Bound By Obligation To My Brother

Bound By Obligation To My Brother

Nym Hexel

The neon lights of the downtown bar flickered, casting a kaleidoscope of colours over the worn wooden tables. It was a Friday night, and the atmosphere buzzed with a mixture of laughter, clinking glasses, and the steady hum of conversation. The smell of fried food wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the scent of spilled beer and cheap perfume. The jukebox blared out an upbeat pop song, and the dance floor was already filled with a sea of swaying bodies.

Kelly, with her fiery dirty blonde hair tousled and a wide grin plastered on her face, was holding court at a table in the corner.

She was surrounded by her usual crew of misfits, their laughter echoing through the smoky air. She was mid-story, her hands gesturing wildly as she recounted some hilarious mishap from her week. Her friends hooted and hollered, hanging onto her every word.

Meanwhile, in the quieter, more soberly lit section of the bar, her brother Chad sat nursing his drink. He was the epitome of clean-cut, with his hair neatly combed and his shirt crisply pressed. His eyes, however, were anything but calm.

They were fixed on Kelly's table, the lines around them deepening with each exaggerated gesture she made. Kelly was the life of the party, but she was also the bane of his existence when it came to financial matters.

Suddenly, Kelly's gaze flicked towards him, catching him staring. She flashed a cheeky grin and waved him over, still in the midst of her story. "And then I said, 'Hey, you can't just dock my pay for bringing my pet iguana to work!'" She laughed, and her friends joined in, their heads thrown back in amusement.

Chad sighed, putting down his barely touched drink and standing up.

He made his way over to Kelly's table, navigating the crowded bar with the ease of someone who had done this many times before. As he approached, Kelly's smile only widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Chad! You're here!" she exclaimed, scooting over to make room for him. "I was just telling the gang about that time you made me cat-sit for Mrs. Henderson's grumpy old tomcat."

Chad didn't smile as he sat down, his eyes scanning the table. "Who's buying the next round?" he asked, his voice flat.

His gaze landed on the half-empty pitcher of beer and the collection of empty glasses. Kelly followed his gaze and laughed, "Oh, don't worry, I've got it covered." She reached for her wallet, but Chad's hand shot out, covering hers. "No, you don't," he said, his voice firm. "You've been 'covering it' for too long, sis."

Kelly's smile faded, replaced by a look of mock ...