Fireworks [A Milo Manheim Short Story]

Talk to Me

Seeing her ignore his call in person hurt a lot. Probably more than her ignoring all his calls and texts that entire week.

Her eyes looked at him warily, a frown etching against her beautiful face instantly filling him with regret and anger. She wasn't looking at him like she use to.
"Sage.." Milo tried calling her name again, slowly stepping towards her as if he was trying to show her he wasn't coming to hurt her even more.
"B-baby please can we talk?"
"Milo I'm not yours anymore." He lost his footing for a second not expecting her to throw that verbal punch. She turned towards the coffee shop as if she was about to side step him but he quickly blocked her.
"Sage please you have it all wrong I swear!" He didn't think she would turn him down. She was always so willing to talk and hear him out. Her coldness towards him had panic spreading through him. What if he really couldn't fix this?
"Y-you have to hear me out! We can get a coffee and I promise I'll tell you everything." Milo was practically begging, trying his hardest to keep his voice quiet and his eyes from watering. The last thing he needed to do was cause a scene on her campus.

"M-Milo I'm.. I have plans at the cafe I—I can't do this right now!" Her voice trembled. He was confusing the shit out of her. He looked so guilty and as much as she wanted to believe there was some innocent answer to all of this. She didn't want to be some naive girl that just falls for his shit again.

"Woahh.." Lee's voice interjected walking up and seeing his best friend and her ex who was definitely on his shit list right now. "I'm fine.." Sage mumbled as Lee put his arm around her, staring daggers towards Milo.
"Right.. look whatever's happening here is over." Lee said as he started to guide Sage away from Milo and toward the cafe.
"If she wanted to talk to you she would asshole." Milo took a step back as Lee brushed passed him. He felt gutted. Even her friends hated him.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but watching as Sage made her way into the cafe. Even after the doors closed and she was no longer in sight he stood there unsure what to do next. His cheeks felt hot and it was literally taking everything not to let the tears shed. Crying meant it was over.. that he lost her and they were done. They couldn't be done..

He turned away from the cafe realizing he needed to figure out another way to talk to her. Tugging his back pack strap against his shoulder he was about to take off but of course he had to run into him.

"Ambushing her on campus didn't work out did it?" Noah shook his head in disbelief, this kid was something else. He straightened up ready to tell off Sages ex. He'd protect her just like he would his little sister. They were friends and he really didn't like how this kid was treating her.

However as he opened his mouth to stay something else that's when he really looked at Milo. It dawned on him then that the kid looked like a wreck. He was usually always dressed up in designer labels and his hair looked like it had a million products in it. Right now though, his hair hung over his forehead. He was wearing some sweats and a hoodie, his eyes red. Like he hadn't slept or showered all week.
"...have you been eating?" Milo sucked in a breath, not expecting Noah's question. He had been mentally preparing himself to be ripped a new one.
"No.." A lie was on the tip of his tongue but as he looked up at the older guy he couldn't help but be honest. He didn't want to seem weak especially not in front of him.
"Fuck dude.. that bad?" Noah ran a hand through his hair. He felt bad for Milo, obviously not handling the break up well. He had been there done that, remembering the last time he was in love with someone to feel it hurt that deep. No one ever expected the tall jock to ever be so sympathetic but having two younger siblings and making his own fair share of mistakes, he couldn't help but feel for the guy.

"..um totally up to you but there's a brewery across the street. Has pretty good burgers..if you wanted to maybe talk?" Milo felt his jaw drop, this was the last thing he was expecting from the last person he ever wanted to see.
"I—you—-...what?" Noah laughed as Milo genuinely fumbled with his words.
"Come on, first rounds on me."

...

Milo hiccuped, groaning as he leaned on Noah for support. Noah apparently didn't think Milo's tolerance was this low but not eating for a week and taking a few rounds of shots could do that to you.
"I feel like part of this is my fault.." Noah laughed as Milo only flipped him off. His eyes fell on a sign as they continued to walk down the hall.
"Wait where are we going?"

"I'm helping you.. just like don't puke on her."

Noah knocked on the door, luckily he was smart enough to tell Kat and Lee to meet him at his dorm. Leaving Sage alone.
After getting Milo drunk enough to let his guard completely down and open up about what went down. Noah realized there had been a lot of miscommunication and just kind of decided he should give the young couple a opportunity to talk. Kat was definitely rubbing off on him lately.

"Wha..." Sage a loss for words as she answered the door. She half expected it to be Kat forgetting something but never did she ever think she would see this.
"So I'm all for supporting whatever decisions you make .. but I really think this dumbass deserves to say his peace.." Noah grunted as he gave Milo a shove into the dorm. Milo stumbled before thankfully catching himself on the wall near the door.
"You might need to help him sober up though first. Alright you kids have fun!"

"What the fuck.." Sage continued standing there in her pjs with the door open. Staring at the taller teen who was holding his head leaning on the wall inside her dorm.

"I-I'm sorry I .. I didn't know he was.." Milo groaned as his hiccups kept interrupting his slight slurred speech. Sage bit her lip to contain her laugh, her eyes truly taking him in for the first time that day. His cheeks were flushed, clearly embarrassed of what was happening. His hair unkept and his eyes... she swallowed the lump in her throat. His eyes looked so sad, so so fucking sad.
Noah of all people wanted her to hear Milo out.. this had to be something that was worth listening to.

"It's.. it's okay. Um let's make you some coffee? Maybe some pancakes.." Milo shook his head eagerly dying for something to help sober him. He needed all the help he could get. "Then um maybe we can talk.." Sage froze suddenly as his familiar warmth engulfed her. He was hugging her like she just gave him a lifeline. His body shook as he swallowed a sob.
"T-thank..you."

.....

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I am writing the next update right now, just didn't wanna post the next part in this update. I like how this story is broken up in bits