The night felt quieter once they left Luna.
Too quiet.
The music was gone.
The lights were gone.
The noise in Andrea's head wasn't.
Her steps were uneven as she walked beside Samuel, arms wrapped loosely around herself like she was trying to hold something together.
Neither of them spoke at first.
The city lights blurred slightly in Andrea's vision.
Her head still spun.
But not as much as before.
Now it was something else.
Heavier.
Samuel walked beside her, not too close, not too far.
Watching.
Always watching.
Andrea let out a quiet laugh.
"This is stupid."
Samuel glanced at her.
"What is?"
Andrea gestured vaguely behind them.
"All of it."
Samuel didn't answer.
Andrea kept walking.
"I thought it would help," she said quietly.
Samuel already knew what she meant.
"Luna."
Andrea nodded.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"It doesn't," she added.
Samuel's voice stayed calm.
"I know."
Andrea scoffed.
"Of course you do."
They turned onto a quieter street.
No people.
No noise.
Just them.
Andrea slowed down.
Then stopped.
Samuel stopped too.
She looked at him.
Her eyes weren't angry anymore.
Just… tired.
"Why are you even here?" she asked.
Samuel shrugged slightly.
"I told you."
"No," Andrea said, shaking her head. "That wasn't a real answer."
Samuel held her gaze.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Then—
"I didn't want to leave you there."
Andrea blinked.
"That's it?"
Samuel nodded.
"That's it."
Andrea let out a soft breath.
"That's… weird."
Samuel smirked faintly.
"You've said that."
Andrea almost smiled.
Almost.
Then it faded again.
"I don't get it," she said quietly.
"Get what?"
Andrea looked down at the ground.
"Why you don't hate me."
Samuel frowned slightly.
"I don't hate you."
"You used to."
Samuel shrugged.
"I didn't know you."
Andrea laughed softly.
"No one does."
Samuel stepped a little closer.
"I'm trying to."
Andrea looked up at him.
Her chest tightened again.
"Why?"
Samuel hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Because you're not what you pretend to be."
Andrea's expression shifted.
"And what do I pretend to be?"
Samuel didn't look away.
"Like you don't care."
Andrea swallowed.
"I don't."
Samuel shook his head.
"Yeah. You do."
Andrea laughed weakly.
"You think you know everything."
"I don't," Samuel said. "I just pay attention."
Andrea looked away again.
Her eyes burned.
"I'm tired," she whispered.
Samuel's voice softened.
"I know."
Andrea shook her head.
"No, you don't."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I'm tired of people talking about me like I'm some kind of joke."
She laughed again.
A broken sound.
"I didn't even do anything."
Samuel stayed quiet.
Andrea continued,
"I kissed someone once and suddenly I'm—"
She stopped.
Her breath shaky.
"I don't even know what I am anymore."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Samuel stepped closer.
Not enough to overwhelm her.
Just enough.
"You're not what they say," he said quietly.
Andrea looked at him.
Her eyes glossy now.
"How do you know?"
Samuel didn't hesitate this time.
"Because I've seen you."
Andrea froze.
No one had ever said that to her before.
Not like that.
Not seriously.
"I don't even see myself," she whispered.
Samuel's expression softened.
"Then stop listening to them."
Andrea shook her head.
"It's not that easy."
"I know."
Silence again.
Andrea wrapped her arms tighter around herself.
"I just… wanted to feel something else."
Samuel nodded.
"I know."
Andrea laughed weakly.
"But I just feel worse."
Samuel didn't argue.
Because he knew she was right.
After a moment, Andrea looked up at him again.
"Why didn't you leave?" she asked.
Samuel met her gaze.
"I could ask you the same thing."
Andrea frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Samuel smirked faintly.
"You didn't tell me to go."
Andrea blinked.
Then looked away.
"…I didn't want you to."
The words slipped out quietly.
Barely above a whisper.
Samuel heard them anyway.
Of course he did.
The air between them shifted.
Something softer.
Something real.
Andrea realized what she just said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I didn't mean—"
Samuel cut her off gently.
"I know what you meant."
Andrea looked at him.
Her heart was beating faster again.
Not from alcohol.
From something else.
Something more dangerous.
Samuel took a small step closer.
Andrea didn't move.
Didn't step back this time.
"You don't have to do all that," he said quietly.
"All what?"
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Pretend you don't care."
Andrea's breath caught slightly.
"I don't know how to stop."
Samuel looked at her.
"Then don't."
Silence.
But not empty.
Full.
Andrea exhaled slowly.
For the first time in days—
Her chest didn't feel like it was collapsing.
Samuel stepped back slightly.
"Come on."
Andrea blinked.
"What?"
"Let's get you home."
Andrea nodded.
"…Okay."
They started walking again.
Side by side.
Closer than before.
Not touching.
But not distant either.
And for once—
Andrea didn't feel like she was running.
She just walked.