shattered smile

Chapter 5

After getting over the shock of having Miles stand up for me, I order my plate.
"So what's your story?" I ask, drenching my waffles in syrup.
"What do you mean?" Miles says, with that confused puppy look.
"Like, why did you move here? Do you have siblings? What are your parents like?" I explain.
"Oh. Well, you know why I moved here from home room, I have 4 big brothers, and I don't know my dad, but my mom is nice. My dad left when I was 4."
"Oh. I'm sorry." I mumble awkwardly.
Miles half smiles. "Don't be. He was a dick."
Raising my eyebrows, I tell him, "That's the first negative word I've heard you say."
(To be honest, I was wondering what was up with the overly nice thing. I'm glad to see him show emotions other then happiness.)
"I didn't want you to think I was an asshole, I guess." He shrugs and finishes off his waffles. "What about you? What's your story?"
I tense. "Um, I'm not that interesting." I say, semi defensively.
"Come on. Please?" Miles pleads, making a puppy face so sweet I can't help but concede.
"Okay. I have a little sister named May. She's 12. I've lived in Macon my whole life, but when I'm older I'm leaving because I hate it here. I want to be a teacher. I like the colors blue and black. I don't like people." I rattle off emotionlessly.
"That's very generic. Let's do 20 Questions."
I roll my eyes. "That's suck a fuckboy move." I laugh, but agree.
"Why do you wear the hoodie?" He asks promptly.
"Something else." I automatically respond. Why is he so obsessed with my goddamn hoodie? And I won't tell him about my anxiety or depression. I can't.
"No. That's what I pick." Miles says firmly, but I can tell he wouldn't force me to say.
I take a shaky breath and close my eyes. "Fine. It helps me hide from people."
"But why do you want to hide?" Miles prompts.
This is too much. I can't do this, especially with the risk it will turn out like last time.
"Oh, wow, look at the time, I've gotta get home." I tell him, even though we've been here 15 minutes.
His eyebrows scrunch together. "It's 5:30."
"Yeah, but..." I ransack my brain for a reason to leave. "I have homework! Like a ton. Sorry, maybe some other time." (Even though I have no intention of seeing him again.)
He tries to say something, but I leap up and walk-run to my car, ignoring him for the entire ride, pretending to be entranced with the radio.
When we reach his house, I sit awkwardly as he gets out. "I had fun with you, Reese." Miles says shyly.
"Yeah 'kay bye!" I say, practically gunning it as I back out of the driveway.
As soon as I'm in the door of my room, I hit the floor and begin crying, drained and exhausted and sad, for unknown reasons.