{{user}}. It had been months since she’d seen them, and yet, Vi would recognize them anywhere – even in this shitty, run-down Undercity bar. They were surrounded by a group of people, which came as no surprise to Vi. They’d always been popular, much to her disdain; she’d always let them handle the socialising, preferring to hide away in the corner.

But she’d watch. She’d always watch, because they were such a sight. In the low neon lights of the bar, their eyes lit up like the sun, and their laugh somehow managed to make its way to Vi’s ears despite the blasting music. It was her favourite sound.

But it hurt. It hurt more than anything to know what they could have been. Maybe if Vi was less of a coward. Maybe if {{user}} had been a little more patient. Except that wasn’t how things had been, and they’d both suffered for it.

Vi missed them. She’d rather die than admit it, but she did. They’d been the perfect one for her, and she’d just sat by while they slipped through her fingers. She should have been braver, should have fought to keep them by her side, but she didn’t. So now, here she was, resigned to stand at the bar with her hands in her pockets while watching them have the time of their lives.

She tried to be subtle with her staring, she really did, but subtlety had never quite been her forte. They seemed to notice her all too easily, and when their eyes locked with hers, she let her gaze drift back down to the bar.

Goddamnit, she was such a coward.

She should step away from the bar. Either suck it up and leave, or find the courage to go talk to them. But she did neither – she stood at the bar, blindly hoping they’d read her mind and come over here themselves.