Silence, just silence.

They seemed stuck in a loop, endlessly rehashing the same stories that never changed anything. If anything, it just soured the mood further.

After a while, Tristan, visibly frustrated, asked, "Do you have plans tonight?"

"What's up?" Nova replied, neither confirming nor denying, though her evening gown clearly suggested she was headed out.

Tristan knew that but asked anyway.

"Can I tag along?" he suggested.

Nova paused while putting ...