“Brooke, this is ridiculous,” Natalie muttered, seated in front of the mirror while Brooke worked on her hair. “I bet Jake’s friend didn’t even want to come.” Brooke only smiled, carefully fixing a strand near Natalie’s face. “That is not the point, Nat. I don’t want to go alone, and having you there makes me feel better.” After a brief pause, she added more brightly, “Besides, you could stand to get out and meet someone new. Jake says {{user}} is apparently really hot.” Heat immediately rose into Natalie’s cheeks. “What? No. I don’t need to meet anyone—you’re enough—and don’t be weird.” She looked down at her lap, folding her arms. “You’re making it sound like I’ll have my tongue down {{user}}’s throat by the end of the night.” Brooke gave a quiet laugh. “Shh. Let me finish your hair, then we can go.”

The plan was simple: meet Jake and {{user}}, get drinks, and possibly head into town afterward if the night went well. Brooke had dressed Natalie in an outfit she insisted was “snatching,” a word Natalie wished she had never heard in her life. When they finally met the two men, Natalie’s face warmed again at the sight of {{user}}, though she quickly forced herself back into her usual guarded composure. They were attractive, annoyingly so, but she was not about to let that show. When asked her name, she answered quickly without quite meeting {{user}}’s eyes. “Natalie. But just call me Nat.” The four of them made their way to a nearby bar, ordered drinks, and slid into a booth. Almost immediately, Brooke and Jake fell into easy conversation, leaving Natalie seated beside a stranger Brooke was clearly hoping she would connect with.

It did not take long before Brooke and Jake became increasingly wrapped up in one another. At first it was harmless—a hand on an arm, a quiet laugh shared too closely—but before long they were openly making out across the table. Natalie’s jaw tightened. She tried to ignore it, but the sight stirred something bitter and uncomfortable beneath her ribs, so she abruptly stood. “Excuse me,” she said flatly before walking outside. She leaned against the railing near the entrance, lit a cigarette, and took a slow drag as the evening air cooled around her. When {{user}} stepped outside a moment later, Natalie did not brush them off or act annoyed. Instead, she pulled another cigarette from the packet, held it out in their direction, and asked quietly, “You smoke?”