Between The Line || EstWilliam AU

Eighteen

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the forested campsite where the seniors and sophomores had gathered for their annual camping trip. The crisp smell of pine and the distant sound of laughter filled the air as students unpacked their gear, set up tents, and began settling into the outdoors for the weekend.

Est found himself surrounded by his usual group of friends, their senior class buzzing with excitement over the break from school. His friends joked about who would be the first to get lost in the woods, who would fail at making a campfire, and who would secretly use their phones when they weren't supposed to. As they sat down on the logs surrounding the campfire area, Est glanced to his side and noticed William sitting right next to him.

At first, Est thought it was just a coincidence—maybe William was just taking a seat before moving on to hang out with his own friends. But as the minutes stretched on, it became clear that William wasn't going anywhere. The younger boy, usually full of mischief and quick to make a snarky comment, was surprisingly quiet, sticking by Est's side like glue.

Est tilted his head slightly, eyeing his brother with mild confusion. 'What's with him today?' he thought. William, normally the last person to show any signs of needing company, looked unusually comfortable, sitting silently while the seniors around them bantered.

"Oi, Est," one of Est's friends, Ten,  called out, his voice light with teasing. "Looks like you've got yourself a little shadow today." He motioned to William, grinning. "Didn't know you guys were glued together."

The group of seniors chuckled, their laughter good-natured, but Est noticed that William didn't immediately snap back with his usual sarcasm. He didn't even roll his eyes or make some smart remark to defend himself. Instead, he just looked down at the ground, his foot absentmindedly kicking at a patch of dirt.

"Looks like someone's feeling a little clingy," Mia teased, raising an eyebrow.

Est half-expected William to fire back with a sneer or a biting retort, but to his surprise, William just gave a small, noncommittal shrug, his shoulders barely moving. It was unlike him not to react. Normally, William would shoot off a comment about how he wasn't clingy, how everyone needed to get off his back, but today... today he was quiet. He stayed calm, almost contemplative.

Est raised an eyebrow, unsure of what was going on. "Are you okay?" Est said in low tone, only for William to hear. William then leaned slightly into him, his head just brushing against Est's shoulder, as if silently saying, 'I'm good, just let me be.'

For the first time in a long while, Est didn't feel like he needed to pry. He was, in fact, pleasantly surprised. Maybe William was just having one of those rare moments where he didn't feel like putting on his usual tough front. Whatever the reason, Est was glad for it. William wasn't causing trouble, wasn't picking fights or mouthing off to anyone. He was just... there, quietly present, and that was something Est could appreciate.

"Well, I think it's nice," Est said, smiling as he gave William's shoulder a light pat. "It's good to have some company. Right, Will?"

William didn't say anything, just gave another slight shrug, but Est could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his brother's lips. Maybe this camping trip would turn out better than he'd thought.

The day stretched on as the students busied themselves with the usual camping activities. Some were off on a hike, others were trying—and mostly failing—to build a proper campfire, while a few adventurous souls decided to test the ropes course set up nearby. Est and his friends were more content to hang around the campsite, talking, joking, and enjoying their free time. And through it all, William stayed close by, never straying far from his brother's side.

During lunch, Est sat on one of the picnic benches, his plate of grilled chicken and veggies in front of him. His friends were scattered around, chatting animatedly about their plans for after graduation. As they talked about universities, summer trips, and what life might look like after school, Est couldn't help but glance over at William, who sat next to him, quietly picking at his food.

"Hey, Will," Est said, leaning in slightly. "You okay? You've been pretty quiet today."

William looked up, meeting his brother's gaze for a brief moment before nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said simply, though his tone lacked its usual sharp edge. There was no sarcasm, no defensiveness. Just a calm, straightforward answer.

Est nodded, accepting the response without pushing further. He didn't know what had brought on this change in William's behavior, but he wasn't about to question it. If anything, he was grateful for it. For once, they could spend time together without it turning into an argument or a lecture.

As the afternoon wore on, the students gathered around the main clearing for some organized activities. Est joined in on a few games with his friends—tug of war, a relay race, and a scavenger hunt. And though William wasn't the type to actively participate in these kinds of things, he never wandered too far away, staying close enough to keep Est in his line of sight.

During one of the quieter moments, when most of the group was resting after the tug of war, Alex threw a teasing comment to William. "So, Will, you planning on joining us for the night hike later? Or you sticking to big bro's side all night?"

Normally, that would've earned Alex a sarcastic reply or an eye roll, but William just shook his head. "Dunno yet," he mumbled, not looking up from the ground.

Alex laughed, shaking his head. "Man, you're really mellow today. It's weird."

Est watched his brother closely, noticing how William held back—how he didn't lash out like he normally would. And it wasn't out of fear or insecurity. It was something else. Maybe maturity? Maybe an effort to change? Est didn't know for sure, but whatever it was, he appreciated it.

As the day drew to a close and the sun began to set, Est found himself sitting by the campfire with his friends, roasting marshmallows and swapping stories. William sat close by, not quite joining in the conversation but not distancing himself either. He seemed content to just be there, soaking in the warmth of the fire and the quiet camaraderie of the group.

Est glanced at his brother, a soft smile tugging at his lips. For the first time, he could see the effort William was making—an effort to be more present, to be more involved, to hold back his usual sharpness. And Est couldn't help but feel proud of him.

When it came time to organize the night hike, Est made sure to include William, making space for him in the group. He didn't even have to ask if William wanted to come along—it was clear that William was sticking with him no matter what.

As they stood up and gathered their flashlights, Est slung an arm around his brother's shoulders, pulling him in for a quick, playful side hug.

William didn't say anything in response, but he didn't pull away either. His expression neutral but his eyes saying more than words could.

And in that moment, Est knew—no matter how many ups and downs they'd had, no matter how different they were, they'd always find their way back to each other. Because at the end of the day, they were brothers. And nothing could change that