We all know how much Miles loves to make art - but more than anything he loves to make street art.
We also know that he starts drawing like crazy between the two films.
I headcannon that Miles needed more than just sketching in his notebooks and finding hidden walls to graffiti in his spare time. He approaches one of his school's art teachers, and asks to open a street art club. It takes a bit of fighting, but eventually he gets it confirmed. He puts posters up, tells people about it - “come over to the art classroom Friday lunch! We can do some art stuff :)”. Friday comes around and… no one shows up. Miles doesn't let it phase him, so he does some art and waits for next week. The same thing happens that week. And the next. And the next. By now the posters have fallen off the walls, and Miles is about to give up.
Then, week 5 comes around. He sets up his stuff, lets the teacher (that has to be there) get distracted on his phone, and starts working. But, before he can actually get into it, there’s a knock on the door. He looks up, ready to tell whoever it is that this isn’t where they want to be, but then he stops. The girl standing there looks nervous, but has patches on her rucksack, and paint on her clothes. Miles doesn't want to assume, but she looks like an artist.
“Hi.” She starts. “Is this the street art club?”
at this point even the teacher is paying attention. “yeah. Come on in.”
Two weeks pass. This girl is a great artist, but she does more traditional work, and wanted to learn something new. They become pretty good friends, and Miles feels like he’s done something pretty good, even if just for one person.
But then she brings two friends. Suddenly there’s a group chat and snacks are being coordinated. Miles effectively teaches two people who know nothing about art everything he can. It feels good - feels important.
Some people from his class ask to join. It’s been two and a half months now, and the group has increased to eight. Then word gets around, and other years are joining in too, with little kids dying to try something beginner friendly to introduce them into the school, and older students finally learn in a healthy outlet for stress. More and more people show up each session until Miles has to change it into a fully fledged, two hour afterschool club. They end up filling up two and a bit classrooms with all the people that show.
some need to do art. some like to. some are learning. some just show for the vibes and do some doodling to get their mind off stuff. some people go hardcore, no talking, intense focus the entire time.
But what gets to Miles the most is that everyone walks in excited and everyone walks out happy.
the art teachers take turns supervising - they get involved too. One of them puts forward a proposition where street art is an accepted form of art for AP Art classes. The school administration shows up for one of the club sessions and immediately approve. Miles starts doing street art as his coursework. He’s never loved school more, and starts organising potential activities for the club members. The group chat is easily 50 - 75 people, and that’s just the regulars.
The school needs to renovate some of the buildings, and they look at the massive blank wall and ask Miles if he and his club would like to decorate it.
They say yes.
the mural is massive. They needed ladders and cherry pickers and harnesses, but they managed to cover the entire wall in art. Everyone can point to at least one feature and say “that’s mine. I did that”. Miles does the center piece.
The parents get invited to the reveal of the new building and their student-made mural. Someone uploads a video, edited and everything, and the internet grabs onto it and doesn't let go for at least a week.
Mr and Mrs Morales are congratulated on the achievements of their son. They realise that no matter what, he will always have an artistic streak in him. Jeff looks at his kid, and for half a second sees Aaron, the way he was when they were kids themselves. He tries not to cry with happiness.
Miles talks to the owner of the building. He shows him the work he’s done, in his art book, in his spare time, and on the wall of the school. The owner saw the school unveiling on Insta, and is easily convinced to let Miles create a mural. And when he draws Aaron, immortalising his recently departed uncle, the she isn’t surprised. If anything, she’d hoped for it. The entire neighbourhood mourned Aaron, they’re like family.
everyone celebrates this mural too. But to Miles, this is different. This is his family’s that is celebrating his work, not a bunch of random people. This isn’t just a demonstration of his art, this is an emotionally significant and vulnerable piece. This is a part of him.
And looking at it, he can only ever be grateful that he was given this chance.