Oliver Stays Over

Miles was helping Sierra move food from the storage area to the kitchen when Oliver launched out of the break room.

"This isn't a boarding house; this is a job. Start acting like it," growled Cyrus, as Oliver cowered against the opposite wall.

"Find yourself a new place to stay until you learn that," Cyrus instructed, slamming the office door.

"What did you do this time?" asked Sierra as she handed Miles the three cans she had been carrying. Miles wobbled to the kitchen, Sierra, and Oliver following behind him.

"Cyrus caught me sleeping under the break table again. But last night, I couldn't possibly sleep with the stroke of genius I had from yesterday."

"You need to learn how to balance your creativity and your job," chided Sierra as Shasta stopped them at the door. He took the food box and cans from Miles and then set them on the table.

"I know, but now Cyrus won't let me stay here."

"Manage your time better, and he might let you back," commented Shasta, examining the items Sierra had selected.

"But where am I going to stay until then?"

"Capsule Hotel," offered Sierra as she entered the kitchen, leaving Oliver and Miles at the door of the kitchen.

"Not enough money."

"We got paid yesterday," explained Shasta.

"Already spent it on art supplies because of my inspiration."

"You could stay at my place," offered Miles, all eyes turning towards him. "Until Cyrus lets you come back."

Oliver immediately jumped up, tackling Miles in a bear hug.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

---

Miles waited at the back of the dinner after closing while Oliver gathered his things. Cyrus tossed Oliver and his stuff out of the restaurant, locking the door behind him.

"I still expect you to come in tomorrow at opening," he ordered before getting inside his car and driving away. The other employees had all headed home, leaving Miles and Oliver in the back lot. Miles offered to carry Oliver's bag of clothes while Oliver struggled to hold his art pieces, sketchbooks, and art supplies.

"This way," Miles said, motioning with his head towards the hospital. Oliver followed behind Miles, only a step or two behind as he led the way past the hospital. The walk wasn't too far and soon they had made it to a residential area. Miles turned at one of the two-story homes, opening the gate and then climbing up the steps to the door. He unlocked it, letting Oliver in.

The inside was completely dark until Miles turned on a light to illuminate the entry hall and living room. The living room was spotless and untouched, Oliver noticed, as they took off their shoes. They shuffled into the living room that had an L-shaped couch facing a TV with a layer of dust sitting over it. They dropped Oliver's things a bit before the sofa so he could access the couch. Miles moved to the side of the sofa.

"This here pulls out a footrest so you can sleep this way or along the couch, whatever you prefer."

Oliver looked over to see a button and then looked around the room. An old TV stood on a credenza, but it looked barely used.

"The kitchen is that way if you want food." Miles pointed to an opening by the corner of the couch. "And over there," he said, gesturing in the opposite direction to a hallway, "the middle door is the bathroom. It's the only door open, so you can't miss it."

Oliver nodded, looking at the directions Miles pointed.

"I'll go get some blankets and pillow, so make yourself at home," offered Miles as he turned and went up the stairs.

Oliver debated between sorting through his things or exploring the large house. It seemed too big for a single person. He decided to look around, at least the rooms Miles had recommended. Next to the living room was the kitchen, not as untouched as the living room since Miles made meals there. But three out of the four seats were filmy with dust. He went to the opposite side of the house, turning down the hallway to see three doors. Only one of them was open and leading to a small bathroom, untouched but still clean. He tried the other entries to find them locked.

"Here are some blankets and a pillow," offered Miles as he came back down. Oliver walked back to the living room as Miles set down the items.

"Won't your parents ask about a strange person crashing on their couch?"

"No one is home other than me. Mom and Dad are both busy with work, and my sister is in university. So no worries."

Oliver frowned, trying to piece Miles together. The boy was amiable, especially with the staff and customers at Tormino's, but he came home at the end of the day to an empty house.

"I got some chores I need to do. You can relax if you want to or you could join me," offered Miles as he headed back upstairs. Oliver decided to follow, figuring it would be rude not to try and help his host. Upstairs were four doors: two shut and two open, revealing a bedroom and a bathroom.

Miles opened one of the shut doors, immediately turning on a light. He stepped inside. Oliver followed to reveal a room filled with various sized tanks. Some had fish inside; another had a jungle floor.

"These are a lot of animals," mumbled Oliver as he looked around the room. A sudden squawk in his ear had Oliver jumping onto Miles.

Miles turned to Oliver, seeing what startled him. He opened the door to a cage that housed two dark green and red birds.

"Oh, meet Ness and Paula, my green cheek conures. Although they have been a little moody lately," he cautioned as Oliver stepped closer to the cage.

He opened it sticking his hand inside. One of the birds tried to nip at him, while the other hopped on his finger.

"Well, Paula has been cranky, but Ness is fine." He perched Ness on one of his shoulders, Paula went on the other once he got her out. Ness chattered unintelligible noises in his ear as Miles moved back to the various tanks.

"You made all these," asked Oliver, stopping in front of one of the vivariums.

"Yep. Not much to do with everyone out all the time. So I made all these.” He jumped over next to Oliver. "Inside here are my two red-eyed croc skinks and two mourning day geckos. Geckos live more in the trees while croc skinks burrow, so they do fine in this setup."

Oliver could see one of the geckos on the shrubs in the tank, recently woken from a nap. Miles opened a cylinder container to reveal worms slithering in the sawdust. Using tweezers, he plucked a few out and put them inside a rock like bowl in the tank before shutting it.

He put the container away before moving on to another tank nearby filled with dirt and not a single light shining on it.

"These are my Peter's Banded skinks. I have three now, but I am hoping to get more to breed them." He went about the room, telling his guest about all his animals as he took the time to feed them. Oliver listened but was more curious about the passionate expression Miles wore as he explained each animal and the various tanks.

Oliver knew Miles was fond of animals, but this was different than a cat distraction.

Like Oliver's passion for art, Miles had a love for animals. So in appreciation of another passionate person, Oliver let Miles explain his animal room. He would come back and sketch it later.