Stranger Nights

Chapter 27

Freddy avoided Henry for three days. He always made sure to get his meals last and go to sleep first to avoid any conversations with the others. Especially the one whose smile made his heart flutter.

In fact he only really talked to Aaeesha for three out of five of those days and those were always just petty arguments.

On the third day while everyone was asleep, Freddy crawled out of his makeshift bed.

They all had been sleeping in the library to preserve heat. They slept close to each other ,close enough for it to count as a mild form of cuddling. They whole thing was a tangle of blankets, sweaters, and limbs. Freddy stated as far away as he could from Henry, though. Henry had seemed to notice the space Freddy was putting between them, but he plastered on a smile and fretted over Charlotte who almost always was never wearing enough jackets.

During the day they all kept just doing whatever wearing whatever articles of clothing they could find. They all looked horrible.

Freddy was careful not to step on anyone's hand or face as he quietly wandered out to the kitchen.

He had really only wanted an apple. He wasn't really hungry, but his thoughts certainly were. So he was hoping that if he ate something or maybe just sat on the couch they would calm down. Someone beat him there though.

"What the hell are you doing up!" Aaeesha barked at him from the kitchen table. Freddy glared at her. She was eating grapes and reading a book while a wool blanket clung to her shoulders. Her hijab was crooked and her eye's were tired.

"I should ask you the same thing." he grumbled sitting across from her.

"I couldn't sleep shitface." she yelled no anger in her tone of voice. She threw a grape at him, but it just hit his chest and fell to the floor. "Why the fuck are you up."

"I couldn't sleep either." Freddy shrugged swiping a grape from her and popping it in his mouth. "What are you reading."

"Little women." Aaeesha answered him. "Or at least I was until you interrupted me."

"I'm so sorry." Freddy said sarcastically rolling his eye's.

"So why couldn't you sleep?" she said glaring at him as he stole another grape.

"Thoughts I guess." Freddy said while chewing.

"Wow didn't know you had those." it was Freddy's turn to glare. "What were you thinking about?"

"Why do you care." Freddy growled at Her. Aaeesha took one last look at her book before closing it and looking up at Freddy.

"Because I know what they are about." she said taking a grape into her hand.

"Enlighten me then." Freddy said trying to hide his nervousness.

"Henry Baker." she said putting the grape in her mouth. Freddy's eye's went wide and his face started to heat up. Aaeesha never broke eye contact.

Freddy let out a forced laugh.

"Oh come one like I-"

"It's obvious Freddy." Aaeesha said cutting him off. "It's really starting to get on my nerves."

She waited for him to say something with her eyebrows raised. When he didn't say anything she continued.

"You're always giving him these glances and blushing when he smiles at you." she said rolling her eyes and waving her hand around, "It's like you guys are already fucking married! Everyone's noticed, especially Charlotte. She's really perceptive you know, could probably tell you more about yourself then you know. Anyway, you're totally into him. Hell, I would go as far to say your fucking in love with him!"

"I'm not gay." Freddy choked out. Aaeesha laughed at him.

"I've seen guys make out and they're still not as obvious as you!"

Freddy stood up from his chair fast it almost fell. He started to walk away, but stopped when Aaeesha called out him once more.

"And you're just going to run away huh? That's what Elliots always do they run away."

And Freddy started to shake and got out of the kitchen as fast as he could. He practically ran back into the library careful not to look at Henry.

He buried himself in the blankets and didn't get any sleep.