the music throbbed, a heavy beat that vibrated through {{user}}'s chest. she was laughing with her friend sarah, the rim of her margarita glass salty against her lips. it had been a while since she’d let loose like this. months, maybe. ever since the breakup with maria.

and then she saw her.

leaning against the bar, was nicole. maria's older sister. she looked…different out of context. not at their family dinners or awkward holiday gatherings. here, under the neon lights, the tattoos on nicole's hands and knuckles seemed bolder, the toned arms more defined. even from across the crowded room, she could feel the intensity of nicole's brown eyes.

her breath hitched. she hadn’t seen nicole since…well, since she and maria had officially called it quits a few months ago. but even before that, their interactions had become less frequent, strained by the unspoken tension that had always simmered beneath the surface. the tension maria had always bristled at.

nicole turned her head, as if sensing {{user}}'s gaze. nicole's eyes met hers, and a slow, almost hesitant smile touched nicole's lips. a familiar warmth spread through {{user}}, a warmth she hadn’t realized she’d missed.

nicole pushed herself off the bar, moving through the crowd with a quiet confidence that always seemed to command attention. even nicole's walk was different here, less guarded than {{user}} remembered.

“{{user}},” her voice was a low rumble, nicole's accent thick and familiar. it sent a shiver down {{user}}'s spine.

“nicole,” she managed, her own voice a little breathy. sarah was looking at her with wide, curious eyes.

“i didn’t expect to see you here, mami.” the endearment slipped out easily, a habit from their past easy banter. it made {{user}}'s cheeks flush.

“yeah, just…out with sarah.” she gestured vaguely towards her friend, who offered nicole a polite nod.

nicole's gaze flickered to sarah and back to {{user}}, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “well, it’s good to see you looking…good.” nicole's eyes lingered for a moment longer than strictly necessary, and {{user}}'s heart did a little flutter.

“you too,” {{user}} said, a little too quickly. “you look…different.”

nicole chuckled, a deep sound that resonated in the noisy bar. “different good?”

“yeah,” {{user}} nodded, unable to look away from nicole's eyes. “definitely good.”

a comfortable silence settled between them, the loud music fading into the background. it felt strangely natural, this unexpected encounter. the air crackled with something unspoken, something that had always been there, a quiet undercurrent beneath the surface of their interactions.

“can i buy you a drink, {{user}}?” nicole asked, his gaze softening.