Between The Line || EstWilliam AU

Ten

The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual lunchtime energy—students talking, laughing, clinking utensils, and the general hum of a busy afternoon break. Est sat at his usual spot, surrounded by his friends, picking at his food more absentmindedly than usual. His mind had been occupied about the incident with William's yellow letter came to light.

His friends were talking about the latest game release, but Est couldn't help but feel the weight of the conversation that he knew was coming. He hadn't mentioned William's situation to anyone, but word got around quickly in their school, especially when it came to things like disciplinary warnings. Est was trying to focus on his meal when Alex, sitting directly across from him, leaned forward, his tone more cautious than usual.

"Hey, Est," Alex began, glancing at the others before continuing. "I don't want to make this weird or anything, but... I heard something about William."

Est's fork froze in mid-air, and he looked up at Alex. The others had quieted down, all eyes now focused on Est. They weren't trying to be nosy; it was more out of concern than anything. They all knew how much Est cared for his younger 'brother,' and none of them wanted to upset him. But the curiosity and the situation were unavoidable.

"What did you hear?" Est asked calmly, though his stomach tightened.

Alex hesitated for a second, then spoke in a low voice. "That he got a yellow letter. I didn't believe it at first, but... is it true?"

Est sighed softly, setting his fork down on the tray. He nodded. "Yeah, it's true."

The table fell silent for a moment as the gravity of the situation sunk in. The yellow letter was a serious warning, and everyone knew it. It meant that William was on thin ice, and if he didn't straighten out, the next step could be a red letter—expulsion. They all understood what a big deal this was, especially for a kid like William, who already had a notorious reputation around the school.

"I can't imagine what that must be like," Jamie said, breaking the silence. "Having to deal with all that."

Mia shook her head. "William really doesn't make it easy on you, does he? I mean, I know he's your brother and all, but that's gotta be tough."

Est stayed quiet, his expression calm but his thoughts swirling. It wasn't that he hated when people brought up William—it was more that he didn't want to expose him. He didn't want to talk about his struggles with his friends, even though they weren't judging him. Est felt this constant pull between protecting William and dealing with the consequences of his actions. William was a handful, sure, but he was still family, and Est would always have his back, no matter what.

"You're really patient with him, Est," Alex said, watching him carefully. "If it were me, I don't know if I could handle it the way you do."

Est managed a small smile. "He's not a bad kid. He just... needs more time. More attention."

The others exchanged glances, knowing that Est was underselling just how difficult it was to deal with William. They had all seen the kind of trouble he got into, and most of them had heard about his poor reputation around the school. But none of them would ever say anything bad about William to Est's face. They respected the fact that Est cared for him so deeply, even if they didn't always understand why.

"You've got a lot on your plate, man," Jamie added. "If you ever need help, just say the word."

That's when another one of their friends, Darren, who had been mostly quiet until now, chimed in. "Hey, I could help tutor him, you know? I mean, I'm not as good as you, Est, but maybe a different perspective would work. Maybe he just needs someone who isn't family to explain things."

Est looked over at Darren, appreciating the gesture but knowing deep down that it wasn't going to work. "Thanks, Darren, but—"

Before he could finish, Alex snorted, cutting him off. "Dude, if even *Est* can't get William to study, what makes you think you can?" He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I mean, seriously, no offense, but that kid doesn't listen to anyone."

The others at the table started laughing too, and even Est couldn't help but chuckle along with them. It was funny because it was true—William didn't listen to anyone when it came to schoolwork, no matter how hard Est tried. But beneath the laughter, Est felt a sharp pang in his chest. The reality was that he had been trying for years to steer William in the right direction, and yet, no matter what he did, it never seemed to be enough.

He masked his feelings with a smile, letting the conversation flow around him as his friends continued to joke and laugh about the impossible task of getting William to focus on his studies.

"I can picture it now," Mia said, grinning. "Darren sitting with William, trying to explain basic algebra, and William just sitting there doodling on his notebook like it's the most boring thing in the world."

"Or worse," Alex added, "William would probably find some way to sneak out of the tutoring session and leave Darren sitting there by himself."

Darren threw his hands up in mock defeat. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'm not the solution here. But hey, at least I offered."

Everyone laughed again, including Est, but the weight on his shoulders only grew heavier. He appreciated that his friends were trying to lighten the mood, trying to make him feel supported, but none of them really understood the full extent of the situation. None of them knew what it was like to be the one constantly cleaning up after William's messes, constantly having to protect him from the consequences of his actions.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Jamie asked, his tone more serious again as the laughter died down. "About the yellow letter, I mean."

Est paused, not really sure how to answer. What *could* he do? He'd already talked to William a dozen times about the importance of school, about staying out of trouble, about respecting his teachers and classmates. But nothing seemed to get through. And now, with the yellow letter hanging over William's head, Est was running out of options.

"I don't know," Est admitted quietly. "I'll talk to him again, but... it's up to him, really. I can't force him to change."

The others nodded, sensing the weight of Est's words. They knew he was doing everything he could, but at the end of the day, William had to make the decision to turn things around for himself.

"Well, if you need any help, we're here," Mia said gently. "Even if it's just to talk."

Est gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

He wasn't sure what the next step would be, or how he was going to handle things with William from here on out. But knowing that his friends were supportive, even in their light-hearted teasing, gave him some small measure of comfort. They weren't judging him, and they weren't bashing William. They were just trying to be there for him in the only way they knew how.

As lunch break came to an end and they started packing up their trays, Est's thoughts lingered on the conversation. He glanced at his friends, who were still chatting and laughing, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude toward them. They might not understand everything he was going through, but at least they cared enough to try.

Still, deep down, Est knew that when it came to William, it was ultimately going to be his burden to bear alone. He just hoped that, somehow, he'd find a way to get through to his brother before it was too late.