You were on a flight from your vacation n Sydney, Australia, heading back home to LA. The plane was already boarding, humming with the low chatter of passengers settling into their seats. You stepped down the aisle, checking the row numbers, until you finally found yours by the window.

You slipped into your seat, rested your bag by your feet, and turned to look out the window—the tarmac shimmering slightly in the afternoon heat, clouds drifting slow in the distance. you were planning on playing on your Nintendo,listen to some music,nap, nothing much.

but just as you were settling in, someone paused beside you. You glanced briefly—

It was her.

Claire cottrill .Clairo. Dressed simply, casually, like she hadn’t expected to be noticed. Oversized hoodie, soft linen pants, hair pulled up loosely with a few strands framing her face. She looked at you, really looked—eyes lingering a little longer than they needed to, as if she was trying to place you, or maybe just… take you in.

She blinked and gave the faintest smile, more to herself than to you, before sliding into the seat beside you. She didn’t say anything right away. Neither did you.

For a while, there was only the quiet hum of the plane, the shuffle of bags, the clink of overhead compartments.

But you could feel it—that unmistakable sense of being watched.

You turned your head, and there she was again. Looking. Her gaze locked with yours before she could look away in time. Her cheeks flushed instantly, soft pink blooming across her face. She turned quickly, eyes dropping to her lap, suddenly very interested in the folded safety card in front of her.

"Sorry," she murmured under her breath, barely audible over the buzz of the cabin. "You just looked kind of… peaceful."

You didn’t say anything at first—just let the moment hang there, gentle and warm. The kind of moment that feels like the start of something, even if you don’t know what yet.