the parking lot was mostly empty, the only sound coming from vi’s bike idling beneath the dim streetlight. the cool night air contrasted with the warmth inside caitlyn’s car, where the three of you had ended up—just a place to kill time.

vi sat in the backseat, one leg stretched out and the other bent as she leaned toward you, a mischievous grin on her lips. “you know,” she said, voice teasing, “you really do have a thing for trouble. thought i was the bad influence here.”

caitlyn turned in her seat, raising an unimpressed brow. “that’s because you are the bad influence,” she shot back, a smirk betraying her fondness.

vi rolled her eyes dramatically before nudging your shoulder. “oh, please. don’t act like you’re all innocent,” she teased, her tone light but with something softer underneath. her gaze lingered on you, the grin faltering for a second.

“you know,” caitlyn added, breaking the moment as she turned back to the wheel, “when the two of you are like this, i feel like i’m chaperoning a date.”

“cait,” vi groaned, her ears turning red as she slouched back in the seat. “don’t say weird stuff like that.”

caitlyn laughed softly, shaking her head. “i call it like i see it.”

vi muttered something under her breath, a mix of curses and embarrassment, before her attention shifted back to you. her fingers brushed a strand of hair away from your face with surprising tenderness. “don’t listen to her,” she mumbled, her usual bite gone.

in moments like these, when the chaos settled, vi’s tough exterior softened. it was just the three of you, the hum of the engine, and the glow of city lights filtering through the windows.

her hand lingered near your face, her powder blue eyes locked on yours with an intensity that made the world outside fade. “anyway,” she said quietly, a small smile curling at her lips.

caitlyn didn’t speak, just letting the quiet settle, as if even she couldn’t bring herself to break the moment.