Backstage: Miles and Alya

~ Chapter Six ~

  Miles had followed Alya, followed her all the way to where they usually sat. She heard a clang, thinking that he dropped his books. But no. It was him.

  She shook him, and shook him, and he wouldn't wake up. She leaned her head in close, checking to see if there was a pulse there. There was, but it didn't change the fact that she was still worried about him.

Surely he wasn't in the same situation she was in? No bruises, no scars.. Alya didn't think so. She looked at the backpack and guitar he dropped and saw next to it.. an orange tube filled with pills.

Did he have the stomach flu? Most people didn't know this, but when you got the stomach flu and never did anything about it you could pass out. But his doctor obviously knew about it, because Miles had pills with him. So why..?

Finally, she felt Miles stir. Thank goodness! She was about to go Mr. Park.

Miles looked around for a minute. Then his eyes rested on Alya. "Did I-?" he asked her.

Alya nodded.

Miles sat up. "For how long was I out?" he queried.

Alya shook her head, still shaken. "Five minutes. I was getting really worried, Miles. Don't ever scare me like that again!"

Miles shook his head. "I can't promise you that."

Alya cocked her head to the side. "Why?"

Right when he was about to answer, she felt light-headed, and leaned against the lockers for support. The present was melting away...

(flashback to first grade)

Alya stood on the sidewalk, playing hop-scotch while Miles sat in the grass next to it. She giggled to herself and played while he watched her.

She looked over to him, confusion in her light blue gaze. "Why aren't you playing, silly?"

Miles just shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just not feeling good."

Alya giggled. "Silly Miles." Then she noticed an orange tube in his hand. "Is that your medicine?"

Miles nodded numbly. "I'm going to take a quick nap."

Alya smiled. "Okay!"

(during flashback)

Alya's head leaned up against the lockers, right when Miles was about to tell her why he had passed out.

Her whole body was frozen. Her eyes was open, but they never blinked. To keep them from getting watery, he had to blink them for her. She was looking really far away, and the only thing that told him she wasn't a statue was her breathing.

What was wrong with her?

(back to flashback)

Alya skipped over to where Miles was sleeping. "Miles! Time to wake up! P.E.'s over!"

Miles didn't budge.

Alya shook him harder. "Miles, quit playing games with me! It's time to go!"

Miles showed no indication that he heard.

Alya whimpered to herself. "Miles?"