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It was a normal night at (Y/N)’s dorm… Seemingly. A normal night, to the boys’ terms, is laughing at TV all night until they got in trouble. But they didn’t care. Of course they didn’t. They were just stupid boys, doing stupid things. They’re kids… But not normal ones. The people at the boarding school made sure to keep that clear to them. (Y/N) being the nerd and not knowing how to shut up, definitely didn’t help either. But somehow, after everything, this dumb boy seemed to find himself wound up in another’s arms. The one who is not only despised by the entire boarding school, but is the most feared after what he did.
(Y/N) knew Mrs. Grose didn’t appreciate Miles being with anybody else she didn’t exactly know, but he had made a very, very, very detailed promise on how he would protect this sweet boy. Though (Y/N) knew Miles wasn’t innocent, he did feel he was good. No matter what he did. He felt much more better after he was internally assured he was at least a little bit more mentally okay than he thought he was. Though, one moment, he couldn’t help but feel bad for his close friend. He always does, deep down inside, but doesn’t show it. As Miles doesn’t like to talk about his feelings so often, which doesn’t bother (Y/N) one bit. He didn’t like to barge in on his feelings like that. But this helped Miles open up much more comfortably than he did anybody else. Even Flora or Mrs. Grove.
Miles grunted, his head swarming with negative thoughts like a storm tormenting him in his own dreams, which were now nightmares. They weren’t just any old nightmares, though. Not at all. They were about Quint. He quickly jolted, his breath patterns quickly deteriorating and causing him to hyperventilate. He clawed at his sides, his nails digging into his pale, soft skin. He wanted nothing more but to run away so (Y/N) didn’t have to see him like this. But he didn’t. He didn’t want to. So, instead, he pulled the silk covers out from over him and soon let his legs dangle over the base of the bed.
Not to Miles’s surprise, he looked to the side to see (Y/N) peacefully sleeping, almost purring like a cat. Miles cracked a smile at this. He always teased him for liking cats so much and acting like one on accident. He’s always liked cats, even if he has never seen a pet in person or had one in his life. They were such fascinating creatures to him, he thought. But so was his best friend. As (Y/N) mumbled something under his breath and reached for something in front of him, Miles winced. He quickly turned back to stare at the abyss for a bit. Like he usually did.
Even with how slick he thought he was, he heard a murmur and a grunt, quickly interrupting him from his rushing thoughts. His lower lip trembled but he didn’t look back. Not only did he not want (Y/N) to see his face, even him just waking up made him emotional.
“Miles…? It’s so late. Are you doing alright?” He mumbled, finally scooting himself towards to his friend and setting a hand on his shoulder. Miles tensed up by the touch, beginning to stammer,
“I—I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m sorry,” He muttered, tears already welling up in his eyes. (Y/N) scanned over the features of his friends, then noticing his glossy eyes threatening to spill tears,
“Oh, Miles…” (Y/N) comforted in a whisper, sitting himself up and wrapping his arms around his friend’s waist. This was a totally platonic gesture. Miles sniffled, looking back. His lips parted for a moment, but soon connected as he decided he couldn’t find the right words,
“I’m sorry,” He apologized once more,
“I’m so annoying. Waking you up in the middle of the night… God, what am I thinking?” He grunted, his voice choking up. (Y/N) sighed, not in disappointment, but in worry,
“You don’t have to tell me what’s going on if you don’t want to. Just tell me what you want me to do,” (Y/N) stated, laying his head on his shoulder.
Miles lifted a hand to stop a running tear that was a millisecond from falling off the crease of his jaw. (Y/N) quickly glanced up at his friend, gazing over his beautiful features once more.
“Even if you’re beautiful when you cry…” (Y/N) began, shuffling so he could be facing Miles,
“I hate to see you like this,” He muttered. Miles face heated up, the close contact throwing off his speech once more,
“I… You—..” He sighed in defeat. (Y/N) chuckled, the hum echoing throughout the thin walls of the dorm. Miles swallowed, resisting the urge to kiss his best friend right then and there. That’s weird, isn’t it?
“(Y/N),” He called in a more controlled tone. This immediately got his attention, him nodding,
“Yes?” He responded softly. The tone made him quickly avoid eye contact. Shit, why was he acting like this?
“I… I’m—.. Do you think I’m… Scary?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think I’m strange, (Y/N)?” He choked up. (Y/N)’s heart felt like it stopped right then and there. It’s like the gears in his brain had finally been free of that chip of wood and started up working again. His breathing became ragged. After a long period of silence, Miles spoke once more,
“I’m not weird, am I?”
“No… No, no. Why would you think about yourself, Mai?” He asked softly. The nickname made Miles crack a smile a bit, but it quickly dropped. He chuckled a bit, wiping a tear,
“I just… Sometimes. I feel like I’m too much for you… Not like, that I’m like, energetic, but… Like… I… I’m…” He frantically searched around in his mind for the right set of words to express. However, he soon gave up, letting out frustrated sobs. (Y/N) quickly shushed him, rubbing circles into his arms with his thumbs.
“Why do you feel like this, Mai? You can tell me… I’m your friend,” He said with a gentle smile. This made Miles wince. Now he knew what to say.
“That’s the problem, I… I don’t want that!” He blurted. (Y/N)’s eyes widened. He quickly let go of him, assuming he wanted no more physical contact from him after this.
“What?” His voice quivered. Miles quickly regretted what he said, mentally cursing himself.
“I didn’t mean—.. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that,” He muttered. (Y/N) shook his head, tears already spilling from his eyes.
“No, It’s… It’s okay,” He lied. He let his weight fall down so his back was resting against the wall, his arms resting on his knees. Miles was about to break down at the sight.
“I—I said that because… I don’t know, it feels weird, and somehow wrong… But…” He began, his eyes gazing over (Y/N)’s disheveled looks. Mostly from just waking up, but you know.
“…I kind of… Like you, (Y/N),” He finished, carefully choosing his words. (Y/N) looked up, his eyes widened. He muttered something incomprehensible, the cutest grin growing on his face. Miles quickly cheered up just by the sight, even laughing a bit,
“What?” He asked, his leg already bouncing wildly. (Y/N) laughed,
“I said…”
“No way!” He exclaimed happily, lifting himself up and leaping towards the boy, embracing him tightly. Miles quickly realized. He liked him back…? Was this really happening? A smile soon grew on his face.
“I love you too, Miles Fairchild!” He yelled a little too loud for 2:30 A.M. at night. He put his hands on the sides of his head to cup his face and tilted his head to the side. Miles’s face quickly heated up. Oh, damn? For real? On god? My brother in Christ? Before he could process the situation, he felt a pair of soft lips connected to his. And… It felt amazing. He grinned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around (Y/N) and putting a hand at the back of his head to feel his hair. Just a piece of him.
They quickly parted at the same time, exhaling and laughing, (Y/N)’s hands gripping, somehow gently, at Miles’s shoulders. He looked up at the other, a sparkle in his eyes. Miles was so dazed. God, was he dazed. (Y/N) parted his lips for a moment, delicately choosing his words for this moment, then finally, they released,
“Boyfriends?” He asked hopefully, tilting his head to the side in the way Miles always adored to see when the other was curious. A smile tugged at his lips, quickly looking him up and down,
“Only if you let me put spider eggs all up in your hair,” He teased. (Y/N) quickly pushed his shoulder.
“Ew, gross! One spider is enough!” He laughed, both of them bursting into fits of giggles. When the laughter finally died down, leaving the room to let silence roam free, Miles sighed and looked back up at (Y/N) to stare at his eyes endearingly,
“But… Yeah. Boyfriends.”