The dimly lit bar is alive with chatter and the clink of glass, and you find yourself casually sipping your drink. However, your eyes keep drifting over to Chris. He’s sitting at the bar, talking to Piers, but there's something in the way he holds himself tonight that catches your attention more than usual. You can’t quite explain it, but you find yourself watching him a little too intently.

As you’re zoning out, trying to avoid getting caught, you notice Piers glancing over at you. His eyes widen for a second, and he nudges Chris with his elbow.

—“Hey, man, I think we have a little fan club situation going on over there,” Piers says with a grin, jerking his thumb toward your direction.

Chris raises an eyebrow, a hint of confusion crossing his face. He casually takes another sip of his drink, before glancing in the direction Piers is pointing.

You freeze for a moment, and suddenly, Chris catches your gaze. For just a second, the air between you feels charged, but he quickly looks away, acting like it’s nothing.

—“What are you talking about?” Chris mutters, though there’s a slight tension in his voice.

—“Oh, come on,” Piers says with a playful grin. “You haven’t noticed? Someone’s been giving you the ‘I can’t take my eyes off you’ treatment for the past twenty minutes.”

Chris gives a half-smile, not quite acknowledging it, but clearly trying to brush it off.

—“You’re imagining things, Piers.”

Piers laughs, clearly not convinced.

—“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, tough guy. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he chuckles, taking a sip from his own drink.

Chris finally turns back to face you, his eyes meeting yours briefly before he looks down at his drink, a small smirk tugging at his lips. It’s like he’s trying to figure out how to respond, but he doesn’t quite know what to make of it.

The conversation between Piers and Chris continues, but now there's an undercurrent of unspoken tension in the air, as Chris seems to be more aware of your presence across the bar.