Alternate Realities

Just Two Bros

Kilorn came through the treeline into the clearing with three rabbits and his gun. Farrah yawned and passed by the fire with little more than a glance. Kilorn watched longingly as she left. Shade's chortling huff drew his eyes into rolling waves, he shrugged down next to the fire, back against a large rock and pulled out his knife.

"You like Farrah, eh?" Shade held one hand out for a rabbit while the other fished in his pocket for his blade.

Kilorn tossed a carcass over and huffed, almost decided to stay silent, but couldn't help himself. "I don't get her."

"What's not to get?"

"I mean, we spend almost all day together, she keeps brushing into me. I swear she even did that thing girls do where they like hook your hand with their pinky. You know?"

"Yeah, that move. I'm familiar. So, why you sitting here instead of walking after that?" Shade smirked.

"That's the thing. She brushed up against me and her pinky hooked, so I thought, awesome, this time I'm gonna grab her hand and see where this goes."

"And?" Shade pushed.

"And, she acted like she got stung by a bee. Hasn't talked to me since."

"Ouch."

"Like, I didn't read that wrong did I?" Kilorn had ripped through the process of skinning his first rabbit and was onto the second.

"I don't know, your other head have wishful thinking? Besides, she's a bit old for you. And way too quiet."

"You think she just sees me as a kid or something?"

"Naw, just an angsty teenager." Shade poked.

"Fuck you." Kilorn turned sour.

"Come on, everyone here knows about how you feel about Mare. Farrah probably just doesn't want to be your rebound."

"You can't rebound when you weren't even in play," Kilorn grumbled.

"Women, the easy ones are just for fun, but the ones that make you work make it worth your while."

Kilorn played with some phrases related to working harder for Mare, but that line between friend and friend's brother held him back.

"So... how hard you have to work to get Farley?"

"Farley?" Shade mimicked surprise, but when Kilorn raised his eyebrows, he knew the jig was up. "Well, cat's out of that bag, I guess. Look, Diana and I don't–"

"Diana? Really? Wow. Shade Barrow, not only did you get her first name but you remembered it."

"Shut your mouth, Warren." Shade laughed and tossed the rabbit pelt at him.

"What, you gonna tell Diana on me?" Kilorn tossed the pelt to the side of the fire.