adelaide street [s.m]

~eight ~

i'm on my way out of the school gates when the football coach of this school, coach james, runs up to me.

why is he coming to find me? i don't play football.

oh wait, i actually did want to talk to him about something.

"hey, aviana! i was wondering if i could talk to you," he says.

"oh, i wanted to talk to you too. you first."

"you're close with miles merrick, right?"

"yes, i am. is everything okay?"

"do you know if anything has been bothering him lately?"

"that's what i wanted to talk to you about too. he got this huge bruise on his shoulder he said he got from practice at school so i'm sure you know about it. but i think it's going to affect his performance." he gives me a blank look. "you didn't know about it?"

"it's just that he hasn't been showing up to practices for the past week," he tells me.

wait what?

"oh, i wasn't aware of that. i'll talk to him."

"thank you so much, aviana. hopefully i'll see him on the field soon. the team isn't the same without him."

"no problem, coach james."

"i gotta get back, practice starts now."

i wave goodbye to him and head home.

i decide to walk home today to get some exercise.

besides, the walk back will give me some time to think about everything.

miles hasn't been to practice for a week?

he never skips practice.

ever.

but what about the bruise?

if he didn't get it from football then how did he get it?

i take a small detour and go to miles' house instead.

i want answers, but most importantly, i need to see if he's okay.

i ring the doorbell and he opens the door.

"aren't you supposed to be at practice right now?" i ask as soon as i see him.

"uh, it got cancelled today," he replies.

"wow that's so funny," i say sarcastically, "your coach came to see me and told me that you've been skipping practice for the past week."

he looks down.

"miles, what's going on? is everything alright?" i put a hand on his healthy shoulder.

"y-yeah i'm fine. i just-" he cuts himself off and looks away.

"you just what? you know you can tell me anything."

"i just needed some time to think..." he tells me and i nod.

"how did you get this bruise? if it wasn't from football? have you gotten a doctor to check it out? it seems pretty serious."

"no, i haven't seen a doctor. i'm fine, it's not that bad and i don't think you'd wanna know who did this to me," he replies, saying the last part softly so i wouldn't hear but i heard it.

"it was a person who did this to you? who?!"

i can't see any reason why anyone would hurt miles.