Miles apart (M×M) ✔

3) p u z z l e d

Letting things go was never Miles' strongest suit, but what came to people, it was nearly impossible. The past week and a half Miles had done his best to keep Ash off his mind. Either way Ash took over more and more of his headspace, until he was certain he saw him everywhere he looked. Miles was monumentally bad with one-night stands.

It was past noon and Miles was yet again cursing his inability to go to bed early. He had stayed up till dawn, knowing painfully well how much he would hate that decision in the morning. But it wasn't Miles' fault he functioned best at night or that the only thing that got him up from bed in the morning was half a liter of energy drink.

Miles yawned, tossed the blanket to his feet and sat up with effort. It didn't help that the day was gloomy, the sun hiding somewhere behind the clouds. He pulled on a pair of jeans and his favorite hoodie, which was baby pink and looked absolutely ridiculous on him, but just happened to be soft and warm enough to keep away the chilliness of the apartment.

From the fridge Miles found his beloved energy drink and sat down on the couch with it, his notebook and a guitar. A new song would get his mind off Ash, or at least that was what he told himself. It had been over a week and he should have been over one meaningless though memorable night already. He probably would have been, if he hadn’t been so monumentally bad with one-night stands.

It was a typical day off for Miles: healthy breakfast in the form of an energy drink, scribbling down lyrics, playing guitar, ordering pizza for late lunch, watching Netflix and napping only to have energy to watch some more Netflix. His dad’s words about getting out and doing something useful haunted Miles, but he pushed them in the back of his mind only to feel a tad worse about himself. 

Then it was already past midnight again, and Miles knew he wasn’t going to go to bed early that night, just like he never did. He was watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the umpteenth time when his phone started ringing.

He was surprised to see Benjamin’s name on the screen. Benjamin, if he hadn’t forgotten the passage of time while writing, was one of those people who got a decent amount of sleep every night and got up early to have an actual breakfast.

"I need your help. Please tell me you still have a car." Benjamin began.

"Depends who needs my lift." Miles leaned back on the couch, an amused grin spreading on his lips.

"Eli. I promised to get him home."

"From that bar? Who’s there with him?" At that point Miles already had the car keys in his hand, ready to jump up and run to the door.

I’m just trying to be helpful, Miles told himself, and this has nothing to do with Ash. Being helpful included a chance of clothes, a spray of fragrance and gargling mouthwash, before rushing to his car. 

When Benjamin sat on the passenger seat, his black hair was ruffled up like he had just gotten up from bed. If he had, though, Miles couldn’t blame him. Eli, who they were supposed to rescue from the bar, was one of the most gorgeous men Miles had ever seen. 

With his hazel eyes, high cheekbones and well-built frame he was out of Miles’ league, but not from Benjamin’s. Of course Miles’ friend had to be the kind of guy who turned heads and made Miles look even more bland in comparison. If people did take another glance of Miles, it was because of his money.

FAB was crowded with more or less intoxicated people and the bass was pounding so loud Miles could feel it in his bones. Benjamin made his way to the table, where Eli sat with his friends, like he had done it a million times. 

It didn't take Miles long to figure out why Eli needed a lift home: he was wasted to the point he couldn't stand without help and his voice slurred so much Miles couldn’t make out the words. 

Then his gaze locked with the pair of eyes he had actually wished to see. Miles wasn't entirely sure what kind of reaction he had anticipated by coming there, but something about the lack of it made him falter. Ash didn't smile when he saw Miles, but it would have been way too much to expect anyway. Still, Miles had hoped for at least a sign of recognition, but Ash's face remained unreadable, indifferent.

Miles swallowed back whatever hurt or disappointment Ash's reaction gave him, and sat down at the table. A girl, who was wearing bright red lipstick and whose jaw must have ached for the constant chewing of bubble gum, greeted Miles with a wide delighted smile.

"Dam-Bi, right?" Miles tried to recall her name. Back when she was introduced to him, Miles had been ogling Ash and his drunken state probably hadn’t helped with the memory process either.

"You remembered." She started chatting with Miles, stealing his focus from Ash. 

"You still owe Dam-Bi that dance." Another girl, whose wavy red hair reached all the way to her lower back, pointed out and pecked Dam-Bi's cheek. It was all coming back to Miles: she was Shirley, Dam-Bi's girlfriend, and the three of them had rambled about god knows what for hours. 

"Aw, you remembered." Dam-Bi repeated, this time to her girlfriend. Miles, on the other hand, had no idea what dance they were talking about. Fortunately, he wasn't here to stay and it was a good excuse to escape before Dam-Bi or Shirley would find out.

"Maybe next time." Miles grinned while reeling his car keys on his fingers. He stood up, taking a quick glance at the girls and a needlessly long look at Ash. "See you later, I guess."

"You forgot it already, didn't you?" Dam-Bi shouted after Miles, but he didn't look back. Not until someone pressed a hand on his shoulder, making him stumble when he had to stop walking so abruptly. 

"Sorry." The person said and used his arm to help Miles regain balance. Just hearing that voice was enough to make Miles' breath hitch, but he did his best to keep his face deadpan. "I was thinking.." 

"What?" Miles urged Ash to continue when he grew silent, seeming like he had no intention to finish his sentence after all. He was squinting at the car keys on Miles' hand.

"I had fun with you." Ash shrugged. It took Miles a moment to realize he was talking about their night at Ash's. "And I was just thinking that maybe we could see again?"

"To do what?" Miles lifted an eyebrow. He could feel the warmth of his cheeks, but he hoped it was too dark for Ash to notice. "Have sex? Go clubbing? Watch a movie? Grab a coffee?"

"I don't know, coffee?"

"Okay." Miles couldn’t help but smile. Playing coy has never been his thing anyway. When Ash handed him his phone, he typed in his number. 

"Tomorrow? I'll text you the place and time." Ash stuffed the phone back in his pocket, and was about to walk away.

"You don't happen to need a ride?" Miles offered, just to have an excuse to prolong their time together, making Ash halt. Then he shrugged again, without a smile, but there was a certain softness in his expression.

Miles dropped off Ash at first and a while later he watched from the rear view mirror how Benjamin walked Eli to his home. When Miles made it back to his own, it was already so late he decided there was no point to sleep at all. Yet, sleep deprived and all, Miles couldn't stop smiling: he was going on a date with Ash.