Fix Me

1

Charlie's P.O.V.

Ashton and I had been friends since elementary school. When we met in fifth grade, he had big dorky glasses, the cutest smile, and the dorkiest laugh.  We were relatively talkative in class, but not to each other. Our teacher would constantly remind Ashton and I that we were too disruptive and explain that she had "no time for one class clown, let alone two".  For about a day or so we kept our mouths shut, worried that she would tell our parents. This eventually let up and when the call went out to my parents, my dad simply laughed and gave me a pat on the back. "You're an entertainer" he would tell me, while my mother stood in the back of the room shaking her head. 

 After a few months Mrs. Smith became sick of our antics and thought it best to put us in the back of the class. She also thought it was an amazing idea to separate us from the rest of the children, claiming that we were "taking away precious learning time for others".  At first it was difficult because I wasn't allowed to talk to my friends. However, as Ashton and I began getting to know each other, I realized he was better than any other "friends" I had made previously. We understood each other even in silence. Since then, he's become one of the most important people in my life.

As we got older, people assumed we were dating. Ashton and I never really paid much attention to the rumors because our relationship is completely platonic. Although we were constantly together, there was never any sexual tension besides the occasional human curiosity. We had many sleepovers and constantly found ourselves sharing the same bed, but that was normal for us. We didn't find it odd because when the nightmares came we were the only ones who could calm each other down.

Since we've been friends, we've become accustomed to the openness and support we offered each other. At times it feels like we know each other better than we know ourselves. We just have so much baggage but we tend to make it lighter for each other. 

Both Ashton and I had relatively complicated childhoods. Absent parents...check, suppressed emotions...check, guarded hearts...check. Before Ashton and I became friends, trust was a foreign concept to both of us. Sure we had a lot of friends but none of them knew who I truly was. I built so many walls to keep them out, but Ashton came along he broke them down. With every chip he made, he let me see more of him and that's what cemented our friendship. It was this connection that brought us to this moment as I laid in his arms safely.

Ashton's P.O.V.

When I crawled through Charlie's window, I knew something was wrong. Her eyes were red and her hair was knotted. There were tear stains on her cheek and the "sleepy" scowl she presented couldn't mask the defeat she held in her eyes. She tried to play it off with her sarcastic comments but I knew she had the nightmare again.
After hugging her with all my might, I walked us towards the bed. She climbed under the covers as I took off my shoes. She laid there with her back towards me, pretending to fall back asleep. I shimmied under the covers as she turns over and lays her head on my chest.
This was normal for us, these simple physical touches. It was comforting to feel each other so near, almost as if we were each other's anchors. As if we would float away in our minds if the other person hadn't been there to keep us grounded.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask her softly.
She shakes her head simply as I sigh in defeat. Charlie had been having these nightmares ever since the accident, but she won't tell me exactly what happens in each dream. It's hard to know that she's keeping this from me, but I guess we all have our secrets. She pulls me out of my thoughts as her small voice rings through the dark room.
"Will you sing to me?" She asks and I smile. I begin humming a small lullaby and watch as her eyes grow heavy. Soon my eyes begin to falter and my arm returns to her waist where we fall asleep once more.