The night hummed around the bikes — neon lights flickering across chrome, ocean air cool against warm pavement, the distant roar of waves mixing with music drifting from somewhere down the boardwalk. The pack had settled into their usual spot, shadows long, presence unmistakable.

Marko and Paul were already causing noise.

“Bet you can’t land it,” Paul snorted, arms crossed, watching as Marko balanced loosely on the edge of the curb beside his bike like he was about to attempt something incredibly stupid.

Marko shot him a grin. “Please. I invented cool.”

“You invented falling,” Paul shot back instantly.

Marko laughed — loud, unbothered — then hopped down, bumping Paul’s shoulder with playful force. The two of them continued their usual chaos, tossing comments back and forth, energy restless and electric.

A few feet away, you stood beside Dwayne and David.

The conversation between you three was quieter — steady, easy. Dwayne leaned slightly against his bike, voice low, calm in contrast to the noise behind you.

“You’ve been quiet tonight,” he noted.

You shrugged faintly. “Just watching.”

Dwayne and David’s gaze flicked toward Marko briefly — observant, knowing, then back to you, but before anything more could be said a voice cut in.

“Well… you boys always this loud?”

A girl had approached. Young. Curious. Drawn in by the energy like so many others were.

She stepped closer to Marko and Paul, smiling easily, her attention landing quickly — predictably on Marko.

“You’re kinda cute,” she said, tone playful, bold enough to test the line.

Paul immediately grinned, stepping aside like he was enjoying the show. “Oh this should be good.”

Marko looked at her, surprised at first, then amused. “Yeah?” he said casually, head tilting. “You always this forward?”

She laughed softly, stepping a little closer. Too comfortable. Too interested.

“You don’t seem like you mind.”

Marko didn’t move away. Didn’t lean in either. His posture stayed loose, casual — but something about his attention shifted. Subtle. Controlled. Like he wasn’t fully in the moment. Like he was aware of something else behind him. Of you.

Paul watched with open amusement, clearly entertained, while Marko’s grin lingered — playful, unreadable — as the girl’s hand brushed lightly against his arm. Testing. Waiting and across the space between the bikes and neon glow.

His eyes flicked up and found you instantly. The grin didn’t disappear. But it changed. Sharper. More real. Like the chaos dropped just enough for something deeper to show beneath it.

The girl kept talking, unaware. Still too close. Still trying. And Marko Didn’t look away from you.