Through You

Chapter 25 - Between Shadow and Light

Jeanne stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a bathrobe, her hair still damp, her light footsteps barely echoing on the wooden floor. As she entered the room, she caught Daniel and Thomas sitting on opposite sides, visibly tense and silent. A rather strange scene after the lively day they had all shared. She burst into laughter at their tense faces.

"Come on, relax! You look like you're at a funeral," she said, jumping onto the bed, slightly nudging Thomas. "Come here, you too," she added, patting the mattress beside her, inviting Daniel to join.

The three of them found themselves squeezed together in Jeanne's bed. Jeanne, in the middle, firmly held onto the boys' arms, her face relaxed and serene. She rested her head on Daniel's shoulder while her fingers gently glided over the forearms of both young men. The silence, though filled with tenderness, still carried a certain unresolved tension between Thomas and Daniel. Their eyes avoided each other, but after a few moments, they eventually met.

Thomas gave a shy smile, which Daniel mirrored. A nervous laugh escaped Thomas, catching Jeanne’s attention, who lifted her head and looked at them, visibly amused.

"What's going on? Are you two finally starting to get along?" she asked with a teasing smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Thomas shook his head, laughing. "I wouldn’t say we’re getting along, but… you're kind of forcing us to be close here. I’m not really used to sharing a bed with another guy, except for Mattheo."

Daniel nodded, half-smiling. "Yeah, it’s a bit cruel, Jeanne. You’re making me sleep in the same bed with the guy who broke my nose."

Jeanne raised her eyebrows, feigning indignation. "You want me to give up my spot and sleep in one of my brothers' rooms, just so you two can plot against me? Since when are you teaming up against me?"

They all laughed together, finally easing the atmosphere. Jeanne, satisfied to see her two friends smiling, nestled back into their arms, seeking to prolong the moment of closeness. They spent the evening huddled under the covers, watching a movie projected on Thomas's laptop. Jeanne was between the two boys, her head resting on Daniel's shoulder and one hand placed on Thomas's arm.

The laughter became less frequent as the night wore on, and fatigue slowly took over. Jeanne was the first to fall asleep, her arms wrapped around Daniel's. The silence in the room became soft and calming.

Thomas whispered, "Well, I guess it's time to turn off the laptop." He leaned forward to close the computer, his movements as gentle as possible to avoid waking Jeanne. Daniel nodded, tenderly watching Jeanne, and then tried to pull his arm free, ready to move to the mattress on the floor.

"Stop," Thomas murmured, glancing at him. "Leave her your arm. She probably wants you to stay close to her. I’ll sleep on the floor."

Daniel shook his head. "I can’t… I feel like I’m intruding on your friendship. I don’t want to take her away from you, Thomas."

Thomas stifled a laugh and replied in a whisper, "Man, she would’ve drifted away on her own. I know she loves us both, but I can see tonight just how much you mean to her. I’m the one who should’ve stepped back earlier. By the way, I haven’t really apologized properly for earlier… I’m truly sorry for what I did. I acted like an idiot."

Touched by his openness, Daniel extended his hand. "I forgive you, Thomas. Honestly, I don’t hold a grudge. I understand that you did all of this out of love for her, and in a way... I’m grateful. Well, almost. Because yeah, it was still painful."

Thomas burst out laughing as he shook Daniel's hand. "Thanks, man."

He gently stood up, kissed Jeanne softly on the forehead, then settled onto the mattress on the floor. "Goodnight, bro," he whispered, turning toward Daniel.

"Goodnight, Thomas." Daniel looked at him gratefully, then turned back to Jeanne. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Jeanne barely moved, deeply asleep. Smiling, Daniel finally allowed himself to drift into sleep beside her.

The room fell into a peaceful silence, only broken by the light breaths of the three friends, sharing, after all, a moment of reconciliation.