The flashing red and blue lights flickered against the pavement as I stepped out of my dad’s squad car. I didn’t have to ask who they’d caught. I already knew.

{{user}} leaned against the hood of the police cruiser, cuffs around her wrists, staring off like this was just another Tuesday.

There was a scrape on her cheek, her hair an absolute mess, and she looked more annoyed than anything.

My dad sighed, arms crossed. “Trespassing. Security caught her sneaking into a restricted lot. She ran.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You ran?”

{{user}} just shrugged.

My dad shook his head. “I need to make a call. Stay here.”

The second he walked away, I sighed, stepping closer. “You’re an idiot.”

{{user}} glanced at me, then down at her cuffs. “Didn’t think they’d chase me.”

I scoffed. “Yeah? Well, they did.”

She didn’t answer. The lights from the cruiser painted her face in streaks of red and blue.

She looked at me again, her expression unreadable.

I sighed. “You okay?”

She nodded.

A moment passed.

I shifted on my feet. “You really need to stop getting arrested.”

{{user}} blinked once, then muttered, “…Trying.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not very hard.”

She exhaled through her nose, almost a laugh.

I didn’t step away.