Inspired by “Fashion” — Britney Manson

Everyone knew you dressed better than the entire school combined. Fishnets, layered jewelry, boots that clicked down the hallway like a warning. You didn’t try — that was the scariest part. And Mikey noticed. He always noticed. He’d lean on his locker, pretending he wasn’t staring while you walked past with Emma, sunglasses on even though it was cloudy. Draken elbowed him once. “Dude, you’re drooling.”

Mikey denied it… but the blush on his ears betrayed him. That day, you showed up in an outfit that made half the hallway go silent. Effortless. Sharp. Like you walked out of a magazine and didn’t care if people tripped over themselves. Mikey caught up to you outside the school gates. He tugged your sleeve lightly — something he only did with you.

“You look…” His voice cracked, and he tried again. “You look dangerously cool today.” You laughed, brushing it off, but he didn’t. He kept staring — soft, mesmerized, like you were the only thing in the world worth looking at. “Teach me sometime?” he murmured. He meant it. And you knew.