I sat up in cold sweat, my hands trembling and breathing ragged. I had the worst nightmare yet. I was being chased by men in black cloaks through some sort of forest. I could hear crickets chirp at me as I sprinted as fast as my legs could handle. Just remembering it made me feel uneasy. I decided to lift myself off the couch in the back of the bus and quietly made my way out of the small room I had all to myself. My brother, Devin invited me to go touring with him and his friends after my night terrors started following me to my day life. Sometimes I saw things that weren't there so he just assured me and told me to come touring with him. I didn't mind all that much. The shows were lively and fun, his band mates were the funniest people I had ever met yet my terrors were too much for me to handle. My whole body was shaking like a dog who'd swallowed a bag of razors and it was obvious I was scared by how my breathing trembled as I took each step. I couldn't help but notice a gentle light coming from Ricky's bunk. Everybody else was asleep and it was pitch black besides the one light so I swallowed my fears and crept towards his bunk, only letting out gentle whimpers as I got closer and closer. 'H-Hey, um...Ricky? A-Are you awake?' I stuttered. I stepped beside his bunk and let my breathing hitch as the gorgeous, pale man looked over at me, lowering a thick book he had in his hands. I noticed the small book-light hanging off the hard cover and suddenly I thanked myself for buying it for him.
'Yeah, what's wrong (Y/n)? Did something happen?' For the first time ever, Ricky sounded concerned. He was usually a quiet intellectual who only spoke when he wanted to prove somebody wrong but at that moment as he saw me raw and vulnerable he dropped his ego and stared into my heart. I could faintly hear three of his other band mates: Ryan, Chris and Devin breathe and shift in their sleep as I replied to him.
'I-I had a nightmare again an...and I didn't want to be alone.' I let tears quickly build up and spill from my eyes as fear continued to creep up my back and across my chest, as though it was feeling me for something. Ricky studied me for a moment before folding the corner of his book and shutting it. He sat the book on his lap and scooted himself towards the wall before speaking.
'Come here. You can stay with me tonight...' His raspy voice sent a chill down my spine. I took a second to breathe before placing my hands on the mattress of his bunk and lifting myself onto it. I laid my legs beside his under the thick blanket and rested my head on his pillow. I tried my best not to get too close but there was barely enough space for the two of us. I could feel his shaky breath against my forehead as I accidentally pressed my whole body against his.
'S-Sorry I-'
'No, no it's fine. I don't mind you being close to me. Do you mind?' Ricky asked, keeping one hand firmly grasping the book on his lap and using his other elbow to hold himself up.
'N-No. I-I don't mind us being close.' I sniffled between sorrowful whimpers. Ricky took his lip ring between his teeth and laid his head beside mine and fiddled with the book that had accidentally slipped between us.
'Now then, what did you dream about?'
'I-I...I-I dreamt that I-I was...was being chased though a-a forest b-by scary men...' My mind began to sprint back to those terrible thoughts as I continued to speak. Tears continued to fall from my eyes. 'T-They w-wore black cloaks an...and they had glowing red eyes. T-They wanted to eat me and play with my body...I-I can't- I don't want to think about it.' My whole face scrunched up as the look in their eyes seeped back into my memories and imprinted itself on my thoughts. I felt one of Ricky's arms slither across my waist before sliding up my back and gently toying with the back of my head. His calloused fingers ran over my scalp and twirled my hair comfortingly as I just let go and sobbed silently.
'I promise that nothing will hurt you while I'm alive and breathing, (Y/n). You...You're too special for me to let you get hurt. If you weren't my best friends little sibling I would hold you and never let go.' His idea of a confession made my heart begin to smack against my ribcage. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach as he sighed and slowed his hand motions.
'I-I w-wouldn't mind...' My words caught him off guard. I could see a faint smile grow on his face before he leaned forward, letting our noses brush together.
'I really like you, (Y/n)...I don't say that very often and mean it but I really do like you. I might go so far as to say that...I love you. I-I know I never acted like it but-'
'W-Will you protect me f-from the ghosts who follow me?' I asked, not even realising we were both leaning forward until I felt his cold lip ring against my bottom lip.
'Of course I will.' Our lips met and I suddenly felt like my demons had vanished into thin air. Something about the way that he tasted made me think of raspberries and cigarettes, my new favourite flavours. I pressed myself closer to him and gently parted our lips before we went too far. 'Did you want to sleep, (Y/n)?'
'I-I don't know...' His hand trailed back to the book he was reading and, like before, he began to fiddle with it. 'W-What're you reading?'
'The Princess Bride. It's quite different from what I usually read but it's very easy and relaxing. I used to read it a lot as a kid. Would you like me to read it to you?' He picked the book up, allowing me to study it under the faint book light. It was quite beautiful, the contrast and imagery just fit together like two puzzle pieces.
'Does it have a happy ending?'
'The happiest.'
I began to doze off as Ricky's soothing voice leant itself to my ears. I felt warm, calm yet strangely eager. I was eager to wake up the next day and kiss Ricky again. To hold him like he was holding me. '"Do you love me, Westley? Is that it? He couldn't believe it. Do I love you? My god, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches..."' He quoted. I listened closely, wondering what was going to happen next. I couldn't help but imagine Ricky and I as the main characters of the beautiful love story. He loved me and I loved him. I always had.
Devin was going to kill me in the morning.
