Camp MondCove

Chapter 3: Something more, something new

"I know you wanted me to stay, but I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA"

Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan

"Welcome aboard, everyone," the flight attendant said with a practiced smile as Nico navigated the cramped airplane aisle, trying to balance his suitcase and bag stuffed with clothes.

He finally reached his seat—41A by the window. He squeezed into the space, feeling relieved as he confirmed it was indeed a window seat. One of his favorite parts of long flights was getting to enjoy those breathtaking aerial views. Settling into the plush seat, he appreciated the good legroom and the small, modern screen in front of him.

After tucking his jacket and backpack under the seat in front—using a spare blanket for extra padding—he stowed his mini suitcase in the overhead bin and started scrolling through the in-flight entertainment options. He came across some romantic classics like Pretty Woman and The Bodyguard, both featuring two of his favorite celebrities. He had thought about watching Titanic, Flight, or Snow Society, but they seemed a bit intense for the moment, so he kept those in mind for later.

As he got lost in the movie choices, the voice of the flight attendant crackled over the intercom, interrupting his thoughts.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Passengers for flight UX091 to New York JFK, we'd like to thank you for choosing Air Europa. Please pay attention to the upcoming safety information before using this equipment."

Nico glanced up briefly, catching bits and pieces about life vests and emergency exits, but his mind was already drifting to the hours ahead of him. He saw other passengers attentively following the safety briefing, but he was more focused on picking the perfect movie to accompany his inflight meal.

The announcement continued in the background, mentioning that smoking was prohibited and reminding everyone to keep their devices in airplane mode. Nico quickly tapped his phone to airplane mode, shivering a little, and sank back into his seat, only nodding when the flight attendant asked if he needed anything.

Settling on a movie to watch, he leaned back as the plane began its taxi down the runway, ready to lose himself in whatever awaited him. The cabin hummed with the soft noise of conversations and the engines. Nico glanced out the window, watching dark clouds gather on the horizon. He took a moment to snap a photo of the view, documenting the moment as the plane took off into the unknown, crossing oceans and mountains through a mix of white and gray clouds.

The next eight hours passed quickly for Nico, a blend of ease and distraction. He was pleasantly surprised by the in-flight meal—cheese ravioli with chicken, perfectly roasted, and an endless supply of snacks. The flight attendants did a great job, keeping his glass full and sneaking him extra snacks.

Nico watched a favorite film, Sonic the Hedgehog, and then reimmersed himself in the magical worlds of the third and sixth Harry Potter movies—films he could never tire of, no matter how many times he watched them. The familiar stories made the flight feel almost enjoyable.

With time to spare, Nico reclined his seat—happy no one was behind him—and started up Spotify, setting one of his playlists to shuffle. He adjusted his headphones, placed the pillow between his head and the seat, and settled in, hoping for a nap.

As the announcement came over the speakers, telling everyone to prepare for landing, Nico slowly opened his eyes. The warm, golden light streaming through the window revealed the sun setting over JFK Airport, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. The airport below glowed softly, with runway lights beginning to flicker on and the ground crew moving in elongated shadows.