Everyday of school felt agonizingly slow after that night. Days passed, then weeks. Miles would constantly check his phone, for even the slightest hint of her. But.. it never came.
A month since the lighthouse incident with Chelsea, Miles sits on his bed, the memory of the kiss still fresh on his mind. He sighs, saying "Good going, Miles..", running a hand through his hair, as he gets up. Just then, a knock on his door. Miles doesn't look up, he already knows. "Mal..", he says. And Mallory answers "It's.. uh.. breakfast time..", uncertainty in her voice. She steps back, almost expecting him to walk out, but.. he doesn't. Just answers "Gimme a minute..", and Mallory walks off.
As Miles walks downstairs, dressed in his school uniform, he is greeted by his father, Mary, and his new baby brother, Martin. "Good morning, sweetheart.", Mary warmly says, and Miles smiles, not quite genuinely, and says "Morning.", sitting down with them at the table. Richard serves breakfast, and Mallory sits across from Miles, an unreadable expression on her face. Miles doesn't bother looking back at her, until, she says "Naya says hi.". Miles finally looks back at her, asking "Huh..?", and Mallory shows him the text, and something in him shifts, but he steadies himself, saying "I wish she'd just tell me in person..". Mallory says, quieter this time "And I wish you'd stop leading her on..", which makes Miles jolt up suddenly, asking "What?", but Mallory says "Nothing.".
Miles gets up, saying "I gotta go. Bye Dad, Bye Mom.", and kisses Martin's forehead, saying "Later, Marty..", before taking his bag, and walking off. On the way to school, he passes that ever familiar park, memories still visible every second he spends in its vicinity. He walks past faster, and slows down when he passes it. He gets to school, and sits at his normal desk, but looks to his side. Shane isn't there. For the third week in a row. Miles feels his absence, but doesn't pry. "I wonder how Shane's doing. What happened to Anny must be tearing him up...", he thinks to himself, as he takes out his sketchbook, but just scribbles, nothing neat, nothing clean.
Class goes on, until, during recess, Miles sits by the bleachers, alone. Until a familiar voice calls out to him "Hey Miles.". It's Naya. Miles straightens slighty, but pats the spot next to him. And, she does. Naya sits with Miles, and the silence stretches between them. Until, he says "I'm glad you're back. In our class, I mean.". She lets out a chuckle, and says "Yeah, well.. Couldn't stay away.". Miles shifts slightly and asks "Naya? Do you still.. love me?". Naya stiffens, the question taking her aback, as she struggles for a response. But, she looks down, saying "Unfortunately.", and Miles looks back at her, and says "I'm sorry.". Naya says "Please, don't..". The silence continues, until she says "That girl. Chelsea, right? Do you love her?". Miles looks at her, a light smile on his face as he says "Unfortunately.". They both chuckle, before Naya extends her hand, saying "Friends?". Miles shakes her hand, saying "Yeah. Friends.".
Miles raises his hand, and asks the teacher "Excuse me, ma'am.. Can I go check on Shane?", and the teacher says "I take it the situation with Ms. Waybright is still weighing on him? Go ahead.". Miles leaves the school, and goes to Shane's house. As he approaches the apartment complex, he looks for a certain room number "236.. 236..", repeating it in his head, until.. he finds it.
His hand hovers over the doorknob, until he decides to knock. Once. Twice. Nothing. Confused, he asks "Uh.. Shane?", and he knocks again. Getting worried, he knocks more forcefully, until.. the door swings open. It's unlocked. Miles walks in, taking in the disheveled appearance of the room.
"Uh.. Dude?", Miles calls out, but stops when he sees Shane in his room, packing. "Dude! It's been so long..!", he says, but stops, seeing the serious look in his eyes. "Where are you going..?", Miles asks, and Shane brushes past him, saying "Doesn't matter.", but Miles holds his arm, saying "What the hell, man!? I thought things with Anny were getting better!". Shane pulls his arm away, and says "She is! And she'll be even better off without me!". Miles takes his keys, and says "No, you idiot! Don't you understand that she cares about you!? Remember that night at the prom, how she protected you? Just imagine how she'll react if the guy she risked her life for.. abandons her!".
Shane's shoulders shudder as he wipes his tears, saying "You don't get it, man! She.. I almost lost..", but he stops, his sobs getting in the way. Miles looks at him, saying "You don't wanna leave. I know it. Just.. talk to her. Without the mask, for once, bro.", as he takes his bag. But Shane says "But I can't stay here either.". Miles grabs his shoulder and says "What about me, man? Would you leave me, too?". Shane says "You have way more to stay for..", but Miles shouts "Do I?! My sister thinks I'm unstable, she keeps her eyes on me like I'm a psychopath at home! And school.. I can't face Naya without feeling like I'm walking on eggshells with her. Like I'm twisting the knife everytime I talk about my feelings with her..". Shane leans on the counter, looking down as he continues "And Chelsea.. I don't even know anymore. Everyone just treats me like this little kid who doesnt know what he's getting into.."
Shane walks towards him, and Miles finishes "So no. I don't have a lot to stay for, do i?". Shane coldly says "Gimme my keys, dude.". Miles doesn't. He says "I'm done letting all this stuff happen around me, man..". Shane says "Fine. Keep it.", and turns to leave. Miles just stands there, as Shane walks toward the door, and he says "Woodsburg. That's where I'm going.", before leaving, slamming the door on his way out.