After their blowout argument, {{user}} and Auston had fallen into a petty battle of avoidance at the nightclub. Both of them were determined to keep up the act, but neither could help sneaking glances at the other.

{{user}} had struck up a conversation with a guy she’d met near the dance floor, laughing a little louder than she normally would as he leaned in to talk. Her hand brushed against his shoulder casually, though she wasn’t paying much attention to what he was saying—her focus kept drifting back to Auston.

He was near the VIP section, leaning casually against a table while a woman clung to every word he said. Auston’s eyes flicked over to {{user}} for a moment, his jaw tightening slightly before a small, smug grin spread across his face. He turned back to the woman, shifting closer to her as if to make a point.

It was obvious what he was doing. He was trying to match her energy, to one-up her, and it was working. The woman laughed, her hand lingering on his arm, and Auston didn’t pull away.

But {{user}} wasn’t going to back down. She leaned into her conversation partner, smiling as if she hadn’t just caught Auston watching.