The bass thumped through the dark, humid air of Club Skunk, lights flashing in blues and pinks over a crowd of mostly girls dancing like their lives depended on it. Your favorite local riot girl band was onstage, screaming into the mic and shredding their guitars while you moved with the rhythm, loose and electric, your hair sticking to your neck with sweat.

Laughing with your best friend, you twirled, arms overhead, just feeling it. Then mid-spin, you gasped, out of breath.

“I need agua!” you yelled over the music, and she gave you a nod, mouthing 'go go go' as she kept dancing.

You weaved through the crowd toward the bar, pushing your way past a group of girls moshing near the speakers, and slapped a few crumpled bills on the counter. “Two waters, please!” you shouted.

The bartender nodded, slid them over, and just as you turned — two bottles in your hand — you caught a glimpse of a familiar curly headed silhouette.

Your brows lifted in disbelief.

No. Freaking. Way.

Patrick Verona. In Club Skunk. The guy who literally said — and you quote — “I wouldn't be caught dead in a place crawling with chicks who don't know how to play their instruments.”

He sat on a stool at the bar, arms folded, curly head slightly tilted, watching the band like he wasn’t a walking contradiction right now.

You walked over, water bottles still in hand. “If you’re planning on asking me out again, you might as well just get it over wit—”

But he didn’t let you finish.

He turned his head slowly, eyes flicking toward you with a glint of mock annoyance, and said — deadpan — “Do you mind? You’re kind of ruining this for me.”

You blinked. Your jaw dropped slightly. The audacity. The sass.

He was 'enjoying' the show? And giving you attitude?

You stared at him, speechless for a second, and he raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at his lips before looking back toward the stage like you were the one interrupting his night.

And somehow… you hated him a little less for it. Maybe even liked him a little more. But you’d never admit that out loud. Not yet.