The big 4??

one

Airport (Madrid) – 10:01 AM

The airport smelled of coffee, perfume, and goodbyes.

Y/N stood between her parents, hands tightly gripping the straps of her backpack. Spain was still in her voice, in the hugs, in the last words spoken too quickly.

"Write me when you land, mi niña," her mom said.
"And don't forget to eat," her dad added, as always.

She nodded, smiled, hugged them both one last time. Then she turned and walked away without looking back. Not because she didn't want to—but because it would have made it harder.

The hall was large, loud, and at the same time empty. People walked past her. Suitcases rolled across the floor. She sat on one of the cold seats and waited. Waited for her flight to be called.

When she was finally allowed to go to the gate, it didn't feel special. She knew she had to go back to school.

On the plane, she chose the window seat. Three seats in a row—she was first. She sat down, placed her backpack at her feet, and looked out over the tarmac. Lights blinked. Everything was moving, except her.

Y/N pulled out her phone and scrolled. Faces she knew without ever having met them. Actors. Singers. Lives that seemed bigger than hers.
Ariana Grande.
Her idol.
I want that too, she thought. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Simply. Clearly.

A message popped up.

Nino: Have a good flight

Shortly after, a second one.

Jayla💕: Come back safe, okay? 🖤

She smiled and started typing a reply, but before she could hit "Send," a shadow appeared next to her.

"Is this seat taken?" a voice asked. Calm. Not unfriendly. Just matter-of-fact.
"I booked this seat," she said.

She looked up.

Dark blue hoodie with "GAP" on it. Loose gray jeans. Uggs. A black cap pulled low over their face. Nothing remarkable. And yet... something.

"Sure," Y/N said immediately, hugging her backpack and sliding over. Her voice sounded friendly, maybe a little too fast.

The person sat down. Moved calmly. Put their bag under the seat, fastened the seatbelt.
The silence lasted a few seconds, then they cleared their throat quietly.

"Are you flying to Switzerland too?"

Y/N nodded. "Yes."
Short pause. "You?"

"Me too." A small smile. "I'm visiting a friend there."

"Cool, I'm flying because I have to go back to school." She looked disappointed.
"I wish I could stay in Spain with my family."

"I believe you."
Short pause.
"I'd also like to stay in Spain, but I was just on vacation here."
Smiled.

"Trust me, Spain is the best place for that."
A short laugh.

The conversation was easy. No big questions, no curiosity that felt too intrusive.

After a while, she said,
"By the way, I'm Megan."

She turned her head. "I'm Y/N."

Megan repeated it softly, as if checking how it sounded. Then she nodded.
No "Nice to meet you," no small talk. It was fine that way.

Both went back to their phones. Scrolling. Different worlds on the same screens.
Stars, concerts, stages.
She paused briefly on a video. Thousands of people. Lights. Music.
Someday, she thought. Someday I'll be there.