The movie had ended, but the chill in the air lingered. A gust of wind swept through the street, brushing against Katie's bare arms. She wrapped both arms around Brian's waist from behind as they rode.
"Chilly, huh?" he smirked, revving the bike harder to get her home quicker.
The bike pulled up in front of a narrow townhouse—Katie's place. She invited him in to rest for a bit. As Brian stepped inside, he noticed how neat everything was. Compared to the cluttered apartment he shared with his mom, Katie's home felt like a showroom.
"Your folks not home tonight?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They went out," she replied casually. "I'm gonna hit the john real quick."
She disappeared behind the kitchen. Brian wandered around the living room, taking in the cozy vibe. Then— Ksssssh! A loud clink of glass shattered the silence.
"Owie!" Katie's voice rang out, mixed with a painful groan.
Brian jumped off the couch and rushed toward the sound. In the back, he found her sitting on the floor, surrounded by shards of a broken glass. Her leg was bleeding slightly, and she was sobbing, clutching her calf.
"God gracious, Caitlyn! Is it deep?" he asked, helping her up and guiding her to the couch. He gently stretched her leg out to avoid pressure on the wound. "Ow~ that's bad~."
He darted to the kitchen, found the round first-aid pod, and pressed the button. A soft mist of antiseptic sprayed out automatically. Brian returned and cleaned the wound with a feather-light touch.
As he looked up, something strange happened—Katie's face seemed to shift. For a split second, she looked like someone else. Her hair was auburn, her smile unfamiliar. Brian blinked, shook his head, and snapped back to reality.
"You okay?" Katie asked, noticing his dazed expression.
"Y-yeah. Just… a little daydreamin'," he muttered, brushing it off.
"'Bout me huh? ,thanks for helpin…Ow! th!" she winced dramatically.
"What?" Brian chuckled, shaking his head. "You're being too extra."
Katie didn't answer. Once the wound was patched with a white plaster strip, she looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Brian, I know what you're thinking. You're picturing me lying on the couch, butt facing you, aren't you?" she teased.
Brian sighed. "I didn't bring… y'know."
Katie leaned in, her voice low. "We don't have to go that far. Sometimes the mouth leads the way…"
She playfully nudged his chest with her foot, pushing him back onto the couch. Their eyes locked. She winked.
"I'm feeling thirsty, Hon'," she whispered, crawling toward him slowly across the cushions.
He swallowed hard, trying to keep his cool. "You sure you didn't spike on what i gave you?"
Smooch. Their lips met, and the room seemed to melt around them. Heat surged through their bodies, breath mingling in the dim light. The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air as the couch tilted sideways under their weight, sending them tumbling gently to the other side.
"So… when are your parents coming back?" Brian asked, breaking the moment.
Katie smirked. "Pretty sure it won't be tonight…" She silenced him with another kiss.
Later, after the sweetness had faded into memory, Brian hopped back on his bike and rode through the glowing streets of Hollywood. Neon signs flickered, casting reflections on his helmet. He couldn't help but smile to himself.
Diesel engines puffed smoke from the factories in the neighborhood. The Hollywood sign glowed white from the hills above. Hover vehicles zipped overhead, weaving through the misty clouds like fireflies in the night.