We Lit Up Like Fireworks

Miles stared at Kenzie, as I had worked out who the mysterious boy was, as he fiddled with Toot's foot dubiously. Kenzie bit his plump lip as he furrowed his brow, picking up a tapered needle between his thumb and forefinger, narrowing his eyes to slits as he fed the needle a length of black string through the tiny eyehole. Miles barely blinked; he just stared, and stared, and stared at Kenzie who then stabbed the needle into Toot's severed foot, making Miles gasp audibly.

"N-No! Don't hurt Toot!" Miles yelled, rushing out of my arms and into Kenzie, whose eyes widened in shock before hissing in pain, the needle in his finger dropping onto the table, followed by a drop of dark, red blood. Miles froze, his hands trembling as he held Toot who was half surgically fixed with watery eyes, staring at Kenzie's thumb, the bead of blood pooling on his flesh. Kenzie sighed before sticking his finger in his mouth like a child, his tongue swirling around his finger as I swallowed deeply, unsure of what to do.

I heard Miles sniffle, but before I could comfort him Kenzie had already gotten onto the task of appeasing my son, who was moments away from flooding the house with his salty tears.

"Hey," Kenzie said softly in that intoxicating voice, his eyes softening as he held out his thumb for Miles to inspect it. "See? No more blood."

"But... but..." Miles blubbered, making Kenzie laugh, ruffling Miles' soft angel hair before frowning again, his eyes casting down onto the stuffed bear named Toot Miles was cradling to his chest.

"I'm okay, Miles. But Toot is not. Now, he'll be alright. This doesn't hurt at all, and you want him to be better, right?" Kenzie said, holding out his hand for Toot as Miles' eyes shone brightly, his little head bobbing up and down enthusiastically. Miles looked down at his precious friend, before handing him tenderly over to Kenzie, who stroked Toot's matted fur before placing him back onto the 'operating table', also known as the kitchen bench.

I just sat there on a bar stool transfixed, and much like Miles, I couldn't take my eyes off Kenzie. He was the definition of beautiful; dark, silky hair that swooped across his forehead in glossy strands, the back slightly curling around the base of his neck. Occasionally he would jerk his head to the side, his fringe sweeping out of his glimmering hazel eyes that were transfixed on Toot's tattered ligament, barely blinking those dark lashes that framed his mesmerising orbs. He had snake bites, and there was just something to delicious about those two silver studs that he so often nibbled on, his tongue running across his plush lips, coating them with a glossy sheen.

"Finished!" Kenzie then exclaimed, holding Toot up in his hands up against the light that hung limply from the ceiling, reminding me of the scene in the Lion King when Simba was being held up by the baboon. Kenzie smiled as he handed Miles the stuffed toy, but what surprised me the most was that Miles... Miles hugged Kenzie. Miles wasn't an overly affectionate boy, the only people he even talks to being me and Nikki. He didn't even talk to Vic, nor did he make the effort to- but for him to have hugged Kenzie, a boy he had met only half and hour ago, was something so out of this world that I couldn't help but stand up, startling both Miles and Kenzie.

"U-Uhm, Kenzie, do you mind looking after him for a bit? I need to, um, have a shower," I said awkwardly, my cheeks heating up a little as Kenzie smiled, nodding before picking Miles up in his lightly muscled arms, snuggling him to his side, causing the little boy to giggle uncontrollably. Before Kenzie or Miles could say anything, I bustled upstairs into the bathroom, slamming the door shut before leaning against the counter surrounding the basin. I jerked the metal handle of the tap, cold water spurting out into the ceramic bowl as I closed my eyes, splashing my face with the icy water to try and clear my flaming head.

"What's wrong with me?" I gasped, blinking as drops of water slid down my red cheeks, lingering at the bottom of my chin before plopping down into the basin down the drain. It was Kenzie. Kenzie was doing this... this... whatever this was. Just looking at him made something inside me burst, like fireworks in the night. The first time I saw him I couldn't breathe, the words knocked out of me when he smiled. And when he interacted with Miles, I couldn't help but love the sight so much it made me feel sick.

Kenzie had done something. He had infected me with his brand of cocaine, and I was already addicted.

I then tore my eyes off my slightly dishevelled appearance in the mirror, pulling off my clothes before showering hastily, barely stopping to marvel in the boiling heat of the shower. I rushed so I could see Kenzie again, to be by his side, to see that adorable smile when shone whenever he found something funny.

I changed into a pair of loose sweatpants, hanging them low off my hips and a comfortable T-shirt after stepping out of the shower and towel-drying myself. I blow-dried my hair so it wouldn't become a hindrance and slowly walked downstairs, sucking in a deep breath before making my way into the lounge room, where Kenzie was holding Miles in a gentle grasp, Miles' head tucked under Kenzie's chin as he gurgled in his sleep. Kenzie smiled softly at me, one finger poised in front of his full lips as his voice uttered a low "Shh." I nodded as Kenzie raised himself off the couch, making his way over to me.

"Do you want me to put him to bed?" he asked me, gazing into my eyes through a film of long, dark lashes that blinked as I gathered my thoughts.

"Yeah. His room's the first one on the left. And he hates his blanket, so don't put it up any further than his hips," I said, and Kenzie chuckled before walking upstairs, cooing to Miles who had started grumpily waking up. I watched them disappear into Miles' bedroom, and soon enough Kenzie came back out, stretching his limbs before walking to the coat hanger at the front of my house, grabbing his coat.

"Are you cold?" I asked, frowning. "I can turn the heating up if you want."

"Hmm? Oh, I thought I was done, since Miles is, um, asleep and all," Kenzie said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes met the ground before trailing back up to me, a small gleam in his eyes. His eyes held a glimmer of knowing, and a smile played at the corners of his mouth as he hung his coat back up onto the hook, turning to me as he smirked. "But I can stay, if you're lonely."

"I'm not lo-"

"You are," he interjected, stepping forward. "Miles told me. He hates seeing you upset when you see his mum and her boyfriend and he doesn't want to see you get hurt. Your son is an amazing boy, Jay."

Kenzie then pulled me into a hug, even though I was slightly taller and wider than him. His arms wrapped around my waist as his head nuzzled my neck, his breath fanning over my skin. My hands instinctively landed on his back, my fingers tracing his shoulder blades and spin, coming to rest at his lower back millimetres above his belt.

"I don't want to see you hurt either," he then whispered, and I felt him smile against my neck as he pulled away.

"Kenzie..."

"I know," he said, smiling sadly. "We'll make it work."

And I realised why Miles had been so picky before he met Kenzie- Miles just knew that Kenzie was the one for me.