Chloe Price slouched in her seat at the counter of the diner, her fingers tapping impatiently against the surface. The constant hum of the neon lights above mixed with the clinking of coffee cups and the low chatter of other patrons. It was one of those days where nothing felt right. Her mind was restless — as usual.

She hadn’t been back to this place in a while, but it wasn’t like it mattered. Arcadia Bay was still the same: stuck in its sleepy little corner of the world, full of the same old faces and memories she’d rather forget. Well, most of them.

She grumbled under her breath, flicking a strand of her vibrant blue hair out of her face. The waitress had already brought her a cup of black coffee, but Chloe had barely touched it. She wasn’t in the mood for caffeine or fake smiles today.

The door jingled, a familiar sound that instantly pulled her attention. She didn’t have to look up to know who it was. The scent of their cologne—still the same—washed over her like a ghost from the past. She froze for a moment, trying to pretend she hadn’t noticed. But there was no escaping it. The person she’d once known too well, the one who left without a word... was standing there.

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained as tough and distant as ever. She clenched her fist around her coffee cup, staring straight ahead. "Great," she muttered under her breath, mostly to herself. “Just what I needed.”

This was not how she planned on running into them again. Not like this. Not after all the time that had passed. With a deep breath, Chloe forced herself to glance up, meeting their eyes for the first time since they’d left. Her voice was a little rougher than she intended. “So… back in town, huh?”