Page 112 of My Family

Miles is weird again.

He's doing things with enthusiasm.

Usually, the only enthusiasm Miles has is for biology. Today he's working with charcoal, which is new, and his hands are black up to the wrists because he refuses to use the blending stumps and smudges everything with his fingers instead.

He doesn't seem to care about the mess.

Maybe he even likes it.

That would also be a first, because he's the least messy person I know.

When the bell sounds, everyone shuffles out except for Miles, who lingers at his station, cleaning his space. He puts every pencil back in its slot, wipes the charcoal dust from the table, even straightens the rubber duck in the still life.

I wait in the hallway because I want to see what he'll do next.

What he does next is ask Vikki if she needs help cleaning up.

Vikki's face does a thing.

I know that face.

She has a little mischievous smile on her lips.

I've made that face plenty of times.

I hurry away before Miles can see me watching.

My heart is thundering in my chest, and I don't even know if I'm imagining things.

Later, it's rec time, the time I usually spend with Ethan.

The best time of the day.

We're on his bed. He's reading, and I'm simply existing, holding him, feeling him breathe. It's one of the rare occasions when I can actually stay put.

Then I remember.

"Miles has been weird lately," I whisper.

Ethan doesn't look up. "How so?"

"He's humming at meals. And he smiled at me today."

"Maybe he's just in a good mood, baby," he says, still very interested in his book.

"He's never in a good mood. That's his whole thing. Being broody and mysterious."

Ethan closes his book and chuckles. "People change."

I scoff. "Not here they don't."

He looks at me, eyes steady.

"You did."

I feel my cheeks heating up, but I don't show it.

"I think it has something to do with Vikki."