glitch | jack hughes (rewritten)

chapter 57

josephine lee 

Jack peacefully sleeps on top of me as I run my nails up and down his back and play with his hair. Each time my nails scratch against his scalp he snuggles closer to me, acting like a cat rubbing up against its owner. His sleepy actions make me internally aww so I try tilting my head to the side to catch the look of his pretty face sleeping soundly.

I wish I could kiss him, but it'd probably wake him up and he needs all the sleep he can get since we're leaving for New Jersey soon and shortly after training starts again. I close my eyes taking in the quiet house and the sound of my boyfriend's breathing. How can the sound of someone's breaths be so endearing?

Because my full attention is on Jack's breathing I notice when it picks up, I feel his heart start to race, and within seconds his body is trembling over mine. I assume he's having a bad dream but don't want to scare him by shaking him awake. Instead, I gently tug on his hair hoping it'll wake him up without freaking him out.

My plan works and I feel the way Jack's arms tighten around my body as he mumbles something into the side of my neck. At first, I didn't hear him so I asked him to repeat what he said by saying by whispering a sweet, "Yeah, honey?" My nails continue to scratch over his shoulders and back before he finally repeats what he said. "I had a bad dream." He complains, holding me closer to him without pulling his face out of the crook of my neck. 

He slowly kisses up and down my neck and collarbones almost like he's trying to make sure that this is his reality. "I'm sorry I just need to hold you for a bit. That was fucking awful." He says, rubbing his eyes as he slowly pushes himself off of me but stays close keeping his hands on my hip.

I rub his forearm giving him the time he needs to regroup himself. He presses one more kiss to my knuckles and looks me in the eyes. Moisture glosses over his, kicking me into gear to cradle his face in my hands ready to reassure him. "God, real life us is so much better than that shit show I just dreamt of. We're happy I don't know why I was tortured with something so far from our reality." He groans, rubbing his face with frustration. 

It's clear he can't get the images out of his head. "In my dream, we were angry and yelling at each other. You looked so detached and I couldn't do anything to make you feel better. I was trying so hard to get you to stay but you were set on leaving me so I watched you leave." He says, his voice subtly breaking but he tries covering it up with a harsh swallow.

He looks so embarrassed to be affected by the dream but I get it. I've had a million dreams that felt so real I felt horrible all day. I open my arms for him to fall into. He hesitates at first but then remembers his safety with me and leans in, resting his head on my chest so he can listen to my heartbeat. 

I reassure him as I feel his breathing pick up, clearly being affected by his nightmare. Poor boy. It breaks my heart to see my normally sunshiney boy looking so upset. We stay in bed for a little longer, just until Jack feels better to socialize with people. He remains close to me, just needing that extra bit of comfort from me. 

"This isn't too much?" Jack asks, insecurity lacing his tone at his need for physical touch. I shake my head, promising that this is more than okay. "Darling of course it isn't. You just let me know whatever you need from me today, okay?" I tell him as he nods his head in a quiet understanding.

After a few minutes in my arms, Jack starts to get hot and peels himself off of me. He zones out into a corner and I find myself feeling slightly useless. I look around the room and find my guitar resting against the wall near the bathroom. "Hey, wanna learn how to play?" I ask, watching his eyes land on the stringed instrument.