Little Wonder (Phan)

Ninety-One.

"How you holding up?" Brushing a curl out of my face he smiled at me sweetly, he'd always been the one to protect me when it came to the other kids. Giving him a shrug I was given a scoff in return. "What, I'm only being like, let's see, the greatest best friend ever. And all I get is a little shrug? Nu-uh, I don't accept." Poking my side he gave me a smaller smile. "Tell me what's going on inside that brain of yours, Win. I know it's bothering you." He'd always been the best at that, knowing when I was hiding something from him. It usually worked with Daddy or Papa, or else they just didn't say anything and let me have my secrets, but Miles refused to let me have mine.

Giving him a small pout I nodded slightly with my head towards a group of girls whose back were currently to us, those were the bullies I'd somehow managed to pick up in my few months of being enrolled into public school. "Nothing much, it's just Alice and her little gang. They're bugging me as usual because of my dad's." I was muttering my words but he didn't seem to mind, he'd been a first hand victim to some of Alice's teasing, so he knew exactly what I was talking about. "I don't see why it's such a big deal that I have two dad's, they love me just as much as if they were my mom and dad, or two moms." Crossing my arms against my chest I saw that Miles began to think, and he seemed to concentrate on Alice's group.

"You know, they've seemed to have left me alone lately. If you want I could go over there and spy on them for you, see what they have planned and stop them before they actually managed to do anything." He'd always wanted to do something like that, and if it didn't seem so narcissistic, I'd say that he would seem excited to do it. .. for me. I shook my head and sighed again, resting my face on my hand and looking up at him with sad eyes. I hated that they made fun of me for having two dads. But it's not like it made me ashamed, I loved Daddy and Papa very much and they gave me a home when no one else wanted me and they got me to where I am in life today and I will always be grateful for that. "Win?" He placed his hand over mine and that was the second that Alice turned around and saw us, her light eyes flared up with anger and she marched over to us. Pushing between us I lost Miles' hand and was instead face to face with what seemed like a very pissed off Alice. "Hey, we were kind of talking, so if you could please leave us alone --"

Grabbing his arm she leaned against him and began to act like I wasn't even there. "Miles, be a dear and go get me a jump rope please?" Batting her eyes at him I saw the way that he internally cringed and looked at me, he wanted to see what I wanted to do. Nodding without gaining her attention he sighed and left us alone, left me to face Alice who was putting her hands on her hips and sassily moving her head back and forth to whip her hair around. "I don't know what you think you're doing around Miles, but you better stop it. I know you are just as gay as your gay dads, and I don't want you turning him gay too." Without even turning to look and see if Miles was coming back she took one step towards me, placed her hands on my shoulder, and pushed me straight into a puddle. My entire shirt was soaked and my butt began to get cold. Cackling above me her little gang joined her before Miles finally seemed to return. "Oh Miles!" She was suddenly trying to look innocent, as if though I'd just managed to fall into the puddle myself and she had nothing to do with it. "Winnie was getting so upset and started to push me that I just pushed her back and she accidentally fell into the puddle!" She was leaning all up against him.

Suddenly there was a smirk on his face and he nodded as if though he was agreeing with her, I would feel hurt if not for the mischievous twinkle in those pale eyes of his. Taking Alice by the hand he nodded, "That must've been horrible! I'm so sorry for what she tried to do to you, how about you go inside and warm up, I'll take care of her." Patting the back of her hand I saw what must look like a genuine smile on her face, if not a little twisted. She must've thought that she'd won. Skipping away like she'd just won the lottery, it was an expression that Daddy and Papa used often when someone was smug with themselves, she didn't even look back to see if he was going to back good with his words. "I don't like being mean but man, she is a brat." Shaking his head he looked down at me and offered his hand, which I took with hesitation. "Gosh, you must be freezing, here." Shimming out of his jumper he smiled and handed it over to me. "Go to the bathroom and at least take off your shirt and wear this, sorry I can't do anything about your pants, but I think we might get in trouble if I just took off my pants on the playground." With a grin he didn't give me a chance to argue as he placed his jumper in my arms and pushed me to the bathroom. "I'll be right out here when you're done. Like I told Alice, I'll take care of you, Win." Something about that made me blush, perhaps because he just seemed so genuine now.

Sticking my tongue out at him I went in without a word of resistance, I had to admit it felt warm and much better than my shirt, but my butt was going to be wet for a little bit. "How do I look?" His back was to me and I couldn't help but giggle at the way his hair was a little messed up after taking off his jumper. "Miles!" I happily squealed as he hadn't seem to hear me, but then I came to a stop as I noticed his stance. He seemed hostile, closed up, like he was reluctant to talk at all. I stopped before getting closer to him and saw that Alice had come back with a teacher, how I had not noticed that before was beyond me. "Miles?" I whispered, hoping that he would be the only one to hear me and notice me. But of course I wasn't going to be as lucky as to have that. I was noticed first by Alice who was smirking her own twisted smirk and pointing at me with what seemed like accusation. She was probably telling the teacher I pushed her and that Miles saw it.

But the second Miles saw me his face seemed to light up and he ran towards me. "Ms Smith! I swear that Win didn't do a thing. Alice was being a bit of a bully and she decided that it was okay to push her into a puddle due to her parents." Ms Smith had always been there for me when I was being made fun of, she usually stuck up for me. I didn't mind the nickname 'teacher's pet' as many would probably think I did, I just didn't like that they could jab at me with it like they were so sure that it would hurt me. With a nod Ms Smith told Alice to follow her and she did, with a look of disbelief on her face. She whispered something to me along the lines of 'I know you have something to do with this, you being gay and all. What, did you brainwash him or something?' I scowled but I held my tongue, the last thing I needed was to get in trouble at school, and involve Miles. "You alright, Win?" He placed his hand on my arm and it made me smile how worried he seemed about me, though I knew that I was going to be just fine. "Well I think it's time to go home, you're going to your Auntie Dodie's today, right?" With a nod he smiled and grabbed my bag for me. "Well, lucky for you, this big strong man will protect you while you walk, come on."

Grabbing my hand he began to drag me down the sidewalk. "Um, Miles?" He began to argue that there was no way I would be able to talk him out of walking me, that he was going to be there to protect me even if I found it annoying and wanted him to stop, that he would always be there to protect me. "I, uh, I was just going to tell you were going the wrong way. But that's nice to know." He blushed and pouted as he turned away, but he began to hold my hand more secure and walked by my side rather than in front of me. I wanted to tease him, it just felt natural for some reason. Laying my head on his shoulder I closed my eyes as we walked, smiling as I knew that he had stiffened. "You're the greatest best friend ever, Miles." And when I finally opened again I say that he had turned his face away from me. He was trying to hide the biggest smile.

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I know some of you were rooting for Tabitha x Winnie but something happened and I just really like the name Miles, he wasn't a character that was going to exist. But for some reason I typed down that Tabitha had moved away. I guess I was internally done with her. MORE MILES. THINK OF A SHIP NAME YOU GUYS.