(Part 2 to Walk With Confidence. I know it strays away from the whole modelling thing okay i is surry)

THREE MONTHS LATER 

MICKEY'S P.O.V

Tibby dragged me through the park, my hand tight in his grip. I didn't want to exercise, but Tibby said it was a good way to keep my mental health safe. So he dragged me everywhere, forcing me to run in order to not fall over. I doubted it was effective, but it was fun. 

I tripped over a tree root, and we rolled down a hill. We stopped only inches apart, with my still-kinda-weak arms holding me up to stop me from totally crushing his... area with impact. Tibby was a blushing mess, and I'm sure I was too. We stared into each other's eyes before I moved away. I stood, offering a hand to Tibby. He took it. "U-um... sorry..." I spluttered. "I'm a clutz."

"Oh, it's okay," Tibby smiled.

"Hey Mickey," said a voice from behind me.

Em Pegg. I knew her from my therapy, I was pretty sure she was the daughter of my therapist. Anyway, if I wasn't with Tibby or Dad, I was with Em. We were good friends. A girl I didn't know stood next to her, a tie over top of her pink jacket and sunglasses on. "Is this y- wait, you never said you were dating Tibby Devin!" Em exclaimed.

"We prefer to keep it as private as possible," I replied.

"So you go tumbling down hills?"

"I tripped okay?" I felt my face heat up.

"You're cute when you're embarrassed," Tibby smirked.

"You always call me cute for everything I do! Also shut up Tibby, or I will kick you in the nuts. You managed to avoid that before because I decided to save you."

"Okay babe."

"Don't call me babe."

Tibby frowned, grabbing my hand. "I wanted to introduce you to a... friend," Em Pegg said.

"Yeah?" I smiled. "The girl next to you?"

"Yeah. This is Skye. Skye, th-"

Skye took off her glasses. "Mikayla Jones!" she nodded. "I'm sorry about what happened."

"It's okay. I'm okay now," I said.

Tibby's phone started vibrating. He looked at it, seeing it was a phone call. "What do you want Rupert?" he answered. "Oh." "Shoot." "I'm busyyyy!" "No, no, don't you dare." "Okay, okay, I'm coming. Bye." He was frowning deeply when he hung up. "I have to go. I forgot I have a photoshoot. I'm so, so sorry, Mickey."

I sighed. "It's fine. Mind if I hang with you two for a bit?"

"Yeah! We were gonna get tacos!" Skye smiled. "TACOS!"

I gave Tibby a quick kiss on the cheek. "Talk later," I whispered.

He gave a sad, loving smile as he walked away. 

***

As we ate, Em Pegg forced Skye and I to get to know each other. Skye seemed really outgoing. Strong. "Any hobbies?" she asked me.

"U-um... I write...? I play guitar..."

"Oh cool! I fight people."

"She's also a massive nerd," Em smirked.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Don't say that in front of Mikayla!"

"You can call me Mickey," I said. "Also, it's fine. I won't judge."

"You sure?"

"Yeah... besides... I may have... a library card...?"

"I haven't been there in ages. Do you think the tales from the 90's are true? About that old librarian Mr Cole?"

"Wouldn't be surprised. Kollok is still very... bizarre to say the least," Em said.

My phone started ringing. The caller ID told me it was Tibby. "Hello?" I asked.

"Mickey, I have an issue."

***

TIBBY'S P.O.V

I found somewhere to hide just as Mickey answered. She said her hello, and I just had to spit it out. "We're in danger. Rupert got really mad, and he stabbed someone. Please, don't come get me. And if I die, know that I love you."

"Um... should I call the police?"

"No, they're on their way."

I heard a conversation between Mickey and Em Pegg.

Suddenly, Mickey, Em Pegg and Skye appeared in front of me. "Woah, how'd we get here?" Skye asked.

"That dude's taken care of," Em said.

"What?" I asked.

"I assume he was that guy with the knife? Covered in blood?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh, then I killed him."

We all stood in silence. What were we gonna do with the fashion agency now? "Who's gonna run everything here now?" Mickey asked.

I shrugged. Billy ran into the room. He grinned as soon as he saw me. "Tibby, you're not dead!" He ran over to me, wrapping me in a hug. A policeman walked in. "We ask of all of you to leave the building while we investigate. We will let you know when you are allowed back in."

***

I was still shaken by the time we were out the front of the building. I could tell Billy was too. Mickey wrapped me in a hug. "So what exactly set him off?" she asked.

"Um... I think someone commented on the outfits looking gross," I replied. "And then people weren't putting them on, and then someone called in sick and I guess it was all too much."

"Oh, so he grabs a knife and stabs people?"

"He always seemed off."

Mickey looked away from me. I traced her gaze back to the building. "Well... now what? What do we do?" Billy asked.

"Are you gonna have to shut down?" Skye asked.

"It's a shame," Mickey shook her head. "Although I have bad memories from my modelling days, I've had good ones too. I've been doing it my whole life."

"You'll find something else," Em Pegg said.

"Maybe... but modelling was my childhood. I did it for seventeen years. The only reason I quit was for therapy."

Mickey sighed. "I'm going home," she said.

"Want me to come with?" I asked.

"No. I think I need time alone."

"Okay. I'll... see you later."

**

MICKEY'S P.O.V

I stared out my bedroom window. The view never got old. The mountains were beautiful, especially at sunset and dawn. I would've gone on the roof to watch the sun, but I could never bring myself to go up there. I nearly jumped. Nearly ended it all. Eventually, I went over to my closet. The clothes lining the walls, all made by designers who did anything to work with me. I pulled out a flannel. I stared at it for a moment before taking off the orange jacket I was wearing and slipping into the flannel. I left the buttons undone. Looking at all the clothes made me think. Did I ever really feel like me when I wore them? The flannel I wore... Dad got it for me years ago. Mom refused to let me wear it. But I felt like me at that moment. I reached down and grabbed a box from the bottom of the cupboard. I sat cross-legged on the floor as I went through it. Pictures of me as a kid. Young and happy. Old teddies that I hid, old teddies that made me happy. The horror and mystery books I read as a 15 year old, their covers dusty. Mom didn't want me to be raised reading such things. She never said why. 

I finally found the beanie. Mom didn't want me to have messy hair, or for me to look 'dorky', so I was never allowed to wear beanies. But she wasn't living with us anymore. I slipped it on my head, and I cracked a smile. I decided I was sick of my wardrobe. I needed a new style.

**

"Hey Dad, are you busy right now?" I walked into the kitchen.

Dad's green eyes gazed up at me. "I was about to go looking for a better job. What did you need?" he asked.

"I wanna get clothes from the store. Like everyone else."

Dad sighed. "I'm sorry sweetie, we just don't have the money."

"It's okay. I'll... go talk to Tibby."

**

I knocked on Tibby's door. His Mom stood with a smile. "Mickey, hello! What can I do for you?" she asked.

"Is... Tibby busy?" I asked.

"No, of course he's not. He never does anything at home. Hey Tibbs!"

Loud footsteps came thumping down the hallway. "Yeah Mom?" he asked.

"Mickey wants you," his Mom replied before walking away.

"Hi again." He grinned.

"I was wondering if... you'd take me out clothes shopping. I just want normal clothes, ones that don't make me feel so... sad. To make me feel normal."

"Sure!" Tibby whipped his wallet out of his pocket. "Mom! Mickey and I are going out!"

"Okay! Be sure to tell me if you'll be back late!" his Mom shouted.

**

"Just slip ons, I think," I said as we browsed the shoe store. "Heels are starting to hurt my feet."

"Hm... these ones?" Tibby picked up a black slip on shoe. "Black goes with everything."

"Yeah, they look good."

After shoe shopping, we went and got jeans (cheap ones), flannels and a whole bunch of beanies. Well, plain and licensed tees as well, forgot to mention that. Tibby also forced me out to eat. Everytime we went somewhere, he made sure I ate. He was obviously scared I'd starve myself again. I still never really ate as much as I should've, but I just couldn't fit it in. I ate the meals Dad made, and that felt like enough. I was hydrated, and I was certainly happier. And all of it lead back to the one day I met Tibby Devin.

**

As soon as Tibby and I walked into my apartment, Dad enveloped me in a hug. "Guess who just got a job?!" he exclaimed.

"You?" I replied, grinning as I hugged back.

"Congratulations Mr Jones!" Tibby smiled.

"Thank you, Tibby," Dad shook his hand and patted his back.

"Well... what's your job?" I asked.

"Rupert's dead, so no-one's running the modelling agency here in Kollok anymore..."

"Oh?"

"So now I'm second-in-charge!"

"Who's first in charge?"

"Someone with a full qualification, her name's Suzie Moore."

"Wait, wasn't she the woman who had like a twenty minute conversation about sit-coms with you?"

"Heh, yeah. She's really nice, I've invited her for dinner. Tibby, you and your mother are completely welcome to come along."

"I'll ask!" Tibby nodded.

I couldn't stop smiling. A good paying job and working along side an incredibly nice woman? My Dad really hit the jackpot.

**

"Great to see you again, Mike!" Susie greeted as she walked in.

I have to say, she was quite tall. She looked down at me. "And you must be Mickey?" she asked.

"Y-yeah..." I replied nervously. "Hi."

"Your Dad told me about everything, and I'll let you in on a secret. I struggled with the exact same thing at your age. And every morning, I woke up, and did exactly what my therapist told me to: eat breakfast, go for a walk, spend time with those who care, and say with full meaning to my reflection, 'I am beautiful.'"

"I might add some of that into my routine."

"It works."

Susie looked at my green and blue flannel. "Loving the flannel, sweetheart. Where'd you get it?"

"I have no idea," I shrugged. "My boyfriend just dragged me into a random store."

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see Tibby and his Mom. "Hey Mickey!" Tibby hugged me.

"Susie, this is Tibby and Leah Devin," Dad introduced.

Leah shook Susie's hand. "I'm Susie Moore," Susie greeted. "Mike's new work partner."

"Pleasure to meet you," Leah smiled.

Susie managed to see the quick peck on the cheek I gave Tibby. "Is Tibby your boyfriend?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"We met by Mickey giving me modelling advice. We've been close ever since," Tibby added.

"I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend."

**

THIRD P.O.V

Time passed. It does that. Life got better. No matter how bad it may be, it does that. Mike got a girlfriend; it was none other than Susie Moore. The pair were very happy together. Just like Mickey and Tibby.

Things started getting... shall we say, serious between them ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°).

(They did the thing)

Time passed. Yes it did. But friendships didn't falter. Billy and Tibby are still two dorks in a pod, and Em Pegg still provides mass support for Mickey, even if Mrs Pegg isn't treating Mickey anymore. And Skye... she kept being Skye. Someone who's just... she's an icon (that is something the author is agreeing on 'till the end of time).

Life went on. Yes it did.

But one important thing remained the same. Hope and faith thrived in the group. Together through and through.

Just like true friends.

(And yes i brushed over the dead Rupert thing with Em Pegg, let me know if you want me to put something about that in another chapter)

Okie done.