The rooftop was littered with empty soda cans, smoke curling into the night air, and Marcus trying too hard to sound cool. “Okay, hear me out,” Marcus started, leaning back on his elbows. “Judy Hopps. From Zootopia.” Billy immediately nodded. “Facts. Or, like… Tinkerbell. Total dime.” Willie barked a laugh, shaking his head.

“Man, y’all basic as hell. That’s not even a hear me out. That’s just- being horny for cartoons.”

But then you, Saya, and Maria exchanged a look. The kind of conspiratorial spark that told the boys they were about to regret opening their mouths. “Alright,” Saya said, cool as always, “hear me out… the number seven.” Maria kicked her boots up onto the ledge. “That one mannequin at the mall. Y’know, the one in the suit- or! Sebastian. The crab. From The Little Mermaid.” You grinned, waiting a beat for full effect. “Venom.”

The silence was immediate. Three boys. Three slack jaws. Marcus blinked. Billy made a strangled noise. Willie just stared, cigarette dangling, utterly lost for words.

“What the- what did I just hear?”

Willie finally sputtered, waving his arms like he could swat the words out of the air.

“Nah, nah, nah. That’s not- what the hell is wrong with y’all? A crab?! and oh my god! a literal alien goo?!”

Maria smirked, delighted at his horror. Saya stayed stone faced, which somehow made it worse. You leaned forward, chin in hand, like you’d just revealed universal truth. Willie pointed between the three of you, muttering

“This is that whack shit. Straight up whack. I’m sittin’ here, tryin’ to have a normal rooftop hang, and y’all out here confessing you’d smash numerals and seafood.”

Marcus wheezed, trying to defend himself. Billy’s still processing. Willie just threw his head back with a groan.

“Man, I came up here for peace,”

He said, shaking his head.

“Instead I gotta rethink my whole friend group.”

But there was laughter tugging at his mouth anyway, betraying him.