CHAPTER SIX: A LITTLE TOO CLOSE

A LITTLE TOO CLOSE

For the next several minutes, the room dropped into an uneasy silence.

Dylan sat a few feet away from Logan, trying to focus on the fabric spread across the floor. He carefully measured the sections he felt were needed for the project and laid them out on his lap.

Logan places his back against his bed, lazily walking through another handful of chips and swings of his beer.

“You know," Logan said eventually, breaking the silence, “we could make the whole thing about… perspective."

Dylan didn't look up. “What do you mean?"

“Perspective," Logan repeated as he leaned forward and set the chips and bottle to the side. “Father than just making something that looks good, we could have the design shift and give different meanings depending on where you stand. Like those shita you see in Pokemon cards."

Dylan finally looked up, staring at him for a moment. “That… actually…" He paused, surprised by his own reaction–and the fact that Logan actually said something that made sense. "That's actually a great idea.”

Logan shrugged, far too pleased with himself. “You know, I'm not all brawn. I've got,” he tapped his temple, “brains too.”

A laugh slipped out of Dylan's lips before he could stop himself. It wasn't forced, didn't sound fake. It was genuine, accompanied with a real smile.

Logan grinned, his brows cocking. "Did you just… laugh, Dylan?”

Dylan's smile immediately disappeared. "Uh, no."

Logan's smirk only grew at the denial. “You did."

“I absolutely did not.”

Before Logan could retort again, Dylan rolled his eyes and returned his attention to cutting the fabric.

“Can we just work?" he mumbled under his breath as he desperately struggled with the now all-of-a-sudden blunt scissors. "Little shit.’

Logan raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, u didn't say anything."

Dylan just shook his head, fighting another smile. For the first time since that night, since he'd walked into the house, things actually felt close to normal.

Really close.

A knock sounded against the door, and before either of them could answer, it slowly creaked open. Dylan looked up from his work and found Lucas standing in the doorway, peeking inside.

"Hey, Lucas,” Dylan greeted with a smile. "Didn't hear you come in."

Lucas said nothing at first. He just stood there, his eyes moving between them.

His twin, Logan, was sitting on the floor beside Dylan, surrounded by project materials, an open bag of chips between them, and two empty beer bottles a few feet away.

Something about the scene made Lucas frown.

“This is…” He paused, then stepped inside. “This is weird.”

Logan let out a snort. "Well, it's good to see you too, bro.”

Lucas ignored him. "What are you guys doing?”

“Working on the project,” Dylan answered quickly, his eyes shifting toward Logan, then back to Lucas.

Lucas frowned, glancing at the fabric. “Right, project." He turned his attention toward Logan. “And my brother's actually contributing?"

Logan places a hand over his chest, faking surprise. “Damn, Lucas. The disrespect."

Lucas rolled his eyes. “I don't want him eating off you, Dylan. You know how he is. Probably why he even picked you as his partner."

Dylan hesitated, looking between the twins before answering, "he's… trying.”

Logan lifted his bottle and winked at his brother from behind it, while Lucas just stared. For a moment, from his expression, Dylan could tell he suspected something wasn't quite adding up.

But whatever thought crossed his mind at that moment, disappeared just as quickly as he let out a loud sigh.

"Whatever, man,” he muttered. "I think I left something in my room. Gotta go get it before Missy gets grumpy." He turned and walked back toward the door. “I'll be right back.”