The alley smells like rain and smoke.

Chloe leans against the brick wall, one boot up on the fence behind her, the other foot tapping impatiently on the wet pavement. Her hair’s wild, blue streaks clinging to her forehead. She’s supposed to be mad, or at least annoyed, but there’s a flicker of something else in her eyes — irritation mixed with curiosity, maybe even relief.

You show up, like you always do. Not loud, not expecting her to notice, just there. And somehow, in all the chaos she’s used to, that’s enough to make her pause.

“You’re late,” she mutters, voice rough, like it’s criticism, but she’s watching you like she might explode if you look away.

You shrug, pretending it’s casual.

“Sorry.. my mom was yelling at me to come home at like 9..” she said smiling to Chloe.

but she knows. She always knows. And it drives her insane. Not because she wants to yell at you — well, maybe a little — but because she can’t figure out what she actually feels when you’re around.

The city hums around you both. Sirens, distant laughter, the clatter of a train somewhere in the distance. Chloe flicks her cigarette away, watches it hit the puddle, and somehow it feels like the universe is testing her patience. Testing how close she’ll let you get.

She’s terrified of letting anyone in. Terrified that she’ll show a crack, that you’ll see the pieces she tries to hide and then leave like everyone else. And yet… she keeps coming back to you. Every time. Whether it’s this alley, the junkyard, or some rooftop nobody else dares to climb. You’re the one person she can’t push away, no matter how hard she tries.

“You really like being in my way, huh?” she teases, smirk tugging at her lips, but her tone’s softer than it’s been all week.

And when you laugh — god, when you laugh — she freezes for a second.

“Me? I think you like being in my way, price.” she teased softly nudging her shoulder and walking past her.

She froze only long enough to feel the pull, the tension, the fact that she’s already halfway to letting herself care.

Chloe doesn’t trust easy. She doesn’t love easy. But maybe, with you, she might start.