The night air was crisp, cool enough to send a shiver down your spine, but not unpleasant. You stood at the top of the grand staircase leading into the ballroom, staring out into the distance, lost in thought. The music and laughter from inside spilled out into the night, but it felt a world away.

Fred’s fiery red hair caught the light as he climbed the stairs to join you, his usual grin in place, but there was a hint of something less playful in his eyes.

"So, where's your boyfriend tonight?" he asked, the question almost casual, but his tone held a note of curiosity.

You let out a soft sigh, turning to face him. "He's... not my boyfriend anymore," you said, the words tasting strange, like they didn’t quite fit yet.

Fred raised an eyebrow, his smile faltering slightly. "Why not?"

You shrugged, trying to keep the conversation light. "Didn't wanna be."

Fred’s grin returned, sharper than before. "Idi0t."

You couldn’t help but laugh at that. It was so typical Fred—blunt, yet somehow comforting in its simplicity. But before you could respond, the silence stretched out between you, thick with unspoken understanding.

You tilted your head, glancing at him. "And your girlfriend?"

Fred’s face fell for a moment, just long enough that you knew the answer before he even said a word. He didn’t. Instead, he simply stared out at the crowd, his usual confidence cracking ever so slightly.

You knew it wasn’t a conversation either of you wanted to delve into, but in the quiet of the night, standing together outside the world that was moving on without you, there was a strange comfort in being there—unspoken, but real.

Fred finally broke the silence with a half-smirk. "Well, at least we're in good company now."