Save the Date

The Calm Before The Storm

A loud thud came from the house entrance, and immediately Alex ran towards it, the phone still clutched firmly in his hand. Miles was on the floor, and his first thought was that he couldn't possibly be drunk; he'd been out for less than an hour. As he kneeled next to Miles, a heavy pang stirred in his stomach. Putting his phone down briskly, he held his face between his hands. "Miles! Babeh!!" He patted his face, voice breaking with concern. "Please, wake up." Alex could tell Miles was breathing, which was reassuring, but it was laborious, and the tossed inhaler lying next to him indicated an asthma attack. Alex knew he needed to act fast, so he started dialling 999 — he wouldn't take any chances.

It wasn't his first time calling the emergency services for Miles, but it was the first time with Miles unconscious. Asthma could be a stealthy little bitch.

He'd got one hand on the phone and the other on Miles' chest, checking how steady his breathing was when an operator finally answered the call asking what his emergency was. Alex didn't have time to reply, Miles was now blinking, and slowly he opened his eyes. "Alex?" Miles sluggishly came back from unconsciousness. Alex ended the call, not knowing if there was a need for it anymore.

"Oh me God, Mi! I was so worried." Alex inspected Miles' body. "Can ya breathe? Do ya need more puffs?" He lifted Miles' chin and looked at his face closely. "Ya're pale."

Miles slapped his hand off of him. "Get off of me, ya cheater! I can't believe ya're doing this to me. Again!!" He yelped. "I thought it was different now."

Alex noticed that Miles' breathing wasn't back to normal but just shook his head; "What the hell are ya on about? I'm not cheating on ya. I could never do tha'. We're engaged, Miles!" Alex said resolved, waving the ring at him.

Miles rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, crying overly emotional. "Seems like ya're the one who needs a reminder, 'cause I heard ya on the phone, loud and clear. Who's she?"

Alex swallowed hard. Miles knew. "Eh....how much did ya hear?"

Miles grunted. "Does it matter? Ya were saying that ya love her. I can't believe ya. Ya fucking idiot!" Miles slapped Alex's arms halfheartedly as he tried once again to touch him. "Don't ya touch me ever again!"

"Not a she, Miles. It was a he." Alex said with a deep inhale, waiting for Miles to react. He hoped he wouldn't be too upset.

Miles screamed, standing and heading upstairs. "Don't ya follow me!" He warned.

Alex ignored it and followed him. "It was Johnny! Okay? Thought ya'd figure out."

Miles came to a halt. "What?" He turned around. "Johnny? As in me baby Johnny?"

"Well..." Alex shrugged.

Miles's eyes widened. "And ya thought it was better to let me think it was someone else?" Miles walked back downstairs. "Ya should've told me first thing. And ya should've told me ya've been talking to him!! Ya went behind me back to do that, Alexander. Can ya just please stop lying to me? It's like your second nature." He huffed.

Alex brought him close for a hug, which Miles hadn't fully committed to. "I'm sorry okay? Ya talk to him all the time, and I wanted to talk to 'im too. It wasn't a lie; it was an omission. Olivia gave me her phone number at the baby shower, and I call her every time ya're in the shower to talk to her belly. I want the baby to know who I am. I want him to recognise the sound of me voice."

Miles scoffed and hugged him back. "As if Olivia hasn't played enough Arctic Monkeys for a lifetime."

"Ya know what I mean...I want to be able to calm him down when he gets upset and fussy."