Miles sat alone at a table in the canteen nudging his food around the plate. It wasn't like he didn't like the food but he found himself not wanting to eat. Ryan had been really funny with him the last few days, hardly speaking to him. Even when he did speak his comments were sarcastic and in an acidic tone.
The more Miles thought about what he could have done to upset Ryan the more he came to the conclusion that it was because of Monday. He and Ryan had been fine up until then and the thought that such a small notion offended him was like stabbing Miles in the heart.
Over the past few weeks Miles had noticed certain things about Ryan. Miles had loved his best friend for years but he always kept it to himself, never letting on that he wish he and Ryan could be so much more than friends. He had never been able to tell if Ryan was interested but more recently Ryan would look at Miles in a certain way that made him melt. Touch him in ways that made him shiver and say things that made him groan.
Miles thought his dream might be coming true and had decided to tell Ryan today but now all hopes for that had turned to ash. His friend was disgusted with him and all those little gestures were just accidental.
Miles looked at the plate of food before him and gingerly took a bit of a lukewarm potato. It was still edible so he carried on eating his mistreated lunch. His thoughts disturbed by a group of guys talking behind him.
"I'm gonna talk to that kid, he seem pretty down." Said a deep voice.
"Dude do you know who that kid is?" Came a second.
"No but he's in my classes so he can't be that bad."
"Dave look, I know you like guys, oh don't give me that look we all can tell, but that's the Ice Prince. Your more likely to score with that big football guy than him!" The guys voice was half way between a whisper and a cry.
A tall dark haired guy slid into the seat in front of Miles. He swear he could actually here the guy friends wince.
"Hey little guy you looked a little down so I thought I could keep you company, my names David or Dave or Davey." The guy said smiling.
Miles swallowed the reset of the potato before he spoke. "I'm Miles or Miley or more recently The Ice Prince." Miles said the hurt in his tone making the other guy wince.
"Shit sorry about that. My friends can be ass holes some times." Again he smiled and it was enough to get a little smile from Miles.
"FUCK YOU DAVE, BETTER YET FUCK ICE PRINCE!" His friends shouted shattering the little piece of calm Miles was feeling. He grabbed his sketch pad and ran through the doors. Fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. Miles had no one at the moment. Ryan been disgusted with him and Amy and Chris out of town till tonight, he was alone.
Miles was half way to the little coffee shop by campus when a hand was placed firmly on his shoulder. Miles froze. "No, please no." Miles repeatedly whispered the tears that he fought back now running freely.
The hand spun Miles round. Not wishing to see the owner of the hands face. "Oh God. I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to, fuck." Miles was pulled into Dave's hug as he broke down. The initial fear was gone but that spark had opened the flood gates.
Miles didn't realise he was at the coffee shop till a glass of water and a large slab of hot fudge cake and ice cream was placed in front of him. "I'm sorry about my friends upsetting you like that." Dave said politely. "The really can be ass holes some times."
Miles took a small piece of the desert and swallowed it. The richness of it helping calm him down. "It wasn't just them. You shouldn't have touched me like that." Miles replied gently.
"They were fucking right. Sorry for disturbing you your highness." Dave began to get up.
"No it's not like that, I thought you were like the others!" Miles shouted before sinking back to his seat. He didn't realise he even stood up.
"What others?" Dave asked, one eyebrow raised in a questioning look.
"I was.." he didn't hear the rest of what Miles said.
Dave sat back down. "Sorry what?" he asked again a little annoyed at Miles' behaviour.
"I...I thought you were one of the others.. When you grabbed me I thought you were gonna try and rape me." Miles said in barely a whisper not raising his head from the food.