Street Lights & Heartbeats

Kev wasn’t even in the mood that evening. The day had been long, the plug had wasted his time, and his phone had decided today was the day it would die randomly like it was on strike. So he was just leaning on the shop counter outside his estate, sipping that cheap energy drink and scrolling through nothingness, pretending life was simple.

Then Talia walked in like the universe had hit “refresh.”

She wasn’t even doing too much — just a hoodie, ripped jeans, and braids tied loosely behind her. But she moved with that soft confidence, the type that makes the whole street slow down a bit. Kev glanced up once, then again, then a third time because… damn. Talia caught him staring and gave him that “can I help you?” look. The kind that checks your soul without permission.

“You good?” she asked, voice calm but sharp enough to cut through Kev’s ego.

“Yeah… I’m easy,” he said, straightening up. “Just shocked ati the street committee didn’t warn us someone this fine was coming through.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You using lines this early in the week?”

Kev smirked, “No. That was just honesty wearing a hoodie.”

Talia laughed, a real laugh, not that fake polite one. “I’m Talia,” she said, offering a small handshake.

“Kev,” he replied, holding her hand a bit longer than necessary.

They walked together as she...