Lines We Blur

Chapter 6

When the week of their buddy program presentation arrives, Alex and Miles have plans to work on it together after classes on Monday. They’d decided on the school library as a quiet, neutral space, but last minute, Miles texts to say he has to babysit his two younger brothers, so they’ll need to move the session to his place.

When Alex arrives, he’s greeted by the loud, bustling energy of Miles’ home—a stark contrast to his own, quieter family gatherings. Miles introduces him to Marcus, who’s 11, and Marvin, who’s 6. Both boys are excited and full of energy, running around the house and tugging at Miles’ arms with questions and demands for attention. It’s a bit overwhelming for Alex; his only sibling is his twin sister, and they’re usually independent of each other in their shared space, so being around younger kids like this feels entirely new.

They settle down to start their presentation at the kitchen table. Miles moves between jotting down ideas and preparing dinner, as he explains that his mom, who’s a nurse, was called into work unexpectedly—even though it was her night off. Alex tries to focus, though he can’t help but watch Miles seamlessly juggle writing and cooking while managing his brothers.

"Alright, so we’ll kick off with introductions," Miles says with a grin, stirring a pot on the stove while jotting down notes. "Feel free to tell everyone how awesome I am."

Alex rolls his eyes, smirking. "Anything else you want to add?"

“Nope, just yu talking about my awesomeness sounds good,” Miles replies, Alex gets a bit distracted by the smell of pasta sauce filling the kitchen.

After a few minutes, Miles politely excused himself and headed to the bathroom, leaving Alex alone with Marcus and Marvin. There’s a brief, awkward silence before youngest between the two boys inches closer, with his wide, curious eyes, and bright voice, starts firing off questions.

“So,” Marvin begins, “are you Miles' new best friend now?”

Alex is taken aback, caught off guard by the question. He lets out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. “Um… something like that, I guess.”

Marvin narrows his eyes, examining him with all the seriousness a six-year-old can muster. “How come I’ve never seen you before today?”

“Well…” Alex pauses, searching for an answer that will satisfy the little boy’s curiosity. “I stay pretty far, so maybe that’s why. Just never had a chance to come around.” He sounds uncertain, like he’s trying to convince himself as much as he is Marvin.

Marcus, who’s been half-listening from his seat on the couch, chimes in matter-of-factly, “They’re only hanging out because the school made them.”

“Ohhh.” Marvin’s brow furrows, his face scrunching up as he processes this new information. “So you just spend time with whoever the school tells you to?”

“Yeap,” Marcus replied, nodding seriously. “It’s because Miles’s school burned down, and now he’s going to Alex’s school.”

Marvin tilts his head, clearly unsatisfied with this explanation. “But what if you get someone you don’t like? Like someone mean or… really, really  grumpy?”

Alex glances at Marcus, interested to see how the 11-year-old will respond. Marcus shrugs, thinking for a moment, before replying with unexpected honesty. “Well, I think you should at least give them a chance. Everyone has something good about them, even if it takes a bit to find it.”

Alex listens to the young boy’s wisdom, a bit surprised by the maturity in Marcus’s answer. Before he can respond, Marvin’s face scrunches up again, this time with unmistakable disgust.

“I don’t think I’ll ever like Sarah Parker! She eats worms at recess!”

Alex and Marcus burst into laughter, the image of a worm-eating Sarah Parker vivid in their minds. Alex laughs harder than he expected to, feeling a sense of comfort in this light-hearted exchange. For a moment, he’s genuinely at ease, like he’s part of the family. It’s a feeling that’s both unfamiliar and strangely reassuring.

Just then, Miles returns from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel, his eyes glancing between the three of them with an amused smirk. “Looks like you’re fitting in with my brothers already,” he teases, nudging Alex’s shoulder.

Alex shrugs, trying to hide his embarrassment behind a casual tone. “Yeah, they’re… alright, I guess.”

Miles grins, setting down plates on the table as they start wrapping up the presentation notes and settling in for dinner. As they eat, the conversation flows easily, with Marvin excitedly sharing stories from his school, Marcus making sarcastic remarks about his friends, and Miles chiming in with playful jabs at both of them.

Alex finds himself relaxing, laughing freely with them. The usual quiet atmosphere of his own family gatherings feels miles away from this lively household. He realizes he’s genuinely enjoying the evening, even catching himself smiling at little things—the chaos of Marvin asking endless questions, Marcus’ quick wit, and Miles effortlessly moving around the kitchen as if he’s been doing this his whole life.

As they finish eating, Alex feels a sense of warmth he hadn’t expected, something deeper than just the friendly banter. Being here with Miles and his brothers, he feels a connection—a glimpse into a life he’s not usually part of.