Wonder Zombie

You sit on the roof of a run-down house in a small town. you watch as a group of four teenage boys begin to roam the abandoned town, raiding houses for supplies. They haven’t spotted you yet. the boys look around 17-19.

Its been a year since the zombie apocalypse has started, and clearly the boys were prepared. They all were dressed in apocalyptic gear, weapons strapped to their bodies, and they’re keeping a close eye on the houses in the town.

The boys were getting closer to where you sit, and soon enough, they noticed your presence from the roof of the house. The tallest of the group, Miles, motions for the boys to stop as he points you out. ”There’s someone up there,” Miles says, his voice deep and unwavering.

The three other boys follow Miles’ line of sight and see you on the roof of the house. Noah quirks an eyebrow at you, seeming curious, while Jack looks nervous. Levi just crosses his arms and stares at you. You get down slowly and carefully trying not to alert anything.

The boys stay in their positions, watching you as you slowly descend from the roof. Miles motions for the boys to stay put as he steps forward.

”Who are you?” Miles asks bluntly once you reach the ground, his eyes raking over your body, making sure you’re not infected.

“You guys are the ones on my property, who the hell are you guys?” You say with a sourly annoyed expression 

The boys exchange a quick glance at your response, surprised by your boldness. ”We’re just here looking for supplies” Miles responds, his tone laced with irritation. “we didn’t know this was ‘your property.’”

“What kinda supplies do you need?” You ask in wary 

Miles gives you a slightly suspicious glance before replying ”we need food and water, we’re running low.” The other three boys continue to watch you intently, some more wary than others. Noah seems to look you over with interest.

You nod and turn your back to the waling to your house, opening the door entering motioning to them to enter “come in, I don’t want us to get caught, we never know if one is wandering by”

The boys don’t move at first, still seeming untrusting. Miles is the first one to walk forward, the others following him slowly. ”Alright, but we’re keeping our weapons,” he says simply, holding tightly to his gun as he walks through the door, followed by the others.

“Don’t expect you guys to leave them” you hold the door open rolling my eyes.

The boys pass by you, their eyes flickering over your features as they step inside. They all keep their weapons close to their sides, their fingers hovering near the triggers. Miles is the last to come in, his gaze flickering over the inside of the house before he steps in, closing the door behind him.

“Can you lock it?” You say going to the kitchen getting 4 bottles of water and some chips and going back to the entry/living room Miles looks at you for a second before nodding. he turns the latch and locks the door, the sound echoing through the house.

The other three boys wander further into the house. Noah sits down on the sofa, while Levi stands near the far end of the living room, looking outside the window. Jack paces around the room, seeming restless. You put the snacks on the coffee table 

The boys look at the snacks and water that you put on the coffee table, their eyes flickering between you and it. Miles is the first to move. he steps over to the table, picking up a bottle of water and checking it for any signs of tampering. ”you got anything else?” he asks, his tone blunt as ever.

“I can make you guys something if your that hungry I guess” I say rolling my eyes at his tone.

Noah perks up at your comment, a smile creeping onto his face nodding eagerly ”That’d be great!” he says. Miles shoots Noah a glare, but the other two boys are quick to agree, seeming eager for food that isn’t stale.

“Does pasta work?” You suggest looking at the four of them 

The boys seem to perk up at the mention of pasta. ”Hell yeah,” Noah says, his lips curving into a grin. Miles glances at the other boys, as if waiting for their reaction. Jack nods vigorously, while will grins widely.

“K ill be back, stay here don’t wonder or touch my stuff” you say seriously

The boys seem amused by your warning, but they all nod in agreement. As you walk away, the boys settle into the room. Noah flops down on the sofa again, his arms behind his head as he looks around the house. 

Jack looks like he’s fighting the urge to poke around, while Levi continues to stand near the window, watching outside. After a while you come back with a try holding a tray with 4 bowls of past setting it on the table “it’s hot be careful”

The boys all eye the food with excitement, their eyes hungrily trailing over the steaming pasta. Noah grins at you as you place the bowls of pasta on the table. ”This smells great,” he says, his tone genuine. The other three boys crowd around the table, picking up the bowls of pasta and settling on the sofa and around the room. Miles sits down by one of the bowl, but doesn’t touch it yet.

“What you a picky eater” You ask curiously joking an eyebrow raised.

Miles shoots you a glare, but it lacks any real anger. ”No. just cautious,” he snaps back. The other three boys chuckle quietly, as if they’ve seen Miles picky eating habits before.

You roll my eyes still joking  “it’s not like I poisoned it”

Miles glares slightly at you, clearly offended by your comment. ”Well, I don’t know that,” he retorts, his hand clenching into a fist. The other boys watch the interaction amused. Noah tries to hide his laugh while Levi grins widely.

“Your boys are eating it just fine, no one died yet” you point out smugly

Miles looks over at the other boys, who are already digging into their food. Noah is stuffing his face, while Levi and Jack are eating quietly next to each other. Miles sighs, looking defeated by the boys. he picks up his own bowl of pasta, stirring it with his fork before taking a bite.

“So what’s your guys’s names?” You ask wanting to defuse the awkward tension

The boys all look up from their food, their mouths full of pasta, as if startled by your question. Miles is the first one to speak, his tone guarded, ”I’m Miles.” The other three boys look at each other for a moment before answering. Noah pipes up first, grinning widely, ”I’m Noah.” Levi speaks up next, his voice soft, “I’m Levi…”, Jack finishes off their introductions, his voice slightly muffled by the pasta he’s eating, ”I’m Jack.”

You nod “Y/N” introducing yourself

The boys all look at you, seemingly committing your name to memory. Noah smiles at you, his gaze lingering on your features, as if studying you. ”Nice to meet you,” he says, his voice a little softer than before. Miles gives you a slight nod, his gaze flickering over you. ”Yeah,” he says gruffly. Levi finishes off his pasta and puts the empty bowl down next to him, still watching you with interest.

“How old are you guys” you ask curiously

The boys all look at each other for a moment, seeming to debate whether or not to answer your question. miles is the first to answer, his tone guarded as usual “I’m eighteen.” ,”I’m seventeen!” Noah grins, seemingly excited to answer your question. ”I’m nineteen” Levi, who’s been quietly sitting by the window, speaks up, his voice soft. ”I turned seventeen a few months ago…” Jack is the youngest, and he grins widely.

the boys all go back to eating their pasta, the sound of forks scraping against bowls and soft chews filling the room. Noah looks up at you, his smile growing, “so, how old are you?”

“Almost 18”

the boys all look at you, slightly surprised, as if they didn’t expect you to be this old. Noah’s eyes widen slightly, but his grin doesn’t falter. ”you don’t look eighteen,” he remarks, his voice slightly teasing. the other boys all seem slightly curious, listening intently to the conversation.

“I said almost , How old do I look?” You ask confused and kind of offended 

The boys all look you over, taking in your features.Nnoah leans back on the sofa, his gaze flickering over your face. ”I would’ve guessed Fifteen, maybe sixteen at most,” he says bluntly.

“Yeah well I’m not, I turn 18 in a week” you blurt indifferently 

The boys all seem surprised by your revelation.Noah lets out a small gasp, his eyebrows shooting up ”seriously?” he says, his tone skeptical. Miles snorts, seeming to find the reveal amusing.”You definitely look younger than that,” he remarks, his tone blunt as ever.

I roll my eyes frustrated 

Miles lets out a slight laugh, amused by your reaction. ”Don’t like being told you look younger than you are?” he teases, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Whatever, how’d you even find this place?” Changing the subject you ask

The boys exchange glances, seeming to silently debate how much information to share with you. Miles speaks up first, his tone guarded “we’ve been traveling through the area for a few days. we were low on supplies, so we’ve been looking through abandoned towns for anything useful.”

“Where’d you guys initially come from” your ask suspicious 

The boys all seem to tense up at your question, as if it’s a touchy subject for them. Miles glances at the other boys, seeming to silently ask for permission to answer. Noah cuts in before Miles can answer, his tone casual. ”We’re from Atlanta,” he answers bluntly.

“Inner City or… suburb?” Curiously

Noah looks slightly surprised by your question, but he nods in response. ”yeah, inner city," he confirms. the other boys seem to tense at the mention of the inner city. Miles glances at you, his eyes narrowing slightly ”why do you ask?” he says, his tone distrustful.

“Did you guys get followed ?” you ask

the boys all exchange glances, their expressions hardening at your question.Miles leans forward slightly, his tone guardedn”what makes you think that?” he snaps.

“I’m just asking” you say in defense 

the boys are tense, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons, seemingly on edge. Miles looks at you intently, his gaze piercing. ”No, we weren’t  followed," he finally admits, his voice low.

You nod carefully relieved

Miles studies you for a moment, his eyes flickering over your face, before he finally relaxes slightly ”we’re staying on our guard, don’t worry,” he says gruffly, the other boys also seem to relax a little, their hands slowly leaving their weapons. the atmosphere in the room returns to a slightly more neutral one. Levi, who’s been quietly listening the whole time, pipes up, his voice soft “do you live here by yourself?”

“Uhh… yeah” you answer lowly

the boys seem slightly surprised by your answer, glancing at each other as if silently asking the others if it’s true. Levi looks at you with a mixture of curiosity and worry, his eyebrows furrowing ”how do you survive alone?” he asks, his voice soft yet skeptical.

“I had a group of people but we got separated some got infected, I found this house 6 months ago and it was in good condition so I stayed and I go out to get some supplies every week or so” you say with a pained voice.

The boys all listen intently, their gazes flickering over you as they take in your story. Noah lets out a soft whistle ”that’s pretty impressive, surviving on your own all this time,” he says, his tone genuine. Jack looks at you with a mixture of awe and worry, his voice quiet ”have you ever been bitten?”

“No” you say almost immediately 

The boys all seem slightly relieved by your response. Miles lets out a small huff, his expression slightly softer than before ”guess you’re one of the lucky ones,” he mutters, his tone almost bitter.

“Guess so…” You say bitterly with a hurt expression

Miles looks at you for a moment, noticing your bitter tone ”you don’t sound too happy about being lucky," he remarks, his tone almost mocking.

“I’m not but You don’t seem happy That I was lucky” you say an eyebrow raised 

Miles snorts, his expression darkening ”damn right I’m not,” he snaps, his voice harsh. “we’re all stuck in this world, struggling to stay alive while you’re sitting in a comfortable house all alone. doesn’t seem very fair, does it?”

“yeah you guys are struggling but that It doesn’t mean I didn’t experience hell for the 6 other months before finding this place” you roll my eyes, frustrated 

Miles glares at you, your eye roll clearly pissing him off even more ”oh, you had a rough time for 6 whole months? wow, that sounds just terrible,” he grumbles, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “must’ve been real hard, surviving alone in a comfortable house while the rest of us were out there fighting for our lives on the daily.”

You scoff “your such an asshole” You get up from your seat across from where they’re sitting on the couch and take the empty bowls and tray to the kitchen to clean them.

Miles watches you storm off to the kitchen, his expression still dark the three others exchange glances, looking slightly uncomfortable about the argument.Noah speaks up, still trying to keep the peace “dude, you didn’t have to be so harsh…” he mutters.

Miles huffs, his expression still bitter ”she’s clearly never had to struggle like we have,” he retorts, his voice hard. “easy for her to talk when she’s been living in a comfortable house this whole time.”

Noah rolls his eyes, clearly getting frustrated with mile’s attitude ”dude, listen to yourself. you sound like a total dick. you’re just upset because she’s doing better than us right now. maybe you should just chill and cut her some slack.”

Miles lets out a low growl, his anger rising ”why should I cut her some slack? she’s sitting pretty in her cozy house, probably hasn’t had to go a day without food or shelter in weeks. meanwhile we’re out here fighting and struggling just to survive. why should I be anything but bitter?”

Noah’s expression hardens, his own anger starting to show.”Bro, stop being a jerk. just because she’s been lucky enough to find a house doesn’t mean she hasn’t struggled. maybe you should show some respect and have some goddamn empathy.”

Miles glares at Noah, his jaw clenching.”empathy?” he snaps. “why should I have empathy for someone who’s never had to go through the hell we’ve been through? she’s just some spoiled girl who’s had it easy this whole time.”

You come back from the kitchen sniffing not looking at them “if you guys are still hungry, the pantry is on the right of the kitchen, there are 3 rooms upstairs and 2 bathrooms. My room is right down the hallway past the kitchen, I’ll be there if you need anything, I’m going to bed” You walk away before they answer.

The boys all watch as you storm off to your room, their expressions a mix of guilt and confusion. Miles looks like he wants to say something, but he clenches his jaw and stays quiet.the boys all look between each other, their expressions grim. Noah eventually breaks the silence, his voice quiet ”dude, you have some apologizing to do tomorrow.” 

Miles looks like he wants to argue, but the look in Noah’s eyes silences him, he lets out a low sigh, his expression softening slightly ”yeah, yeah I know,” he mutters, his tone begrudgingly accepting.

Noah looks relieved that mile’s is acknowledging his mistake ”good. you were a total jackass to her,” he mutters.

Jack and Levi are silent, still watching as you disappeared down the hall.

You’re in room, on the bed, knees to your  chest, tears fall from your eyes, remembering all the sad times before you found confront in this place.

As the boys sit in silence in the living room, Miles’ mind races, guilt slowly washing over him. he replays his argument with you over and over again in his head, realizing how unfair and rude he was, he lets out a frustrated groan, running his hand through his hair. ”Shit,” he mutters under his breath. “I really messed up.”

 Noah and the other boys are still silent, watching him as he struggles with his remorse. Miles shrugs, his expression a mix of frustration and confusion ”I don’t know, there’s just something about her that pisses me off. she’s all alone in this world and she’s still doing better than us. I don’t know, it’s like she doesn’t realize how privileged she is or something.”

Noah looks at him skeptically ”dude, just because she’s lucked out on the house doesn’t mean she’s privileged. she’s still alone in this world and surviving on her own. that takes some serious strength, man. don’t look down on her like that.”

Miles looks down, guilt washing over him again ”yeah, I know. I was just being bitter. I don’t know why I’m so on edge around her. usually I’m not such a dick.”

Noah pats him on the shoulder, trying to cheer him up “it’s alright, man. we all have our moments. just apologize when you get the chance tomorrow. and try to be more understanding, yeah?”

Miles nods, a look of determination in his eyes ”yeah, you’re right. I’m gonna make things right tomorrow. I’ll apologize, and try to be less of a dick.”

Noah grins “good. glad you’re finally coming to your senses. she’s a badass, dude. it’s honestly impressive how she’s made it this far on her own. stop treating her like she’s some kind of spoiled princess.”

Miles nods again, realizing the truth in noah’s words ”you’re right. she’s stronger than I gave her credit for. I’m gonna make sure to change my attitude around her from now on.”

Noah gives him a reassuring pat on the back. Miles nods, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude for Noah’s advice ”I’ll talk to her tomorrow and make things right. thanks, man.”

Noah grins ”no problem, bro. happy to help. get some rest, yeah? tomorrow’s a new day and all that.”, Miles nods, a slight smile on his face ”yeah, you’re right. thanks again, man.”

The 2 other bid him goodnight as they all prepare for bed. As the boys scatter upstairs to their rooms to get some sleep, Miles stays on the sofa for a moment, thinking about his encounter with you. he knows he messed up and needs to apologize, but he’s not sure if you’ll even want to hear him out.

he lets out a frustrated sigh, his mind still racing ”Shit,” he mutters, “what if she doesn’t forgive me? I was such an ass to her.”

Hearing the boys go upstairs you get out if your room to get some water, wiping the tears sniffing, as you leave your room and head towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water, you pass by the living room. Miles is still sitting on the sofa, his head in his hands as he silently berates himself.

he looks up as he hears you approach, his expression shifting from guilty to awkward as he sees you wiping away your tears.he clears his throat, feeling a pang of guilt as he sees the evidence of the tears you’ve been silently shedding.  

he sits there for a moment, unsure of what to say, before he finally speaks up.   ”uh, hey…” he mutters, his voice soft and remorseful.

“… hi” you mumble going to the kitchen

Miles watches you walk into the kitchen, his guilt weighing heavy on his shoulders. he hesitates for a moment, unsure if he should follow you or not. but ultimately, his need to apologize wins out. He gets up from the sofa and slowly makes his way into the kitchen, standing awkwardly by the doorway as he watches you grab a glass from the cupboard. He clears his throat again, gathering up his courage to speak.  

”can I talk to you for a moment?” he asks, his voice low and tentative.

“Sure” still not looking at him, filling your glass with water

Miles nods, relieved that you’re willing to hear him out. he takes a deep breath, preparing himself for what he’s about to say ”look, I just want to apologize for how I acted earlier today,” he starts, his voice sincere. “I was a total ass and I had no right to take my frustrations out on you.” Miles takes a step closer to you, his expression remorseful ”I was just pissed off about our situation and I took it out on you. It’s not fair of me to judge you for having a comfortable place to live. Especially when you’ve been surviving on your own all this time. It’s just…”  he hesitates for a moment, struggling to find the right words to express himself.

“You don’t even know what I’ve been through” you say sipping some water your voice cracking.

Miles nods, his expression solemn ”yeah, you’re right. I don’t. And that’s why it was unfair of me to make assumptions about you. I don’t know what you’ve been through or how hard you’ve had it. But that doesn’t excuse me being a jerk to you. I’ve been an ass and I’m sorry for that.”

“I watch my sister and bestfriend get infected and had to kill them bc they made me promise that I’d do it” you say hurt, more tears brining your eyes

Miles’ expression softens as you reveal the trauma you’ve been through, he’s silent for a moment, trying to absorb the weight of your words ”god, that’s… I’m so sorry,” he mutters, his voice low and sincere. “I had no idea you’d been through something like that. It must have been hell for you to lose them like that.” he takes another step closer to you, his gaze meeting yours. ”I can’t even imagine what you must have felt, having to go through that. I have no right to judge you or assume anything about you. You’re stronger than I ever gave you credit for, Surviving all this time alone after going through something like that.”

You look at the floor, sniffing.

Miles notices your gaze shift to the floor, guilt washing over him again as he realizes how hard he was on you earlier, he stands there for a moment, unsure of what to say next. he wants to take back what he said, to erase the pain he caused you. but he knows he can’t. so instead, he takes a chance and takes another step closer to you, he reaches out tentative, his hand hovering near your arm, unsure if you’ll pull away.  

”can I… can I ask you something?” he asks, his voice soft. You finally look up at him tears in your eyes.

Miles looks at you, his heart aching as he sees the tears in your eyes. he can tell that you’re still hurting, and he hates himself for being the cause of it, he lowers his hand back to his side, not wanting to overstep any boundaries ”do you, uh… do you want a hug?” he asks, his voice gentle.

“Please” you mumble your voice cracking more almost sobbing at the question

Miles’ expression softens, without hesitation, he quickly closes the distance between you and wraps his arms around you, pulling you into a tight embrace, he holds you close, letting you bury your face in his chest as he rubs his hand comfortingly against your back.

You hug him tightly, hands gripping his shirt, sobbing quitely 

He hugs you tighter, his heart aching as he feels you clinging to him, your body trembling with silent sobs, he rests his chin on the top of your head, holding you close and letting you cry ”let it out,” he whispers, his voice gentle. “it’s alright. I’ve got you." he continues to rub your back, holding you close and offering comfort as you cry, he silently berates himself for being such a dick to you earlier, wishing he could take back his unfair judgment of you.

he holds you like this for several minutes, letting you cry it out as much as you need. eventually, your sobs start to subside and your grip on his shirt starts to loosen. he feels your body relax in his arms a bit, your breathing evening out as you begin to calm down. Miles pulls away slightly, keeping his arms around you but leaning back to look at your face, ”feeling better?” he asks quietly, his thumbs rubbing small circles against your back in a comforting gesture.

You wipe the tears sniffing not looking at him “uhh… yeah thanks” my voice horse. I pull away slightly

Miles nods, respecting your need for space. he keeps his hands on your waist for a moment longer before pulling away completely, giving you some breathing room, ”hey, listen,” he says quietly, his gaze meeting yours. “I’m really sorry for being such a dick earlier. I had no right to judge you like that, and I’m sorry for hurting you.”

“It’s fine, you didn’t know ” you sniff shaking your head brushing it off.

he shakes his head adamantly, his expression sincere, ”no, it’s not fine. even if I didn’t know your situation, it was still wrong of me to treat you the way I did. I was a total dick, and I’m sorry.”

You nod “it’s ok, I forgive you” your voice still horse from the sobbing

Miles lets out a small sigh of relief, grateful for your forgiveness.  ”thanks,” he mutters, his expression sincere. “I don’t deserve it, but… thanks.”  he pauses for a moment, not sure if he should say what’s on his mind. But then he decides to go for it ”listen, can I ask you something else?” “Uhhh…sure”

Miles takes a deep breath, nervously rubbing the back of his neck as he tries to find the right words to say ”earlier, when you mentioned… your sister and your friend,” he starts hesitantly. “you said you had to…”  he trails off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

“Yeah uh, I was the youngest, so they wanted to protect me, they made me promise to kill them if they ever get bit so they don’t turn into zombies they wanted to die peacefully” my voice cracks and I sniff “we were. Looking for supplies and we got separated and I was attacked by a zombie, so my sister jumped in and she got bit, my bestfriend tried to help her but before she killed the zombie she got bit too. So we went back to wear we were staying and they made me kill them” tears fall again “I couldn’t stay there anymore, so I searched for a safe place for weeks, learned how to fend for myself, how to get supplies carefully. Then I found this place, there wasn’t anyone bc I’ve searched the whole area, zombies didn’t come near this place, I don’t know why exactly but this is where I’ve been after every thing” you finish wiping the tears

Miles listens quietly as you tell your story, his expression shifting from sympathetic to somber, he struggles to find the words to respond, his heart breaking for all you’ve been through ”god, that’s… I don’t even know what to say. that’s the most horrible thing I’ve ever heard,” he mutters, his voice soft and sincere, he reaches out to touch your arm, gently rubbing it in a comforting gesture, he looks at you, his eyes filled with empathy ”I can’t even begin to imagine how you’ve been able to survive all on your own, with everything you’ve been through. you’re so much stronger than I ever gave you credit for.”

he takes a step closer, his hand moving from your arm to your cheek, gently wiping away the tears that have started falling down your face ”and I’m sorry for being such a dick to you earlier. like I said, I had no right to judge you or assume anything about your past. and I feel bad for being a jerk.”

You nod “it’s ok, it’s all in the past now, I forgive you”

Miles nods, his expression relieved that you’ve forgiven him, he hesitates for a moment, his hand still gently cupping your cheek ”can I ask you one more thing?”

“That’s now the 3rd question” I chuckle jokingly 

Miles swallows, his thumb gently rubbing soft circles against the back of your neck. he’s nervous, but he pushes past it and takes a deep breath, ”when was the last time someone else hugged you? or held you?” he asks quietly, his gaze locked on yours.

“A long fucking time” you say exhausted from all of the crying

Miles’ heart aches as you answer his question. he can tell from your expression and the way you speak that it’s been a long, long time since you’ve had any human connection of any sort. He steps closer to you, his body almost touching yours ”come here,” he says gently, pulling you into another embrace, his arms wrapping tightly around you.

You hug back tightly taking deep breaths 

miles holds you close, his arms wrapped tightly around you, anchoring you to him. he can feel you taking deep breaths against his chest, the tension slowly leaving your body as you relax in his hold, he rubs small circles against your back, his cheek gently resting against the top of your head.

“Thank you” you mumble relieved

Miles nods, his arms tightening around you ever-so-slightly ”anytime, sweetheart,” he mutters, the pet name slipping out in the moment. he hopes it doesn’t weird you out, but he can’t help the fondness he’s feeling towards you right now.

You let out a small laugh, he pulls away slightly “whatt are you laughing for?” He asks curiously

“Oh nothing, ‘sweetheart’ “ you mock him

Miles chuckles, his smile widening a bit ”you like that, huh?” he teases, his hands sliding down to rest on your waist comfortably. You shrug smiling slightly, Miles grins, amused by your response. he rubs his thumbs along the waistband of your pants lightly, his touch gentle and absentminded ”you’re not gonna tell me if you like being called sweetheart?” he teases further, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Your gonna figure it out” you go back to hugging him 

Miles’ chuckle turns into an amused smirk as he picks up on the hint of a smile in your voice. ”oh, I see. you’re goin’ to play coy on me,” he responds, his thumbs still moving along the waistband of your pants, occasionally slipping beneath the fabric to make contact with your skin.

You let out a small quiet chuckle 

Miles’ grin widens as he hears you chuckle again, his heart warming at the sound. he tightens his arms around you, pulling you even closer, until your body is flush against his. ”there it is,” he teases, his hands moving to rest on your hips, his thumbs rubbing small circles against your skin where your shirt has ridden up a bit, He lets out a quiet hum of satisfaction as he feels the warmth of your skin beneath his fingers, a small shiver running through him at the intimate contact.  he lets the moment of silence stretch for a few moments, his mind wandering to thoughts he knows he probably shouldn’t be having. but he can’t help it.

You slight pull away “you should get some sleep, you’ve had a long day” sighing giving him small smile

Miles’ hands stay on your hips for a moment longer, reluctant to let go. he knows you’re right, but he doesn’t want to leave you just yet.  ”yeah, I guess you’re right,” he mutters, his fingers giving your hips a gentle squeeze before finally releasing you.

You smile lightly go in my tippy toes using his shoulder and kiss his cheek “thank you Miles” 

Miles’ heart skips a beat as you kiss his cheek, your touch and warm breath sending a shiver through him. he feels his cheeks heat up a bit, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. He gives you a small smile back, his eyes locking on yours. ”no problem,” he mutters, his voice softer than he intends.  ”uh, goodnight.”

‘Mhm goodnight’ you say smiling going back to your room

Miles watches you head back to your room, his mind racing. he can still feel the lingering warmth of your touch against his cheek, and he instinctively brings a hand up to touch the spot lightly, he stands there for a few moments before finally shaking his head to snap out of it.  

”get it together, dude,” he mutters to himself before heading off to bed himself.

Morning comes, and Miles groans as he slowly wakes up. his body feels heavy with sleep, and his mind is still fuzzy from the dreams he had the night before.  

he sits up slowly, running a hand through his hair. he glances around, noticing that the other three boys are still asleep.

You wake up getting ready for the day and going to the kitchen to make breakfast pancakes specifically as you make your way to the kitchen and begin preparing breakfast, the other boys start to wake up, lured by the scents of pancakes.  

Miles is the last to emerge from his room, his hair a tousled mess and his clothes rumpled from sleep. he plods into the kitchen and greets you with a sleepy “morning,” his eyes going to the pancakes cooking on the stove.

“Morning” you say back still making breakfast

Miles plops down on the kitchen chair, still half asleep, and watches as you finish up the pancakes.  

”those look good,” he says, rubbing his eyes. “you cook breakfast for everyone?”

“Mhm” you hum

Miles hums back in approval, his eyes trailing over your form as you move around the kitchen. he can’t help but admire the way your t-shirt hugs your body, or the way your hair falls down your back in messy strands. he knows he’s staring, but he can’t seem to help it.

You  finish and give the boys their plate and join them on the kitchen island with your own plate 

the boys all dig into their pancakes, clearly hungry from the hard day of travel they had yesterday. they thank you for making breakfast, wolfing down the food quickly as they chat amongst themselves.  

Miles takes his time eating, his eyes drifting over to you occasionally as he eats. he eats quietly, stealing glances at you when the other boys aren’t looking, as he eats, his mind drifts back to the events of the previous night,  thememory of holding you in his arms still clear in his mind. he can still feel the warmth of your body against his, and part of him wants to reach out and touch you again. He glances at you, his gaze tracing over your face as if searching for something but before he can say or do anything, the other boys finish their food and start getting up from their seats.  

Levi is the first to speak up. “alright, time to get back on the road, guys,” he announces, standing up and stretching, the other boys nod in agreement, starting to get up and gather their things.

You take in a deep breath and give them a short nod

the boys all stop, turning to look at you with sympathetic expressions.  Miles clears his throat, his eyes flicking around the group before fixing on you. ”yeah, we should try to make as much progress as we can, especially since we have such a long way to go,” he explains, his voice softer than usual.

“You guys can stay, I don’t mind” you say hopeful

the boys exchange glances amongst themselves, clearly hesitant to leave you behind. but miles, the unofficial leader of the group, speaks up, ”we appreciate the offer, but we really do need to keep moving. it’s dangerous out there, and staying in one place for too long could put us at risk,” he responds, his tone firm but gentle.

“I’ve been here for 6 months nothing happend to me” you say in a ‘matter of a fact way’

Miles raises an eyebrow, his arms crossed over his chest, ”just because nothing’s happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t,” he counters, the protective nature in him coming out. the other boys are silent, but they’re clearly uneasy about leaving you behind as well.

You sigh “ok do as you guys wish I won’t stop you” you give them a small closer lip smile 

Miles’ expression softens at your understanding, but he still looks reluctant to leave, he glances at the other boys, who all look worried and unsure.  

after a moment of tense silence, Jack speaks up, ”what if we took you with us?”

You shake my head “I found my place, a place I can call my ‘home’” you give them a small smile “I’m safe here”

Miles is clearly unhappy with your response, but he doesn’t argue. he can see that you’ve made up your mind, and he knows there’s no point in trying to convince you otherwise. the other boys look conflicted as well, clearly not wanting to leave you behind ,”are you sure?” noah asks, his voice laced with worry.

“ I’m sure” you smile “you guys are welcome to come back at anytime”

Miles looks like he wants to protest, his eyes locking on yours with an intense stare. but he knows that fighting with you will just be pointless, he lets out a sigh, his expression resigned ”alright,” he mutters, his arms crossed again. “but you better be safe.”

“You too guys, be careful” you give them a small smile 

the boys all nod, their expressions turning serious at your words. they’re obviously worried about you being on your own, but they know they can’t make you change your mind. Miles steps forward, closing the distance between you, and wraps his arms around you for a tight hug.

You hug him back tightly “promise me that you’ll be safe and careful Miles”

Miles tightens his hold on you, his head resting against your shoulder. he takes a deep breath, the protective feeling in his chest getting stronger ”i promise,” he mutters in your ear, his voice low and earnest.

he holds you for a few more moments before reluctantly pulling away. his eyes meet yours, and there’s a thousand emotions swirling in their depths.  he clears his throat, clearly trying to keep it together ”we should get going,” he says, his voice firm.

You nod “ok be careful”

the boys all nod and start gathering their things. miles still looks reluctant to leave, but he knows he doesn’t have much choice, ”we will be,” he says firmly, his gaze locked on you. “you take care of yourself, okay?”

Miles holds your gaze for a moment longer, his eyes searching your face as if trying to memorize it. but finally he forces himself to look away, turning to the others ”let’s go,” he mutters, his expression hardening as he prepares to lead the group out. the boys head towards the door, each of them bidding you a final farewell as they go.  Miles is the last to leave. he pauses in the doorway, looking back at you one last time ”be safe” he says again, his voice gruff with emotion, then he turns and heads out, the door closing behind him. 

and just like that, you’re alone again.

the silence in the room seems deafening now. you can almost hear the sound of your own heartbeat. you let out a sigh, feeling a mixture of loneliness and relief.