"Just wanted to remind you that rent is due in a week. How are you holding up?" Yolei peeked into Mimi's room.
"Awful! I'm at my wit's end here. My shifts at the cafe have been crappy lately, and I haven't heard back from any of the other jobs I've applied to. I'm just about tempted to make a RickRoll live and pretend to be an AI kawaii robot. I can make some quick cash that way, right?" Mimi grabbed her hair and tugged at it.
"Okay, we don't have to embarrass ourselves on the internet for some money. Why don't you do something a little more secretive, like selling feet pictures?" Yolei shrugged.
"Ugh, feet are so gross," Mimi winced.
"You could sell the crap you don't use anymore, but it might take a while until you see any results," Yolei swirled her finger around the air.
"I guess that's something I could do, but you're right. I need something quicker," Mimi pouted.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you- unless you want to do amateur night at the strip club," Yolei shrugged.
"That's it! You're a genius!" Mimi exclaimed.
"Nonononono, that was not a real suggestion!" Yolei stammered.
"No! I'm not gonna be a stripper, but maybe I could be a sugar baby! Hopefully without giving away any sugar," Mimi pursed her lips together.
"Yeah, that's not likely," Yolei winced.
"Yolei, please! Just manifest for me! Otherwise we'll be screwed!" Mimi pleaded.
"Mimi, I really hope you find a better job soon. I hate going through this every month," Yolei sighed.
"I'll figure this out somehow! I always do!" Mimi typed away at her laptop.
"I have a business-slash-leisure trip to Miami in a week and I'm not looking forward to it at all," Izzy rummaged through his closet.
"I would loooove to go to Miami if my job was paying for it," Matt twirled around on a swivel chair.
"You don't understand. I'll be spending a week in a party town with a bunch of coworkers that I already try to go out of my way from talking to. I have a plus one-"
"I'll take it!" TK shot up straight.
"I was going to say, I'd give it to one of you guys but all my other coworkers are bringing their wives and girlfriends. I already don't like to share things about my personal life, I don't want to them to get the wrong idea," Izzy ran his fingers through his hair.
"So what? You gonna hire a hooker to pretend to be your girlfriend or something?" Matt smirked.
"No! Absolutely not! I don't want anything like that!" Izzy said.
"Ohhh, so you're looking for the girlfriend experience," TK laid on the floor and planted his legs against the wall.
"The girlfriend experience?" Izzy asked.
"There's a website! Think of it as a Gregslist for girls!" TK held up his phone.
"I dunno about that..…I think I'll just go on this trip solo," Izzy winced.
"Nonsense! Let's get you a hot broad to join you on your trip. It shouldn't be too hard at all!" TK fiddled with his phone.
"TK, please don't!" Izzy covered his hands with his face.
"Too late! By the way, if you get any takers, how's $2000 sound for the going rate?" TK asked.
"$2000?!" Izzy gasped.
"Put it on my card. I want to see how this unfolds," Matt pulled out his wallet and flicked his card at TK's head.
"Hey! I didn't agree to this!" Izzy turned red.
"It's okay, you can pay us back later!" Matt spun around in the swivel chair.
"And you're live," TK shook his phone.
"Give me that! Take that post down!" Izzy tried to reach for the phone, but TK tossed the phone over to Matt.
"Sorry, but for your own good, I think it's best we handle this from here on out! We'll let you know when it's your turn to take the driver's seat," Matt caught TK's phone.
"Just to let you know, I did not consent to this," Izzy said.
"Sure sure. You're the perfect gentleman. Whatever you need to tell yourself to clear your conscious," Matt waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm serious, I didn't ask for this," Izzy scolded the boys.
"Yeah, you say that now, but you'll thank us in Miami!" TK smirked.
"Doubt it," Izzy sighed.
"Yolei, can I get your opinion on something?" Mimi twirled a lock of hair around her finger.
"What?" Yolei narrowed her eyes.
"So I signed up for an account on The Girlfriend Experience-"
"Mimi, if it's that bad, I will take care of whatever rent you can't make! Don't even worry about it, just don't do..…whatever this is!" Yolei gasped.
"No, but look! I just found a listing for a free trip to Miami! I've always wanted to go!" Mimi gasped.
"Looking for someone to keep company in Miami. All expenses paid, first class round-trip ticket included, $2000 for the week. All I'm looking for is someone to be my eye candy- nothing sexual. Male, late 20's, 5'9, red hair..…," Yolei read the listing. "I dunno, sounds pretty sexual."
"But he posted himself as 5'9- that means he's gotta be truthful, right? Every guy I see on the dating apps are always 5'11 or taller until I meet them in real life," Mimi shrugged.
"Maybe he's just new at this, but I don't know how I feel about this. This still seems sketchy. I really don't feel comfortable with you doing something like this," Yolei frowned.
"But girls on RickRoll make a lot of money doing this," Mimi said.
"That's the girls who make it out alive!" Yolei flicked her in the back of the head.
"I did it. I accepted the offer," Mimi covered her mouth.
"Oh my god, I can't believe you..…," Yolei hovered over Mimi's desk in shock.
"Miami here I come?" Mimi bashfully pumped her fist in the air.
"If I don't kill you first. Unbelievable," Yolei pressed her lips together and stomped away.
"I'll bring back a souvenir!" Mimi winced.
"You better not come back as a souvenir! In fact, I better get hourly updates while you're gone! I'm gonna find a tracker and you're gonna wear it! I'll microchip you!" Yolei rambled from her own bedroom.
"She means well," Mimi sighed as she stared at her computer screen.
"I'm supposed to meet this girl when I land in Miami, can I at least have access to the account so I can get in touch with her?" Izzy pressed his lips together in frustration.
"Okay, but promise you won't get mad. Give me your phone," TK smiled mischievously.
"What did you do?" Izzy groaned.
"I wanted to get the ball rolling, and I sure did," TK handed Izzy his phone back.
"TK, what did you do..…," Izzy gasped.
"You're welcome," TK smiled.
"No, not you're welcome! I would never talk to a girl like this!" Izzy stammered.
"And how well has that worked out for you? You gotta grease the gears a little-"
"You're almost as bad as your brother! And how did you manage to get this picture of me?" Izzy turned red.
"I have my ways, but looks good, right? She said she wants to put it in her mouth. She even sent you something- or two perky somethings she wants you to put in your mouth, see?" TK tapped at Izzy's phone screen.
"Oh my god," Izzy closed the app.
"Again, you're welcome. Maybe if things turn out good, you'll have a better time than expected in Miami," TK licked his lips.
"I think I'm going to board my plane now. I'm already getting that feeling you get when you're experiencing turbulence, expect I'm not even in the sky yet," Izzy slung his hoodie around his neck.
"Bon voyage! Mattykins sends his love! Keep us posted!" TK kissed Izzy on the cheek and pushed him towards the terminal line.
"And yet I think that's going to be the only physical contact I'll have on this damn trip," Izzy wiped his cheek dry and reluctantly made his way to the gate.
"And if you do order a ride share, what should you do before you get in the car?"
"Make sure the license plates and driver matches the profile," Mimi droned.
"Mimi, I can hear you making that face. I'm serious. I can't be there to watch out for you, so I want to make sure you're being careful! And keep me posted! And once you meet this guy, I want a picture of his ID too! You can't be too careful, okay?" Yolei lectured her.
"Okay, I will. I'm gonna get on the plane now so I'll call you when I land. Promise," Mimi pouted.
"Aren't you flying first class? Shoot me a text or something!" Yolei said.
"I gotta go, byeeee," Mimi tapped at her wireless earbud to hang up her call and tucked her phone in her bra.
"Miss, do you have your ticket?" a flight attendant slid in front of Mimi.
"Yeah," Mimi handed the flight attendant her boarding pass.
"Thank you. You're the third window seat to the right, 3B. Someone will be with you shortly to check up on you for refreshments," the flight attendant smiled.
"Thank you," Mimi said.
"Have a good flight," the flight attendant moved to the side.
"Wow, the first class is definitely roomier than coach. I'll have to thank this guy when I see him in person," Mimi said to herself as she sat down in her seat. She adjusted her neck pillow and pulled a fleece blanket out from her tote bag.
"3A? Thanks..…"
"Hi, can I see your ticket?" a flight attendant asked Izzy.
"Uh, it's somewhere here..…," Izzy absentmindedly handed the flight attendant his passport and boarding pass.
"Here. You're in 3A, the third aisle seat to the right, next to the girl over there," the flight attendant handed Izzy his paperwork back and pointed to the cabin.
"3A? Thanks..…," Izzy nodded and trodded over to his designated seat. He lifted his carry-on bag off his shoulder and slid it in the overhead compartment, then sat down in his chair.
"Izzy? Is that you?"
"Mimi, long time no see..…what are you doing here?" Izzy looked at her in confusion.
"I'm heading to Miami! I'm so excited, I'm gonna have such a good time! Hopefully I'll get to party and go on the beach a lot. How about you?" Mimi gushed.
"I'm also heading to Miami, but it's not for fun. I have some work thing and I'm supposed to..…huh," Izzy trailed off.
"What's wrong?" Mimi asked.
"Nothing. I think I just forgot something at home. It's not important," Izzy turned red and rubbed his temples.
"Oh. I hate when that happens. Well, since we'll be in Miami, we should totally meet up and hang out at least..…huh," Mimi paused.
"Mimi?" Izzy awkwardly adjusted his hoodie.
"Hey Izzy, can I ask you a question?" Mimi leaned over the armrest and traced her finger against the skin of his forearm.
"Go ahead, shoot me..…," Izzy exhaled deeply.
"Huh?" Mimi cocked her head to the side.
"Yeah, I meant go ahead. Shoot me any questions you'd like. We have a long flight ahead of us," Izzy pulled the strings of his hoodie taut and slinked down in his seat.