Need you | Miles Fairchild

6.Kate is jealous

"Wake up, wake up, wake up!!"

I groan as a burst of energy collides with my bed. My eyes barely open before a familiar voice fills the room.

"Morning, Flora," I mumble, my voice thick with sleep.

"Hi!" she chirps, hopping onto the end of the bed and bouncing slightly. "Can we go swimming today?"

I nod lazily, still half-asleep.

But the second I try to sit up, reality crashes back in.

Last night.

My face instantly heats up as I realise two very important things:
I'm not wearing anything... and Miles is still asleep right next to me.

I freeze, staying perfectly still, heart racing.

"Well come on then, let's go!" Flora shouts before racing out of the room and slamming the door behind her.

I let out a shaky breath.

"That was close," a sleepy voice murmurs beside me.

I turn my head to see Miles blinking awake, a small grin tugging at his lips.

"Oh, shush," I whisper, smiling despite myself. "How'd you sleep?"

"Mmm... good," he says, stretching slightly. "You?"

"Yeah," I reply softly. "Good."

I reach for my dressing gown hanging off the bedpost and quickly pull it on.

"What are you doing?" Miles asks, amused.

"Putting my gown on," I say matter-of-factly.

He smirks. "Looks better off you."

"Oh, stop it," I laugh, tossing a pillow at him.

"Now get dressed," I add, standing up. "We're going swimming later."

"Oh, alright," he chuckles.

I head into the bathroom and get changed, slipping my bathers on underneath my clothes. When I come back out, Miles is already dressed—wearing his red sweater.

My favourite.

"Let's go eat," he says. "I'm starving."

I slide an arm around his waist, giving him a side hug. "Mm, okay."

We walk to the kitchen hand in hand.

"Well... isn't this a sight for sore eyes," Miss Grose says the moment she sees us.

"What is?" Miles and I ask at the same time.

"Oh, you know," she says with a knowing wink.

I feel my cheeks burn.

"Since when were you two... you know... a thing?" Kate asks sharply.

"Why does it matter?" I snap, glaring at her.

"Oh, you know what? It doesn't," she scoffs. "But honestly, I don't know how anyone would want a brat like you as a girlfriend anyway."

She storms out.

"Well I do!" Miles shouts after her, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Sorry about that," I sigh, pulling back slightly.

"It's fine," he says gently. "She's wrong about you anyway."

"Thanks," I smile, kissing his nose.

"So," Miss Grose says casually, "how long have you two been together?"

"Since I found them kissing in the cupboard during spotlight!" Flora blurts out.

I groan, squeezing Miles' hand as my face heats up again.

"She's... not wrong," I admit.

"Well, that's lovely," Miss Grose smiles. "I made eggs on toast. Eat up."

Kate re-enters the kitchen, glaring at me.

"Do you mind?" I mutter. "I'm trying to eat."

"No, not at all," she says coldly.

"Bitch," I mutter, storming back to my room.

A knock sounds at my door.

"Go away!" I shout.

"It's me," Miles says.

"Oh—uh—coming," I reply, opening the door.

"Hey," he says softly.

"Hi," I smile.

"You okay?"

I nod.

"Good," he smiles. "You look like you could use a cuddle."

"Yeah," I admit. "That would be nice."

We climb into my bed, the covers pulled over us as I settle on top of him, my head resting against his chest. His arms wrap around me, warm and steady.

For a moment, everything feels quiet. Safe.

Until—

The door flies open.

"Do you mind?" Miles says flatly.

"Yeah, seriously—go away," I add.

"Oh, will you two shut up?" Kate snaps. "Teaching starts in one hour."

She slams the door behind her.

"Grumpy ass," I mutter.

"I didn't know you had a bitchy side," Miles jokes.

"Yeah," I laugh, poking his nose. "Don't mess with me and you won't see it."

We settle back down, tangled together under the blankets.

I never want this moment to end.

Just me and Miles.
Miles and me.
Cuddling, breathing, existing together.