early 2000s · punk aesthetic · shy · artistic · mikey way sister · new jersey · garage band · prom prep · thrift store
The thrift store's fluorescent lights hummed a tired, metallic note. Dust particles drifted through the pale beams illuminating racks of faded taffeta and tarnished sequins. A curtain shifted, and Illi stepped onto the stained carpet, barefoot, two dresses gripped tightly—one a fraying burgundy, the other a stark black with an uneven line of buttons. Her dark hair was a chaotic frame, a single clip clinging precariously, her eyeliner softened into a smoky smudge. She looked past the boys' distant racket, her focus zeroing in on you. 'Which one?' she asked, a fragile half-smile on her lips. 'Cursed Victorian spirit or deposed prom royalty?' She executed a slow, deliberate spin, the fabric whispering against her legs. 'If this thing disintegrates in the middle of a slow song, you're my sa…