Miles walks home, or at least, the path that felt the easiest to take. He passes by a gas station, the neon sign flickering, just one pick up truck parked there. He rubs his eyes, stepping into the store. He takes a can of soda from the freezer and goes to the till to pay, closing his eyes as the hum of the fluorescent lights buzzes. He sits, back against the wall. "Coward..", he mutters and covers his face. The cashier asks "Uh.. kid..?". A feminine voice that sounded all too familiar.
He looks up, and, for a moment, sees Chelsea. Her red hair standing out as his eyes widen. "Ch.. Chels!?", he utters, rubbing his eyes, but when he looks again, the cashier looks different. The red hair, now black, those fiery eyes, unfamiliar. She spoke again "Listen, just buy whatever, and get out.", this time, not sounding like Chelsea. Miles stumbles up, looking down, saying "S.. sorry..". He steps out, taking another sip, and walks out into the night streets.
As he gets to the bus stop, he ribs his eyes, saying "C'mon.. Am I losing it..?", but bumps into someone, dropping the soda. He looks up, and sees her again. Chelsea. "Wh..! Chels..?", but shakes his head, and.. she's gone. Again. The stranger says "Um... excuse me..?", and Miles rushes past him, past the bus stop, past everything. As he runs, tears blur his vision, as he wipes them off, taking out his phone. He opens his contacts, hovering above each of them, spiraling. "Shane.. no! He left!", he says, deleting it instantly. "Mal? No, not after what she saw!", he says, deleting her contact too. He continues running, deleting more and more contacts, until.. Chelsea.
His finger hovers over hers, he lets out a broken whimper as he tells himself "No, no.. Dammit, Miles!", but.. he presses the call button anyways. He slows to a jog, panting as the phone rings once. Twice. Each second felt like an anvil dropping near him, growing ever closer. Until, from the other line, he hears "Hey Miles.". Miles stops. Fully. Catching his breath, and says "Hey. Been a while, huh?". Silence stretches, until Chelsea says "Yeah. It has.". Miles sits beside a tree, and asks "So, how have you been..?", and Chelsea lets out a faint chuckle, or something close to one. "Fine, I guess. But.. I gotta admit.. Woodsburg isn't my favorite place to live.".
Miles' ears perk slightly at the name, and he says "R.. right..".
Chelsea asks "Miles. Have you thought about what I told you? Back at the lighthouse..?". Silence, this time heavier. Miles sighs, and says "Yeah. In fact, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. About you..", and he puts the phone away from his ear, as if what Chelsea was about to say would say next, would actually hurt. But, Chelsea says "Yeah, I figured. Truth be told.. it was hard to stay away from you. I miss you, dude.". Miles' eyes widen as he brings the phone close again, asking "So.. you feel the same about me?". Chelsea sighs, loud enough for the phone to pick it up, and her voice breaks, as she says "See you around, Miles..", and she hangs up.
Miles looks at the phone screen, for minutes, as if she would call again. But, nothing came. Miles walks home, not sure what to feel anymore, his thoughts clouded, yet so empty of purpose. Just "I'm tired."
He gets home, not to the warmth he left that morning, but Richard and Mallory sitting at the dinner table, Chelsea's coat on the table. Mary sat on the couch, cradling a sleeping Martin in her arms. Miles felt it, not just in the looks of disapproval on their faces, but in the air itself. Miles walks up, and asks "What... did you guys go in my room?", his eyes locked on Mallory, but Richard slams down on the table, settling the atmosphere instantly. "Tell me it's not true, son.", he says coldly. Miles flinches slightly, and looks at Mallory again, and Mallory says "I had to tell them, Miles. For your own good..", but Miles stomps, shouting "Bullshit!".
Mary gasps, saying "Miles! Please..!", but Miles continues "No! I'm sick of you deciding what's best for me, Mal!", but Richard stands, saying "Miles. Don't you dare treat Mallory like she's the crazy one.". Miles stops, his eyes widening slightly, but he grits his teeth, as Richard continues "She's not the one getting.. involved with an adult woman, as a teenager!". Miles steps back, tears welling up, but he shouts "I.. we're.. not hurting anyone..! I didn't do anything wrong!", holding his head. Mary says "This.. thing can't possibly continue.. please, just stop, before you do something you'll regret.". Miles looks back at Mary, a look of sadness, replaced by anger, as he says "It's too late for that! Me and Chelsea.. we're already in.. we're in love!".
Richard grabs Miles' arm, shouting "I won't let my son throw everything away for this.. sick fantasy!". Miles winces in pain, and tries to push him away, but he continues "Is this why your grades are slipping? Why you're staying out this late? Is it that woman who's stolen your attention!?". Miles, tears streaming down his face, says "Stop.. just.. stop..!", but Richard finishes "Are you putting some sick 'love' over everything.. like your.. mother?"
Everyone in their room stands, their gut sinking as Mallory stands, saying "Dad!", and Mary, in tears, runs to her bedroom. Miles freezes, something in him breaks. Richard, realizing what he's said, lets go, and says "Miles.. I can't let you..", but Miles slaps his hand away, running away, grabbing Chelsea's coat, and saying "Fine! If that's how you see me.. then I don't care anymore!". Mallory tries to walk after him, but Miles shouts "I hate you!!", slamming his bedroom door, and sitting down, leaning against it. The tears on his face already drying as he breathes heavily, locking his bedroom door.
He hears the calls of Mallory and Richard from beyond the door, but he refuses to let them try to undo what happened. In a haze of tears and emotions, he grabs his bag, putting his clothes inside, taking his wallet, and putting the coat. As the hours pass, the murmurs fade to silence, as the clock strikes 10 pm. He opens his door slightly, seeing Mallory sleeping at his doorstep. He closes it again, locking it. And walks to his window, climbing out.
He walks past the park, going on his phone, going to his contacts again. Deleting his parents' numbers, one by one. He looks back at his home, the place that offered comfort, so many times.. now, just another altar of bad memories. He looks at his phone, only one contact left.. Naya.
He leaves a text for her. No, for everyone who he can't leave it for.
"Hey Naya. Sorry for the long paragraph, but I don't have it in me to talk right now. I'm writing to say.. please don't call me again. In a bit, I'm gonna throw away my Sim card, so it's pointless. I can't stay. I messed up. I screwed up so bad that everyone I thought was by my side.. I ruined everyone. I'm leaving, Naya. Please. Don't call anyone tonight. At least save it for tomorrow morning. Do it for me, okay? I'm sorry I couldn't be worthy of someone as amazing as you... that I was such a pushover when we were dating. And, most of all, I'll do what you said.. I'm not letting it stop me. I guess this is a pretty crummy goodbye, huh? I guess I always fold when it matters most.. story of my life.
Goodbye."
At a train station, he buys a one way ticket to Woodsburg, getting on the train, the memories flooding in as his beloved home grows smaller and smaller in the horizon. He looks down, shedding one final tears but looks out the window, towards an uncertain future.