Everlong

| Twenty-One: Ellie |

It was fucking hot.

Spring had hit hard, and we were all somehow surprised. Everyone had ditched long pants and jackets for shorts and shirts, laughing at how pale we all were. Charlie and I had groaned about starting to wax again.

I'd been spending more and more time at Miles' house. Sometimes Jack and Charlie came as well, sometimes it was just us. Juan often invited us out to lunch or dinner, and had loved the portrait of Miles in front of the Rodeo I'd drawn.

Juan was teaching me how to make homemade Materva while Miles was outside fixing something up in the Rodeo. Miles' music drifted in through the window from the small BluTooth stereo on the porch.

"Why don't you call my son in for a drink while they're fresh?" Juan suggested. "He needs to take a break."

"Sure thing." I headed over to the kitchen window that overlooked the front yard, where Miles was spread out with a few tool boxes. He was bent under the bonnet, his shirt stretched tight and a stained rag hanging out of his back pocket. I leant forward and pushed open the window a small bit. "Miles!"

He twisted his head, squinting slightly as he looked for me. "What?"

"Come inside for a drink! We made Materva!" He straightened, wiping his hands on the rag. He waved before dropping whatever tool was in his hand on the ground and heading for the front door. I shut the window and started pouring glasses.

Juan was adding ice when warm arms and stained hands wrapped around me from behind. Hot breath hit my cheek. Juan handed us both a glass, and I took a cautious sip. It was almost sweet, a bit like ginger ale.

"How's it going?" Juan asked, leaning back against the counter.

Miles nodded after gulping down his drink. "Good. I think I've figured out what the ticking is, and I'm fairly sure I've got a spare part in my shed that should fit."

"Very good." Juan nodded. "I'm afraid you'll have to entertain yourselves this afternoon – I've got paperwork to sort through, and a client that doesn't want to cooperate."

"Thank you for teaching me to make this, Juan," I called as he began walking out.

"My pleasure, Ellie dear."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you like my dad more than you like me," Miles murmured into my neck, his glass forgotten on the counter beside us.

"Do you know better?" I retorted.

His arms tightened and lifted me into the air, making me shriek. He spun us before putting me back down and nipping playfully at my ear. "Yes, I do know better."

"Are you gonna keep working on the Rodeo?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Not if you don't want me to. What do you want to do?"

I bit my lip, turning my neck so I could see him. His dark eyes were watching me, a warm melted look in them. His cheeks were tinted a slight pink from the unexpected heat.

"I can think of something," I whispered. A grin twisted half his mouth, and he leaned in to cover my mouth with his. He inhaled deeply, and we stood in his kitchen for a few moments with only the cars driving past and the birds outside the window.

Someone banged on the door. "Oi, dickhead! You left your phone out the front! Someone could steal that."

Miles sighed before detaching from me, lacing our fingers together as he lead us towards the front door. He opened it to see Jack holding up Miles' phone, and Charlie standing beside him.

"Only degenerates would steal a phone on this street," Miles commented.

Jack gestured to himself. "Exactly. Now come out and tell me what the fuck you're looking for, because your yard is a mess, dude."