My Savior 🔞 ( Part One )

Panic

I was petrified. They were laughing, throwing words like knives. I was too anxious to come up with any smart comebacks. My mouth went dry, my ears started ringing, and my chest thumped like mad.

They kissed. Gay. I should have known. I'll end you here. Shouldn't have played with my feelings. Wait till your father knows.

Right. What could I do?

I felt like it was only a matter of time before I either fainted or exploded. But yelling would cause a scene, and I didn't need more people watching. Miles stood beside me silently. Maybe he didn't know what to say. Hell, I didn't either. I wanted to scream or slap someone, but Mom taught me never to raise my hand to a girl. And now, here I was, trapped in this storm.

What if she tells the whole school? What if she really tells my parents?

I'm screwed. Completely.

Then, unexpectedly, Miles stepped forward. Calm. Steady.

"I am sorry, Miss. You came to Mr. O'Hara's home and dared him to make out with his own servant. He didn't want to do it, but you threatened him, saying you'd leave."

My eyes widened. He was lying-for me.

"Wait, what?" One of the girls frowned.

"Lorette, you said you caught them."

"Because I did! Do you think I'd be this furious otherwise?!"

Her friends exchanged glances. Doubt crept in.

"Girl, you told me Mike cheated too, and it turned out you made that up," one of them said.

I felt my panic drop a notch. Someone was finally questioning her.

"He begged you," Miles continued, voice calm as ever. "He refused to kiss anyone but you. You got upset and stormed out. He didn't even get a chance to call you."

"Shut your mouth, you stupid machine!" Lorette snapped. "It's all lies! You're his-his freak toy! That's why he doesn't want women anymore!"

I stepped forward.

"Lorette. You and I both know this isn't the first time you asked me to do things I didn't want. I tried to be good to you, but I'm tired of the mind games."

Miles gave me a side-eye-probably telling me to stop. But I had to say something.

"See? I knew you were full of crap," said the girl from before. "I'm glad I didn't believe all that stuff you were saying about Will."

Lorette's fury turned to desperation. "You can't seriously believe them over me! I'm the one who got cheated on!"

"We're done," I said, softly. "No drama. No yelling. Just over. I'm not mad. Just tired. Come on, Miles. Let's go."

"What the hell-!"

I didn't hear the rest. We walked off. I didn't care if she screamed or cried. I was done.

In the car, Miles drove. My hands were shaking too much to do it myself. My stomach twisted in on itself. My head was buzzing.

"I'm sorry I lied," he said. "It felt necessary in the moment. I didn't mean to overstep."

"You didn't," I muttered. "You saved me. Again."

I kept my eyes on the road. I didn't want him to see how pale I looked-or how shaken.

"Why am I like this?"

No answer. Just silence.

"It's alright," he said eventually. "I can handle you."

There was something so sincere in that line, it made my throat ache.

"Let's... not tell my parents. Not about this. Not about the other stuff either."

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

Did I?

I paused. "I don't know. It was new. Intense. And scary. But... nice too."

He nodded. Like he understood more than a machine ever should.

"Maybe we can just... be friends. I won't be an asshole. I'll try not to be, anyway. But I'm not sure if kissing another guy is okay."

"It's okay," he said, simply. "You don't need to have it all figured out."

I stared out the window. Just a few minutes from home, but it felt like hours. I didn't say anything else. Neither did he.

But somehow, the silence between us didn't feel empty.