2.Brothers

2. BROTHERS

Billy realized it was already evening, the dim light filtering through the curtains casting a soft glow in the room. As he stirred from his impromptu nap, Billy glanced around the living room, the remnants of his gaming session scattered around him.

"Oh, looks like I drifted off while gaming," Billy remarked with a wry smile as he stood up from the couch, stretching his arms in a lazy stretch.

"You've been glued to those games ever since you moved out, haven't you?" Austin shouted as he reached over to switch off the TV, the familiar sound of the console powering down filling the room.

"Just making the most of the holidays; you know I play less during regular times," Billy replied defensively, making his way towards the bathroom to freshen up, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet apartment.

"Yeah, yeah, okay! Want some coffee?" Austin called out from the kitchen as he headed to prepare some, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee soon wafting through the air.

"Only one spoon of sugar," Billy called back before closing the door to the bathroom, the sound of running water soon filling the small space.

"I know, I know," Austin chuckled to himself as he measured out the sugar, the rhythmic clink of the spoon against the ceramic mug filling the room.

In the bathroom, Billy stood in front of the mirror, splashing water on his face to wash away the remnants of sleep. As he looked at his reflection, he couldn't help but notice the faint scar on his temple, a stark reminder of the events from a year ago that still lingered in his mind.

Closing his eyes, Billy tried to recall the face of the woman who had saved him, her image fading in and out of his memory like a distant dream. Softly, almost reverently, a name slipped from his lips, "Ms. Anderson."

Opening his eyes once more, Billy reached for the towel hanging beside the mirror and gently dried his face, the soft fabric soothing against his skin as he took a moment to collect his thoughts.

"I wonder if I'll ever see her again," he mused silently, thoughts drifting back to the mysterious woman who had appeared in his hour of need, her kindness leaving a lasting impression on him.

In the kitchen, Austin placed the coffee cups on the dining table and took his seat, the clatter of ceramic against wood breaking the silence of the room. Taking a sip of his coffee, Austin returned to his mobile phone, the soft glow of the screen illuminating his face in the dim light.

Billy joined him at the table, grabbing his coffee cup and taking a seat opposite Austin. They both fell into the habit of scrolling through their devices in silence, the only sound the occasional click of a button or the soft hum of conversation from the neighboring apartment.

"Hey," Austin called out, his tone serious as he set his phone aside, his gaze shifting to meet Billy's eyes.

"What's up?" Billy replied, keeping his eyes fixed on his own screen, his fingers tapping out a rhythm against the smooth surface.

"You seemed to have a rough dream earlier. What was it about?" Austin's tone remained grave, concern etched into his features as he waited for Billy's response.

Billy hesitated for a moment, meeting Austin's serious gaze with a hesitant look of his own. "It's nothing, just a bad dream," he responded with a forced smile, but Austin wasn't convinced, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied Billy's expression.

"Really?" Austin pressed on, his tone soft but insistent, his concern for his friend evident in his voice.

"Yeah," Billy persisted, still attempting to deflect, his gaze flickering away from Austin's probing stare.

"Well, then I should book another appointment," Austin sighed, reaching for his phone once more, his fingers flying across the screen as he navigated to his calendar app.

"No!" Billy exclaimed, rising from his seat, a sense of urgency in his voice as he moved to stand beside Austin, his hand resting lightly on his friend's shoulder. "I'll tell you the truth. Don't take me there again."

"Okay, spill it," Austin said calmly, his eyes meeting Billy's with unwavering support, his concern for his friend evident in his steady gaze.

"It was just a dream about the incident from last year, the stabbing," Billy admitted, his tone earnest as he recounted the events of the night that had haunted him for months, his voice steady despite the memories that still lingered in his mind.

"Not your usual nightmare?" Austin inquired, his demeanor composed as he listened intently to Billy's explanation, his brow furrowing slightly in concern.

"No, not this time," Billy confirmed.

"Alright," Austin said, reaching for his mobile. "Let me know if you have that dream again."

"Sure thing," Billy replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "Did you add more sugar again?"

"Oops, my bad," Austin chuckled softly, realizing his oversight.

"Don't laugh! You know I can't stand it too sweet," Billy retorted playfully, shooting a mock glare at his friend.

"We have plans to meet up with Evelyn and Annie tonight, don't forget," Austin reminded Billy, his tone shifting back to seriousness as he recalled their prior arrangement.

"Oh, right! It's been 3 weeks since we last saw them. Eve mentioned something about having a small party tonight," Billy recalled, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice at the prospect of catching up with their friends.

In the evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the cityscape, Billy and Austin strolled through the bustling streets of Arora City's downtown area. Arora City, a vibrant port city known for its picturesque shoreline and towering buildings, bustled with activity as people went about their evening routines.

As they walked, Billy's keen eyes caught sight of two familiar figures in the distance, and his excitement bubbled up within him. Without a second thought, he recognized them and hastened his pace, eager to reunite with old friends.

"Hey, Eve, Annie!" Billy called out, his voice brimming with excitement, as he broke into a run towards the two girls.

"Hey, don't run," Austin called after him, following closely behind.

One of the girls, with her beautiful blonde hair catching the last rays of the setting sun, noticed Billy's approach, and a radiant smile lit up her face. "Annie, they're here," she said to her companion, a plain-looking girl with glasses and dark brown hair.