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"Don't look now, it's Uma Sherman," you scoffed.
"We don't like Uma now?" Miles asked as you both strolled down the hallway to your next class.
"Hate her."
"Woahhhh, what'd she do?"
You rolled your eyes. "Nothing. "
"It doesn't sound like nothing. You don't hate people. You're friends with that guy who stole your essay and almost got you suspended."
"Jeremy was going through stuff!"
He stopped in front of you. "Y/N, you have to tell me what happened. We're on the same team, I have to know. "
"This isn't about being on the same team. This is about you wanting drama."
"Okay and? You've suddenly got beef with one person in the entire universe. This is groundbreaking."
"It's not important."
"Fuck that!"
"Morales, detention," Mr Salas intoned.
"You have to tell me," Miles plowed on.
You sighed. "Miles, please."
"I promise, it'll stay between us."
You bit your lip. "You have to swear not to ask any follow-up questions."
"I swear."
You took a deep breath. "She likes the guy I like."
"Who?!"
"Miles! You literally just swore you wouldn't ask."
"That was way before I knew what the secret was."
"That shouldn't change anything!"
"The lovebirds are fighting," someone in the crowded hallway jeered.
"Fuck off, Jeremy."
"L/N, detention."
No surprises there. "I'm not saying anything more," you said with finality. "Okay?"
"Okay. Yeah," Miles said, and you continued your walk to class together.
***
Miles strode purposefully up to Alex.
"Y/N likes someone."
"Oh," Alex said. "Really?" Their voice rose an octave.
"You knew?" Miles accused.
"There's nothing to know!" They were wringing their hands now.
"You have to tell me who it is."
"I can't do that."
"We're friends!"
"Y/N was my friend first!" Alex cried.
"I can't believe you would just not tell me something like this."
"You didn't tell me when Harry liked me."
"That's bro code," he cried, before making a visible double take. "Wait, what'd you say?"
"I have to go to the science room," Alex said, trying to sidestep him. He grabbed their arm and spun them to face him.
"Are you saying Y/N likes me?"
"I'm not saying anything and I have to go get my barometer." They hastily made their way to the exit.
The video on Alex's phone ended.
"Oh my god."
"I'm sorry," Alex whispered.
"We have to delete that," you said.
"I can't. It's got my rehearsal recording for the play."
"If this gets out-"
"It won't get out, I swear. We have bigger problems on our hands."
You groaned. "This cannot be happening. This'll ruin everything. Our friendship is based on the foundations of a mutual love of comics and the suppression of my extremely romantic feelings for him. He's not going to want to be friends anymore."
"That won't happen."
"It'll be SO awkward."
"That one will happen," Alex said. "We need a plan."
"Already on it. Avoid him until he forgets."
"Y/N!" Miles' voice rang out from the end of the hallway.
"Quick!" you hissed, handing your bag to Alex. "Maneuver Seven."
"He knows Maneuver Seven!"
"Maneuver Seven Dash A." With that, you tore off in the opposite direction.
As you neared the exit, you heard a bang and a whine. "Ow, I think it's sprained."
"Are you okay?" came Miles' voice, before he scoffed. "Oh my god, ALEX!" His footsteps started up again but you had already reached the door. You bolted into the bright light, speeding past other students sitting on the grass.
"Y/N!"
You made a beeline for the adjacent building, planning to lose him in the crowd of students that didn't like the outside. You were halfway across the lawn when a heavy weight slammed into your back, knocking you down.
"Did you just tackle me?!"
"You weren't going to stop!" Miles cried.
"So you give me brain damage?"
"Oh please, I tackle you all the time. I need to talk to you," he said, breathless.
"I don't really want to talk right now."
"You owe me for the frog thing."
Ugh. "Fine. Talk."
He looked around him at the crowd of students and one teacher who were definitely watching you two, suddenly nervous. "Um, can we talk in private?"
"Nuh uh."
"Fuck you mean nuh uh?"
"No recess tomorrow, Morales."
"Whatever you need to say," you began. "You can say it here." You didn't want to know what you'd do if he rejected you privately. You weren't certain that you weren't above begging.
"I need to know."
"You don't need to know shit."
"These two, honestly," Mrs Jolie muttered.
"Y/N please. I know you don't want to tell me. But I'm your friend and this is important. I mean, if you like someone so much you dislike Uma Sherman for moving on your man, he has to be important."
"Wait, you don't like me?" Uma said, only to receive multiple shushes from the crowd.
"If it's so important…" he trailed off. "Who is he?"
"You already know," you said, unable to raise your voice above a whisper.
"I know-" He hesitated. "I know what I want to believe. I know how I feel. And I'm afraid that maybe that's making me see things that aren't there."
Your breath was stuttering as you stared into his eyes, unblinking. You worried your lip. You could lie, pretend it was some guy from London and keep your friendship intact. But, and this was really what started this whole mess, you just couldn't lie to Miles.
"Promise-" You swallowed. "Promise we'll still be friends."
"I swear on my life," he said, voice also falling to a whisper.
You took a deep breath, leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. You gave a sheepish smile when you leaned back.
Miles looked a world away. Then, the light returned to his eyes and he grasped your chin, pulling you in for a deeper kiss. You could barely hear the cheering crowd over your thundering heartbeat.
When you pulled apart, you were both breathless, smiles splitting your faces.
"I was so afraid you were going to say someone else," he breathed.
You laughed. "Never. Always you."
The sunny smile you received would warm you for many years to come.
After basking in the joy for a while, you stood and walked towards Uma.
"I'm so sorry I said… all the things I said about you when I thought you were trying to get with Miles."
She nodded. "I understand. But you don't have to worry about literally anyone. Everyone knows he's only had eyes for you forever."
"Really?"
"You cannot be serious," Mrs Jolie said.
"What? No one ever told me." You threw an accusing glance at Alex, who had come out into the courtyard.
They shrugged. "I thought you were just really good friends!"
"Your first mistake was asking Alex," Jeremy said.
Uma laughed, with full snort to show just how badly it cracked her up. "Remember when Harry got them all those roses on Valentine's Day and they said-"
"You are such a great friend!" the rest of the crowd finished. Alex groaned at the memory.
"Alright, alright," Miles said, strolling up to place an arm around your waist. "Leave my bae alone."
"Morales, you are just as oblivious!" Mr Salas shouted from the door. "'Oh I wonder what it means when my best friend who constantly comes to my dorm room in the middle of the night sneaks me to the roof to watch the stars.'" He scoffed. "And by the way, detention, both of you."
But really, what else was new?