the boy next door

Monday, November 26th

She woke up shivering and in cold sweat. Checking her phone, she saw it was 3 a.m. Another nightmare. She didn't have them much, but more often around this time of the year with her birthday coming up. Well, technically it already was her birthday. Happy birthday to me, she thought bitterly. She was still tired but knew she would not be able to fall back asleep. Unless...

She knocked on his door, called out his name a few times but still careful not to wake up the others in the building, yet she didn't get a response. It was dead quiet in there. She opened the door and walked in. She heard him shift. "Hey", he whispered with a sleepy voice, "what are you doing here?" That was a question she had asked herself the moment she set foot out of her room. She just always slept like a baby in his bed, for some reason, so it seemed logical to come here. "I had a nightmare."

"You okay?", he asked and she could hear the sincerity behind the question. Not really knowing how to answer, she got straight to the point. "Can I sleep here?" He was already opening the covers when he answered, "Of course."

He instinctively put his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest, which was bare and warm. He was not wearing a shirt. But being so tired and lying next to him, she didn't dwell on that fact too long and fell asleep almost immediately.

***

"Happy birthday!", he hears from the other side of the wall, followed by shushing noises. He did not remember her ever mentioning her birthday. He wouldn't have forgotten if she did.

You:

It's your birthday today?

The Ravenclaw next door:

Yeah, it is.

You:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Why didn't you tell me?!

I would've gotten you a present

The Ravenclaw next door:

It's not something I

particularly like to celebrate.

You:

Why not?

The Ravenclaw next door:

I don't want to talk about it right now.

Feeling that this conversation was over, he tossed his phone on the bed and took out his laptop instead. Even if she didn't want to celebrate it, he could still get her a gift. And he would. He made a mental note to thank Alex later for being so loud. Otherwise he probably never would've found out. He didn't need to think long as to what he would get her. He had seen her bookshelf. Harry Potter was not on there. So he went ahead and ordered the first book.

Movie night was tense tonight. It had surprised him she still came. Even though this was the most boring movie of them all, according to him at least, she didn't fall asleep tonight. Despite the palpable tension in the air, she looked hesitant to leave. Maybe she was afraid of another nightmare? He had figured out something probably happened on her birthday that caused the nightmares. He may not be a Ravenclaw, but he wasn't stupid. "You can stay if you'd like." Her eyes widened a bit. "Really?" He nodded, "Yeah, of course."

With his arm around her, he could feel her relax against him. He had no logical explanation as to why he liked to have her so close to him. It just felt right. It felt natural.

As her breathing became more even, he heard her whisper, "I'm sorry." He didn't know if this was directed towards him but he still answered. "It's okay."