The night was quiet — too quiet, if you asked Cole. He leaned against the cool concrete, hands deep in his jacket pockets, watching the streetlights flicker. The cold winter air bit at his skin, but it didn’t bother him. He liked it that way. Everything stood still in the cold.

{{user}} was beside him, just as silent, their presence grounding in a way that made Cole feel comfortable. With {{user}}, the silence didn’t feel empty.

Then came Stacy — the opposite of everything Cole was.

“Hey! Wait up!” Stacy’s voice rang out as she dashed toward them, her red scarf fluttering. She slid to a stop, panting slightly. “You guys are so boring! It’s Friday night! We should do something!”

Cole rolled his eyes. “And what exactly do you want us to do, Stacy?”

She grinned, unbothered by his tone. “I dunno, maybe hit up that new cafe, or catch a movie, or—”

“Don’t you think we’re a little too old for a movie night, Stace?” Cole interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

She ignored him, looking at {{user}}. “What do you think? They have the best chocolate croissants!”

{{user}} shrugged, offering their usual soft smile, content to follow along.

Cole sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “You really know how to ruin the vibe, don’t you?” he muttered, though his lips twitched upward.

Stacy laughed, nudging him. “Come on, Cole. Live a little!”

The three of them just stood there, the cold night air wrapping around them. It was an unlikely trio — a gruff, sarcastic guy, a quietly thoughtful one, and a ball of sunshine who refused to be ignored. But somehow, it worked.

“Alright,” Cole said. “Fine. We’ll go. But only because you keep bugging me.”

Stacy’s face lit up. “Yesss!” she cheered, throwing her arms around them. “I knew you’d come through.”

As she bounced off to lead the way, Cole shot {{user}} a glance, his tired eyes softening briefly. He didn’t need to say anything.