Enamored

8

"So you have no clue what drama you want to do." "No. Sorry." (N) sighs as Myles slides open the door and steps inside. "I'm home!" "I'm home too." Myles smiles at (N) and the two head upstairs. The taller teen stares in confusion as his room is filled with children. "What's all this?" "Oh, I forgot. Aunt Clara has class today." "A class?...Hey! Don't touch my stuff!"

(N) runs over to the kids digging in his bag. They scream and one kid runs over and kicks (N) down. Myles runs over as Clara enters the room. "Is everyone ready for class?" "Yes!" The kids yell as the woman walks over to the two teens. "I'm sorry (N) but this was the only available room."

The kid that kicked (N) earlier groans. "Mrs Asumi stop talking to that loser and let's start class." (N) raises his fist and playfully glares. "What did you call me punk?!" Myles grabs his arm Clara turns to her students. "Don't call your elders losers. Remember to be respectful." "Okay!"
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(N) trudges downstairs and walks through the hallway but stops when a voice calls out. "Hey, kid! Put on an apron and help me run the shop." Ash tosses an apron at the teen who follows her into the bakery. (N) collects empty trays as Ash restocks. "Will Clara be okay up there? With all those kids?" The bleached-haired woman glances at the teen. "She'll be fine. She used to be a teacher at the elementary school." "Oh. Why'd she stop?" "Things happen."
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After dinner with the family (N) sits in his room. 'God. I'm exhausted. I didn't know a bread bakery could get so busy.' There's a knock on the door followed by a soft voice. "Can I come in?" "Yea." Myles enters the room and sits down. "Is something wrong?" "No. I just wanted to say hi. It feels special having you here." Myles blushes and plays with his fingers.

"If I'm bothering you I can leave." "No. I like having you around. But...it feels weird being around a close family. You know what my dad's like and my mom lives far away." Myles looks at the table and traces random shapes. "I get it. My aunts have taken care of me since my mom passed. I can't help but feel guilty and want to apologize." (N) folds his hands in his lap. "Why do you feel guilty?"

Myles looks up from the table with sad eyes. "I'm not sure. Something happened when I was younger. Around the time my mom passed. Every time I bring it up my aunts always change the subject. I think I did something wrong." "I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong." "Maybe. But whenever I mention it Aunt Ash gets really affectionate and hugs me. Whatever they're hiding I want to know so I can apologize."

Myles and (N) lock eyes and the black male flushes. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to dump all this on you." "It's okay. We're friends. You can tell me anything." As Myles smiles and nods (N) stands up. "I'm gonna go visit (F/n) for a bit. He gets lonely without me." "Okay. Don't stay out too late."
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"Finally I can relax." (F/n) watches (N) layout on his bed. "I see you didn't bring any snacks with you. Must be nice having Myles cook dinner for you." "Uh yea. I'm glad they're putting up with me but it's still a little weird to me." (F/n) stops petting Shiro and stares at his friend. "Wait. You're living with Myles?!" "...uh. Just for a while, it's not permanent. Plus his aunts are there. It isn't just us."

(N) tried to explain as (F/n) dramatically turns away. "I can't even look at you. You lucky bastard!" "(F/n) please you're overreacting. Myles just wanted to help me because I don't get along with my dad." "You got his aunt's approval. What the hell man? Next thing is you telling me you two are dating." (N) scratches his head as Shiro leaps onto the table. 'So salty.'
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"Hello? Myles? I'm coming in." (N) slowly opens the door to reveal an empty room. 'Where'd he go?' The teen looks around the room to see a bunch of anime posters and a trans flag. On the bed was a mini Gojo plushie. 'Hmm, cute.' The (h/c) haired male peeks through the blinds and finds Myles under a streetlight. (N) leaves the room and quietly exits the bakery. He walks up to Myles as the male smiles.

"Are you practicing? Do you do this every night?" "Yes but I don't do this every night. I don't want to disturb my neighbors." (N) looks around the quiet neighborhood. "You should be more careful out here." "Don't worry. All I have to do is scream and Aunt Ash will come running." "Yeah, but you're a bit dense." Myles tilts his head slightly. "I am?"

(N) sighs as the male looks down. "Don't be sad it's okay to be dense...sometimes." Myles laughs and smiles. "I'm not sad. I know you're just teasing." "Oh. Sorry. I don't mean to." "Don't be sorry. I like you just the way you are." (N) blushes and clears his throat. "So did you decide what play you want to do?" "Yup! But I don't know the name." "Hmm. Can you tell me what it's about?"

Myles takes a small step back and brings his hands to his chest. The wind blows his hair as he looks at (N). "It's about the last girl alive. Nothing is born and nothing dies in her world. A tragic fantasy during the winter."
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"Ash. Have you heard of a book about a girl who lives alone with a robot? I think it's a fairytale." The bleached-haired woman tilts her head at the teen and then shrugs. "I have no idea what you're on about. Try asking Clara." "Okay. Thanks." As the teen turns to leave Ash grabs his shoulder with a serious look. "(N). I know that you're looking out for Myles. Which I appreciate but if you hear something strange you tell me not him."

"Why?" "Just do it." "Okay." The teen exits the bakery and finds Clara sweeping the front. "Hey, Clara." "Hello there (N). Is something wrong?" "No. I was just wondering if you read a book about a girl who lives alone with a robot to Myles when he was younger?" The black woman hums and stops sweeping. "I'm not sure I've read something like that." (N) shifts his foot and sighs.

"It might not be a book. Maybe it was a show or something on TV." "Hmm. What genre is it?" "Myles said it was a tragic fantasy." "Tragic fantasy. I'm sorry I can't think of anything like that. Maybe he heard it at school or somewhere. I'm sure it exists."
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A girl with round glasses sets down a book and smiles. "I'm sorry. We don't have any books like that here. The library doesn't have any children's books or picture books." (N) sighs with his arms crossed as (F/n) sips his tea. "I'm not surprised. This is a high school library. Thanks for looking Tsumiki." (F/n) clears his throat and grins. "Hey, Tsumiki do you know any love spells that will help me get a girlfriend?"

(N) raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything as the girl pulls out a book with a heart on the cover. "Ta-da! Now. Copy me. Make a heart with your hands. Think about whoever you want and say she loves me, she loves me not three times." (N) watches in amusement as (F/n) eagerly chants the spell. "Okay! Now what?" "Now walk around the school. The first girl to talk to you will fall in love with you."

(F/n) shoots up with a grin and runs out of the room. (N) glances at his empty tea cup and taps the table. "Uh, Tsumiki?" "Yes?" "Uh ahem. Do you know when the right time to confess is?" The girl pushes up her glasses and smiles. "Finally confessing to Myles?" (N) blushes and looks away. "What? How'd you know? A-Am I that obvious?"

The girl laughs softly. "There isn't really a right time to confess. It's something that happens naturally. But the ideal moment would be on a date." "...a date?" The door opens and (F/n) leans against it with a sad face. "Am I cursed? I must be." "I'm guessing a girl didn't say anything to you." (F/n) glares at (N) as Tsumiki grabs her teapot. "Here drink some tea." As she pouts the drink she spots Myles walking through the hallway from the window.

"Alright (N). It's your turn." "Huh? I have to do it too?" "Yes. Now make a heart and say he loves me, he loves me not three times." "Fine." The teen quickly mutters the spell and leaves the library. "I finally found you (N). Oh. Why is your face red?" Myles tilts his head as (N) scratches his head and looks away. "Oh uh. It's nothing. Come on. Let's go tell the others about your play."
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Two teens stand in a shed digging through some boxes when Myles gasps. "Look!" (N) turns to the short male and crosses his arms. "Myles. That doesn't look like a book to me." The keychain swings in the black male's hand. "I know. It's just that I used to SpongeBob when I was younger." (N) chuckles as Myles starts to hum the theme song. "Who's singing SpongeBob in my shed?"

The two teens turn to see Ash watching them. "Your nephew." "Sorry Aunt Ash. We're looking for something. I thought it would be here with some old picture books." Ash sighs and places a hand on her hip. "Whatever you're looking for it's not here." "There aren't any picture books in there." "Are you sure? We've only just started. Maybe the fairytale book is here."

Ash narrows her eyes at (N) and speaks with a stern voice. "It's not there now go back to making out or whatever you kids do nowadays." The teens blush as Ash throws her hands up. "No! Forget what I said! (N) you do not have my permission to smooch my nephew!" The (h/c) haired teen scoffs at the woman. "You're the one who brought it up." "Ugh, whatever go back inside the house!"