Work Text:
He draws a straight line across the entire canvas of the paper, this could only be the sketch of what his present would be, but he had to be careful to correctly capture what he had been hanging around his head since this morning.
Phoenix sighed letting go of the lead pencil admiring his sketch. He smiled satisfied. He loved to draw and much more if the drawing was for Miles. The first drawing he would officially give to Miles had to be better than the ones he had secretly drawn from the boy in his sketchbook.
He had spent days wondering how it would be, what colors would he wear? What poses did he have? Miles must have been in it? Would he draw a picture of signals samurai like Larry or a completely different one?
Phoenix stretched out his body, straightening his back. He had been bending over at the desk for many hours since he got up this morning and his back was hurting. It's not as if that posture is going to affect him in the future.
He looked toward his disorganized bed, with the stirring sheets without tend and the toys pulled around the room, yesterday he promised that in the morning he would pick up the disaster he and Larry had caused but obviously did not. He got up from his seat to pick up, or that was going to do until he heard the apartment door open.
"I'm at home!" He heard. His mother had just returned from the supermarket.
Immediately he took the sketch of his drawing to take it. She loved Phoenix's drawing especially those that were fantasy animals. And Phoenix always took advantage of each one at home to show him a few drawings of the new Pokémon he had done, of course this would be the first time he would see a drawing of Miles.
Phoenix smiled to see his mother lying on the dining room chair after throwing all the bags around the table and floor.
"Mom, do you want to see my drawing?" he asked nervously, his mother was a bit picky when it came to art although he might consider this drawing, even though it was a sketch, to be one of the best he had ever made.
His mom was silent for a few seconds until she released an affirmative hiss, reaching out to Phoenix to give his the blog.
"Oh"
Phoenix looked at her and waited. The drawing was just a sketch of several others, perhaps his mother was thinking too much.
"It's a sketch, it's not finished yet". He felt the need to clarify.
"It's not a Pokémon" She stated the obvious. His mom shifted, sitting upright in the chair, looking Phoenix right in his eyes.
"N-No, it's not." To Phoenix's relief his mom wasn't frowning so the drawing could be fine, luckily for him, she was the only realistic and objective critic he could have, that his mother liking one of his drawings meant a lot.
Although he knew that there was something else that bothered him about the drawing.
"And all those hearts, Feenie, are you going to give someone that drawing?"
He let out a breath "Hearts?" He thought, remembering if she had accidentally made one or two hearts while he thought of Miles.
"Those...
"Now that I remember," she said, interrupting the boy "tomorrow is not valentine's day?" She murmured quietly, loud enough to blush Phoenix.
He wasn't thinking about valentine's day when he did the drawing, maybe a little bit about how Miles would react to seeing the drawing and that would stir his stomach, but not valentine's day. Must have done something special? Not even Larry had mentioned Feb. 14 in school week, would he have forgotten? Impossible, most likely Larry he told about valentine's day and his plans to give chocolates to some random girl he'd chosen to fall in love with that week but how could he hear Larry's rambling when, surely, Miles was beside them rambling about lawyers or anything related to the samurai series. There were obvious priorities.
By then Phoenix did not end up answering his mother because, among all that she could say, his mother did not expect "valentine's day". But for some reason his silence and his obvious shame was enough of an answer for her. This time she bows down in the chair and hands the picture to Phoenix, who takes it hastily hiding the picture on his chest, at which his mother only smiles and caresses his beaks.
"Aaaaawww my little boy one is in love" She said, and his face took on a new shade of red.
"Mum!" Phoenix insisted, moving away from his mother's touch on his hair.
It was enough, Larry and the other children bothered him enough so that his mother also joined in the ridiculous teasing towards his platonic love, at least it was not Larry who saw the hearts or he would never end his humiliation, he already imagined becoming a famous actor and that Larry came out of nowhere to tell everyone in a press that he knew him and that when he was 9 years old he had drawn a drawing with hearts on a boy, an absolutely creepy sight, he thought. Of course it's not like he has another friend to whom he can tell about his problems. It is a double-edged sword.
Without saying another word he looked at his mom again, nervous, how come he was so happy to see hearts in a drawing of his son?
"I didn't think you'd be interested in these things, even though you're old enough, I'm not surprised" She murmured, luckily for Phoenix there was little he could understand from the words that came out of the woman "And? What else were you thinking of giving him to the girl."
"...girl?"
Immediately Phoenix understood, his mother did not know that the drawing was a portrait of Miles, maybe she only saw the hearts, the samurai and thought it was a girl who liked the series. Too basic to be what his mother really thought but could it be that she was just seeing things where they weren't, at what age he was supposed to be? You should see the drawing and make sure if it really made hearts unconsciously or it would be too suspicious. He did nothing. His mom didn't know who the drawing was for, his mom didn't know the drawing was for a boy.
"I thought, it was ok with the drawing" Phoenix replied looking, this time terrified, his hands holding the drawing tightly against his chest.
"Are you kidding?" sighs his mother, frowning and raising her voice "I had hoped you were a little more romantic son, but you're just like your father, you're both fools when it comes to conquering a girl."
Her words made Phoenix choke, his mother didn't use to tell his about his father so being compared was already very strange. Phoenix did not know how to flirt... Miles, he had to make him fall in love, should he have thought? There were too many things, this morning I was just thinking about how his drawing was going to make the boy happy and now it turns out that he must worry about valentine's day. Blood again rose to his head just by imagining himself giving flowers to Edgeworth, although he was probably allergic, an idea discarded.
"But it's not..." Phoenix stammered hesitantly.
"Forget. It’s okay" His mother raised her voice preventing her from continuing, she got up from her chair in the direction of the kitchen; carrying two of the bags that she had left on the table when she arrived.
Phoenix immediately closed his mouth and watched as his mom brought out more and more kitchen utensils, molds, some candies, along with the chocolate bars that he assumed would be for the week's snack.
"Um...mom?"
"If you want to make that girl fall in love you will have to sacrifice some things, Phoenix Wright" She smiled completely ignoring the distorted face of her son.
At this point it was impossible to stop her. Phoenix knew it so he stayed silent, not trying to explain, it didn't matter what Phoenix did from now on this Valentine's Day he would make Miles some chocolates.
"My mom forced me to make some chocolates for Miles" Phoenix confessed to Larry, as the boy suddenly changed his serious face into a completely funny one.
As expected, his laughter broke out all over the classroom, everyone looked at them like weird bugs, but it seemed that Larry didn't care what others would think when it came to making fun in Phoenix's entire face. His continuous laughter reached the point of the absurd, bothering him in such a way that he felt suffocated, Miles was not in the room, he knew it, would be late today but he still had that insecurity that anything could happen if Larry didn't stop.
"Hahahahahahahehehehe..." He stopped, it seems that those 50 seconds were enough to tire him.
Phoenix snapped his tongue with blushing cheeks and away the box of chocolates from Larry's table.
He was very angry, well, angry enough for a reaction he had expected before it happened.
"Well..." He was still angry, but he was too exhausted to turn around and apply the ice law to larry, he just wanted to end his tragedy.
"Wait a minute!" Larry interrupted, scratching his nose, "I have chocolates too, right Nick?"
Phoenix rolled his eyes "Of course NOT!" He answered him, angry "are you taking this seriously?!"
"Yeah Nick, I know you like Edgy"
Wright blushed much deeper as heard him, he looking around making sure no one was spying on them, no one could know, no one but Larry could know how confused he was, sometimes he wish Larry didn't know but, despite his appearance, he was trustworthy.
"L-larry!"
The previously named could not hide the malicious smile on his lips.
"Just give it to him at the end of class". Unfortunately, it was much easier said than done "and if you don't want to give it to them just give it to me, it's no big deal."
"It is" He scolds him. Despite the context of his day making chocolates, he had a lot of fun preparing them for valentine's day and spending time with his mom.
Somehow those chocolates became special and he wanted to give them to Miles but at the same time the thought of him giving some chocolates to Miles on valentine's day made him tense. Yes, he could give it to someone else but didn't feel good, it wasn't a gift he could give to anyone. It wasn't just the chocolates, it was the day he was supposed to give it to him, the day when the teachers would force everyone to make 30 letters for the 30 students so they wouldn't feel bad, but then there were those gifts from the lovers those 31 letters that you might happen to receive.
Phoenix never received a gift that day in addition to the 30 letters; his gift bag was never more than 30 letters, which discouraged him a little when he saw Larry's bag that used to be filled with letters from other girls in other salons. Miles also seemed to be one of the lucky ones, he hadn't even attended the morning class and his bag was full to overflowing and some of the heart-shaped boxes and letters had to be placed on his empty table until a few minutes ago.
He could give it to him the day after valentine's day, it wasn't that bad and it wouldn't be the end of the world either but his mom was so intense that she would most likely go through his bag as soon as he got home, because that was another problem his mom had taken the day off from work.
"I told you I can't just eat them or give them to you."
"Yes you can, you're just too dork" was Larry’s curt reply "if you think it's better, give it to some girl you like, Tutti likes u"
"Tutti"
For a moment Phoenix wondered if there was even a chance that someone was interested in him after the school trial. He frowned in denial at the chestnut's pathetic gallant smile, but he still turned to the tables by the entrance to the classroom, Tutti was sitting at her desk along with some children playing cards, according to Larry, she was madly in love with him but Phoenix knew that that was impossible, that a girl does not return the pencil you lent her does not mean that she is in love with you. Later he would worry about it.
Turning to Larry, Phoenix shook his head though, this time, he seemed not to be surprised.
"So what?"
"I want to give them to Miles" He replied.
"It was obvious"
His tone was annoyed but Phoenix didn't care much, unlike Larry, he couldn't yell at everyone that he liked Miles so the brunette had to put up with his anxiety at least until it drained enough.
They sighed completely finished, it is so difficult to be nine years old, on the one hand they are not old enough but they were not so ignorant as to expose themselves to everyone. Phoenix had told himself multiple times "just give him the chocolates, without any hidden intention, he will not overthink it", of course he would think too much and ask questions, edgeworth was not like larry what was good but also bad, if phoenix gave larry chocolates he wouldn't think about it and would eat them with everything and wrapping.
Suddenly, all those who had been sitting at their tables talking ran into the corridor, the girls and boys leaning out of the windows and doors cheering:
"Tiffany! Tiffany! Tiffany!"
Neither of them reacted in time to the commotion, remaining static in their seats listening to the screams of Tiffany's group of friends and behind them all their other classmates. Larry gives Phoenix a mischievous smile and leaps from his seat to the window overlooking the aisle.
For a moment Phoenix just watched as little by little the girls' screams attracted boys from other classrooms, he didn't know whether or not he should get up to watch. He was too busy with his chocolate problem to be aware of the gossip in the classroom, much less if it was about Tiffany. It didn't seem to be important anyway as Larry hadn't forced him to watch with him.
Strange.
Phoenix looked up at Larry curiously, it was strange, Larry would normally drag him away so he wouldn't miss the fuss although for the most part he was the center of attention for the chaos. Phoenix looked intently at the back of his neck trying to get the younger boy to feel the weight of his gaze and he did, Larry turned slightly towards Phoenix and at the sight of him stuck his tongue out bringing his hand to the back of his neck then quickly turned away. Something was definitely going on and Larry didn't want to tell him.
He wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed that all the classrooms were excited enough not to care that their screaming was attracting adults. Grabbing the box of chocolates, Phoenix decided to walk over to the window in the hallway next to Larry. Freezing at the sight of what had attracted so many people.
For a moment Phoenix was unable to hear anything. He watched in awe as Tiffany held behind her sword a pink heart shaped box, an origami flower and a letter and in front of her the one person Phoenix would really ache to be given those things. Luckily from where Edgeworth lay it was impossible for him to see the details Tiffany had brought him but it was too much in plain sight for everyone watching from their classrooms. That was what his mom was referring to. Things to make him fall in love with.
"Tiffany wants to tell you something, Edgeworth." Hissed one of Tiffany's friends, a wave of murmurs followed.
Phoenix looked at the girl without reacting, biting his lip holding back tears, he couldn't get like this all the time, but he couldn't hold back the jealousy either, and the uncertainty was building up. That made him feel helpless, Phoenix held his box with both hands unconsciously letting out a small snort "I should be her" he thought stupidly. After all Tiffany was a girl and that gave him an advantage. He squeezed the box he and his mom had bought and decorated for Miles much tighter.
"I-I..."
Immediately Phoenix raised his head towards Miles. Edgeworth was looking everywhere without even stopping at Tiffany clearly not understanding what was going on, his fist was holding his briefcase tightly and, oh no, his free hand was squeezing his elbow tightly crumpling his suit. Phoenix thought he was acting like a fool, worrying about his feelings when obviously Miles was not at all comfortable with social pressure let alone this kind of awkward but everyday situation.
Without much thought, Phoenix jumped out of the window frame eliciting screams of terror from the other girls and concerned laughter from Larry. Phoenix walked past Tiffany and her group of friends, oblivious to their snorts and criticisms, leaving them behind.
"Wrights!" Miles sighed in surprise, looking into Phoenix's darkened eyes. That cold look was unusual, he knew something was up, preferring to keep quiet.
Leaning down, Phoenix takes Miles's hand and without saying a word or turning to the other spectators decides to walk in the opposite direction to his classroom. Phoenix wasn't brave enough to face so many people without bursting into tears, holding Edgeworth's hand was too much to speak to an entire audience, plus her hands were unpleasantly sweaty.
Fortunately his escape was so simple that it left everyone frozen. Even Tiffany and her friends who looked at him in confusion without having time to intervene with Phoenix.
"What happened?"
"This wasn't a confession?"
"Who is that guy?"
"Why did he take him?"
"Is he in love with the girl?"
They all spoke.
"The bride and groom have arrived" Said a reddish-haired boy cheekily.
"You're an idiot!" Larry shouted and they both lashed out at each other in their classrooms. Attracting some of the attention to themselves.
Miles stopped by tightening his grip on Phoenix's hand forcing him to stop walking.
"I think we're far enough away" He said trying to get Wright's attention.
Immediately, Phoenix realized that his escape had gotten him all the way to the park, they weren't even inside the school grounds, how did he let himself get so far away? His facade of indifference cracked.
"Y-Yeah, sorry" Phoenix replied, quickly pulling his hands away once he remembered how sweaty they must have been.
Now he felt completely dizzy and his heart wouldn't stop pounding. He had made it as far as the park next to the school, his need to get Miles away from those girls had sent him down two flights of stairs, past the lunchroom, to the entrance and out of the school without further ado. He was too impulsive.
Then Phoenix sees his hands, they were red because of all the time he had been holding the hand of Miles, and what to say about the sweat, he tried to dry both hands by passing them through his pants.
"That was sudden, I didn't think it would matter to so many people" Miles replied, still holding his elbow.
At Edgeworth's words, Phoenix's eyes widened in surprise and for a moment he felt his hands become sweaty again. Everyone saw us. Phoenix felt so embarrassed he would rather die than have to go back to the classroom to get his bag; he would have to count on Larry being perceptive enough to also take his backpack at dismissal time.
All because of Tiffany's friends, Phoenix thought, Tiffany for the most part was quiet and would never dare make that kind of scene. However, as practically the whole room found out about her little crush on Edgeworth; the group of girls who wore makeup and had piercings started spending more time with her with the sole motive of playing cupid. A clear annoyance for Miles and obviously for Phoenix as he was the one who constantly ruined the girls' plans to the point of absurdity. If they were annoying before, now they would be even more so because of the iconic valentine's day failure.
"You know how Tiffany's friends are, they don't know how heavy they are" Phoenix blurted out almost as if he was convincing himself.
"I know" Miles replied looking at his shoes. "They annoy me," he added.
"They're not going to leave you alone until you're their boyfriend" Phoenix replied with an annoyed tone hiding the craving it gave him.
Miles frowned, maybe Larry had gotten annoyed with Phoenix's indecision but, also, he was beginning to suspect that Miles got annoyed every time he brought the situation with Tiffany into the conversation.
"I don't like her, I don't like any of them" Miles spat, being blunt, almost as if Phoenix had already asked him the same question before.
Phoenix smirked and replied "I know."
That made him feel much more relieved. Miles would never be interested in a girl who wore glasses or makeup, none of the girls who went out of their way to write him letters or make him chocolates were going to reciprocate. It was something both Phoenix and Larry knew, Edgeworth's only crush was law books, and even if that was the case, knowing that none of those girls had a chance with him made him sincerely happy.
"Do you plan to return?" Phoenix asked in a low voice almost out of obligation, Edgeworth would never miss a class, he was so nerdy that on the day of the school trial he complained to the teacher for suspending classes.
"Skipping classes is not an option" he answered seriously "not for me."
Phoenix looked up at his school, luckily there wasn't a window that looked out onto the park, then he looked back at Miles and smiled.
"I think... I'm not going, I'm not going back with those piranhas."
Miles chuckled at the nickname and it made Phoenix blush, reciprocating with a bigger smile.
"It's not like we're Larry either" He added, knowing that obviously the innuendo would make Miles laugh again.
Miles let out a short laugh, blushing immediately as he couldn't hold in the laughter. Looking at him, Phoenix just smiles, feeling his stomach flutter at seeing him so embarrassed.
"stop!" Miles taps him on the shoulder.
Phoenix smiles in response "Besides there's only half an hour left of school we won't miss anything, it's a holiday."
"That thought is very Larry" Miles admitted, thinking of all the times Larry had skipped school "He's in school now, that means we're the bad influence."
Phoenix widened his eyes in amusement "Wow wow that's too cruel!"
They both laugh, Miles didn't usually joke about anything but for some reason he had a lot of fun when it came to Larry regardless of whether he was there or not, Phoenix thought maybe he viewed Larry as a monkey. Luckily that didn't seem to bother Larry, and the teasing never went to an excessive extreme.
Phoenix stopped laughing and went to the swings hopping around, looking to Miles to join him on the swing as well but Miles didn't move. He looked at him expectantly waiting for Edgeworth to decide whether to go to school or accompany him to the swing, there was no answer, after a few seconds in which each foot pointed to a different place, Miles resigned himself, sitting down next to Phoenix avoiding the triumphant smile of boy.
"I suspect the great Miles Edgeworth just wants to go to class to see how many crushes left him chocolates this time" Phoenix said forcing himself to laugh.
Miles just rocked his swing facing away from Phoenix. This angered him, he backed up to the edge of the swing and then jumped off, causing him to tilt much faster, propelling the swing with the swinging of his legs, being lifted into the air.
"And take all those chocolates home to eat while you read those cheesy letters" Phoenix continued, watching out of the corner of his eye as Miles' ears turned red.
"No way!" He yelled, grabbing the chain from Phoenix's swing, losing his balance a little at the speed of his opponent.
"Now it turns out that Miles is a glutton" Phoenix said with a mocking tone approaching Miles's face carelessly.
Miles quickly denies, releasing his grip on Phoenix's chain, pulling the boy away from his face.
"I knew it" Phoenix mocked absorbed in Miles's emotions "Your dad said you could skip today but you insisted on coming."
Phoenix watched as Miles' soft blush changed to an increasingly intense one, disadvantages of being pale, but he still looked cute even if his face was that of a swollen tomato.
"I knew it! You're a secret fan of sweets hahaha!"
Miles glared at him. To which Phoenix clearly understood that he had gone too far with the jokes.
"If I am then why are you the one who goes around with a box of chocolates in your hand?" He yelled at the top of his lungs, pointing to the box that Phoenix had brought with him since they left school.
"They're not for me" Phoenix replied aloud, frowning.
After thinking about it, Phoenix gives him a red box with several red samurai sign decals on its cover.
"I... I made you some chocolates for Valentine's Day, well, my mum was the one with the idea but I helped her" He replied in a low voice but enough for Miles to hear.
Miles didn't respond, flipping through the box and brushing his fingers over each of the glittery stickers. They stayed like that for a moment until Miles turned around, eyes flashing.
"Chocolates made by Phoenix" his lips curling upward.
"Don't you like it?"
Miles snorted and nodded slightly. Of course he'd loved it, any gift from Phoenix was special. But he didn't say anything about it and wouldn't say it in the future.
"Thank you Phoenix" He replied immediately "and Larry's, have you given it to him yet?"
In response to that, Phoenix just chuckled.
Miles felt stupid, why did he ask about Larry? What did Larry have to do with it?
"N-No..." Phoenix immediately shut up, was he stupid? He was going to tell that those chocolates were especially for Miles. "You bet, Larry has his own chocolates."
Miles nods, opening the little box, finding a pile of chocolates, some a little misshapen. Miles looks at Phoenix in surprise and then at the box, wondering "how had he been able to close the box before?"
"I know they're not perfect" Phoenix said, seeing his astonished face.
Miles looked at him open-mouthed but wordlessly, looking away from Phoenix and back at the chocolates. Phoenix looked at him nervously, letting Edgeworth take one of the filled chocolates and pop it in his mouth. It was the first time they had tasted his sweets, besides himself and his mum, they tried to give a taste of their creation to the neighbour but the presentation was so awful that the poor woman was sure to spit it out as soon as they left her door. So it was natural for her to worry about Miles' palate.
"It’s absolutely splendid!" Edgeworth hissed taking another bonbon and making a little ball on his cheeks, Phoenix could have died of love at that very moment.
"You really like sweets" he blurted out, enjoying how Miles's cheeks returned to that intense red from before, he looked like a tomato again. "I'm glad they taste good"
"Only a fool would ruin a few chocolates" Miles critical with a warmth in his eyes, fortunately he didn't know Phoenix's neighbours or, in this case, his test subjects.
"I drew you a drawing too" He said, blurting out the words easily without a second thought.
"A drawing" repeated Miles in surprise "Can I see it? You want me to see it?"
"See what?"
"The drawing"
"What drawing?"
It’s a catastrophe, Phoenix thought. He had let himself go, after so much he still looked like a lovesick fool in front of Miles. However, to his good fortune, the unretouched drawing (without erasing the hearts) was in his backpack and his backpack was in the classroom, now what he wished most was that Larry didn't show up or not with his backpack.
"It's at my house, l-later I'll give it to you heheh."
Extra scene
Phoenix hurries through the door frame of his house, trying to make as little noise as possible as he crosses the hallway to his room. He had used the two days after Valentine's Day to improve Miles' drawing, but once he had it done he forgot to put it in his backpack, so there he was looking for the drawing in his room trying to make sure his mom didn't notice he had arrived or that Miles and Larry were outside the house.
Either way, he just had to get to his desk, grab the drawing and leave, avoiding his mom and Miles seeing each other at all costs, it was too much having to lie to his mom when he got home that day and also having to make a description of a female version of Edgeworth. He had to completely prevent them from meeting.
Phoenix hadn't noticed but once it was his turn to turn back. He was trapped behind his mother, who apparently did notice that Phoenix had come home, but not only that, she also knew that his friends were outside. Larry was outside with a nervous smile on his face as he watched Phoenix in the door frame, waving, pointing at his mum and Miles while making "Dead Man" faces.
Obviously Larry's face made his mom turn to look at her son. Phoenix bit her lip and looked away, the tips of her ears slightly reddened.
"Honey, why didn't you tell me you invited your friends to the house? If you had warned me I would have made them lunch." his mother said with a half smile.
"I'm hungry!" Larry said after a few moments, to which, of course, Phoenix shushed him
Eh... No mom, it's just that they were walking me home but they have to go now," he replied shaking his head. Miles raised an eyebrow when he said that and Larry silently made horrified expressions as if to say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT".
"Do not exaggerate, Larry and your new friend can stay about two more hours, right?"
Phoenix rolled his eyes past his mother until he was outside with both boys, stretching his hands out to reach each of their shoulders practically pushing Larry and Miles to run away.
"They must go home! Yes! Maybe another day" Phoenix insisted.
His mom looked at him with a frown, she knew Phoenix was hiding something but didn't know exactly what it could be, unmotivated she let Phoenix have his secrets by stopping his questions.
"Okay, I won't stop them anymore" he replied "Goodbye Larry"
"Bye Mrs. Wright" Larry shouted jumping up and down in amusement, giving Phoenix little taps and chuckling under his breath.
The trio resumed their walk to the elevator. Without turning back, from afar they could feel Phoenix's mother's piercing gaze on them, pressed down.
"Ah" moaned his mom as if she had remembered something "and nice to meet you...boy..."
She was silent for a few seconds trying to remember the name. Miles turned, dismayed, to which she tilted her head and gave him a subtle glance. She had forgotten the name of Phoenix's new friend.
"Miles Edgeworth" He said in response, as he released his grip on Phoenix to take a few steps back towards Mrs. Wright "and before I go, I wanted to thank you for the chocolates! They were delicious, I loved them."
Miles seemed quite animated, as if he had been waiting a long time to thank Phoenix's mother for the bonbon.
"Well, see ya"
She opened her mouth and then closed it again. Phoenix looked at her in terror, shifting his gaze from Miles to his mom and back again. He managed to laugh nonchalantly, avoiding his mom's gaze at all costs, taking Miles by the hand and running toward the stairs with Larry following them. Miles, who was oblivious to the situation he had just caused, just let himself be carried away by Phoenix, he glanced at Wright's sheet of paper.
"Shit" Larry blurted suddenly as quietly as he could. And for the first time in his life Phoenix agreed with him.
"Shit."