Ties That Bind
Laughter filled Kyle's backyard, where two young girls sprawled on a blanket in the grass, surrounded by crayons, paper, and a half-built Lego castle. Sarah List, Damon's little sister, giggled as Lily Kyle narrated an elaborate story about knights and dragons. The two were inseparable, bound by a shared imagination that neither age nor family dynamics could break.
Damon stood by the chain-link fence, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, observing the scene with a mix of amusement and discomfort. This was his first time at Jesse's house. He hadn't planned to stay long—just pick up Sarah and leave—but the sight of his sister's radiant smile made him pause.
The house itself was a sharp contrast to Damon's world of neatly trimmed hedges and pristine basketball courts. It was small but vibrant, with wind chimes dangling from the porch and mismatched patio furniture scattered across the lawn. A large, battered skateboard leaned against the porch railing—a clear sign of its owner.
"Didn't expect to see you here, List."
Damon turned to see Jesse leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed. His hair was messier than usual, and his black t-shirt was slightly damp from the heat. There was that ever-present smirk like he knew a joke no one else was in on.
"Yeah, well, Sarah's here," Damon replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Figured I'd pick her up."
"Looks like she's not ready to leave," Jesse said, nodding toward the girls. Sarah and Lily were now pretending to be knights, dueling with sticks they'd picked up from the ground.
Damon shrugged. "She'll wrap it up soon."
Jesse tilted his head, studying him. "You don't have to stand there looking awkward, you know. Come sit down."
Damon hesitated. The invitation felt strange, almost like stepping into enemy territory. But Jesse's tone wasn't mocking this time—it was almost... casual. Damon finally walked over, lowering himself onto one of the wobbly patio chairs.
"Nice place," Damon said, unsure of what else to say.
Jesse laughed, the sound sharp but not unkind. "Sure. Let's call it that."
There was a pause, filled only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional squeal of laughter from the girls. Damon glanced at Jesse, noticing for the first time the faint lines of exhaustion around his eyes.
"Your sister and mine seem to get along well," Damon said, attempting to bridge the silence.
"Yeah," Jesse replied, his smirk softening. "Lily talks about Sarah all the time. Says she's the only person who doesn't think her dragon obsession is weird."
Damon chuckled. "Sarah's got a pretty wild imagination."
Jesse leaned back in his chair, eyes on the girls. "Kids are good at that. Makes you wonder when we all stopped seeing dragons and started seeing... everything else."
Damon didn't know how to respond to that. Jesse's words were unexpected, deeper than the usual sarcasm he'd come to expect.
Before he could say anything, Lily ran over, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Jesse! Sarah says her brother can play basketball better than you. Is that true?"
Jesse raised an eyebrow, shooting a glance at Damon. "Oh, is that what she said?"
Damon smirked. "She's not wrong."
Lily grinned, clearly enjoying the budding rivalry. "You should play against him, Jesse! Show him you're the best!"
"I don't think—" Damon started, but Jesse cut him off.
"Why not?" Jesse stood, brushing off his jeans. "Let's see what the golden boy's got."
The next ten minutes were chaotic. Jesse retrieved a slightly deflated basketball from the garage, and soon the backyard became an impromptu court. Sarah and Lily acted as referees, shouting rules that made little sense, while Damon and Jesse squared off.
It wasn't a real game—more of a playful one-on-one—but it was enough to ignite their competitive spirits. Damon's natural athleticism was undeniable, but Jesse had an unpredictability that kept him on his toes.
"Not bad," Jesse said, dribbling past Damon with a quick pivot. "But you're too predictable."
"And you're too reckless," Damon shot back, intercepting the ball with a swift move.
By the end of the game, both were out of breath, leaning against the porch railing as the girls cheered wildly.
"Okay, maybe you're not just a pretty face," Jesse admitted, a grin tugging at his lips.
Damon laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. "And maybe you're not just a troublemaker."
The moment hung in the air, unspoken understanding passing between them. It wasn't friendship—not yet—but it was something.
As Damon gathered Sarah and prepared to leave, Lily tugged on Jesse's sleeve. "Can Sarah come over again tomorrow?"
Jesse ruffled her hair. "We'll see, kiddo."
Damon glanced back as they walked toward his car. Jesse was still on the porch, watching them go. For a moment, their eyes met, and Damon gave a small nod. Jesse returned it.
Driving away, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Jesse Kyle was still a mystery, but now he was a mystery Damon wasn't sure he wanted to solve—or avoid.