Our Way Home

Chapter 6

"I AM SO FRICKING TIRED!"

Bella walks behind me.
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off then?"

I groan in misery,
"Unfortunately I can't cause I have a test today."

"Aww, you poor thing." She says patting my back.

He texted me again,
// let's meet up by the stairs at the front //
Why there all of a sudden?

"Can you wait for me? I gotta do something real quick."

"It's him again isn't it?"

"Thanks! I love youuuuuu!"

\\ I have algebra at two so make it quick \\

I'm all the way to the back of the school and I hate walking. Yea I'm lazy like that so what?

He's leaning on the wall and looking at his phone.
He's wearing the same circled glasses and knitted scarf as before. Good thing he learned style as well as manners.
"There you are! Why'd you take so long?"

"Look I didn't ask to be dragged all the way here so just shut up and tell me what you want."

He snickers,
"So which is it? Shut up or tell you?"

My blood boiled out of my skin.
"What do you want with my life?"

"Are you free this weekend?"
I glare at him.
"Don't worry I'm not asking you out or anything I just wanna catch up."

"Pshh fine text me the details later. See ya stalker."

"See you."
I see him smirk as I turn around. I roll my eyes.

********

Friday 4:00

He sent me the address but it's...
"A roller skating rink?"

"Ya, why not?" Tyler laughs.

"I thought this kinda stuff was for kids."

"Pshh I've been here plenty of times I'm practically a regular."
He opens the door for me.
Wow, such a gentleman.

After we rent our skates he decides to sit down on a small bench.
"So tell me, why did you guys move away from Brooklyn?"

"That's a great conversation starter. Well for starters the neighborhood we used to live in was terrible. My parents couldn't take the trashy streets and shady people there. They thought it would safer for all of us if we moved."

"How many siblings do you have now?"

"Ten."

His eyes flare up.
"Dang Miley, how do you do it?"

"I'm just naturally used to it at this point. Anyways that's not the first time I've seen that reaction before."

"Yea I bet."
We both laugh hysterically.

I've been thinking about this for a while now.
"Can I ask you a question?"

He looks up.
"Sure what's up?"
I pause.

"Why do I not see you around the school most of the time?"
He looks back down.

"Well, the thing is...I try to avoid large crowds whenever I'm at school. It just seems to suffocate me and I get anxious."
I can feel the atmosphere getting tense for some reason. He's obviously shy now.

"Hmm, that makes sense."
I never noticed how nice he looks when he's actually being real. Wait! What am I even saying? He's your childhood bully you idiot!

He notices me doze off and slowly stands up.
"I think we need to lighten the mood a little. Do you wanna go skate now?"

Strangely I get nervous.
"It's been a few years since I've last skated."

He looks at me smiling.
"Don't worry I won't let you fall."
What the?

"Not yet anyway."
Yep there it is.

"That's it I'm leaving." I get up and head straight for the door.

"IM KIDDING! IM KIDDING!" He laughs as he grabs the sleeve of my sweatshirt. I stare at him.
Sir, what kind of kdrama is this?

"You'll be fine I promise."
I roll my eyes at him.

He leads me to the center of the rink and makes a gap between us. Good thing there are not too many people around to watch me fall on my butt. On the other hand, Tyler looks like a pro at this. I'm holding onto the side rail for dear life at this point. By his third lap around, he stops in front of me.

"Come on Miley. It's not fun if you are the one on the sidelines the whole time."

"I want to see you try this with zero experience let's talk then."

"Pfft nah, I'm enjoying this too much!"

After watching me fail miserably he grabs both of my hands and helps me gain my balance.
"Just bend your knees and glide with one foot at a time."

I focus on what he's telling me to do and surprisingly it's working.
"Hey, I think I'm getting it."
He lets go of my hands.

"Nicely done Miles."
His comment caught me off guard.
My feet suddenly slip back and I trip backward.
"Woah! Woah! Miley!"
I cover my face bracing for impact.

"Agh!"
Why is there a hand under my head?
There's a sharp pain in my ankle again but when I open my eyes Tyler is...shadowing over me?

A/N
And so it begins...

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