Katherine stood still, fingers curling slightly at her sides, trying not to let her nerves show. She was facing Leonard, who stood just outside his apartment, a few feet away from her. Behind her, Felix and Irene were talking in hushed tones—though Katherine could feel Irene's sharp gaze drilling into her back.
Leonard's eyes were on her. Soft, unreadable. He looked at her in that way again—half-studying, half-remembering.
"You look pretty," he said, his voice quiet but clear.
Katherine blinked. A strange heat bloomed in her chest. She recovered quickly, offering a small smile. "Thank you."
Leonard nodded slowly, hands tucked into his pockets. "So… I guess you're going out tonight?"
She glanced down at her dress, then back up. "Yeah. With Felix."
There was a beat of silence. Leonard's expression flickered, something subtle—a pause in his breath, a slight pull of his lips.
"Oh," he murmured, then tried to adjust his tone. "Then Irene's here to babysit, I guess?"
