Your parents were out of town, so you were sleeping over at your boyfriend's house. It wasn't long before you got into an argument with him: an argument that left both of you needing space from each other. How did you distance yourself? Simple. You decided to sleep on the couch. It took a while, but you managed to get to sleep.
Tyler, however, was a different story. He couldn't sleep. At all. He was still too angry. Not with you, but with himself. You'd had arguments before, of course, but this time Tyler had really hit a nerve. He never meant to invalidate you, he just thought his loss was a lot worse than yours.
"Tyler, my grandfather just died, and you're saying I shouldn't be feeling this way?!" you exclaimed.
"I'm just saying I've had it a lot worse than you!" Tyler snapped back.
"A loss is a loss, there is no 'worse'!"
"Is that really what you think? It was my dad who died! At least you still have a dad to take care of you! I have to take care of Mom and Taylor! At least your mom is still in the right mind to take care of you!"
And that's why you were sleeping on the couch.
And Tyler was beating the shit out of himself for it.
Now, he knew that he was wrong. He was so wrong. And now he was terrified you would break up with him, because that's the kind of thing you don't mean to say but you can't take back.
Tyler got out of bed and went downstairs. Maybe water would help him collect his thoughts. And he could check on you.
Tyler stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the light from the lamp in the living room. He knew you needed a little light so you felt safe while you slept. He could have been keeping you safe in his arms at that moment if he wasn't an idiot.
He went to the kitchen, took a glass out of the cupboard, and filled it in the sink. Hopefully this would help him calm down a bit. He downed the glass, the cold feeling in his throat lingering for several seconds. It didn't help his emotions at all.
Tyler had gotten back to the bottom of the stairs when he heard a soft mumble behind him. "Tyler."
He froze. "What."
Silence.
He took in a short breath through his nose before turning around. "...wait, what?"
You were still asleep on the couch.
Tyler crept closer, kneeling in front of you. Did she say my name in her sleep? Even after our fight... she still dreams about me? ...She shouldn't be sleeping down here.
Some feeling of protectiveness suddenly burst inside of him, and he removed your blanket before slowly and gently lifting you bridal style. "Mmph," you muttered before slowly opening your heavy eyes. "Tyler?"
"I'm taking you upstairs. Go back to sleep."
"Tyler, you were right, I'm sorry–"
"Shh. I was the one in the wrong. I'm sorry."
You wrapped your arms around his neck and rested your head on his shoulder, letting him carry you upstairs. He set you on his bed before plugging a night light into an outlet, then curled up behind you, pulling the covers over you. He wrapped an arm around your waist to pull you closer, kissed the back of your head, and whispered, "Good night, Y/N. I love you."
"I love you too, Tyler," you mumbled before succumbing to the darkness of sleep.
