Going the Extra Milo

Chapter Four - A Bet

The sudden tug on the back of Bradley's shirt startled him, gaze fixed on the streetlamp that clattered to the floor. He swallowed, quickly pulling out of Milo's grip and straightening his glasses, "I should have just walked on the other side of the street," he muttered to himself.

"If you did that, then I wouldn't be able to help you out as fast as I could if I was next to you," Milo replied to the comment, not seeming the least bit bothered by Bradley's harsh tone.

"Milo?" a feminine voice questioned.

The brunette and raven haired boy turned to see who had spoken, finding Zack and Melissa across the street, having just exited from a book store.

"And Bradley," Zack stated, somewhat surprised to see his best friend with one of the people who hates him.

Milo waved to them, offering them a smile, "Hey, guys!" he greeted.

Bradley quickly turned away, attempting to hide his face with the side of his hand. Of course they had to run into Melissa and Zack during their walk, and of course Bradley couldn't help feeling embarrassed that he was seen with Milo—someone he's supposed to hate. He quickly grabbed Milo's wrist, dragging him off towards the direction of the park while he shouted a "See you guys later!" towards his two friends.

Zack and Melissa watched Milo get tugged off by Bradley, exchanging a look before shrugging in unison. They turned and continued on with their walk down the street.

"Bradley was trying to hide from us," Melissa noted, a small smile on her face, "I wonder what he's doing with Milo."

"Milo told us he and Bradley had detention together," Zack recalled, "Maybe they're starting to become friends?"

Melissa thought over the answer, shrugging her shoulders, "Maybe," she hummed in reply, quickly spinning on her heels to turn and face Zack, pointing a finger in his face, "Or maybe, Bradley has secretly been an evil robot, bent on harvesting Murphy's Law in order to use it to gain control of the whole universe!" she declared, a triumphant look on her face.

Zack rolled his eyes, a smile resting on his face, "You watch way too many conspiracy videos," he replied, giving her a light nudge in the side with his elbow.

"Well, what other explanation could there be?" Melissa countered, picking up her pace to keep up with Zack, "He's gotta be an evil robot!"

"Or he's got a crush on Milo," Zack stated flatly, though he hoped it came off as satirical, rather than serious.

Melissa scoffed at the statement, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, "Bradley? Having a crush on Milo?" she mocked, "What, is the sky purple now?"

"How is that any more ridiculous than your weird robot theory?"

"Because Bradley is Bradley. He fell in love with an ice cream machine, for crying out loud!"

+

ACHOO

"Bless you," Milo spoke up from Bradley's side, offering him a kleenex he had pulled from his backpack.

The raven haired boy grimaced in annoyance, absentmindedly taking the tissue that was handed to him, "Someone is talking about me," he quietly muttered.

"Hm?"

"Nothing," Bradley quickly replied, "Just an old superstition."

Milo hummed in understanding, turning his attention back towards the park, "Did you want to sit on a bench or on the ground?" he asked, "I'd recommend the ground, cause I might end up breaking the bench, but it's up to you—"