Miles sat alone at a table in the canteen nudging his food around the plate. It wasn't like he didn't like the food but he found himself not wanting to eat. Ryan had been really funny with him the last few days, hardly speaking to him. Even when he did speak his comments were sarcastic and in an acidic tone.
The more Miles thought about what he could have done to upset Ryan the more he came to the conclusion that it was because of Monday. He and Ryan had been fine up until then and the thought that such a small notion offended him was like stabbing Miles in the heart.
Over the past few weeks Miles had noticed certain things about Ryan. Miles had loved his best friend for years but he always kept it to himself, never letting on that he wish he and Ryan could be so much more than friends. He had never been able to tell if Ryan was interested but more recently Ryan would look at Miles in a certain way that made him melt. Touch him in ways that made him shiver and say things that made him groan.
Miles thought his dream might be coming true and had decided to tell Ryan today but now all hopes for that had turned to ash. His friend was disgusted with him and all those little gestures were just accidental.
Miles looked at the plate of food before him and gingerly took a bit of a lukewarm potato. It was still edible so he carried on eating his mistreated lunch. His thoughts disturbed by a group of guys talking behind him.
"I'm gonna talk to that kid, he seem pretty down." Said a deep voice.
"Dude do you know who that kid is?" Came a second.
"No but he's in my classes so he can't be that bad."
"Dave look, I know you like guys, oh don't give me that look we all can tell, but that's the Ice Prince. Your more likely to score with that big football guy than him!" The guys voice was half way between a whisper and a cry.
A tall dark haired guy slid into the seat in front of Miles. He swear he could actually here the guy friends wince.
"Hey little guy you looked a little down so I thought I could keep you company, my names David or Dave or Davey." The guy said smiling.
Miles swallowed the reset of the potato before he spoke. "I'm Miles or Miley or more recently The Ice Prince." Miles said the hurt in his tone making the other guy wince.
"Shit sorry about that. My friends can be ass holes some times." Again he smiled and it was enough to get a little smile from Miles.
"FUCK YOU DAVE, BETTER YET FUCK ICE PRINCE!" His friends shouted shattering the little piece of calm Miles was feeling. He grabbed his sketch pad and ran through the doors. Fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. Miles had no one at the moment. Ryan been disgusted with him and Amy and Chris out of town till tonight, he was alone.
Miles was half way to the little coffee shop by campus when a hand was placed firmly on his shoulder. Miles froze. "No, please no." Miles repeatedly whispered the tears that he fought back now running freely.
The hand spun Miles round. Not wishing to see the owner of the hands face. "Oh God. I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to, fuck." Miles was pulled into Dave's hug as he broke down. The initial fear was gone but that spark had opened the flood gates.
Miles didn't realise he was at the coffee shop till a glass of water and a large slab of hot fudge cake and ice cream was placed in front of him. "I'm sorry about my friends upsetting you like that." Dave said politely. "The really can be ass holes some times."
Miles took a small piece of the desert and swallowed it. The richness of it helping calm him down. "It wasn't just them. You shouldn't have touched me like that." Miles replied gently.
"They were fucking right. Sorry for disturbing you your highness." Dave began to get up.
"No it's not like that, I thought you were like the others!" Miles shouted before sinking back to his seat. He didn't realise he even stood up.
"What others?" Dave asked, one eyebrow raised in a questioning look.
"I was.." he didn't hear the rest of what Miles said.
Dave sat back down. "Sorry what?" he asked again a little annoyed at Miles' behaviour.
"I...I thought you were one of the others.. When you grabbed me I thought you were gonna try and rape me." Miles said in barely a whisper not raising his head from the food.
"That's not funny." Dave said seriously causing Miles to look up. Dave's face was a mask of disgust but when Miles' eyes met his it changed from realisation that Miles was deadly serious about what he just said. "Your not joking are you?" Dave said breathlessly. Miles shook his head in a negative. "What happened?"
"I've nearly been raped 3 times. The most recent two were guys from this college since the start of the year. The first was.. was by my dad when I was 14." Dave's mouth was open in shock at what Miles had just said. Miles went on to explain what happened and that each time Ryan and Chris had stopped it before Miles was taken.
"Your waiting for Ryan aren't you." It was a statement more than a question.
"Yeah, well no." Miles sighed. "I was till this week. It's complicated."
Dave looked at Miles confused. "What's complicated? What happened to make you stop waiting?"
"Bar that fact that he's now horrible to me and wont even look at me. I'm just gonna get hurt."
"How about we go out tonight?" Before Miles replied. "Not on a date, just to see a film. Yeah I know that sounds like a date but I mean as a friend trying to cheer up another friend kind of way and with no sexual contact or meaning behind it. I promise."
"Mm I guess that would be ok." Miles replied. He stood up "Nature calls." Miles said lightly blushing. As he walked away Dave watched the small boys perfect perky bum sway side to side. While Miles was gone he quickly sent a text to his friends. 'I'm having Ice Prince for desert tonight.' Various replies came back.
*~*~*
Ryan twirled Miles' keys in his fingers as he walked back to the room. He had said that he dropped his keys down the drain and asked if he could borrow Miles' so he could get another key cut. The real reason was so Ryan could have a key to Miles' box.
Ryan had been a bit harsh on Miles recently. Snapping at the beautiful boy or ignoring him all together. Part of him felt guilty for this but that flame of guilt was squashed by the need to find out what was in the other diary.
When Miles had asked Ryan to go to lunch with him Ryan had said no. The tone he said it in put an end to all questions. He didn't turn round to see the few tear that escaped Miles' eyes.
