face fear like that—so arrogant that fear doesn't seem to matter, - Kate remarked.

-I hope that's a compliment, -Billy murmured.

The helicopter was large enough to carry ten passengers, though there were only four people onboard now. Each had a camera attached to them, and a cameraman with a handheld camera would jump after them. It all seemed risky, but the instructions were simple: jump, grab hands mid-air, pull the parachutes, and aim for the designated landing spot, where the production team would be waiting. Easy, right? Just another "do it yourself" kind of day.

They were sponsoring various sports apparel—sneakers, shirts, hoodies, pants, and sweatshirts. Billy had a mountain of deliveries waiting for him, both in his home and his hotel room in London. With so much gear, he could clothe a family of five. The constant shipments made him consider buying a flat in London.

The only issue? Life was expensive. Mansions ranged from 10 million to 23 million euros, and rent wasn't cheap either. Despite being wealthy, spending half of his fortune on a house didn't seem like the smartest move. But Jerry would find him a place in Kensington or Chelsea if needed, for the right price.

-You can jump from this distance. Just make sure to follow everything we've taught you. We'll be filming from here. If you calculate the distance correctly, you'll land in the red circle,- the production assistant said.

Looking down, Billy could see a red circle about the size of a football field, barely visible from up high. He took a deep breath. Despite her fear, Kate became quite experienced after a year of practice, and her fear of heights significantly reduced. Don't get it wrong—jumping from 3,000 feet still triggers a primal fear in anyone. Humans aren't birds, after all.

Billy steadied his breathing and let himself fall, trying to maintain composure during the drop. He kept his mouth shut and his eyes focused on the target. He extended his arms like a starfish as the force of the descent pulled him downward. Moments later, he reached Kate Bosworth. Their arms locked briefly, their eyes met, and then they separated, pulling their parachutes. The entire event took place in seconds. Within 15 seconds, they were already on the ground. Kate didn't quite land smoothly, and Billy barely managed to avoid crashing into the grass. The camera hadn't captured that moment, but Billy quickly recovered, removing his helmet and delivering his line:

-You can do it better. You can do it yourself,- Billy said to the camera, with a bright smile, providing the perfect shot.

Kate followed with her line, sealing the deal. The Nike contract was simply a luxury they could both use to their advantage as artists.

…

Later that day, Billy met up with the twins and the quiet Robert Pattinson, who seemed as reserved as ever. The group had gotten used to gathering and playing video games.

-I'll bet 10 pounds,- James said.

-I see you 10 pounds,- Billy replied.

They were playing a Mortal Kombat tournament, a free-for-all battle where the last to lose 10 matches would be the winner. The thrill came from trying to win the most, and the competitive atmosphere was electric.

-Master of the universe,- James said, grinning as he won against Billy. He was the best fighter of the group, though his brother knew how to beat him—James was forbidden from using a certain blue-suited character that made him invincible.

-You're good at this,- Billy mumbled, slightly frustrated, though he managed to keep his anger in check by focusing on where he went wrong.

-So, your birthday is in five days, - Robert mentioned, his voice quieter than usual.

-Yep, it's a trip to Monaco, with a bit of a party. It'll be fun. The trip's only two days, so we can keep things calm and then throw a fantastic party, - Billy replied, placing a hand on Robert's shoulder.

-That's not it... It's just—

-Well, Jerry's handling the guest list. There aren't many people, and the yacht we're using belongs to a prince. The guy's trying to date someone I know, so we're borrowing it. Only young people are invited. That was the deal.-

-Yeah, it's just—

-Stop being so shy, Robert,- Billy said, chuckling.

-I know, I know... It's just my thoughts, coming and going, - Robert said, shaking it off. With Billy, everything seemed easy, but a two-week-long party wasn't something to take lightly.

Both boys continued their game of Mortal Kombat, with their usual calm, competitive focus.

...