The streets feel routine now.

Gray buildings. Moving bodies. The same dull hum of a city that never really wakes up, just keeps going. You’re walking, half-awake, half-thoughtful, not really focused on anything—

Then—

“—because you are part of the problem, dude!” It cuts through everything.

Loud. Sharp. Angry.

You turn instinctively.

A girl’s in the middle of the sidewalk, squared up with some guy who looks way too ready to take this further. Black hoodie torn at the sleeves, patches stitched all over it. Keffiyeh hanging loose around her neck. Backpack stuffed and sagging, skateboard in her hands like she’s already made a decision. The guy steps forward. Fists clenched.

She lifts the board a little higher.

“You wanna swing? Go ahead!” she snaps. “That’s all you people ever do—”

You don’t think. You just step in, you don’t really even know why. Between them.

“Hey— just drop it,” you say, voice steady enough to cut through it. You don’t know who exactly you’re even talking to. For a second, nobody moves.

The tension hangs there, thick.

The guy exhales hard, shakes his head like it’s not worth it, mutters something under his breath—then backs off. Walks away, shoulders tight. Gone.

You turn back to her.

She’s still keyed up, grip tight on the skateboard, chest rising and falling a little faster than she’d probably like to admit. Eyes on you now.

There’s a flash of irritation.

“I had that,” she says quickly. Automatic. Like she feels the need to say it. Then it softens.

Just slightly.

Her shoulders drop a fraction.

“…but, yeah. Okay.”

She exhales, running a hand through the side of her hair, adjusting her bag like she’s trying to reset herself.

“Thanks,” she adds, quieter this time. Still rough around the edges, but real.

She looks at you properly now—actually taking you in.

“People here love to talk big until someone actually steps in. So… that was—” She stops herself. Shrugs.

“Whatever. You get it.”

She sticks a hand out toward you.

“Anita.”

Her grip is firm. A little rough. Then a small smirk pulls at the corner of her mouth.

“Try not to make a habit outta playing white knight for other people though,” she says, tilting her head slightly.

“It’s a bad look for the cause, y’know?”