"No. We'll stay," Miles said firmly but gently, stroking Erin's hand with his thumb. "You need it."
"Yeah. We can't just leave ya here. That'd just be, ya know, rude and all," Fred said, glancing a bit at Miles's mum to see if she would get mad at his reaction.
"Fine. But if you leave Jane in the house--"
"Mum, I got it," Miles said angrily. He turned back to Erin, who was still pretty much in shock. "You can't just be alone here. In your state at that."
"Yeah. You got us guys here with ya. Ya know. Bodyguards."

's alright. :D Mine's HORRIBLY short. :D

Soon after that wait, and soon after Miles's mum took off on another call, they were able to see Mr Hargreaves, and in terrible condition. Not wanting to intrude on the father-daughter moment, the two boys went out of the room and basically just stayed there for some duration.

"Miles, you okay?" Fred asked, looking at his best friend with a sly face. "You look red."
"N-nothing," Miles denied.
"Oh, it was because you held Erin today."
"Shut up."
"Why don't you just tell her that you like her then? Wouldn't you want to hear a yes?"
"Well, what if it's a 'no'?"
"Then move on."

"It's best we send her home, bub," Fred said to Miles as he held her back. "But her car's back at school. We need to go back and get it too."
"Yeah. J-just wait a moment, okay? She needs a little while to let it out."

Miles felt all heartbroken just seeing her cry like that. It was way too painful for him. He imagined if his sister were to cry like that, he'd feel the same thing; maybe except the fact that they'd never really want to cry over their father. He was just insane. Miles looked at her on his chest, and wished that Mr Hargreaves would just be better just for her. As he stroked her blonde hair, he gave her reassuring little shushes, and sighed.

"Come on, Erin. Time to go," he said to her softly.

They made it out to the parking lot, and Miles helped Erin get in the car before climbing in himself. Once they were on the road, there was an awkward silence, except for the Panic! at the Disco playing on the radio. Miles remained silent, but so wanted to talk to Erin and tell her that everything was alright, but she probably had someone. Or probably still hated him. He didn't know. It puzzled him that she even turned to him for comfort. He felt warmth when he held her close, and he was sure she felt that too, but on a typical day, she'd blow him off and just ignore him.

"Uhm... I know... I know it isn't much consolation but... I feel real sorry about... About your dad," Miles started, not looking at her and finding himself unable to look her in the eyes. "Is there... Is there anything I can do? I mean, to make it easier for you? I can tell the guys to ignore you. Or the girls to stop picking on you for a while. Just... Anything."

"It's fine by me. As long as it gives you consolation," he said softly, trying not to sound too offending.
"Well, at least let us give you a hug," Fred said, sighing. "It's the least we could do, although a little out of the ordinary considering Miles."
"Shut up," Miles chuckled, but still with a rather worried expression spread across his face. "No, seriously, Erin. If... If there's anything, just tell me. At school maybe. Don't.. Don't mind Andy. She can be a bitch sometimes, but yeah."
"Hoho, a bitch. Wait 'til she hears that, bub. Wait 'til she hears that."
"Come on, Freddie."
"'Come on, Freddie.' Ya gotta be kidding me, Milesy. You're a softy today."

Miles then reached over to give her a one-armed hug, letting her lean into him once more.
"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it," he said, before shooting Fred a death stare.

"You're welcome. Hey, don't think that way," Miles chuckled a bit. "I'm already dead by her. Trust me, word spreads fast."
The dark clouds that loomed outside got even more ominous as they drove past the scenery. It was strange. The rain seemed like a good idea today, and yet Miles wanted no inch of it on the ground whatsoever. But maybe it just wasn't his day today. Maybe he just didn't want to get rained on when he walked home.
"What should we do now?" Miles asked Fred.
"Why don't you get her something?" he asked, then turning to Erin as he drove. "So, what will it be for Miss Hargreaves today?"

Miles couldn't help but laugh at her statement. So, this was what she was like when she joked around. When she actually smiled. Laughed. This was how nice she was to be around. And then, he wondered why she didn't have as many friends. She was wonderful.

Miles was startled that she had pulled away so suddenly. Right now, he was wondering if she'd realized how wrong this was in her terms. She despised him. How come she was this way today? Did she take anything this morning? Was it because of what happened to her family? Her sudden change baffled him so much. How come? Why would she do this? More and more questions filled the young man's head as seconds and minutes passed, until she replied that she didn't know exactly.

"Let's drop by the convenience store, see if there's anything you'd like," Fred replied with a smile. "And slushies."

"Erin, just tell me, what's wrong?" Miles asked worriedly, a bit hushed so that Fred wouldn't hear. "It wouldn't leave this car. I promise."

Fred just turned back and smiled before looking at the road, then suddenly swerving as they almost hit an incoming car.

"Oh--shit." Fred suddenly yelled out as they were jerked to the side, and they'd managed to get back on track.
"Fred, what was that for? Eyes on the road, please!" Miles said in disbelief and in fright, just before relief set in.

(sorry it's so short! :D)

"She would've wanted you to smile despite everything," Miles said quietly. "Look, I may not exactly know your mum, and I know that it's so cliche, but... I really believe she wanted you to do that. I mean, she loves you. And honestly, I'm jealous of you."

How he reacted to the accidental kiss, though, was different. As soon as she'd pulled away, his cheeks flushed bright red, and dipped his head in the same way Erin did. Out of sheer embarrassment, he couldn't even bear to look at her.
"N-n-no, it's fine," he reassured, although this was done with no eye contact whatsoever. "It's okay. Really."

And he couldn't help but close his eyes, turn away for a while and try to appreciate or rather, derive some sort of amusement, from the situation, but he couldn't bring himself to do it at all. He was just too embarrassed. Fred, however, was a different story. He chuckled to himself as they dropped by the convenience store.

"Didn't have much of a mother or father growing up," he said. "An abusive dad and a mum who doesn't pay attention to a thing me or my sister says. How can you get more alone than that? I'm jealous because... There was love in your house."

Fred listened intently to the two. Sure, Fred had told Erin that Miles was just a lonely guy, but she needed to know it from the guy himself. It was no use when she was mad. Nobody listens when they're mad.

"Guys, we're here," Fred said, trying to lift their spirits. "Come on, slushies won't wait all day. Let's go, chop chop."