09

Mickey does as promised and buys his entire team butterbeer for covering for him a few nights ago. It's the last Hogsmeade trip before summer break, just before every student is forced to stay in the castle for a month and focus on their exams.  Mickey wants to do some shopping for summer outfits. He has money saved up; money that his gran likes to send him whenever she's feeling generous. Mickey has always been thankful for being her favorite, because it allows him to look cute all summer.

And that's what summer is all about, isn't it?

He leaves his team with an excuse about getting a birthday present for someone, and makes his way to Honeydukes for some lollipops.

His plan for the summer is to stop relying on his spliffs so much. But since it's his nervous tic, he needs something else to keep his mouth busy when he's anxious. Lollipops should do; and he can share these with his friends.

He grabs two packs of one hundred assorted lollipops and sets them on the counter gently, not wanting to break any of them. "Just these, please."

The cashier rings them up and soon Mickey's walking out onto the sun-kissed cobblestone with a cherry lollipop between his lips. He heads into Gladrags Wizardwear for some new dress shirts. Muggle fashion will have to wait until he gets back home, but for now he can get a few nicer things that only the wizarding world carries.

Adam is in there when he arrives. Mickey is kind of glad to see his friend, although their relationship has been a little strained. "Hey, Adam."

"Mickey! Guess what, dude, I have a date with Anna."

"Piss off," Mickey chuckles. He leafs through the colored robes and ignores Adam's cocky smirk. "She has a boyfriend."

"Which is why we're keeping it a secret," Adam bumps his shoulder against Mickey's and gives him a wink — like Mickey is supposed to congratulate him or something.

"Wait, you're serious? You're an idiot, Adam. I told you not to pursue her."

"No, you said she probably doesn't like me. I proved you wrong, and now we're going to The Three Broomsticks in an hour." Adam looks so awfully proud of himself that Mickey kind of wants to punch him. "I thought you might want to come with us. We're gonna smoke down by the shrieking shack later."

"I don't smoke anymore," Mickey says, rolling the lollipop between his teeth.

Adam scoffs. "Since when?"

"Since today."

"It won't last,"Adam says. "You're not good at breaking habits."

"Piss off," Mickey says again. "You know what? I'll come with you to the Three Broomsticks, but that's it."

-

James feels a bit awkward sitting across from Lily. It's their first date, sure, but for some reason he thought he would feel more comfortable. He feels like he should be more at ease. Maybe he just doesn't want to mess up in front of her. But then again, he's messed up in front of her before. He's messed up badly.

So why does he feel so tense? "Do you like your butterbeer?"

Lily snorts. She looks really pretty today in a stripped turtleneck. Her ginger hair is held back by two french braids and her lips are painted a pretty shade of red. She kicks James' shins from under the table. "You don't have to be nervous. It's just me."

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. James isn't uncomfortable because it's wrong, he's just nervous being around Lily. That's all. He's gonna finish this date and come back to the dorms smiling ear to ear. He's gonna tell the boys all about it and live through their endless teasing. He's gonna—

Mickey walks in.

James can see the door from where he's sitting. Mickey walks in with that nonchalant smile on his face. He brushes back his curls and talks to the two people he's with as they look for a table. There's a stick between his lips, and James can tell it isn't the usual spliff, but a harmless sweet.

James' stomach does a little jolt, and he suddenly wants to run up to Mickey and ask him about his day. He wants to ask if Mickey has any extra lollipops he could try, and if Mickey wants to practice with him later. He wants to show him the lavender nail polish he bought because it reminded him of Mickey's sweater. However, he hesitates. Firstly, because he's on a date with Lily Evans, and he's been waiting for this too long to cut it short for one of his buddies. Secondly, Mickey is with a guy and a girl, and the guy is really handsome. He could possibly be Mickey's date, and that would be awkward to interrupt.

James doesn't really want the guy to be Mickey's date. Mickey would tell James if he had a date, right? That would be the proper thing to do, as mates. James told Mickey all about his date, so it would only be fair for Mickey to return the favor.

"James, what are you looking at?" Lily's voice cuts through his thoughts.

James feels a weird jolt of fear run down his arms from his shoulders to his palms. He doesn't know why. "Nothing."

-

After parting ways with Adam and Anna (they insisted on smoking), Mickey decides he still isn't ready to return to the castle. He finds Sirius and Millie outside of Zonko's, sharing a cigarette. It's still smoking, he supposed, but they're better company.

Millie is the first to spot him, and she waves him over with a gentle smile. She looks happy, arms linked with her boyfriend as the two of them loiter around. It's pretty cute, actually, and Mickey kind of wishes he had someone to loiter around shops with.

Benji Yoon walks out with a shopping bag. "Okay," he announces, "I'm ready. Oh, hi, Mickey."

"Hey, Benji," Mickey pulls his lollipop — grape, this time — out of his mouth and waves it around as a gesture of greeting. "What'd you get?"

Benji holds up the bag proudly. "I bought whatever Demetria laughed at when we were here earlier today!"

Millie rolls her eyes and gives Benji an exasperated look, while Sirius has his mouth agape in what looks like awe.

"That's really sweet, Benji. Is it her birthday?"

Benji smiles proudly. "Nope! I just want to see her smile more."

Okay, well now Mickey kind of wants to melt. He knows Sirius feels the same way, because the two of them are looking at Mickey like they suddenly found out he's the one who put the stars in the sky.

Millie ignores the kind gesture and focuses on her brother's words. "You noticed it, too?"

"Yeah..." Benji's smile drops, "I don't know what's wrong."

"Have you asked her?" Mickey asks. He feels kind of bad for butting in, but the Yoon twins are kind of known for being impulsive. Maybe they haven't stopped to think about asking her.

Benji blanks. "What if she says it's nothing?"

"You should talk to her anyway. Tell her you're there for her if she needs you. Then the ball is in her court. If she wants to talk to you about it, she will."

"I guess you're right," Benji says, "I'm just afraid she won't tell me and then I can't be there for her."

"Never know until you try," Sirius pipes in. "Maybe she's waiting for you to ask."

"Relationship gurus, over here," Millie giggles, elbowing Sirius. She hands Sirius her cigarette and turns to Mickey. "How's life? Are you comfortable with your captain status?"

"Yeah!" Mickey's eyes widen with glee. "I'm really enjoying it. I can't believe this season is almost over and I have to wait a whole summer to start again. Are you hoping to get scouted next year?"

"Honestly, no, but if I am I don't think I would turn it down." Millie twirls a strand of hair between her fingers. "Imagine if we both got scouted for the same team. That would be awesome."

"I don't know what I'll do if I don't get scouted," Mickey admits. "There are so many other good players here, it makes me nervous."

"Are you serious?" Sirius tosses his cigarette into a nearby bin and gives Mickey an incredulous look. "You're a shoo-in. I'd say you, Millie, my brother (if he weren't leaving early, the idiot), and maybe James."

"James is really good," Mickey agrees. He doesn't really want to think about James tonight — hasn't wanted to since he saw him and Lily on a date at the Three Broomsticks.

It's not that he didn't know they were going to go on a date today, it's just that he really didn't want to see James look so dressed up and nervous. What's there to be nervous about, really? He's hung out with Lily for years — he shouldn't look so nervous and awkward. Lily is going to love him just like she always secretly has, and the two of them are going to become that conventionally attractive couple every school has.

Mickey kind of wants to cry. He also kind of wishes he weren't so possessive over James when they aren't even best friends. They're acquaintances at most, and Mickey is stupid if he thinks James would spend time with him when he could spend time with his girlfriend. Or even just his best friends. Mickey isn't any of that, obviously, so James isn't obligated to check in on him every day.

"He is," Sirius smirks, and Mickey panics for a moment, wondering if he accidentally said his thoughts out loud. "I should tell you that he wanted to see you tonight! ' Said he bought you something."

Mickey's heart answers before he does. He can feel that painful pounding in his chest, as if he's developing a stupid chest cold. Except it isn't a stupid chest cold, it's a stupid crush on a guy who now has a girlfriend, and Mickey feels like the stupidest of them all for getting attached so quickly.

It's his own fault. One boy treats him like a human being and he decides it's love.

Mickey decides that in the end, he's just dumb.

-

i'm sad bc my crush went to prom w one of our friends who is literally the epitome of perfect. like i would go to prom w her too yknow so i get it but like,,,, anyways that's why the last half of this is jealousy/angst

tell me what you'd like to read! i have a loose outline for this (like major plot lines) but i'm always open to adding little things for you guys here and there!

it encourages me to write a lot more when you guys write about what you like/don't like in the chapter!!

also,,, i love mickey sm im so sorry but a LOT of angst is coming his way p soon 😬

maybe i'll mix in some fluff to make up for it? i really like making James lowkey whipped for Mickey, even though he doesn't know it yet hehe >< i hope you guys like it too