"Woo! We are winners!" Flash is shouting in his ear, but Miles can barely concentrate as Liz Allan is handed the trophy for their team. The boy next to him has his arm around Miles's shoulders and Betty Bryant is on his other side, cheering as well. A smile was wide on his face as he turned to the gleeful boy beside him. If he were a little bit more selfish he could have kissed him, but he held back. The last thing he wanted to do was spoil their moment because victory was too sweet. Even though Peter had abandoned them and Beth had seemed distracted the entire day, they pulled through and that was all that mattered.

Liz was laughing as the team pulled together for a group hug. Miles loved being enveloped in the warmth and he knew that problems with Flash and Claudia aside, he couldn't give up this team for the world. He couldn't believe he ever even entertained the idea of quitting, he couldn't fathom it. Not when it made him this happy. Part of his happiness, he was inclined to admit, was thanks to the boy next to him, squeezing his hand affectionately under the cover of the group hug and team huddle they couldn't escape from. Even though it was hidden, Miles knew that Flash was trying. That was all that mattered.

"Okay, okay, team!" Mr. Harrington had a bright smile on his face as he tried to lead his team out of the convention center without them getting lost in the crowd of spectators and students alike. "No crazy afterparty, but I do have a fun day planned for us! I honestly planned it as a consolation prize, but now we get to do the... same exact things I had planned, but as winners! Woo!"

Miles laughed, just enjoying the manic energy of everyone's post-win jitters. It really wasn't something they expected to pull off, even with Midtown being one of the best schools in New York -- they had left their home territory and persevered as they went against the best of the best which made it all the more gratifying when they actually pulled through. His cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, but he didn't even care. He playfully slung his arm around Flash's shoulders, ruffling his hair in a way to anyone else would look like something one would call a 'bromance,' but to them, it meant so much more. As long as they knew that, that would be all that mattered.

They loaded back onto the bus that was waiting for them and Miles was released to sit down, this time towards the front with Flash by his side. If anyone questioned why they were suddenly friends again, no one voiced it, which Miles was perfectly fine with. All that mattered was the boy next to him and he was glad he could finally admit that, even if everything wasn't completely fixed between them, it was a start. Mr. Harrington began to discuss their plans for the rest of the day, but he tuned out as his gaze fell to the boy next to him. Flash's hand was resting on the bus seat between them and with a careful breath, Miles dropped his hand beside his, still a considerable amount of space between them, but not so much that the movement had gone unnoticed. He watched with steady eyes as Flash reached over ever-so-slowly and interconnected their pinkies without glancing at the dark-haired boy beside him. Miles smiled endearingly, not needing to look at Flash to know he was starting to smile as well.

He tuned back into what their teacher was saying, something about visiting the Washington monument, which sent chills down Miles's spine. He hated heights. He had visited Freedom One with his mother once and they went up to the hundredth floor; Miles puked in the bathroom. Yeah, this was going to be one he admired from the ground, that's for sure. Flash seemed to notice him freeze up.

"You don't have to go up," Flash whispered in his ear, likely remembering his fear. "I'm sure others will stay on the ground, too."

Miles looks over at him and smiled, "I know, I just... blegh. Hate it. Wish we could visit something not crazy tall, like the White House or something. I dunno, I'm probably just being stupid."

"You're not," Flash shakes his head, "Want me to stay on the ground with you?"

He's flattered at the sentiment, but the last thing he wants to do is hold Flash back, even if it's something as silly as a monument. It's rare they get the chance to venture outside of New York, so he doesn't want to take away Flash's chances to see something cool. So, he shakes his head.

"No, no, I'll be fine by myself, thank you, though. I appreciate you -- that," he corrects himself last minute, but he knows Flash already heard the slip-up. It's true, he does appreciate Flash, he just hadn't intended on voicing it just yet. Oh well, better now than never. He doesn't miss how the boy's cheeks darkened after he said that and he has a feeling if he touched his own face, it would be warm.

"I appreciate you, too," Flash whispered in his ear and his heart flutters at the words. It's silly, maybe, they've said things like this to each other before, many times, but right now it somehow feels new all over again. Like they're feeling these things for the very first time. He wonders if it'll always feel like that with Flash. He hopes it does.

The rest of the bus ride continues in content silence, everyone still jittery from their win and buzzing about the day ahead of them. It feels good. To be proud of himself and his team. It's been so long since he felt like this, he's going to relish it as much as he can. After all, he doesn't know when he'll feel like this again. Still, he has a feeling the happiness isn't going to fade, not as long as Flash is by his side. He knows he's supposed to be cautious, he knows not everything is going to be perfect the way it was before, but he can't help but hope that it could be. He looks over at Flash while the boy looks out the window, his eyes tracing the edge of his side profile, soaking in every detail of him with careful intimacy. He loves him so much it hurts. He knows they won't be able to go back to the way things were, but with moments like this, he thinks it could almost be better.

He tightens his grip on Flash's hand, the warmth seeping into his heart and lungs as he takes as much Flash in as he can. He's holding out hope and for a moment, he thinks they just might make it.