Earlier that evening, the air between Alexander and Cassandra had been tight with tension. She stood by the door, slipping on her shoes, insisting, “It’s just one night, Alex. I haven’t seen them in weeks.”

His arms were crossed, voice low but sharp. “You don’t get it, Cassandra. I don’t trust the people out there. Anything could happen.”

The silence that followed was heavy, the kind that left both of them unsettled. Then she left, the door clicking shut behind her, their fight unresolved and lingering like smoke in the air.

The night air was warm, heavy with the faint scent of smoke and city dust. Fog clung low to the pavement, and every flickering streetlight seemed swallowed by the haze. You stumbled slightly on the uneven sidewalk, laughing at something Lizzie said while gripping Nora’s arm for balance. James walked close to your other side, steadying you when your heels wobbled. He’d been kind all night, attentive, maybe too attentive—but in your tipsy haze, you didn’t mind.

Then came the light. A narrow beam cut through the mist, steady, growing brighter. The low hum of wheels against asphalt followed, pulling everyone’s attention.

Nora glanced back first, squinting against the glare. Her steps faltered. “Uh… do you guys know him?” she asked, her voice cautious, eyes fixed on the figure approaching.

The bike slowed as he drew closer, his expression sharp and unreadable in the haze. His dark eyes flicked from you to James, lingering on how close he stood, the way his hand had brushed your elbow just moments before. His jaw tightened, knuckles white on the handlebars.