Milo lays down on his bed as he throws a small handball up towards the air. The small radio on his desk is playing Top 40 pop hits in which Milo sucks his teeth and turns it off. Suddenly, the door opens in which his mom, Eloise, walks in.
Eloise: Milo–
Milo quickly gets up from the bed, hoping his mom didn’t see his sneakers on the bed.
Milo: God, mom; ever heard of knocking before entering?
Eloise: Well, I have to enter your room to get to the other room with the luggage bags in it.
Eloise walks cross the room and opens the spare room in the back. Milo sighs, watching his mom intrude his space.
Milo: You and dad are going on another trip?
Eloise: We have to go to Chicago for an important conference coming up…
Milo: *underneath his breath* Of course.
Milo gets up from his bed and helps his mother take out the big luggage bags. Once the bags are out, Milo walks back to his bed.
Eloise: Remember to pack an overnight bag to bring to Jennifer’s house–
Milo: *annoyed* Why can’t I just stay here? I’m old enough to stay home alone.
Eloise: Absolutely not, your father would have a fit–
Milo: Of course he does, he doesn’t trust anything or anyone.
Eloise stops what she’s doing; she turns around to face Milo.
Eloise: You know how your father is. This is nothing new to you; besides, it’s not like we’re sending you to stay with some witch or something.
Milo rolls her eyes and scoffs; they are sending him to stay with a witch, and her name is Jennifer.
Milo: Whatever, mom; clearly you don’t trust me being on my own even though I’m almost 16…
Eloise: *corrects* 10 months is considered being ‘almost 16’?
Milo doesn’t answer; Eloise sighs as she drags the luggage bags across Milo’s room.
Eloise: Just do what we’re telling you to do, please. You never had an issue staying with Jennifer and her family.
Milo: I just feel like I’m old enough to stay home by myself–
Eloise: *annoyed* Well, you’re not; pack a bag when you get the chance, please.
Eloise exits Milo’s room with the luggage bags. Milo falls back onto his bed, letting out the biggest, most audible sigh.
…
It’s the next day, a school day, and the hallways are full of students going to their next class before the bell rings. Milo walks alone through the hallway, messaging Jennifer via AIM. She still hasn’t answered his messages.
xXmilomusicXx: Dude, where the hell are you? You haven't even changed your status since wednesday...
Without him looking, he bumps his head on an opened locker door. He holds his head in pain, in which the person behind the locker door closes it. To Milo’s surprise, it’s Gwen.
Gwen: Oh my god, I am so sorry–
Milo: No, no; you didn’t do anything wrong…
Milo looks up at Gwen as she has his hand on his head. Milo’s face gets hot and red. Gwen pulls her hand away from him.
Gwen: Sorry…
Milo: Stop apologizing.
Gwen looks up at Milo before trying to walk past him. He turns around.
Milo: Wait, Gwen–
Gwen: I have a class to get to–
Milo: Gwen, just stop.
Gwen stops short, causing Milo to slightly bump into her. She doesn’t turn around so Milo is forced to walk in front of her to finally have a chance to talk to her.
Milo: I’ve been meaning to talk to you.
Gwen: It can wait for another day–
Milo: No, it can’t–
Gwen: Right now isn’t the time to just–
Milo: Gwen, can you just hear me out?
Gwen sighs.
Gwen: *dismissive* About what?
Milo: About what happened the other day in the rehearsal room, and don’t say nothing happened because if nothing did happen, you wouldn’t avoid talking about it like you are.
Gwen: *defensive* I’m not avoiding anything–
Milo: Gwen.
Gwen: There’s nothing to talk about, so won’t you just drop it–
Before Gwen can leave, Milo grabs her by the hand. It initially surprises her. She looks down at her hand and then back at Milo, still holding onto it.
Milo: You know you can talk to me about anything, right?
Gwen doesn’t say anything at first; she seems unsure.
Milo: You know you can talk to me about anything.
The bell rings, which triggers Gwen to yank her hand out of Milo’s and continues to walk down the hall. Milo follows.
Milo: Gwen, wait!
Gwen: I’m going to be late for class–
Milo: We’re both going to the same class–
Once Gwen gets to the front of the classroom, she notices a substitute teacher sitting at the desk. Before Gwen can walk inside, Milo pushes her out of sight’s way. Gwen is taken aback.
Gwen: What are you–
Milo: Let’s get out of here.
Gwen looks at Milo worringly.
Gwen: Where can we possibly go? We have class right now–
Milo: Listen to me, Gwen.
Milo has Gwen’s shoulders in both of his hands. Gwen looks at Milo with a frightened look on her face.
Milo: This is our last class, and we have Mr. Drunlap as our sub. He’s not gonna take attendance, and you’re not gonna miss anything out in class. Let’s just go before the last bell rings.
Gwen: But that would be cutting school–
The last bell rings, which makes Milo grab a hold of Gwen’s hand and runs to the end of the hall. Gwen tries to fight Milo along the way, but once Milo opens the side door of the school, he slips Gwen out before anyone can catch them. The two teens begin running down the block, as far away from the school as possible.
They finally reached the corner, stopping before the traffic light turns green.
Gwen: Are you out of your mind, Milo?!
Milo smiles’ he’s amused. This frustrates Gwen.
Gwen: There’s nothing funny about this situation! I can’t believe you just made me cut a class!
Milo: Gwen–
Milo tries to calm down Gwen and refocuses her.
Milo: Do you trust me?
Gwen doesn’t answer Milo. She stands here and stares at him intently. Milo does the same.
Milo: Because I trust you to the moon and back, Gwen.
Gwen loosens up her body a bit, taking a deep breath before letting it out.
Milo: I will make sure you are home at the right time, as you do everyday.
Gwen: But–
Milo: Gwen.
Gwen sighs; she knows it’s a losing battle with Milo.
Gwen: Fine. What are we supposed to do now?
Milo: *smiles* Anything we want to do. Let’s go!
Milo grabs Gwen by the hand once more, running across the street when the traffic light turns red.
Letters From Liz. 