We stayed there for a moment longer after everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that didn't feel peaceful… just temporary.
I exhaled slowly. "Something about that didn't feel normal."
Austin leaned against the wall, still watching the stairwell like he expected someone to come back. "It wasn't."
I frowned. "You know them?"
He hesitated.
That was enough of an answer.
I crossed my arms. "Austin."
"It's nothing you need to worry about," he said quickly.
I let out a short laugh. "Yeah, that's exactly what people say before it becomes something I have to worry about."
He pushed off the wall, running a hand through his hair again. "It's just… stupid stuff."
"Define 'stupid stuff,'" I pressed.
Another pause.
Then he looked at me, more serious this time. "It doesn't involve you."
I stepped closer. "Then why does it feel like it just did?"
He didn't respond immediately.
And that silence?
I didn't like it.
"Okay," I said slowly, nodding. "So you do know what that was about."
"I said I've got it handled."
"That's not what I asked."
His jaw tightened slightly. "Why does it matter so much?"
I stared at him, caught off guard for half a second.
Then I shook my head. "Are you serious right now?"
He sighed, like he already regretted saying it.
"It matters," I said, quieter now, "because I was just standing there while you were getting into a fight with people who clearly have a problem with you. And somehow I'm supposed to just… ignore that?"
His expression softened a little.
"I'm not asking to get involved," I continued. "I just don't like being left in the dark."
That hit.
I could tell.
He looked away for a second, then back at me.
"It's not a big deal," he said again—but this time, his voice wasn't as convincing.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar, by the way."
That almost made him smile.
"Look," he said, stepping closer, lowering his voice, "it's just some guys who think I owe them something."
"Owe them what?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It clearly does."
He exhaled sharply, like he was debating whether to say more… but then shook his head.
"Drop it."
That word sat wrong with me.
I stepped back slightly, folding my arms again. "No."
His eyes flickered. "No?"
"No," I repeated. "You don't get to tell me to drop it after everything that just happened."
There was tension again now—but different from before.
Not angry.
Just… real.
"I'm not trying to shut you out," he said.
"Feels like it."
"That's not what I'm doing."
"Then what are you doing?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he stepped closer again, his voice quieter now.
"I'm trying to keep you out of something messy."
I held his gaze. "Too late."
That landed.
Hard.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I added, softer this time, "You think I can just pretend I didn't see that?"
He shook his head slightly.
"Exactly," I said. "So either you tell me what's going on… or I start figuring it out myself."
A small, almost amused breath left him. "You'd actually do that."
I shrugged. "Try me."
He studied me for a second… then let out a quiet laugh, more disbelief than humor.
"You're a problem."
I smirked faintly. "And you like it."
He didn't deny it.
Instead, he reached out, gently pulling me a little closer again—but this time, it wasn't just about closeness.
It felt… grounding.
"I'll handle it," he said softly.
I shook my head. "We'll handle it."
He looked at me like he wanted to argue—
Then stopped.
Something shifted in his expression.
"…We?" he repeated.
I nodded. "Yeah. We."
Another pause.
Then finally—
"Fine," he said quietly. "But if anything gets worse—"
"I won't run," I cut in.
"I wasn't going to say that."
I raised a brow. "You were thinking it."
He smirked slightly. "Maybe."
I nudged him lightly. "Rude."
He caught my hand before I could pull it back, his grip firm but warm.
"Just… stay close, alright?" he said.
I held his gaze.
"Wasn't planning on doing anything else."
For a second, everything felt steady again.
Like maybe we could actually handle whatever this was.
But deep down…
I knew something had already started.
Something bigger than hallway drama.
Something we couldn't just walk away from.
And the worst part?
I had a feeling—
This was only the beginning.