Glassheart

Chapter 5

RED'S POV
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Chloe and I were lounging in our dorm when we woke up a bit earlier than usual today.

"I could have used more sleep," I grumbled. Chloe glanced up from her book.

"Don't worry, Red. You need to adjust to waking up early," she reassured me. I grinned and rolled my eyes as she placed her book on the desk.

"You would have had to wake up in about 45 minutes anyway," Chloe pointed out, walking over to me.

"Yeah, but we woke up half an hour ago! That's more than an hour of potential sleep wasted," I retorted. Chloe sat down beside me and chuckled.

"I promise you'll survive," she teased. I shot her a look, and she grinned.

"Whatever," I mumbled, reclining on my bed. Chloe mirrored my actions, draping her arm around me and pulling me closer. I gazed up at her, and she met my eyes.

"I think I understand why people think we're more than just friends," I confessed. Chloe blushed slightly and glanced away.

"Yeah, I've always sensed it, but never vocalized it," she admitted.

"You know I had to. I just didn't admit it," I acknowledged. We both laughed before falling into a comfortable silence. I sat up, catching Chloe's eye.

"Do you feel something more towards me, like more than friendship?" I inquired. Chloe sat up straighter.

"Absolutely. I've felt that way for a while," she confessed. I stared at her in disbelief.

"Ever since our first encounter and that silly argument that led to us making up, I've been in love with you. Your passion, feistiness, and ability to show sweetness and love, even when it's challenging, caught me. Your efforts to be the best version of yourself is what made me fall for you," Chloe poured her heart out. Blushing, I smiled warmly.

"That's the exact moment I fell for you. I felt like I uncovered every facet of your personality and have been learning more about you ever since. Chloe, you mean the world to me, which is why I hesitated to confess my feelings. I feared it could jeopardize our friendship," I admitted. Chloe cupped my face in her hands.

"Red, nothing you say or do could ruin our bond," she assured me. I grinned, and she drew me in, our lips meeting in a tender kiss. As she pulled, everything faded into darkness.

DREAM ENDS
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I awoke, scanning the room in the hope of finding Chloe beside me, only to realize she was not there. It had all been a mere dream... Glancing at the clock, I noted it was 2 a.m.

"Ugh," I muttered softly, reclining back in bed. Despite my attempts to fall back asleep, my efforts had failed for the next half hour. After a minute, I tried to remain motionless upon hearing Chloe shift.

"Red?" Chloe's voice pierced the quiet.

"Hey," I responded, turning to face her.

"Trouble sleeping?" she inquired.

"Yeah, I had a dream and couldn't drift off again," I confessed.

"Another nightmare?" she probed.

"Not quite," I admitted. Though it had felt like one because none of it was real.

"Come here, don't resist," Chloe coaxed. With a faint smile, I complied, leaving my bed to join hers. She pulled me in, her touch soothing as she whispered, "Just relax and sleep. I've got you." She gently started to play with my hair and rubbed my arm quickly making me settle, pulling me into a peaceful slumber.