Beautiful - Eleven Hopper (Under editing)

What's Wrong With My Brother?

The scorching midday sun blazed relentlessly above the group of friends, its intense rays pressing on their backs and shoulders, making every step feel heavier.

Sweat gathered in shimmering beads, trickling down their flushed faces and dampening the fabric of their shirts. "God, it's so hot," Beverly groaned, her voice full of theatrical misery as she waved her hand in front of her face, desperate for a hint of relief.

"Complaining is not gonna make it not hot, Bev," Lily shot back, her own voice weary as she wiped her clammy palm against her shorts, still holding tightly to El's hand.

The pair trudged up the sunbaked hill alongside their friends, all of them dressed in colorful tank tops that clung to their skin. The group's destination was the top of the mountain to meet Dustin's girlfriend,  a promise of something intriguing that pulled them onward despite the oppressive heat.

"Aren't we high enough yet?" Lucas called out from the relentless blaze of the sun overhead. His brow glistened with sweat as he squinted at the brilliant blue sky.

"Cerebro operates most effectively at one hundred meters," Dustin responded, his voice steady despite the weight of his heavy duffel bag weighing him down as he forged ahead. The bag sagged against him, each step up the steep hill sending ripples of effort through his muscles, but his determination propelled him onward through the sun-soaked landscape.

"You know I'm pretty sure people in Utah have telephones."

"Yeah, but Suzie's mom is Mormon."

"Oh shit, she doesn't have electricity."

"Lucas, that's Armish," Max declared, her voice tinged with urgency. She shifted her weight to one side, straining slightly under the burden of a cooler filled with refreshing drinks for the group.

The sunlight accentuated her slender frame, and her fiery red brows knitted together in a mixture of confusion and concern as she cast a pointed glance at her boyfriend. Lucas's expression mirrored her bewilderment, his mouth slightly agape as he processed her words, eyes wide with surprise.

"What are Mormons?" Will asked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his face. Before he could ponder further, Eddie and Dustin chimed in unison, their voices laced with the playful camaraderie of childhood banter. "Super religious white people," they declared, both with confident looks.

But Eddie, the one with mocha-colored hair that cascaded past his jawline in soft curls, wedded a touch of depth to the conversation. "In their religion, they can't drink certain things like coffee and tea or eat meat. They can only do so during the holidays," he explained with a tone of authority, as if he were sharing a fascinating fact.

As he spoke, Eddie's dark sunglasses began to slide down his nose, prompting him to push them back into place with a casual flick. He adjusted his grey bucket hat, which perfectly matched his loose-fitting pants, while the warm afternoon sun cast playful shadows around them, enhancing the ambiance of their discussion about the peculiarities of the faith.

"Well, yeah, but considering I'm not Mormon, her parents would never give their blessing," Dustin said, his voice laced with a confident stride and a hint of mischief playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Pretty Shakespearean, don't you think?" Max raised an eyebrow, the flicker of skepticism evident in his eyes as he responded, "Shakespearean?" Max's tone carried a subtle note of judgment, questioning Dustin's choice of such fancy words.

"Oh, you know Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers"

"I get it."

"Hey, guys!" Lily called out, her voice ringing through the crisp, afternoon air as she caught the group's attention, halting their ascent up the grassy hill. The bright sunlight danced on her dark brown hair, but the glimmer in her eyes hinted at secrets shared only between her and her lover. Her playful smile masked a devious plan, one her friends could sense immediately as their brows knitted in confusion.