Miles

She went back into the house, and I got into the car. I launched the car and started the road. I pressed slightly on the gas pedal. Then, I rested my head back on the headrest. Uncontrollably, tears started to roll down my face. Why do they have to be like that? That's my simple, straightforward question. My lungs started to tighten. I parked to the side and rested my head on the steering wheel struggling to retrieve my clear vision and steady breath. "Miles, you got this," My conscious told me.

After a while, I pressed down the window button to let the air hit me. I tried to loosen my body to the chair and sit straight. I grabbed the phone and found eight missed calls from Scott. I played music to try to distract my mind and started to drive again.

I put my hand on the wheel, and my left elbow on the window frame.

After thirty minutes, I was parking in my building garage. I took the elevator to the apartment floor as I had no energy left within me.

I stuck the keys to the door and got in. "Dude Where the hell have you..." Scott stood off the couch the moment he saw me and followed me to my room. He stopped talking, "Miles what the hell?" He was examining my face. "Did you have a panic attack?" He asked and I looked to the wall behind him. How did he know?

"Miles tell me what happened? Why did you go to Elena? You are even wearing an indoor outfit!" He was freaking out. Also, he knows I'm a person who watches out carefully for looks.

I sat on the edge of the bed, and he got out of the room. I sat still in my place not knowing what to do with my life.

He came back with a mug dangling from it a green tea label. "Take this," he handed the cup to me, then sat beside me. "Use this," he also handed me eye drops. Damn, my eyes got the red side corner patch again.

He shuffled his brown curls and said: "Are you going to be quiet for so long?" He asked laying back on his elbow.

"I went to Elena because she was feeling low, and she burst with tears the moment she saw me. She kept sobbing for straight twenty minutes in my hug." I clenched my wet t-shirt caused by her tears. "Then thoughts hit me, and I started overthinking." I hate that he has to handle me. I hate my eyes blood vessels that it couldn't hold itself and expose me.

"While you were driving?" He asked and I nodded. "That's why you didn't answer my calls?"

"No, I was with Elena when you called."

"I told you countless times to bring her here..."

"There she has fine food, and organized life. Frank is handling her financially. I don't want her to see me weak. I want to preserve my image."

"I told you not to worry about money."

"You are handling me. I won't accept more than that, and I'm accepting it hardly."

"You shouldn't because who knows what life is holding for us. Maybe you will rule the world, and I'll beg for your power one day." He said, and I drank from the tea.

He raised his hand holding the meds, but I shook my head. "I don't need them."

"Use the eye drops." I nodded drinking the tea. I sat on the edge of the bed, and he laid on his back.

I took the cigarette pack off the bed nightstand and lit one.

"I assume you know that smoking won't help your eye recover." I know he was forcing himself not to say it but he did.

"I know." I nodded exhaling smoke.

After an hour, I got off the bed and looked in the mirror. My eyes look so bad. "I'll sleep," I told him as he was texting still on my bed.

"Okay, night buddy." He said and walked out of the room. I didn't change although the t-shirt was still misty from her tears. I felt it's something belonging to her, so I decided to keep it on and grab on to it.

I woke up to the sound of the alarm and grabbed the phone. I shut it and called Elena. "Morning sweetie," I said.

"Good morning Miles." She cheered.

"Where are you?"

"On my way to school."

"When will you finish?" I asked to plan my day.

"Two."

"Okay. Have a great day. I love you,"

"I love you too. Are you going to come while I'm at the house?"

"Sure baby."

"Fine, bye." She said and hung up. I looked at the time on the top of the screen, and it was still seven in the morning. I decided to sleep again.

I opened my eyes and grabbed the phone from the matters I'm sleeping on. It was eleven, so I got off the bed and walked to the living room.

"Hey," I said to Scott who was playing a video game.

I walked to the kitchen and turned on the boiler. Something caught my eye. Something that will do good for breakfast; pancakes. I poured water on the instant coffee mixed with sugar and honey to the pancakes then walked back to Scott.

"I see you found your way," He said as he was still playing, and I watched the screen.

Bitting pancakes, I pulled out my phone. I found a text from Milia, so I opened the chat.

'Photogenic you are...' I think she's talking about my profile picture.

'Not actually this pic has something like a back story.' I typed with one hand.

'Interesting 🧐'

'I was waiting for Elena when she stopped to buy something on our way. Every now and then, I glanced at the shop to check on her. At this glance, I couldn't see her for a long while, so I started to panic while she was taking the photo of the panicking old brother.' I narrated through the text.

'Then you weren't posing then you are a photogenic'

'I'm not.' I insisted.

Monsieur photogenic 😉'

'Claimed nicknames:
Mr Speedy
Monsieur photogenic' I texted.

'So you are counting?' She asked.

'Yes because clearly, they're not as the ones I'm used to getting called by.' I replied.

'So what people call you beside this wonderful Miles? Who named you Miles? Maybe your mum because the name is deep or your dad because he was obsessed with cars just like you?' She attacked with questions.

'Ginger, carrot, redhead, goldilocks, freckle face, radish, rusty.' I listed the names I was called or bullied by for her.

'I'd be honoured if I was called by food... Do you sense the greatness?'

'Seriously? 😂' She didn't seem to sense the bullying part.

'WAIT YOU DIDN'T LIKE GETTING CALLED AFTER FOOD???'

'I wouldn't say I liked it as a kid, but I appreciate it now thanks to your perspective lol' I clarified.

'You are welcome 💁‍♀️' She texted and I wonder why she didn't change the tan of the emoji. Who on earth has a yellow-tan?

'If someone would call me after food, I'd like to be called as fajitas' I texted sipping the coffee.

'You are more like steak.'

'Now we're talking, ' I smiled to the screen, hoping Scott is distracted by the game.

'Saucy steak as a compliment.' The smile was still on my face. 'You are more like tacos, ' I typed and sent. 'It's blasting with colours just like you' I added.

'And I'd take spicy tacos as a compliment 😋' She replied.

'That's food nicknames I'd be happy if I was called by Not radish and carrots 😒😂' I bit the pancakes.

'😂😂😂'

I looked at the time. It was pointing to one, so I walked to my room.

I put on a black button-up shirt, light jeans, and my watch. I looked into the mirror and buttoned the shirt, leaving three top buttons unbuttoned. I pulled the sleeves up, then grabbed my dark jeans jacket, sunglasses, phone, keys and the wallet.

"I'm leaving," I said to Scott as I left our apartment.

I got in the car, put on my glasses, and pulled out the car ceiling. I drove out the underground building garage, and the sun rays hit me the moment I got out.

The watch ticked on two the moment I pulled the car into park in front of my old high school which Elena also attends.

I got out of the car and stood beside the passenger door. Students started to flood out the main door, but Elena wasn't in my sight.

I laid on the passenger seat door waiting for her. I saw her walking toward me, but she didn't notice me as she was talking with her friends. I uncrossed my arms waiting for her to see me. She looked in my direction and she acknowledged me. She started running, and I picked her up when she clashed with me.

"MILES!" She screamed as I hugged her.

"Hello," I said as she stood on the ground.

"What a surprise." She squealed and her friends came after her.

"Hi," I smiled at them. "Let's go?" I asked Elena.

"Yeah, see you guys later," She said, and I opened the door for her. Her friends were was still there, so we got awes.

I walked around the car and got in. "You are getting a lot of looks here," Elena said as I drove out of the parking.

"I deserve it. Don't I?" I looked at her. She giggled, and that's why I had a wide smile.

"That's not the way," Elena said, and I was proud that my little sibling knows the roads.

"Where are we going then?" She asked.

"You'll have to wait and see."

"You were already a surprise!" She giggled.

_____________________

Note

My fellow night readers,
Dark Mood is out! And, I have never been more satisfied with an app.

Here you go with a long Miles pov. ;)
Tell me your thoughts on comments!
I'd love to hear them out.

This terrific cover by tyceeh  my best Wattpad pal out there!

I hope you like it, and if you do, Vote please!❤️

Salma:)