Chapter 1: The Reunion
That little haven, tucked into the heart of Clover with its cracking wooden tables and worn leather chairs, had been Levan and his friends' little haven on the corner of Willow and Pine, where that little old café was. It's where they spent endless hours laughing, arguing, debating. Tonight, as a fall sun set over the hushed town, they gathered again-as if times had not rolled in. The first in was Levan, who nursed a cup of coffee as he sat and watched people drift in through the café door.
Then Jackson dropped into the chair opposite him. "Levan. Always on time," he said with a half-smile, calm as ever, like he already had everything under control.
Levan shrugged, smirking back. "Can't let you get all the best seats.".
Not much later, Prina walked in wearing a leather jacket slung casual over her shoulder. She slipped into the chair beside Jackson and began checking her phone. "Hey, nerds," she said with a grin. She had a gift for making an entrance, and tonight was no exception.
"Right on time, as always," Jackson observed dryly.
"Life's too short to rush," she retorted with a smile, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.
The door flew open a moment later and in strode Sofie, as prickly as ever. "Oh, great. Everyone's already here. I swear, the traffic in this city is of nightmares," she groused without anyone comment on it before plopping beside Prina.
Prina raised an eyebrow. "Sure, Sofie, it's all the traffic's fault."
Connor sauntered in last, never one to be ruffled. He tossed his coat across the back of his chair and nodded at the group. "Good to see everyone, as usual." There was that slight smirk on his face, one that hinted at arrogance yet somehow kept everyone at ease.
Sofie rolled her eyes. "Is that all you have to say, Connor? 'Good to see everyone'? Way to be original.".
Connor shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why fix what ain't broken?"
Levan cleared his throat, pointing to the table. "Okay, let's just be thankful we all did it, yeah?"
Sarah, the last of their party, came up quietly, taking the seat beside Levan. She was soft spoken, as if she liked observing others more than being a focal point. "So, what's new?" she asked, smiling mildly at each of them.
He adjusted his glasses. "Same old, same old. Though I heard there's supposed to be some military exercise nearby soon."
Prina looked interested. "Military exercise? In Clover? Doesn't that seem a bit… out of place?"
Connor scoffed. "It's probably nothing. A few jets fly by, and everyone loses their minds."
"Easy for you to say," Sofie muttered. "I have enough stress without planes buzzing overhead."
Levan laughed. "Sofie, you are always so tense. Wouldn't it be nice if you relaxed once?"
She shot him a dirty look but was silent.
They continued their jibes, every friend's personality coming alive in every jab and quick retort. Years of friendship had woven familiarity between them, making their jabs sharper but the laughter warmer. Their differences somehow fit together, like mismatched puzzle pieces forming an unexpected picture.
Levan looked out of the window of the café, his eyes taking in the outside world, sipping his coffee as his face froze. The others turned to where he looked. In the twilight sky, the deep thrum of engines grew louder. Dark hulking shapes flew formation across the sky in eerie unison.
"What… is that?" Sarah's voice barely above a whisper.
Outside, a fleet of military aircraft filled the darkening sky. Cuts between clouds, though menacing, the jets and helicopters soared overhead, their silhouettes only shadow in the dim light. Familiar streets of Clover became strange as if an invisible threat hovered above, searching for them all.
For a moment, neither of them said a word. The café was quiet except for their breathing and the drone of engines somewhere in the distance. They gazed at each other, confusion and unease tangling over them.