Opposites (boyxboy)

Never Let Go

It'd been two hours since Dask had returned and he still hadn't come back downstairs to join us. I knew he was probably avoiding me. I couldn't blame him after the way I'd jumped him earlier. I assumed he must have gone to bed.

Everyone else was gathered around the fire, a short distance away from the manor. My mom had fetched us all some throw blankets when night came and it started to get cold. I felt cosy and warm with it wrapped around me. It was a nice sight to see, mine and Dask's parents and Derek, all joking about and telling tales, enjoying each other's company.

I couldn't help feeling that Dask should have been down here with us. I knew it was my fault he'd stayed upstairs instead.

I looked up at the bedroom window of the room we'd been sharing. The light was out. I felt uneasy about it being off. Dask usually loved these kind of gatherings. It was unusual for him to opt out of these sort of things. I must have really upset him. Actually, I know I did. He doesn't even want to be friends anymore. Was he regretting what he said like I did? I had to find out.

Without thinking too much about it I stood up. "I'm off to bed," I said.

"Good night darl," my mom said.

"Night Jo," said Dask's mom.

"Night mate," Dask's dad said.

"Goodnight son," said my dad.

"Night everyone." I turned to walk upstairs.
"I'm going to call it a night too. Night everyone. Wait up, Jo," Derek said.

I waited for him while they all bid him goodnight. He joined me and we walked together, over to the steps leading up to the manor.

Once we were a short distance away from the others, Derek spoke. "Are you seriously going to leave Dask in that room all by himself?" he asked me quietly while we made our way up the outside stairs of the manor.

"Uh..." I didn't know what to say. Truthfully, I hadn't really thought about it properly. I'd just wanted to get my things out of there as soon as possible and move into another room. I'd freaked Dask out enough for one day. I wanted to give him some space. I was kinda upset with his reaction too, even if I could understand it.

"Really? After you'd convinced him this place was haunted?" Derek questioned me.

I wondered if Dask was scared up in that room by himself. I was going to head up to his room anyway, to see if he'd meant what he'd said earlier.

"I'm just giving him some space," I said.

"Why?"

I sighed. I didn't know what to say yet again and it was frustrating me. "Just because," I said.

"You had a fight?"

"Yes." I was getting irritated.

"Well sort it out. He's your best friend. We have a whole week before we go back home."

"I dont think we can sort it out tonight."

"Well, you're not staying in my room. You can take your things back out."

"Where am I going to sleep?"

"One of the spare rooms. There's heaps to choose from."

"I don't want to sleep in one of those rooms alone."

"Well, if you're not going to sort things out with Dask tonight, you're going to have to."

We walked up the internal stairs of the the house. Derek continued speaking quietly. "You've left him alone. I'd be surprised if he's actually asleep up there."

"I was going to talk to him anyway."

"Good."

Derek was annoying sometimes. Though, he had a point. The reason Dask and I had shared a room was because of the stories we'd heard about this place. Plus, it was easier and familiar to share with him anyway. It was nice that Derek cared about Dask.

I hurried to the leave the landing once we'd reached the top of the stairs. Derek stopped me by grabbing firmly onto my arm. "Don't go barging in there. You'll scare him."

"Okay."

"And don't forget to pick up your things in the morning."

"Fine. Let me go." I shook his arm off me and started down the hallway.

"Hey."

I turned back around. "What?"

"Goodnight," Derek said.

"Night," I said.

Derek smiled. "Good luck." He stepped into his room and quietly shut the door behind him.

I shook my head before I walked down the hall and stood in front of the door of the bedroom Dask and I had been sharing. I contemplated what to do or say next, as my eyes passed over the large solid wood door. It looked like it had been painted white a long time ago and over the years had weathered to a cream color. It had an ornate iron handle and intricate raised scrolling in each corner of the door. I raised my hand and gently knocked. There was no answer. I knocked again, a little harder this time. There was still no answer. Was he ignoring me or had he really gone to sleep? I knocked again.

I thought about heading to Derek's room and pleading with him to just let me stay in his room with him for the night. But then I remembered how upset Dask had seemed when he heard about the murders at the manor some years before and how it was apparently meant to be haunted.

Could he really be asleep? Or was he huddled up under the blankets, scared to move or call out?

"Dask?" I said. Maybe if he heard it was me he'd be okay. Or maybe he didn't want a bar of me anymore. He had said as much and I couldn't really blame him.

There was still no answer. I was annoyed he wasn't answering but more annoyed with myself. I hated fighting with him. I didn't like not knowing what was going on with him.

"Dask?" I called out and knocked more loudly. When there was still no answer, I ran out of patience. I pushed the door open, allowed my eyes to adjust to the dark, and headed over to the bed.

Once next to the bed, I heard the quiet snores of Dask. They were barely audible. It sounded adorable. I could hardly see him, so I switched on the lamp that was sitting on the bedside table. The light dimly lit the small space around it and I noticed a box of tissues sitting next to it with some fresh loose tissues spilling out. On the ground next to the bed was a wastebasket filled with used tissues.

A little of the lamps light softly illuminated Dask's face. He looked so cute curled up underneath the covers. But then I noticed his hands were holding some scrunched up tissues and were burrowed underneath his chin. There were dried tear streaks on the skin underneath his eyes and on both sides of his cheeks. His whole face was pinker than usual, and his nose was a little red. It broke my heart to know that he'd been up here by himself crying.

I shucked off my shoes and crawled into bed next to Dask. I pulled the covers over the both of us and wrapped my arms around him. I held him close, promising myself to never let him go. Whether he thought he wanted me to or not, he was mine to protect. Always had been and always would be. It's something that could never be changed.

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Thank you for reading. I really mean it. You have no idea how much it means to me to know there are people who bother to read this story. I appreciate your support. Thank you.

Lots of ♡

- dreamydaze