It was the middle of fall. You could see two boys running down a hill. These two boys were Kevin and Daniel.
"Yo, yo, yo, Daniel! We're gonna be super late, bro! How could you forget about this? I set us up with a date—with two hot chicks! How do you forget about that?" said Kevin.
Daniel responded, breathing heavily while staring into the distance—though it felt like he was looking at nothing.
"Yeah… I'm sorry, Kevin. My mind's just been occupied with a few things lately, especially after what happened," said Daniel.
Kevin heard this, glanced at his friend, and said, "Listen, Daniel. This is coming from the bottom of my heart as your friend. Forget about that girl. She cheated on you—not the other way around. I know you feel like you did something wrong, but there's nothing more you could've done. From what I saw, you were the best boyfriend to her. You did everything you could to make her happy.
"I guess some people just aren't content. They always want more. Always wondering if the grass is greener on the other side. People like that? It's best to avoid them—especially when they treat others like test runs for something 'better.' They always think they can do better, but the truth is, the grass isn't always greener. Once they realize that, they tend to crawl back into your life.
"That's why—no. In no fucking universe am I letting you get back with her. Not in a million years. The only way you'd get back with her is over my dead body."
Kevin paused and softened his voice.
"Listen, Daniel. I've been friends with you since middle school. I know what kind of person you are. I know you overthink things. I know you let people walk all over you sometimes."
Kevin noticed Daniel's expression change, so he quickly adjusted his words.
"I wouldn't necessarily call those flaws. Daniel, you're a good person. A really good person. That's why I'm surprised you always, somehow, end up surrounded by the wrong people. Before we became close, it's like you were a magnet for toxic folks. And no matter how hard I try to keep them away, they just keep showing up. Aside from the few friends I introduced you to, you haven't made many solid ones."
Kevin looked at Daniel with a curious expression.
Daniel, clearly tired of the topic, replied, "Yeah, yeah, I know. I don't know what it is. Every time I try talking to someone, they seem normal. Like a good person. They have everything going for them. Like this one girl—I checked her Instagram, and didn't see anything weird. She seemed chill. But the next thing you know, she's offering me a bunch of drugs. It was sudden as hell. She did a complete 180."
Daniel smirked self-deprecatingly. "Like you said, Kevin—I've just got a gift for attracting the worst people."
Kevin smiled with him. "Yeah, I know. But hey—listen. No matter what happens to you, as long as you don't kill anyone for no good reason or do anything illegal, I'll always have your back."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "So if I had a good reason to kill someone, you'd defend me? Help me get rid of the body?"
Kevin paused, thinking. "Well, yeah. Let's say, for example, you saw someone kill your sister—"
"I don't have a sister," Daniel interrupted.
Kevin waved it off. "I don't know, man. Hypotheticals. So yeah—if you saw someone kill your sister and you lashed out, killing them in the moment? I'd help you get rid of the body—assuming no one else knew. But if you found out the next day and then tracked the guy down to kill him? I probably wouldn't help you with that."
Daniel tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because you'd be the first suspect," Kevin said. "Think about it—someone kills your sister, and then a day later they end up dead? Who's the first person police look at? You.
"It's just common sense. Someone loses a loved one, you expect the family to lash out. It happens—physically, emotionally, whatever. You kill someone important, and karma usually finds a way to return. So yeah: do stupid shit, win dumb prizes."
Daniel frowned. "So I just let the person who killed my sister walk away? No consequences? The only thing that happens is they get locked up? I could never let that happen. I'm too impulsive. If someone told me something like that, I'd hunt that person down instantly. I couldn't care less if I ended up in jail."
Kevin shrugged. "To each their own."
Daniel looked at Kevin. "Well, Kevin, why wouldn't you do it? End the poor bastard's life who killed your sister?"
Kevin replied, "Like you said—I don't have a sister. I don't have any family, for that matter. So it depends. Am I the me right now, or the me raised by a loving family? Because I'll tell you straight—the me right now? I wouldn't risk my life for anyone. Not in a million years."
Daniel smiled at Kevin. "Are you sure about that? Not even for me?"
Kevin looked him dead in the eyes. "Nope. Not even for you. My only friend."
Daniel laughed it off. "Anyway, we gotta hurry. We're gonna be late for that date. Like you said, Kevin—I'm just gonna forget about her and move on."
Kevin faintly smiled. "Good. Now let's pick up the pace. Wouldn't want to keep your future girlfriend waiting."
It was still fall. Daniel and Kevin had just graduated high school and moved into the same college dorm. They'd applied to the same school and, within just 1 week of being on campus, Daniel had somehow scored them a double date.
They arrived at the meeting spot. Daniel looked around, spotted the girls, and smiled. Kevin glanced over and saw them too. They were definitely pretty.
One was wearing all black—a full-on gothic style. The other was the complete opposite, dressed in all white with a clean, monochromatic look.
Kevin blinked. "These two look like polar opposites," he thought, "and yet they get along so well."
Daniel called out, "Hey Kevin! I'd like you to meet these two. This is Selene, and this is Nyx. The one wearing white—you'll be hanging out with her. That's Nyx. And this beautiful lady in all black? That's my date, Selene."
He turned to the girls. "And ladies, this is Kevin—my best friend since middle school. Me and him are practically inseparable."
Selene smiled. "Oh hey, Kevin! Nice to meet you. Daniel's told us a lot about you. Seriously, he couldn't stop talking about you—said how great you were and how he wanted us to meet you."
Kevin chuckled lightly. "Oh yeah, that sounds like Daniel alright."
Selene nodded. "This is my best friend, Nyx. She doesn't say much. Daniel said you'd be cool with that, but don't worry—once you get to know her, she turns into a total chatterbox."
Selene waved. "Alright, we'll meet back here in three hours. Have fun! And Nyx, call me if anything comes up. Okay? Bye, y'all!"
As the two ran away, Kevin sighed under his breath. "Okay, I guess it's just you and me."
Nyx smiled softly at him, and he smiled lightly back.