A month since the incident with Chelsea, Mallory sits with Naya in her room, braiding her hair. Mallory's motions grow slower, as she gets lost in thought. That day, seeing Miles with Chelsea. Until Naya asks "Uh.. Mallory..? Something on your mind?", and Mallory jolts back to her senses, chuckling slightly, and saying "Oh, my bad. It's.. nothing, really.". But Naya looks back at her, saying "C'mon Mallory. Remember what you said? Can't keep it all inside..". Mallory looks down, avoiding her gaze. "I haven't been able to build up the nerve to tell you, even after a month..", she thinks to herself. Naya shrugs, saying "I won't force you, or whatever. But I thought you should know.. I moved back to my old class.". Mallory's eyes widen, as she continues "I think I'm ready to see him again..". Mallory suddenly gets up, saying "I.. uh.. have to go, take care of Mary. Pregnancy and all..". Naya waves goodbye, but Mallory leaves tok fast to wave back.
Elsewhere, Miles sits on the park bench, his phone in hand. "I... should've called.. sooner.", he mutters, sighing. As he dials Chelsea's number, his finger hovering over the call button. But, she appears. Mallory, standing in front of him, a look of worry, and mild anger on her face. Miles looks up at her, asking "Uh.. Hey, Mal? What's.. the matter.?", but Mallory asks "Miles. Who are you calling?", assertively. Miles sits up, asking "Wh.. a friend..?", but Mallory cuts him off, saying"Friends don't get on top of each other like that, Miles..!", he voice coming out louder than expected. Miles jolts slightly, his mouth opening slightly.
"You.. how do you..?", Miles stammers, but Mallory says "I saw you two. You weren't exactly being subtle about it..", as Miles fidgets with his phone, nervously. He sits up, saying "It's not.. I mean.. We aren't.. doing anything wrong..", but Mallory starts pacing back and forth, shouting "Nothing wrong!? She's like 20 years old, Miles! You're barely 17!". Miles closes his eyes, wincing at her words, before shouting back "I can't control what I feel, okay?!". Mallory stops in her tracks, shocked at his sudden admission, and Miles looks down at his hands, almost surprised at himself. She says, this time, sounding softer "Look, Miles. I know you and this girl were.. close back then. But.. you can't just 'fool around' with her like you don't know how.. fucked up this is.". Miles clenches his fist, saying "I know it's messed up, okay?! I've known for years!". He finally looks up at Mallory, swallowing before saying "But.. I'm not gonna sit by and let this past me by like this anymore.".
Mallory, initially taken aback, eventually walks away, but stops, and asks "What about Naya? Was she never worth all this effort..?". Miles stutters, saying "Wh.. Naya? How do you know..?", but Mallory cuts through "Answer me.". Miles looks down, looking for an answer, but finds none. Mallory scoffs, a tearful whimper in her voice "Thought so.", before walking off. Miles stands there, his fists trembling, as he fights the urge to follow her, to make things right. "But..", he thinks "What do I even say to her at this point..?".
Miles waits a bit on the bench, before following her home. As he enters the house, he sees Mary, laying on the couch, straining in pain, as Richard helps her to the car. "It's okay, sweetheart. We'll make it in time.", he says as he and Mary enter the car and drive off. In the silence of the house, Mallory stands at the door, looking back at Miles, a look of disgust, and anger on her face. Miles looks down and walks up to his room. He locks his bedroom door, curling up in his bed, before picking up his phone, and texts Chelsea. He doesn't overexplain, he doesn't dump it all on her.. Just "I need to see you.".
An hour later, Miles hears a knock on his bedroom window. He opens it, and sees Chelsea, barely hanging on the tree, as she awkwardly waves to him. "Hey..", she says, the words enough to make him smile. He climbs out of his window, looking back at the room, specifically at his door. As if hes waiting for Mallory to knock, but nothing. He sighs and leaves with her.
As Chelsea walks with Miles, a long awkward silence stretches between them, until Miles says "It's.. nice to see you.", opening his arms for a hug, but she instinctively tenses up, which makes Miles withdraw. "Sorry..", he says silently, but Chelsea says "Oh, it's not you. I just.. wasn't expecting it.". Miles says "My bad, I just.. need one right now..", and Chelsea asks "Wh.. what's going on?". Miles shrugs, saying "Oh, nothing intense, just.. frustrating..", Chelsea walks closer to him, asking "What is?". Miles looks up at her, saying "Everything.", and Chelsea lets out a humorless laugh, saying "I know, right?".
Another silence stretches, this one less awkward, but comfortable. Miles leans closer, and Chelsea wraps her arm around him, saying "I'll admit. This is.. pretty nice.". Miles nods, as they walk together.
They arrive at an abandoned lighthouse, Chelsea leading him up to the roof. "C'mon! Trust me, dude.", she whispers as they make their way up. They reach the roof, and Miles sees two camp chairs set up, and a six pack of beer cans near her chair. He admires the view from above, a smile playing on his face. "Pretty chill, huh?", Chelsea asks, cracking open a can of beer, and Miles says "Yeah. It feels like we're so far from.. everything. Like I could say anything..". Chelsea says "Well, why not? Do it.". Miles takes a deep breath, before shouting into the night "MALLORY!! WHY CAN'T YOU BE HAPPY THAT I'M FINALLY LIVING MY OWN LIFE?!!", he takes another breath, continuing "SHANE, ANNY!! I'M SORRY!! I KNOW I SHOULDN'T FEEL GUILTY, BUT I JUST.. AM!!". Feeling exhilarated, he takes a final deep breath, shouting at the top of her lungs "CHELSEA!! I'M STILL OBSESSED WITH YOU!!".
Chelsea's eyes widen, as she stutters, in shock "Uh.. Miles..?", but he continues, tears forming in his eyes "I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DON'T FEEL THE SAME!! THAT YOU THINK IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE OF OUR AGES, BUT..!! I CAN'T CHANGE WHAT I FEEL FOR YOU!!!". Chelsea looks at him, a mixture of amazement, shock, and something softer.. more dangerous. She shakes her head, saying "You're.. not thinking straight..", but Miles leans close. Too close. Close enough that their foreheads touch, and says quietly..
"Then look into my eyes. And you tell me. How serious I am for you.".
The moment lingers, the can slips from her grasp, as seconds rapidly turn to minutes. She mutters "Fuck, Miles.. why do you always have to..", the smell of alcohol in her breath, and Miles closes the distance between them, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. Chelsea's eyes widen, but she doesn't push him away, but the thoughts keep circling in her mind. He pulls away briefly, panting, "I'm sorry.. that wasn't..", but Chelsea holds his hand, saying "That was.. warm."