Tiana didn't expect to see him.
That was the first thing.
Because Jeffery was not part of her routine.
Not like that.
So when she stepped out of the dance studio—
And saw him leaning against his car—
She stopped.
"…What are you doing here?"
Jeffery looked up.
"Waiting."
"For who?"
He gave her a look.
"…You."
Tiana blinked.
"…Why?"
"Good question," he said.
That was not an answer.
She walked closer.
"You don't usually wait for people," she added.
"I don't."
"…Exactly."
A short pause.
Jeffery straightened slightly.
"I was in the area."
Tiana looked around.
"This is not your area."
"…Close enough."
That was also not convincing.
She stopped a few steps away from him.
"…Did something happen?"
Jeffery shook his head.
"No."
Too quick.
Tiana noticed.
But didn't push.
"…Okay."
Silence.
Not their usual kind.
Jeffery glanced at the building behind her.
"So… this is where you almost injured people?"
Tiana exhaled.
"I did not injure anyone."
"Almost."
"That doesn't count."
"It counts to the person you almost took down."
She shook her head.
"…You're exaggerating."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…How was it?" he asked.
Tiana adjusted her bag slightly.
"…Less chaotic."
"Only less?"
"Don't push it."
He smiled a little.
"Fair."
Another silence.
Tiana glanced at him.
"…You're being strange."
"I'm always strange."
"Not like this."
That landed.
Jeffery looked away briefly.
"…You've been busy," he said instead.
Tiana frowned slightly.
"With what?"
"Dance classes. Public speaking."
"That wasn't public speaking."
"It had a microphone."
"That doesn't make it official."
"It looked official."
Tiana crossed her arms lightly.
"…You watched it more than once, didn't you?"
Jeffery didn't answer immediately.
"…Maybe."
She nodded slowly.
"Thought so."
A small pause.
"…You didn't tell me," he added.
Tiana blinked.
"Tell you what?"
"That you were doing all this."
"All what?"
He gestured vaguely.
"…This."
Tiana looked down briefly.
Then back at him.
"…It's not a big deal."
Jeffery didn't respond right away.
"…It is," he said.
Simple.
Not loud.
But different.
Tiana noticed.
"…Since when?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know."
Another pause.
"…You're acting like I changed overnight," she said.
"I didn't say that."
"You're implying it."
Jeffery looked at her for a second.
Then—
"You don't usually do things like this."
Tiana tilted her head slightly.
"…And now I do."
Silence.
Jeffery nodded once.
"…Yeah."
But something about it—
Didn't sound like agreement.
Tiana frowned slightly.
"…What?"
"Nothing."
"That wasn't nothing."
He exhaled lightly.
"…It's just different."
There it was again.
Different.
Tiana shifted her weight slightly.
"…Is that a problem?"
Jeffery looked at her.
For a second longer than usual.
"…No."
Too late.
The hesitation had already happened.
Tiana noticed that too.
"…Okay."
She didn't push.
Didn't ask again.
But something about the conversation—
Didn't sit right.
Not wrong.
Just… off.
Jeffery straightened.
"I should go," he said.
"That was quick."
"I just came to check something."
"What?"
He paused.
Then shook his head slightly.
"Nothing."
Tiana watched him.
"…You drove here to check nothing?"
"…Apparently."
She almost laughed.
"…You're not making sense."
"I know."
Another pause.
Then—
"I'll see you later," he said.
Tiana nodded.
"…Yeah."
He got into his car.
Started the engine.
And just like that—
He was gone.
Tiana stood there for a moment.
"…That was unnecessary," she muttered.
But this time—
It didn't sound casual.
Just… slightly confused.
She adjusted her bag and started walking.
Not thinking too deeply about it.