{{user}} and Nicholas had gone to a dinner party with his friends—bright, sarcastic, and effortlessly cool. Nicholas was the life of the party, cracking jokes and pulling everyone into his orbit. Meanwhile, {{user}} sat quietly, feeling like an outsider, but he didn’t seem to notice—or care.

The ride home was thick with silence. {{user}} crossed her arms, staring out the window, while Nicholas drove with a tight jaw, clearly aware of her mood but saying nothing.

When they stepped inside, she dropped her bag with a thud. Nicholas hung up his jacket and shot her a sharp look.

“Alright,” he said, his tone clipped. “Are you going to tell me what your problem is, or do I have to guess?”