Chapter Text
“MILES, DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT LIFE’S GONNA BE LIKE IN FIVE YEARS?”
Miles looked over, the sunlight bouncing off his bronze skin. The chatter from the rooftop was just barely audible over the music. Miles and Belladonna both went up to the water tower to watch the fireworks— and get away from the crowd.
“Five years from now? We’d be like… 15.”
“Well, where do you see yourself when you’re 15?”
“Eh… maybe… going out, doing art…”
“Oh— like the characters you were drawing? You wanna do game design stuff?”
“Maybe. Still thinking about it. What about you?”
“Mm… I wanna go to a really good high school, travel a bunch, and make a lot of new friends. I don’t wanna be tied down to one place.” Belladonna nudged Miles, motioning to the sparkling Brooklyn skyline. “There’s gotta be more out there than this.”
“I’m sure there is.”
Suddenly, a big boom shook the water tower, and colorful sparks lit up the sky.
“Oh, fireworks are starting.”
From the ground level, people could be heard yelling, “Happy Fourth of July!”, while rainbow colored flares and fire illuminated Brooklyn.
“You wanna light the sparklers?” Miles pulled out two from his hoodie pocket, while holding a match.
“Aw, yeah.”
“Alright, I’ll light yours first, and you can light mine.”
“Okay, one, two, three-“
Golden specks erupted through the air, and Belladonna giggled as the tips of their sparklers touched. It felt like they were the only people in the world.
“Miles, can you do the Disney channel logo?”
“I think.”
Finally, things started to calm down at the party. The extinguished sticks were left on the ground. Miles and Belladonna were sitting down, watching their shadows fade in and out as the fireworks continued throughout the night.
Belladonna sighed, tracing stars in the dust. “I’m gonna miss this.”
“Why? It’s not like you won’t see me again. You’re coming to my birthday party next month, anyway.”
“I know, but like… that’s a long time.”
“Yeah.” Miles looked up, pulling his knees up to his chest. “I could ask my mom if you could come over again…?”
“That’s only gonna work if my mom says ‘yes’.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because of my ‘condition’ or whatever,” she huffed, doing air quotes as she spoke, “and it’s not even that serious.”
“Oh. Are you okay…?”
“I should be fine. I just have more doctor’s appointments. Look-“ she rolled up her sleeve, showcasing all the bruises and marks from IVs. “I hate needles.”
“Me too.”
There was a small pause. Then, it was interrupted by the sound of Miles’ hand scooting closer to hers. “It can’t be all bad though. Like, you have me.”
“Yeah. You have me, too.”
“See? Plus, in five years, you won’t even be thinking about any of this stuff. We’ll both go to a good school, hang out whenever we want, and be able to go… basically wherever.”
Not once did Belladonna think that her and Miles wouldn’t be friends in five years— let alone try to kill each other.
But, that’s just how the cake was baked.