Bad Dreams

Chapter 3

I beamed at Arin when he promised to stay up with me. I didn't want Arin to go through being deprived of sleep, though, so I shook my head in disagreement.
    "Too late!" Arin laughed, standing up, "Let's go," he held out a hand for me to grab.
    I took his hand, "This is gonna be a night," I sighed, observing Arin's seemingly endless amounts of energy.
    "Yep!" Arin nodded in agreement, "What do you want to do?"
    "I don't know, I was thinking we could at least try to relax," I explained, "but you seem too excited."
    "Okay," Arin nodded in agreement, "I guess we can relax."
    "I still wanna get to sleep," I looked down sadly, avoiding Arin's sympathetic gaze.
    "I know you do," Arin quietly muttered in understanding, "And I want you to be happy."
    "Thank you, Arin," I nodded, collapsing back onto the bed. Arin sat down beside me, sitting down more gently than I did.
    "Now be quiet," Arin whispered, "and try to sleep," he wrapped his arms around me; my head now rested upon his shoulder.
    "Mh," I shrugged, "I'll try," I spoke with uncertainty.
    "You will," Arin tried to reassure me.
    We fall into a relaxing silence, Arin leaving me with my thoughts. Why was I having all these nightmares? Why can't I go to sleep? I quietly sighed in sadness and exhaustion. I want to sleep so badly.
"Hey," Arin started when he heard my sigh, "You'll be okay."
    "I-" I started crying as soon as I tried to speak, "Arin!"
    "Woah," Arin nervously laughed, "Y-you'll be okay! I promise."
I close my eyes, pulling Arin closer to me, which helped me relax. Arin is so nice to me, especially in times like these. I sneak a kiss on the cheek to him.
"Aww," Arin smiles like an idiot, grinning from ear to ear.
    I finally feel myself drifting off to sleep. I was appreciative for that, but I also couldn't help but be nervous. I fell asleep on Arin.
                            • • •
    How did I get here? I scan my surroundings, petrified. I was in this huge, wide-open plain. Nothing was here, not even grass, or any people, nothing lived here.
    "Hello?!" I shouted out, unaware that I was just dreaming.
    I hear a scream from the distance, and before I have time to think, the floor shatters like glass from underneath me, and I am falling endlessly. There is so much wind around me, I can't even breathe.
                            • • •
    "Dan?!" I woke up to Arin's worried voice.
    I took in a few deep breaths, "Oh-okay, I'm here..." I comforted myself, "Arin's here, too...holding me," I blushed, "I'm not falling."
    "Are you okay?" Arin questioned, seeing my worried state.
    "You're here, so I'm fine," I hugged onto him, feeling more secure and calm.
    "That's adorable," Arin smiles at my apparent optimism. Even if I wasn't doing okay, that's no reason to worry Arin. He's so precious to me; he shouldn't have to worry about me.