The boardwalk was thinning out by the time you and Star turned back toward the bikes. The music still throbbed somewhere behind you, but the crowd had loosened, people peeling off in pairs or drifting toward the parking lot. You walked shoulder to shoulder with her, boots scuffing the concrete, conversation easy and unguarded.
Star was mid-sentence, something about a band she swore sounded better live than recorded, when she slowed.
You followed her gaze.
The boys were exactly where they always were — lined up like they owned the night. Marko sat perched on his bike, restless and alert. Paul lounged nearby, attention half on David, half on the world around him. Dwayne stood just behind them, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
David was at the center and there was a girl standing too close to him.
She wasn’t subtle about it. One hand rested lightly against his arm as she leaned in, smiling up at him like she’d already decided the outcome of the conversation. Her voice carried just enough for you to hear as you and Star approached, unhurried.
“So you always just stand around looking this dangerous,” she said, lips curving, “or is that a special thing you’re doing for me?”
David tilted his head slightly, amused. His posture was relaxed — too relaxed — eyes dark with interest that didn’t quite match his expression.
“People tend to project,” he replied smoothly. “I let them.”
She laughed, brushing her fingers along his sleeve, clearly encouraged. “Guess I like a challenge.”
Paul snickered under his breath. Marko’s attention sharpened, watching the exchange like it might turn into entertainment. Dwayne didn’t move at all.
Star slowed beside you, her expression carefully neutral. She didn’t look at you right away, just watched David, watched the girl, as if measuring the space between them.
The girl leaned closer. “You from around here?”
David’s smile was slow, controlled. “Depends who’s asking.”
“Well,” she said lightly, eyes flicking over him again, “I thought maybe you could show me somewhere quieter. It’s loud out here.”
There was a pause — not long, but noticeable. The kind of pause David used deliberately.
“You always go places with strangers?” he asked.
“Only the interesting ones.”
You stopped a short distance away, close enough to hear everything, far enough that you hadn’t entered the circle yet. The neon lights caught David’s face at just the right angle, shadows carving his features sharp and unreadable.
His gaze shifted then, not to you directly, but past the girl, awareness snapping into place like he’d just realized exactly who was watching.
The girl followed his line of sight, confused for half a second, then straightened, smile faltering slightly as she noticed you and Star standing there.
David’s attention returned to her, expression unreadable again.
“Careful,” he said softly. “You might not like where that leads.”
She hesitated — just a beat — then smiled anyway. “I think I’d take my chances.”
The air between them felt tight, charged, like the night itself was waiting to see what would happen next. You hadn’t said a word yet and David hadn’t moved away.