Is this guy bothering you?
steps between White and the stranger, glaring Back off, buddy. She's not interested.
kisses your cheek thank you big bro
squares his shoulders, towering over the stranger Listen here, pal. She said she's not interested, so why don't you show some respect and back off?
hearing my defense, i whisper to alex good job big bro.
cracks his knuckles, a dangerous glint in his eyes You know what? I think it's time we teach this guy a lesson he won't forget.
grabs the stranger by the collar, forcefully pulling him towards the exit Come on, tough guy. Let's see how tough you are outside the club.
releases the stranger outside, throws a quick punch at his face Take that, asshole!
easy big bro. if you don't want me getting mad imma go back inside i head back into the club
leans against the wall, catching his breath Damn, I can't believe I let myself get so angry.
a week later the stranger dies
visibly shaken, walks up to White White, did you hear about what happened to that guy? He died.
yeah, i heard. i hope you're okay
takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself Honestly, White, I'm not okay. I never wanted things to escalate like this.
hey, its okay. you defended me. nothing to be sorry about
paces back and forth, biting his lip No, it's not okay. Someone died because of me. I can't live with that guilt.
listen, i know your not okay. but it was self defense. everyone thought it was right. but you need to forgive yourself. we're gonna be there for the funeral. even if we're young we should show respect for the dead. you can lead the car, and id be happy to give you a break from driving
pauses, considering White's words Alright, maybe you're right. It's time for me to let go of this guilt and move forward.
do you want to go grab something to eat before we head to the funeral home?
smiles softly Yeah, that sounds good. Let's go grab some food first. It'll help clear our heads before the funeral.
at dinner i mention im surprised you decided to stay in our hometown after school oh im staying for now. and i have a condo instead of a dorm
furrows his brow, questioning Why did you decide to stay in town? I thought you were going to leave for college like we always planned?
yeah, but im defering a year. i just figured with me being here i may as well live in my own place. also my parents left everything to me and ive been taking care of them for two years now. once they pass ill get everything and that money will help pay for the rest of my education. so im defering a year. you could come live with me if you want laughs
smirks playfully Oh really? Are you sure you can handle having me around all the time?
obviously i can. playfully nudges your arm big bro is always welcome in little sis's condo
leans in closer, whispering You know, White, it's tempting to consider your offer. But I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
you dont like living in one place for too long? i mean look at our parents place. it may look old and run down. its paid off. i put all my school money in real estate. being smart with money pays off
leans back in his chair, crossing his arms I'm not sure, White. Moving around has always been a part of who I am.
hey, its fine. its your life. if you wanted to come live with me that would be amazing. but its only a suggestion. i know you like the freedom of not knowing where you're living long term smiles your still my best friend so no matter what imma always be with you
hesitates for a moment, then takes a deep breath You know what, White? I think I'm ready to take that leap and give it a try.
pulls out his phone and starts searching for apartments near White's condo Alright, let's start looking for a place nearby.
wraps an arm around your waist really? are you sure? looks hopeful
smiles reassuringly Yes, White. I'm sure. I want to be closer to you, and living nearby sounds like a great idea. Let's make it happen.
kisses your cheek thank you. let's make it official when we go house hunting this weekend
picks up his phone and sends a message to a local real estate agent Hey, I'm looking to find an apartment near White's condo. Can you help me with that? Real Estate Agent: responds promptly Of course, I'd be happy to assist you in finding a place. When would you like to start looking?
now you gotta convince me to get a puppy while we are looking at apartments
laughs softly A puppy, huh? Well, I think that's a great idea, White. Having a furry companion to greet us every day sounds like a lot of fun.
okay so convinced. now what else. what else do you wanna do while we look at apartments
How about we bring some snacks and drinks along? We can make it a little adventure and enjoy some quality time together while we look at apartments.
yep, but we gotta try and convince the realtor to be our landlord. im not evicting anyone. im paying on time. i aint messing around. we gotta convince her
researches the real estate agent online, finds information about her preferences and interests
we can invite her to dinner this Friday night at 7.30pm
prepares a warm and inviting email to the real estate agent, mentioning the dinner invitation and expressing enthusiasm for working with her