𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬 𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦, Miles Morales

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EDITED; 12th Aug, 2024

...

Miles lay in bed, wrestling with the sheets as if they were the source of his insomnia. He'd flip onto one side, then the other, but nothing brought relief. Finally, he lay still, exhaling a heavy sigh that filled the room with defeat. The night was unusually quiet, leaving too much space for his thoughts to drift.

Today hadn't been great—something about the day had set his mind on a downward spiral, forcing him to remember the friends he’d lost. The ones who had once stood by him but were now gone. He ached for them, for their company, their laughter, anything to fill the void. His room felt cavernous, the loneliness pressing in on him like the walls were closing in. All he wanted was someone to talk to, someone who could make him feel less alone in this overwhelming sea of thoughts.

The change in his life weighed on him. He used to be the "Popular Guy" at Midtown High, the one everyone wanted to be around. But now, with his dad’s new job, he’d become the "Cop’s Kid," a label that only seemed to invite ridicule. The teasing and whispers followed him through the hallways, his former friends now distant. Ganke was the only one left, the only one who didn’t mock him, who understood the complexities of his life. But Ganke was fast asleep, lost in dreams that Miles couldn’t touch. He felt a pang of envy at how easily his friend could rest.

Yet, there was one other person who came to mind, someone who had slipped into his life quietly over the past couple of months. They’d grown close—close enough that maybe, just maybe, he could reach out without feeling like a burden. Would it be too much to ask for her company? The thought of hearing her voice, of having someone to ease the loneliness, stirred something in him.

Quietly, Miles picked up his phone, his thumb hesitating over the screen. He scrolled through his contacts until he found her—‘Sunflower 🌻’. A small smile tugged at his lips.

----

*Buzz*

A faint sound pulled her from the edges of sleep, the phone vibrating on the nightstand like a distant drumbeat. She groaned, rolling over and burying her face in the pillow.

*Buzz*

"Five more minutes," she mumbled, barely coherent.

*Buzz*

She pulled the pillow over her head, but the buzzing persisted, tugging her further into wakefulness.

*BUZZ!!!*

“Ugh…” She sat up, rubbing her eyes and glaring at the screen. But the irritation melted away as soon as she saw who was calling—‘Study Buddy’. The nickname they’d given each other during their long nights of cramming for exams. She felt a warmth spread through her, pushing the last remnants of sleep away.

She answered the call, her voice still thick with sleep. “Hello…?”

“(Y.name)? Sorry, is this a bad time? You sound kind of tired…”

She yawned, glancing at the clock. “It’s too late to ask that. I’m already awake now, so...”

“Oh—uh—yeah!” Miles chuckled nervously. There was something endearing about his awkwardness, a charm that never failed to make her smile, even in the dead of night.

“Do you have a minute? I really need someone right now…” His voice was strained, the words heavy with an unspoken plea. It tugged at her heartstrings, making her sit up a little straighter.

“Uhh… could you hang up for like five minutes?”

“Oh, sure. Yeah.”

Miles ended the call, placing his phone on the bed. He wondered what she could be doing at this hour. It was just a phone call, after all. What was there to prepare for? But before his thoughts could wander further, a soft knock at the door made his heart skip a beat.