Becoming Bone (ON HOLD TO REWRITE)

Chapter 3

Jace's Pov.

When I wake up the next morning, I can't figure out where I am. I'm in a room that doesn't belong to me. I'm covered in sweat and out of breath as I start to calm down. 'It's just a dream' I tell myself. 'It's not real.' I repeat over and over. But I know that's not true. It may not be happening right now but it was real. It did happen.

I sit up feeling a wave of pain crash through my head. I look around but no light is shining through. Okay, I guess it wasn't morning. It's still night. I hear someone groaning and look to see Oliver asleep in the bed across from mine. Than it hits me where I am. I lay back down and try to go to sleep but Oliver keeps on groaning and mumbling. 

And just as I'm about to wake him up to get him to stop being loud, a blood curdling scream reaches the air. I quickly realize it's Oliver and rush over to him. I shake him to get him up. He opens his eyes and the screaming stops.

He stares at me for a second before bursting into tears. As he sobs I wrap my arms around his body and pull him close to mine. He's still crying in my chest when Carol arrives at the door. She looks at us and I nod my head, letting her know that it's okay. She looks hesitant to leave but she does. No one else comes to the door but I hear muffled voices and Carol telling everyone to go back to sleep. Slowly Oliver's breathing returns to normal.

I lay down on his bed and pull him next to me. He curls up into a ball and leans against my chest. I hear his breaths even out and he goes back to sleep. I go to sleep with him and for the first time I can remember, I don't have a single nightmare.

---

The next time I wake up, it really is morning. Carol and will stand there looking at us. At first I'm confused at why but then I remember that I'm in bed with Oliver. I almost panic but I calm myself down. Carol knows what happened. It's fine.

"Time for breakfast." she say with a worried expression. When I sit up Oliver stirs awake. When he realizes the situation he goes beat red.

"I-I'm so sorry. I did-didn't mean to-" he tries but I cut him off.

"Don't worry about." I tell him and get up. I walk slowly as the remains of my dream come back to mind. I try to push the thoughts away, but I can't. It's getting worse. It's been really bad lately. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm used to the dreams now, but usually I can just ignore the thoughts. But right now, I can't. I can't at all. I sit down at the same spot as I did yesterday and stare at my food. The thought of eating it makes me sick. I stare down at my lap and pick at my pants. When Oliver comes down he sits across from me again. I don't look at him, or anyone for that matter. I feel their eyes on me but I don't care. I'm too lost in thought remembering.

"Jace!" I hear a voice snap. I lift my head up to see Carol. "Are you alright?" she asks me. I just nod my head and realize that i'm the only one left at the table.

"It's time for morning group." she tells me and I make my way into the living room. When I get there I don't bother sitting in a chair. I just plop down onto the ground and pull my knees to my chest.

"Who wants to start? Will?" Carol asks

"Sure." I hear him respond.

"Okay Will, how are you this morning?" she asks.

"I'm good. Really tired, but other than that." he say. I assume Carol nods because she doesn't say anything. I can't see because I'm staring at the ground.

"Anything you're worried about today?" she asks.

"Well, my mom might come. It's her day off so I guess I hope she makes it, even though she's probably to busy to drive down." Will tells her.

"Okay, Jace. how are you?" she asks me. I shrug my shoulders.

"Fine." I manage to mumble out.

"You've been distant today, is something the matter?" she asks. I shrug my shoulders again.

"Not really." I say.

"Anything you're worried about?" she continues.

"No." I respond dully. She moves on to the next person and I zone out until I hear Olivers name.

"Oliver, how are you?" she asks him.

"Fine." he says.

"Fine? What happened last night?" she asks.

"Nothing really. Just a bad dream." he tells her with a shrug.

"You woke up screaming." she tells him, as if he didn't already know. "Jace comforted you."

"I know. I apologized." he says looking embarrassed.

"Apologized for what?" she questioned on.

"For-" he starts but stops as if he doesn't know himself. "For screaming." he says.

"Why would you-" she starts but he cuts her off.

"I don't wanna talk about this anymore." he states.

"Is there anything that you're worried about?" she moves on.

"No." he says and we move on. When the group is over I go back to my room and put in my headphones, drowning out all my thoughts. Or at least trying to. I close my eyes and try to focus on the lyrics. That's when I feel a tep on my shoulder. I open my eyes to met Oliver's.

"Jace?" he asks as I pull out my headphones.

"Ya?" I ask waiting for him to talk.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. About last night. I don't usually do that. I just have bad dreams a lot and sometimes that happens, so, I'm sorry. Again." I look at him and shrug half heartedly.

"It's whatever. I have bad dreams to so...." I tell him trailing off and putting my headphones back in. He nods and lays down under his covers in his bed. I watch him while the music blasts into my ears.