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"You're awake early."
Althea sighed as she rubbed her eyes, "I know. I'm trying but sleep still doesn't come easy. I might just go to Madam Pomfrey and get a potion." Althea might have been doing better but she still had trouble sleeping most nights. She did everything she could but most of the time it didn't work.
Genie looked at her in concern, "That bad?"
Althea shook her head, "I'm trying but sometimes it gets bad. Sometimes I find myself in the bottom of the Black Lake and I'm drowning again, other times someone is forcing my head under the water. I don't know what to do anymore, I've tried anything and I still can't get any sleep. At this point, the only thing that helps is sleeping with Kazz."
"Sleeping with Kazz?" Genie smirked.
Althea rolled her eyes at her best friends comment, "Not like that. I meant cuddling. For some reason being in his arms makes me feel safe and I always get a good nights sleep but because the Quidditch season has started back up, we've both been so busy."
"You miss him?" Genie asked with a smile. She knew that after everything Althea had been through, it wasn't easy for her to trust, let alone feel so comfortable and safe with someone else, but she was proud of her. After everything she had been through, she was thinking about herself and she was laughing more.
Althea sighed, "I do but I get it. He's busy, I'm busy and sometimes that's okay."
"If you need him, it's okay to tell him." Genie spoke softly.
Althea shook her head, "I just don't want to seem like a burden." Genie hit her on the arm, shocking Althea who grabbed her arm, "Ouch."
"I am so proud of you. You have come so far in the past couple of months. It's okay to have a bad day, it's okay to take a step backwards and its okay to feel like you want to give up but you keep trying and I'm so proud of you for always trying. I love you and I'm always going to be here for you. As your best friend, its my job to listen to you and help you move forward. Kazz is the best thing that's ever happened to you, and I know you're scared but I won't let you push away someone you care about so much. Kazz cares about you so please don't push him away. Be honest with him because I'd hate for you to lose the best thing that's ever happened to you. I love you but I will kick your ass." Genie firmly spoke to her best friend.
"Have I told you how much I hate the fact that you know me so well?"
"Please, we both know you'd be lost without me."
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"This is a sight I could get used to."
Althea's head snapped up when she heard the voice. There he was, her saviour. He had been at detention, a detention that he had gotten for standing up for her, well more like he punched someone for talking shit about her. As much as she appreciated him standing up for her, the last thing she wanted was to get him into trouble.
She threw her book to the side, getting up before running into his arms, "I missed you." Althea had never really been so open with affection but with Kazz it was always easy. He made her feel safe and at ease. He never asked for more than she was comfortable to give.
Kazz pressed a kiss to her head before tightening his grip on her, "I missed you too. Today's been a long day and all I wanted was to hold you." He never really thought that being in a relationship was everything but holding Althea, he knew he was wrong because she was everything to him.
The two sat close together while watching the stars. Althea had her back pressed against Kazz's chest with his arms wrapped around her. They talked for quite a while about anything and everything before Althea started yawning.
"Sleep. I'm not going anywhere." Kazz reassured.
Althea shook her head, "No. I just want to spend time with you."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "I know you're not sleeping properly. Genie told me about the nightmares and that you haven't been able to sleep. She also told me that you slept better with me. Why didn't you tell me?" Kazz knew she had trouble opening up to him sometimes and that she struggled being open about what she needed but all he wanted was to be there for her, be what she needed.
"Remind me to kill her when I see her." Althea sighed before she looked at him, "I just didn't want to burden you. You do so much for me. You've been there for me through all of this and I don't want you to feel like I rely on you too much."
Kazz shook his head, "I want you to be able to come to me without feeling like you're a burden because I want to be here for you. I care about you. You mean so much to me and I want to be there for you. You have no idea how happy you make me, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Never, and I mean ever, feel like you can't talk to me."
"I'm sorry." Althea didn't know what else to say. For so long it was easy to just keep it all in because no one really cared how she really felt but it was different with Kazz and she was still finding it difficult to open up, especially to him.
Kazz moved so that they were facing each other, he grabbed a hold of her face, "I care about you too much to watch you suffer. I want to be here for you. I love you so much. Please know that I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere."
