CHAPTER TWO:
second chance at first line

    Miles laid on his bed, music blasting into his eardrums as he hummed along to it. His homework rested along the end of his bed. Heaps of water dripped off the ends of his hair, landing along his sweatshirt. He heard the soft sound of movement, making him pull his headphones out.

"Stiles?" he stood up from his bed approaching his window. He could've swore he saw red lights, unless it was his mind playing tricks on him.

He walked into the hallway, hearing the loudness of Stiles talking with someone. It was likely Scott that boy was always talking with Scott. They were obsessed with each other.

"I don't want him knowing about this Scott, and I like generally mean that!".

Miles frowned deeply as he knocked on the door. He heard the loud panic of Stiles who jumped out of his chair and opened the door.

"Hey uh Miles!" he let out a heavy breath as he smiled. "Why are you acting weird?" Stiles let out a scoff "I'm not acting weird! You're acting weird".

Miles rolled his eyes "whatever, the games tomorrow night and there's no way in hell I'm sitting on the bench again".

"That's a very nice dream to have! I mean you'll probably embarrass yourself, we're always on the bench, we're literally the bench warmers".

Miles rolled his eyes "you just don't want me outshining you, that just motivated me to try even more harder at the game". He patted Stiles shoulder "and hey, maybe you can keep the bench warm by yourself this season".

He walked back into his room. Putting his headphones back on as he looked at his homework, maybe he could do it in the morning? Or he could suffer for the night and just get it done.

Regardless he needed to practice for the game, no way in hell was he going to be on the bench the entire time. He wanted to play, he needed to play!

—

"Okay, so you don't want me to play? I'm so confused Stiles" Miles leaned into the wall as he pushed his gloves on. "Uh yeah! Me and you can watch everyone else play, I mean I'm sure Scott can win for us, it doesn't matter".

Miles looked at Scott then at Stiles "am I missing something here? Why don't you guys want me playing?". Stiles let out a weak laugh "just wanna hang out with my bro!" He wrapped his arms around Miles smiling.

Miles rolled his eyes as he glared at Stiles "you just don't want me outshining you guys. I told you! It's not like I'm gonna be better then Jackson, I mean the dudes captain for a reason".

He grabbed hold of his lacrosse stick walking out of the locker room. Stiles huffed "he's not gonna listen to me, I'm sure I'll figure this out".

Miles walked along the bleachers smiling softly when he approached Erica. She sat at the end of the bench, alone. She was wrapped in a thick scarf as she smiled at him "I know you don't play, but I figured I'd come and hang out with you".

She stood up pushing her gloves over her fingers "sure, you can sit with me, I can explain the game if you want, or we can talk about anything".

She walked beside him "why'd you help me yesterday? Most people just watch and laugh". He sat down on the bench "well I'm not most people, I just guess I couldn't just watch you suffer like that".

Erica picked at the ends of her sleeves "you don't have to show pity to me Miles" he blinked "is it a crime to wanna help you? You're like the first person whose ever acknowledged me without calling me a loser, or just ignoring me. I'm like a punching bag for everyone around here, Stiles thinks it's practice that makes me get bruises, more like Jackson and his friends, in case you didn't notice I'm not very popular.. but I don't mind it.... I get to be your friend and your better company".

Erica's cheeks turned red as she smiled softly "I don't know, I don't think I'm good company". He patted her shoulder slightly "you're all the company I could ask for Erica. You're amazing and beautiful and not to mention you're....".

"You think I'm beautiful..." he smiled as he nodded at her words "you're the most beautifulest girl I've ever meant, and I hope you'll let me be in your life, whether it's as friends or best friends... or more".

The referee blows the whistle indicating the game is starting. "Are you gonna be playing?" Miles took his gloves off "I think I wanna just sit here and talk with you, I doubt you'd enjoy watching me make a fool outta myself. I tend to trip easily on the field".

Erica laughed lightly as Miles placed his gloves down beside the bench. "Psst... Miles!" he sighed and turned at the sight of Stiles waving at him.

"I'll be right back, my idiot brother needs me" he walked off approaching his brother with an annoyed expression. "What do you want? I'm busy" Stiles huffed "you'd rather talk to a girl, then sit with me on the bench? We're bench buddies".

Miles rolled his eyes "is this why you called me over here? For annoying banter about me not sitting with you. I'll sit with you next game.. I gotta go!",

Miles went to leave but was stopped by Stiles grabbing his arm "so you're not gonna play right?". Miles sighed "Stiles I'm not gonna play, I'll see you after the game. If dad shows up, tell him I said hi".

Miles walked off and sat back down beside Erica "sorry, Stiles was just being dramatic because I didn't sit with him like I normally do". Erica rubbed her hands together "I've never really been to these things before, I don't really leave my house much".

Miles looked around and then back at Erica "then let's get outta here, just take a walk down the road, it's not like anyone will miss me here. I never play and the bench will always be here".

Miles stood up and grabbed Erica's hand before they walked off. It was quiet as Miles walked beside Erica down the road. The air was cold but he ignored it as he held onto his lacrosse gear.

"So aside from sports, what are you into?" he let out a soft hum "to be honest I don't really like sports, Stiles sorta dragged me into it when he wanted to try out. I guess I stuck around for his sake, didn't wanna let him down by quitting".

Erica stopped walking "what do you really wanna do?" Miles looked at her "I'm not really sure what I wanna do with my life, but right now I really wanna kiss you, is that weird?".

Erica let out a soft giggle as she pressed her hands behind her neck. "No that's not weird..." she smiled shyly as he smiled at her "I won't do it if you don't want me... we can just turn around, go back to the game and pretend this never happened".

"You mean you really wanna kiss me? This isn't some kind of trick?". He gripped her face his eyes brighting in a way as he looked at her lips.

"I'd never trick you Erica Reyes, besides I don't lie to people I like... and that's rare for me, everyone hates me... but you don't".

Erica let out a soft breath "you really mean that?" he nodded as he leaned closer to her "I meant every word, I really like you Erica... can I kiss you?".

Erics smiled softly "yes" his lips mended into hers, he held onto her gently. Her hands gripped his shirt nervously as she kissed him back.

She never would've thought someone would kiss her, she wasn't anyone special. Everyone hated her she was a freak and yet Miles was here, kissing her.

He moved back first his smile big as he let out a soft laugh "that was a lot better then I imagined". Erica pressed her hands together "I was scared you'd hate it or something".

"I didn't hate it, I mean I don't really have anything to compare it to, that was my first kiss and it was perfect. You're perfect Erica". She smiled as he grabbed a hold of her hand.