It wasn’t that Miles didn’t want to invite Lana over to his house. No, he really, really did. Was super pumped for it actually.
But now as she was climbing through his window like they were in some old rom-com, suddenly he wished that he’d had some notice so he could actually clean the place up. Just a little. There were several hoodies and shirts strewn across the ground, school books open on his desk placed next to some drawings he’d been spending too much time on instead. His parents were less than thrilled to learn that he’d been suspended, but with Pleasant Hill mounting on top of all his other Spider-Man responsibilities, he’d been slipping. Snapping at teachers, not acting like himself.
Lana’s feet were already over the windowsill as Miles scrambled to throw some shirts into his hamper and shoved some of the school stuff on his desk to the side. But aside from that, the rest of his room was presentable. The wall behind his bed was covered in a graffiti style mural that he’d finally convinced his mother to let him paint, with the promise that he’d cover it up if they ever moved. He was trying to cooly lean against the speaker near his desk as she entered as if he hadn’t just been panicking as he smiled at her.
After everything she’d just been through in that town, Miles would never close his room off to her if she needed it. “Lana, hey.” He received her text about five minutes ago asking to come over, worry etched on his brows as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, it’s kind’ve a mess in here right now. Hope that’s chill.”
Maybe it isn’t cool to stop in uninvited.
It’s not a premeditated thing. Although Lana and Miles had been talking about her meeting his family before It had happened, she had imagined it going down a little differently. For starters, she’d knock on the front door. Rio and Jefferson would welcome her in, and even if it was awkward it would be like the movies she had watched late at night by herself. It definitely wouldn’t be her propelling herself up the brownstone so she could reach the fire escape. It’s tempting to fly the entire way up, but Lana climbs instead with the meta railing cold against her bare hands. There’s two knocks on the window before she’s let into the warmth and out of the biting cold.
The evening had began with a walk. That was supposed to be it. Just something to clear her incredibly clouded head. Lana’s not sure why it’s happening. Sometimes, she feels perfectly normal. Others, she doesn’t respond to her name. It’s like she’s waiting for a different one to be called. Danielle. Not her name, but the name they gave her. She was older in Pleasant Hill and already out of high school. Nannying was a way to get money so she could save up to attend college, which was a little too expensive even with the offered financial aid. The worst part of it all, however, was her home life. She had parents. Actual parents who cooked dinner and asked her about her day. After being discharged, Lana had made a point to not ask who had been cast into the roles. It wasn’t real. It would only hurt to know.
As Miles scurries to clean, Lana takes in the room. She’s not sure what she expected, but it’s so Miles that she now can’t imagine anything else. “Your wall is sick.” She nods towards the mural. It really is impressive. Every time Lana has seen Miles draw, she’s been impressed. The best she can do with a pen is a stick figure. Otherwise, she lacks the patience.
It feels wrong to sit on his bed without permission, so she just stands in the center of the room with her arms dangling by her side. Even with how much she has going on, Lana knows that Miles is also having a hard time. She and Tiana had met up for coffee before Lana had been taken into Pleasant Hill, and her friend had mentioned Miles was going through it. That was then. Even though some time has passed, Lana can’t imagine it has gotten any better.
“Soooo.” Why does it feel awkward? It has to be because of her. “Thanks for letting me stop by.”
ellievsbear
janainaart
gummygunk
kianamaiart
dailybridgerton
baratheonpilled
areudirty
turnnoffyourmind
snowghoul
jbbartram-illu
