(An old Instagram photo of Sera from 11th grade, sitting on a beach somewhere)
"Ooh."
"What?" Sera glanced at him.
"Why were you skinny back then?"
Thud.
Mickey took a hit.
"I'm still skinny, you jerk!" she snapped.
"...Ow... that actually hurt..."
It was the first time Mickey had ever said something hurt. Whether he was being serious or just messing with her, one thing was for sure—Sera didn't hold back. She'd smacked him square in the back.
"I didn't want to hurt you, but you had it coming."
"I was joking... Really though—roses and the ocean? Doesn't match."
"Why do you care?!"
"...."
"I just... wanted to know more about you, that's all."
"Well I don't. Thanks."
"Why wear that kind of outfit to the beach?"
This idiot... Was he even listening?
"It's a black spaghetti strap top, obviously! Open your eyes."
"You really love black, huh?"
"And what of it?"
"Enough to paint it onto your body?"
"What?"
Sera squinted.
"What are you talking about?"
"Here."
Mickey pointed at the image—her neck and shoulder area.
"Idiot! Those are moles!"
Sera held her head high.
"And you wore black under the sun like that? Doesn't it get hot? Black absorbs light, you know."
"Ever heard of sunscreen, genius? And black spaghetti straps are everywhere. Have you even been to the beach before?"
"...No."
"..."
"Oh..."
Her expression softened as she remembered what Mickey's life had been like the past fifteen years. Of course he hadn't been to the beach. How could he?
"...Sorry..."
"Nothing to apologize for. I just haven't been. I've only seen beaches in pictures and videos. That's why I asked."
"...That's actually kinda sad, Mannix..."
Mickey kept staring at the photo. Sera could tell he was drawn to it—not because she was in it, but because of the beach in the background.
Mannix... You really love the ocean, huh...
"You like the sea?"
"...Yeah. Where was that?"
"Trip to the Maldives. Daddy and Mommy took me."
"...Looks beautiful."
"The beach?"
"All of it."
"...Oh—Wait, what?!"
"You only went with your parents?"
"Ah—Uhh—N-No! I mean... we all went. As a family. A whole family thing."
Hold up, Mannix—did you just let that slip and move on like nothing happened?!
"How many days?"
"...S-Seven..."
"Wow. That's a decent trip."
"Felt like it ended in a blink, though."
"What was it like?"
"...Wait, why? You trying to get a play-by-play of all seven days?"
"...Yeah. I want to know. Tell me about it."
"...."
Sera narrowed her eyes. What was this guy's deal? He messed with her even more than Syd did. Why should she even entertain him?
And yet...
She wanted to talk. She hadn't had much contact with her school friends lately, and honestly? She kinda missed chatting with someone.
Plus... as infuriating as this guy was, there was a sad edge to him. Something pitiful that made it hard to ignore. And with a bit of time before landing...
"...Fine. Whatever."
So Sera began recounting her trip to the Maldives—from the first day to the flight back. She told it like a story, flipping through her Instagram highlights as visual aids.
Sure, he interrupted here and there with jokes or snark, but overall… Sera had to admit Mickey was a really good listener.
Time passed quicker than she realized. Before she knew it, an hour had flown by.
"I guess that's it. sips water ...Ahhh~. Then we flew home. The end."
"..."
"What? Why the silence? I know that look—you're about to say something dumb again, aren't you?"
Mickey shook his head, still sliding through her pictures.
"...You've had a good life."
He paused at a photo of Sera with her family—everyone smiling, the ocean behind them.
"....????"
"Everyone seems to love you."
Parents. Siblings. They might have drifted into their own lives, but the Gilmore family still looked whole.
"...What can I say? Daddy's girl~"
"...You were popular at school, too."
"Runner-up only to Jody. Not bad, huh?"
"...I'm jealous of you."
"..."
Sera froze.
If her life was at the top of the pyramid, Mickey's was buried deep under the foundation. He'd never known what it was like to have supportive parents or to enjoy holidays with friends and family.
Not to mention the years he spent locked away, never seeing sunlight.
She felt a dull ache in her chest.
"..."
He hadn't shown any emotion when he said it. Just a casual comment. But it made her feel… guilty.
"...I wish I could skin you, wear it, and pretend I was you."
"WHAAAT!?"
Sera practically shrieked. The others turned to look.
Toshi: "Oh, hey. Sera's awake."
Sera ignored him completely.
Mickey quickly followed up, "Kidding."
She froze, partway through scrambling away from him.
"..."
"I'm serious—it was a joke."
"..."
"You really think I'd do something out of a low-budget horror film?"
"...Can't be sure."
Mickey burst out laughing.
"Hahaha—"
"You think it's funny? Keep laughing! I'm signing up for a gun course just to deal with you."
"Need a teacher?"
"That's it, you perv."
"You're rich. Just hire me. A walking piggy bank like you? I'll do whatever you pay me for."
This little sh—
"You really just said that out loud? Fine. I'll pay you $200 to get out of my life. Give me your account number."
"$200 once? That's it? Nah. I want recurring payments."
"God, how poor are you?! Doesn't spy work pay enough?!"
Sera clutched her temples, then realized—
He's bullshitting me again.
She exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
"...Hey."
"What?"
"I've seen you hanging around me a lot lately. Why? You got something to say?"
"...."
Even Sera didn't feel confident asking it. But Jody had said Mickey was blunt, so maybe this would clarify things.
He was like a cat, she thought. Always brushing up next to her when she wasn't paying attention—only to turn into a little shit the moment she showed interest.
"...Not getting ahead of yourself a bit?"
"Come on. Be honest with me, freak. I know I'm not imagining it. You always hover around me. What gives, huh? You got something to say or not? Are you gonna give me a break—?"
"I like you."
"...Wha—!?"
"....."
"..."
"...What did you say?"
"You heard me. I like you."
"...😧...."
Sera went blank.
And she wasn't the only one.
Roxxy Barrett—who'd just opened the fridge near the front of the plane—froze with the same expression.
"😧"