They didn't notice you'd taken your headphones off. You heard them coming before they saw you — the crunch of sneakers on gravel, a laugh, someone shoving someone else. Typical group energy.

The voice cut through the noise. Then silence. Not awkward, just sharp. Immediate.

A beat. Then the shortest one — blonde, sharp eyes, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets — locked onto you like he was sizing you up.