Nightfall Woods

6★ partner

As the night went on, everyone chatted and had a great time, laughing and sharing stories. But soon, it started to get pretty late.
Ella announced she had to leave, and Iris, who drove her here, decided to go with her. Olivia, living just five minutes away from the twin's house, opted to walk home. Henry and Alex said their goodbyes to Leo and Levi before hopping into Henry's car, ready to head out.

As they settled into the car, Henry turned to Alex and said, "That was a lot of fun tonight! It's such a bummer that we have school tomorrow."

Alex nodded in agreement. "I know, right? But we definitely have to continue our investigation next weekend. I can't wait to see what we uncover!" Their conversation continued as they drove off, both feeling excited about their plans.

Finally, they fell into a comfortable silence, and Alex lost himself in his thoughts as he gazed at the night sky. He reflected on what Sebastian had said earlier in the evening, questions swirling in his mind.

Why would Sebastian care about me ?
I mean, i am a complete stranger to him.
But then again, maybe it's just basic human decency...Am I overreacting?
What did he really meant when he said I need to be careful? Is he genuinely looking out for me, or is there something more to this?
Or maybe—

"Dude, are you listening to me? I've been talking for like a minute, and you look like you're a million miles away!" Henry snapped Alex out of his thoughts, his voice cutting through the silence. He raised an eyebrow, a mix of concern and amusement on his face, clearly trying to gauge whether Alex was really tuned out or just deep in thought.

"Yeah, sorry, man! I just got lost in my own head for a moment. What were you saying ?" Alex shifted his focus, trying to shake off the distraction that had pulled him away.

Henry nodded casually, a grin on his face. "Yeah right, I was talking about the English assignment that's due in a week. Have you picked a partner yet?"

"Ah man, I totally forgot about it !" Alex said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "I don't have a partner yet. Have you found someone, or are you still looking? I guess we should probably team up if we're both in the same boat!"

Henry chuckled and said, "Sorry man, I already teamed up with Olivia, and the others have partners too. I guess you'll have to team up with a random student!"

"Ugh, that's a bummer!" Alex replied, rolling his eyes. "I guess I'll have to find someone last minute. Hopefully, they won't be too difficult to work with!"

"Hey, it's all good! Just keep an eye out in class. You never know, you might find someone cool to team up with!" Henry encouraged, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, maybe. I hope i can find someone who's chill. Thanks for the heads up, man!" Alex replied with a hopeful tone.

"Anytime, dude! See ya tomorrow !" Henry said as he parked in Alex's driveway. Alex smiled at him, opened the door and stepped out, giving a casual wave as he turned to head toward his front door. The evening air was crisp and refreshing, brushing against his skin like a gentle reminder of the day's adventures. Once inside, Alex went directly to his room upstairs and changed his clothes. After that, he headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, the familiar routine calming him. Finally, he crawled into bed, waiting for sleep to come to him, his mind drifting through the memories of the day.

★

The sound of his alarm woke him up, and Alex sleepily reached out to turn it off. He stood up, stretching slightly before heading to the bathroom to start his normal morning routine. The familiar steps of washing his face and brushing his teeth helped shake off the remnants of sleep, preparing him for the day ahead. He then went to change his clothes, slipping into a pair of baggy blue jeans and a cozy grey hoodie that felt just right, he grabbed his bag and made his way downstairs. Once in the kitchen, he scanned the countertop, his eyes landing on a shiny red apple. Not feeling up to making a big breakfast, he quickly grabbed it and head out to the door. He took his keys and got out.