*Hands over an Oreo*

Today is probably the best day of my life, and I'm definitely not exaggerating.

I finally saw a genuine emotion for me, except that of friendship, in Em's eyes and I can't help but feel ecstatic about it.

A yawn escaped my lips as I felt a hand smack the back of my head.

"At least try to look alive, man." Cole whispered, making me supress a groan.

"Why do you look so tired, Ryder?" Ashley said from the single couch across from the one I was sitting on.

"Yeah, why do you look so tired Ryder?" Miles said from beside me, mocking Ashley's concerned tone.

A smile threatened to grow on my lips as my gaze dropped to her pout, making her drop it quickly and look away.

Yeah, so when we came back to the living room, Miles announced that she's in no mood for board games anymore, making everyone except Ashley agree, quickly.

She rolled her eyes and threw herself on the three seater couch, as an amazing idea popped in my head when I saw Ashley making space for me beside her, on the single couch.

I moved to the three seater without glancing at Ashley and picked Miles up making her sit on the other side of the couch and keeping her feet on my lap.

She gaped at me in disbelief but when she tried to move away, I held onto her legs, looking at her in challenge.

"What are you doing?" She whisper yelled, for God knows what reason, since everyone's attention was already on us.

"Why? Does this bother you, too?" I said, tilting my head to the side as I saw red creeping up her neck.

"No..." She scoffed, turning her attention back to her phone.

Dylan threw in the idea of ordering pizza and everyone obviously agreed.

Now here we are sitting around, waiting for the pizza while I failed to keep my tired self at bay.

"I've been... busy with some stuff lately." I replied, looking at Miles pointedly.

Miles furrowed her eyebrows and opened her mouth to speak when Ashley's voice cut her off again.

"Aww what kind of stuff?" She said, leaning forward on her couch.

I saw Miles clench her jaw from the corner of my eyes.

"Well, the game is in a week, and I'm also... " I trailed off, glancing at Miles, making her raise her eyebrows at me. "...kind of, working on a secret project." I said, throwing a subtle wink in her direction.

Miles frowned, tilting her head slightly.

"Really? What secret project?" Ashley asked, placing a hand on my knee.

Okay, she's acting weird.

"It's a secret Ashley." I chuckled, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Just then we heard the doorbell ring and Miles sat up straight, swinging her legs to the side of the couch and off my lap, but by doing that, she literally kicked Ashley's hand that was on my knee, off of me.

"OW!" Ashley whined, holding her wrist, while Miles quickly crouched down to her level.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so so sorry. I can be so clumsy, sometimes." She face-palmed herself, while I could hear the clear sarcasm in her tone.

And I don't think anyone else noticed that.

"It's fine. But I think you broke my wrist." Ashley bit back, with a forced smile.

"I really didn't mean to." Miles said, standing up straight. "I'll go get you some ice."

I raised my eyebrows in amusement, as she turned around and the concerned look on her face just vanished. She stared into space with a deadpanned look before making her way to the kitchen.

Again, it was so quick and subtle that I doubt anyone noticed.

I was about to follow her to the kitchen when a suddenly annoying voice stopped me.

"Ryderrrrrr..." Ashley whined, making me sigh and turn to look at her.

"Yes Ashley, you need something?" I asked, wanting so desperately to just go to Miles.

Dylan and Perri had used the doorbell as an opportunity to escape the awkward situation, Cole pretended to be on call, while Mia sat awkwardly on a couch, on her phone.

None of my friends were fond of Ashley so, if anything, they probably were pretty pumped about what Miles did.

Ashley looked at me with, what I assume, is a pout. "I don't think that girl likes me."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "What? Her?"

She nodded.

"Oh no, I'm pretty sure it was a mistake. I mean, she apologized." I shrugged.

"It's not just about this, Ry." She said, making me internally cringe at the nickname. "She's been glaring at me, since the moment she got here. And didn't you see that freak, break that pencil in half?"

My jaw ticked and my hands clenched into fists at that, but before I could retort with a forced smile of my own, a smooth voice cut me off.

"Got it!" Miles rushed into the living room with an ice bag in hand and crouched in front of Ashley again, placing it on her wrist.

"OW!" Ashley winced, making Miles look at her wide-eyed.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry." She said, but the look on her face said otherwise. "I forget how delicate you are."

Ashley didn't even try to mask her glare anymore and snatched the ice bag out of Em's hand with her good hand, making her raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"Thank you." She spat out. "But I'm not delicate." She placed the ice bag on her wrist herself, while Miles stood up straight.

Miles chuckled slightly, before pursing her lips. "Okay."

Ashley snapped her head in Em's direction. "What? I'm serious." She exclaimed, making Miles raise her hands in mock surrender.

"I never said anything." Miles said, with a smile threatening to grow on her lips.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

What is she doing?

"But you're thinking otherwise." Ashley said, standing up straight, stumbling in the process, making Miles snort.

I cleared my throat, trying to gain her attention, to ask her what the fuck she's trying to do.

She turned to look at me with a frown. "Are you okay?" I was about to open my mouth to answer but she cut me off again. "Do you want me to unclog your throat?"

My eyes widened, as she looked at me with warning eyes.

"You can't talk to him like that." Ashley snapped, making us both turn to look at her, with raised eyebrows.

"What?" Miles let out a dark chuckle.

"Guys pizza is h-" Dylan's cheers were cut short when he entered the living room.

Mia sunk into the couch, nibbling her finger nails and Perri came into stop behind Dylan, everyone looking at the exchange in the living room.

"I said, you can't talk to him like that." Ashley said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just because you think you're some sort of addition to the group, doesn't mean you can be rude."

I couldn't see, Em's face as she was facing away from me but I could see her fists clench and her body tense up.

"New addition to the group?" Miles repeated, making me snap back into reality and step forward.

"Hey, Miles." I placed my hands on her shoulders. "The pizza is here." I said, lamely, wanting to get these two away from each other.

Ashley's eyes widened. "Miles? She's Miles?"

"Why? Do you prefer, 'the freak who broke the pencil in half'?" Miles retorted, tilting her head.

Ashley glanced at me and quickly forced a smile on her face. "I didn't mean it, Miles." She said, moving forward to grab Em's hand. "I've heard so much about you."

The sudden change in Ashley's demeanor left everyone confused, including Miles. "Everything except my real name? It's Emily for you."

Ashley burst out laughing and that confusion as to what is happening grew. "You're funny."

Miles scoffed. "I know."

Ashley glanced at something behind us and clapped her hands in excitement. "Oooh the pizzas are here. Let's dig in." She said rushing to grab the boxes out of Dylan's hands who flinched at that.

Miles turned to look at me, with a confused expression that mirrored mine.

What just happened?

*****

"All right, I'll see y'all in school on Monday." Miles said, grabbing her phone off the table while everyone said their goodbyes.

"I'll walk you home." I said, following her.

"Walk her home?" Ashley's voice said behind us.

I turned to look at her. "Yeah she lives in the same block."

Ashley opened her mouth but a smooth voice cut her off.

"Actually that won't be necessary. I can go on my own." Miles said, rolling her eyes and turning towards the door.

"Go man, this is your chance." Cole smacked my back, pushing me in the direction she left to.

"What chance?" Ashley asked, confused, but I was already out of the living room for me to answer so I heard Cole picking up a conversation with her.

God bless him.

"Hey! Hold up!" I called out to Miles, finally catching up to her as she turned to look at me with a frown.

"I told you I can walk home by myself, Ryder." She said, continuing to walk slowly, beside me.

"What kind of a gentleman would I be if I let you do that, huh?" I said, bumping her shoulder with mine.

She scoffed. "I think there are other girls who would appreciate this a lot more than I do."

I chuckled, pinching her cheek slightly. "You're adorable."

"Shut up." She said, swatting my hand away with a small, barely noticeable pout.

"Don't do that." I said, looking straight ahead, and away from her lips.

"What?" She asked, glancing at me.

"Don't make me lose control before I even apologize." I said, looking down at her, without a barrier to what I feel.

Her eyes widened slightly, before she looked away.

After a moment, she spoke up again. "I have a real name, you know?"

I chuckled. "I know. But everyone calls you that and I'm obviously too special for that."

She raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't your back hurt from carrying all that audacity?"

I burst out laughing, making her chuckle in return.

We talked and laughed all the way to her place and she turned to wave at me in goodbye, when we reached her house.

It's now or never.

As she turned to leave, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back softly, making her face me in surprise.

"I... uh I have something- I need to ask you." I said, and face-palmed myself for being a stuttering mess.

She nodded, encouraging me to continue. "Okay... Go ahead."

I opened and closed my mouth for a moment, before running a hand through my hair.

"Hey, you good? Why are you sweating?" She asked, with an amused smile.

"I have a name too, you know?" I said, narrowing my eyes at her.

She looked taken aback. "Okay, I'm sorry, do you want me to call you by that?" She said, slowly, with confusion lining her tone.

"Yeah." I said, making her nod slowly. "And I also want you to wear it."

Her frown deepened. "Wha-"

"I want you to wear my jersey at the game." I finally said, making her lips part in surprise.

"What?" She breathed out.

"Yeah, I was hoping you'd wear it to support me. Besides it would be fun to have someone wear it for a change." I said, rubbing the back of my neck, sheepishly. "It's your decision though. If you don't-"

"Wait... For a change? No one's ever wore your jersey before?" She said raising her eyebrows in surprise.

I shook my head, looking down, as heat crept up neck.

"I just never had the urge to see someone wear it before." I said, kicking little stones on the sidewalk, finding it very fascinating to look at suddenly.

"EM? IS THAT YOU?" A voice called out making us turn to look at a figure standing at the front door. "What are you doing out there? Come inside."

"In a minute!" Miles snapped back at Alec who grumbled before going back in.

I sighed, before looking back at her. "Uh you don't have to answer me just n-"

"Yes."

My eyes snapped to hers, wide as saucers. "Really?"

She chuckled while nodding. "Really."

My smile grew three folds as I couldn't hold in my excitement.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her waist. I've never felt the comfort that I feel while hugging her, in anything else.

It's almost like we're two pieces of a puzzle that just fit together.

After hugging each other for about a minute, she patted my back. "As much as I'd love to stay here and watch you get excited like a kid on Christmas, I really should go, before Alec comes out.

I sighed, pulling away. "Right."

"I'll see you Monday." She said, pulling her hand away, that was still in my grip.

"Yeah, okay." I said, putting my hands in my pockets and waited for her to disappear behind the door, before I turned to walk away with a smile on my face.

*****

I saw from the little window as he walked away, with a little jump in his step, making me chuckle.

I turned back around when my phone went off, making me dig it out of my pocket.

I checked to see an unknown number on my lit up screen. I answered with a frown.

"Hello?"

"Long time, beautiful." A deep voice said, from the other side.

It took a moment for realisation to hit me, as my jaw clenched.

"What do you want?" I asked, slowly, so that no one in the house can hear.

"So you're not gonna ask me how I got your number, then?" He said, in an amused voice.

"You clearly haven't done your homework on me. I don't like wasting my time with dumb questions. You're a gang leader, of course you have my number." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Then I'm guessing you're smart enough to know what I want." He replied with an equally smug tone. "I want you in my gang, Miles. I want you to fight for me."

My jaw clenched at the name, he was referring me with.

"Or you never know what might happen." He continued. "The world is a dangerous place, and that boy who just walked you home looked kind of important to you."

My breath hitched as I was robbed of speech.

Ryder. No, please. Not him.

I didn't think I'd have to be careful, at this extent, but I get to know new things about what I'm dealing with everyday and the graph of danger keeps going higher.

"I'm taking your silence as a sign that you'll reconsider." King said. "Remember to lock your front door and take care, Miles. Goodbye."

I slowly brought my phone down from my ear as I pursed my lips in frustration.

What do I do now?