꧁𝒷𝓁ℴℴ𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓈ℴ𝓃꧂ 𝒷𝒾𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓁ℴℴ𝓂𝒾𝓈✃

11

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The night carries a familiar energy, a hum of laughter and conversation that fills Stu's living room as we all settle into the comfortable chaos that comes with being together. For a moment, I can almost convince myself that things are normal—that nothing is wrong, and life isn't falling apart around us.

Stu's house has always been the default spot for gatherings like this. His parents are rarely home, so the place feels like neutral ground, somewhere we can all relax without hovering adults or awkward silences. Tonight's no different, and yet it feels like everything is off, like we're all pretending a little too hard that nothing is happening outside the walls of this room.

Billy is next to me on the couch, his arm casually resting behind my shoulders. It's not quite touching me, but I can feel the warmth radiating from him, and somehow, that's comforting. He's been nothing but supportive lately, always knowing when to text, when to show up at my door with that calm, easy smile of his. It's made me feel better, more stable. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, Randy's words from a few nights ago still linger, like a splinter I can't quite dig out.

But no. I shake the thought away. Billy isn't the kind of person Randy's making him out to be. He's kinda been my safe place through all this mess. If he were involved, I'd know. I'd feel it. Wouldn't I?

But this dream I had a few weeks ago doesn't seem to leave my mind.

Tatum and Stu are sprawled across the other side of the couch, engaged in some half-serious argument about the playlist for tonight. Tatum insists they need something more upbeat, something to drown out the tension that's been hanging over all of us. Stu, of course, thinks horror movie soundtracks are the way to go—"It's thematic!"—and Tatum just rolls her eyes, leaning into his shoulder with a playful shove. They bicker like this all the time, but it's in a way that makes it clear they're completely in sync, like their arguments are just another language they use to communicate.

Sydney sits quietly on the floor, cross-legged in front of the coffee table, sipping from a can of soda. She hasn't said much since we all got here, but that's not unusual for her. She's always been more reserved, the one who watches and listens rather than jumps into the middle of everything. I think we all appreciate that about her—she balances the group, grounds us when things get a little too chaotic. I catch her eye for a second, and she gives me a small smile and I return it.

Randy's perched on a chair across from me, talking to anyone who will listen about the latest horror flick he's seen. "It's all about subverting expectations," he says, gesturing wildly. "The killer is never the one you think it is, which is exactly why—"

He cuts himself off, his eyes darting toward Billy, and I can tell he's holding back. It's subtle, but the tension between Randy and Billy has been growing, especially since Randy started hinting that Billy might be... involved. I know he's just being Randy, letting his imagination run wild with all these horror movie scenarios, but it's been getting under my skin.

Billy, for his part, seems unfazed. He's laughing at something Stu said, leaning back into the couch like he's completely at ease. Every now and then, he glances over at me, his dark eyes searching mine as if he's checking in, making sure I'm okay. It's these little gestures—his quiet attention, his way of making me feel seen—that remind me why I trust him. He's always been there for me, always knows what I need without me having to say it.

But then there's Sarah.

Sarah is sitting in a chair a little too close to Billy, as usual. She's been acting weird lately, overly nice to me in a way that feels... forced. Like she's trying too hard. I don't know when it started, exactly, but ever since the attack, she's been different. More fake. And for some reason, she seems to hover around Billy more than anyone else, her laugh a little too loud when he makes a joke, her eyes lingering on him a little too long. It's subtle, but I notice it.

"Lisa, you've been pretty quiet tonight," Sarah says suddenly, her voice too sweet. Everyone's attention shifts toward me, and I feel a flicker of annoyance at how she's managed to draw all eyes in my direction.

"I'm fine," I say quickly, offering a polite smile. "Just tired."

"Of course," she says, leaning forward slightly. "After everything you've been through, I'd be tired too. It's just... you don't have to hold it all in, you know? We're here for you."

There's that fake sympathy again. It's like she's trying to make herself look like the caring friend, when really, it feels like she's putting on a show for everyone else. I force another smile, nodding. "Thanks, Sarah. Really. I'm good."

She smiles back, but I can see something else in her eyes. Is it envy? Or maybe something darker? Whatever it is, I don't have the energy to figure it out right now.

Tatum, sensing the tension, jumps in. "Okay, enough of that," she says, waving her hand dismissively. "Let's just enjoy the night and not get all deep and emotional, yeah? We're supposed to be having fun."

"Exactly!" Stu chimes in, tossing a handful of popcorn at Randy. "Randy, grab a horror movie. Something good."

Randy, grateful for the change in topic, springs to his feet and heads toward Stu's extensive movie collection. He starts rattling off titles, each one more obscure than the last, and I tune out for a moment, sinking back into the couch.

Billy shifts beside me, his arm dropping from the back of the couch to rest on my shoulder. It's a simple gesture, but it sends a wave of warmth through me. I lean into him slightly, letting myself relax against his side. Maybe I've been overthinking everything. Billy's been nothing but supportive through all of this. He couldn't be involved. The idea is ridiculous, really.

I glance up at him, and he meets my gaze, his expression softening. "You okay?" he asks quietly, his voice just low enough that no one else can hear.

"Yeah," I whisper back. "Just... everything's been a lot."

"I know," he says, squeezing my shoulder gently. "But we'll get through it. I'm not going anywhere."

There's something so steady about him, something that makes me feel safe, like no matter how bad things get, he'll always be there. The doubts I've been carrying around for the past few days start to feel silly, like they were never really grounded in anything real. Randy's just paranoid. Billy's here, with me. He's always been here.

As the movie starts, the lights in the room dim, and everyone settles into their seats. Randy, of course, takes his spot on the floor right in front of the TV, practically bouncing with excitement. Stu and Tatum cuddle up on the other side of the couch, and Sydney shifts closer to them, tucking her legs beneath her as she watches the screen. Sarah is still sitting too close for comfort, but I try to ignore her, focusing instead on the sound of Billy's breathing beside me.

The opening credits roll, and the eerie music fills the room. Normally, I'd be tense, my mind wandering to darker places, but with Billy here, his hand resting on my knee now, I feel calmer. Grounded. It's stupid to think he could be involved in any of this. Billy's not like that.

As the movie progresses, the room is filled with gasps and nervous laughter. Tatum jumps at one particularly gruesome scene, burying her face in Stu's shoulder, while Randy lets out a whoop of excitement. "See, this is what I'm talking about! It's all about the tension!"

I smile, half-listening, but my attention is mostly on Billy. He's watching the movie, but every now and then, he glances down at me, checking to make sure I'm okay. I lean into him a little more, feeling the weight of his arm around me, and for the first time in days, I feel a sense of relief.

The attack was real. The fear is real. But Billy? He's the one thing I can count on.

The movie drags on, and eventually, the room quiets down. Randy has stopped his running commentary, and even Stu has gone quiet, his eyes half-closed as he leans into Tatum. I'm not really paying attention to the movie anymore, my thoughts drifting. Maybe I've been too quick to let my imagination get the better of me. Maybe I've let Randy's theories plant seeds of doubt where there shouldn't be any.

Billy isn't the killer.

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I hope you enjoyed this double update guysss!!

-a🤍