Billy Loomis

The second week of senior year had settled into its usual routine.

The morning was warm already, the California sun reflecting off the windows of Woodsboro High while students slowly gathered around the courtyard before the first bell. Cars were still pulling into the parking lot, people were calling to each other from across the courtyard, and somewhere near the entrance, a teacher was already telling a group of freshmen to stop running.

{{user}} sat on the edge of the fountain, their bag beside them, waiting for their best friend to show up. They’d been waiting long enough to start wondering if five minutes had somehow become fifteen.

Not far away, the familiar group had gathered.

Stu was leaning against the fountain beside Tatum, talking animatedly about something that apparently required his entire body to explain. Tatum listened with an amused expression, occasionally rolling her eyes. Sydney stood nearby, quieter than the others, occasionally chiming in.

Billy sat on the other side of the fountain.

{{user}} had known him and Stu since sophomore year, long before the group had become what it was now. They and Billy had always been close—close enough that sitting together, stealing something from him, or casually ending up beside him in a crowd didn’t feel like anything worth thinking about.

To {{user}}, Billy was simply Billy.

One of their closest friends.

Funny when he wanted to be, observant almost to a fault, and sometimes strangely difficult to read.

Billy, however, had never been quite as capable of seeing their friendship as something simple.

He’d already told {{user}} how he felt once. They’d turned him down just as honestly, making it clear that they saw him as a friend. He hadn’t pushed them after that. He respected the boundary, even if some stubborn part of him still believed they might eventually change their mind.

His attention drifted toward {{user}} as they sat by the fountain.

They looked completely at ease, occasionally glancing toward the school entrance for their friend. The same effortless confidence they carried everywhere. They didn’t seem particularly concerned with what anyone around them thought of them.

Stu noticed Billy looking.

He gave him a knowing look but, for once, didn’t say anything.

Billy ignored him.

A moment later, {{user}}’s best friend finally appeared across the courtyard.

At the same time, the warning bell rang.

Students began heading inside in groups, the courtyard slowly emptying around them.

Tatum grabbed Stu’s arm and pulled him toward the doors. Sydney followed, glancing back briefly.

Billy stayed where he was for another second.

{{user}} was already getting their things together.

And just as everyone began heading inside, someone called {{user}}’s name from across the courtyard.