[09:27 AM]

The atmosphere outside was eerily quiet, as lifeless as the residents of the area. The only signs of life beyond the shelter were Danny and Alex, walking together. Bruno had opened the gate for them, granting permission with a warning not to go too deep into the woods and to return by noon. It was as if he were their parent, not just an old friend doing his job. They walked through the leafless forest, the late autumn air heavy with silence, broken only by the faint rustle of wind through barren branches.

Two figures stood motionless. They seemed to be waiting for the right moment to shatter the silence between them. Alex finished his cigarette, flicking the last embers to the ground. The small action caught Danny’s attention, and it was the key that broke the stillness.

“Was autumn this warm when we were in school?” Alex asked suddenly, his voice slicing through the quiet like a random thought escaping his mind.

Danny blinked, slightly taken aback by the question, but a small smile crept across his face. He maintained eye contact with Alex as sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a soft, warm glow around them.

“I don’t think so... I remember when we met, it was freezing,” Danny said, his voice calm.

“I shiver just thinking about it. It was way colder back then... I’m still wondering how you didn’t catch a cold,” Alex replied, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Me? Why?” Danny asked, feigning confusion.

“Why? Don’t play dumb, Harding. At the end of the first semester of third grade, you were sick for two weeks. Not one, but two,” Alex reminded him.

“That doesn’t count,” Danny noted, waving it off.

“How come?” Alex questioned, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Because,” Danny said as he moved closer to Alex. He tugged Alex’s hood over his head with a grin, finishing his thought. “It was your fault.”

Alex huffed, clearly irritated by Danny’s playful gesture. “Your nut head was empty back then,” he said before turning and walking in the opposite direction, heading back the way they came.

“Oh yeah? And who was freezing at the time?” Danny teased, following behind.

“Let’s not start that again,” Alex said, his voice low as he picked up the pace.

“And why not... are you starting to blush, shrimp?” Danny taunted, his tone more mischievous than usual. Normally, Danny was quiet and avoided pushing Alex’s buttons, but today was different. He seemed to be in the mood for a little challenge. Perhaps to break the boredom or to pass the time.

“At least I don’t make it too obvious,” Alex shot back, his words sharp.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Danny asked, now walking beside Alex, his eyes fixed on the shorter figure, who had a faint smile on his face but revealed nothing more.

“Well, since you’re so curious,” Alex said, stopping abruptly. Without a second glance, he reached out and grabbed a fistful of Danny’s jacket, pulling him down until their faces were nearly level. Danny, towering over Alex normally, now found himself at eye level with him.

“Saying what you want too see ,makes you redder than tomato soup, Harding,” Alex said, his voice low and teasing. He released Danny, who stayed frozen for a moment, processing the shock of what had just happened. Meanwhile, Alex continued walking, the silence stretching out between them again. He eventually stopped and turned back, a sly smile playing on his lips.

“One to zero for me. Why did you stop? We have to get back or Bruno’s going to kill us,” Alex said, his tone light and playful.

Danny, still half-flushed and half-lost in thought, blinked and finally responded, “Yeah... we should, for sure.”

He caught up to Alex and patted his head, a grin forming on his face as he continued walking. The two of them walked through the forest, the morning sun filtering through the bare branches. The leaves crunched beneath their feet, and they paused occasionally to breathe in the crisp autumn air. There was no need for words—their presence spoke volumes, their faces adorned with half-smiles. Their bond was deep and genuine, evident in every silent step they took together.