Laughter filled Kyle's backyard, where two young girls sprawled on a blanket in the grass, surrounded by crayons, paper, and a half-built Lego castle. Sarah List, Damon's little sister, giggled as Lily Kyle narrated an elaborate story about knight puppy Popcorn. The two were inseparable, bound by a shared imagination that neither age nor family dynamics could break.
1st Person POV
I stood by the white wooden fence, petting the Corgi Puppy named Popcorn.
This was my first time at Jesse's house. I didn't plan to stay long—just pick up Sarah and leave—but the sight of his sister's radiant smile made him pause, and the cute little puppy.
The house itself was a sharp contrast to the Two-Story white brick house Sarah.
It was a cottage-like one-floor house, with plants dangling from the porch and mismatched blue and white patio furniture scattered across the lawn. A large, battered skateboard leaned against the porch railing—a clear sign of its owner.
"Didn't expect to see you here, List."
I turned to see Jesse leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed. His hair was messier than usual, and his black t-shirt was slightly damp from the heat. There was that ever-present smirk like he knew a joke no one else was in on. 'Fuck…Oh, no, he is hot.'
"Yeah, well, my baby sister is here," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Figured I'd pick her up."
"Looks like she's not ready to leave," Jesse said, nodding toward the girls. Sarah and Lily were now pretending to be knights, dueling with sticks they'd picked up from the ground.
I shrugged. "Oh, well, I'll just annoy you."
"You don't have to stand there looking awkward, you know. Come sit down." Jesse tilts his head to the patio chair.
I walked over, lowering myself onto one of the wobbly patio chairs and crossing my legs.
"Nice place," I said, unsure of what else to say.
Jesse laughed, the sound sharp but not unkind. "Sure. Let's call it that."
There was a pause, filled only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional squeal of laughter from the girls. I glanced at Jesse, noticing the tiredness on Jesse's face
"Your sister and mine seem to get along well," I said, attempting to make small talk.
"Yeah," Jesse replied, his smirk softening. "Lily talks about Sarah all the time. Says she's the only person who doesn't think her Unicorn obsession is weird."
I chuckled. "Sarah's got a pretty wild imagination."
Jesse leaned back in his chair, eyes on the girls. "Kids are good at that. Makes you wonder when we all stopped seeing Unicorn and started seeing... everything else."
I said," Who knows? Age, Brain function, God, etc., who really knows?"
Before he could say anything, Lily ran over, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Jesse! Sarah says her brother can play basketball better than you. Is that true?"
Jesse raised an eyebrow, shooting a glance at me. "Oh, is that what she said?"
I could feel the smirk come on my face. "She's not wrong."
Lily grinned, clearly enjoying the rivalry. "You should play against him, Jesse! Show him you're the best!"
"I don't think—" I started, but Jesse cut me off. 'Rude'
"Why not?" Jesse stood, brushing off his jeans. "Let's see what the golden boy's got."
3rd Person POV
The next ten minutes were chaotic.
Jesse retrieved a slightly deflated basketball from the garage, and soon the backyard became an impromptu court. Sarah and Lily acted as referees, shouting rules that made little sense, while Damon and Jesse squared off.
It wasn't a real game—more of a playful one-on-one—but it was enough to ignite their competitive spirits. Damon's natural athleticism was undeniable, but Jesse had an unpredictability that kept him on his toes.
"Not bad," Jesse said, dribbling past Damon with a quick pivot. "But you're too predictable."
"And you're too reckless," Damon shot back, intercepting the ball with a swift move.
By the end of the game, both were out of breath, leaning against the porch railing as the girls cheered wildly.
"Okay, maybe you're not just a pretty face," Jesse admitted, a grin tugging at his lips.
Damon laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. "And maybe you're not just a troublemaker."
The moment hung in the air, an unspoken understanding passing between them. It wasn't friendship—not yet.
As Damon gathered Sarah and prepared to leave, Lily tugged on Jesse's sleeve. "Can Sarah come over again tomorrow?"
Jesse ruffled her hair. "We'll see, kiddo."
Damon glanced back as they walked toward his car. Jesse was still on the porch, watching them go. For a moment, their eyes met, and Damon gave a small nod. Jesse returned it.
Driving away, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Jesse Kyle was still a mystery, but now he was a mystery, A very pretty mystery.