The evening air carried a faint chill, the kind that slipped between the seams of a long day.
The streetlights blinked awake one by one as the team began to part ways near the crosswalk.
Bella adjusted her bag over her shoulder, her eyes glinting beneath the orange glow. "Alright, partner," she said lightly, giving Luca a nudge with her elbow. "Try not to overthink things tonight, okay?"
Luca gave a half-smile, hands in his pockets. "You say that like it's easy."
Bella laughed. "Because it is. You just refuse to admit it."
He shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "Yeah, sure. Easy."
She started down her side of the path, turning briefly to wave. "See you tomorrow, Luca. And seriously, don't stew in your head."
He lifted a hand in lazy farewell, watching her disappear into the soft scatter of streetlights ahead.
Then it was just him—his footsteps echoing, the quiet rhythm of his thoughts too loud for comfort.
