All Of Your Flaws

Part Seventeen

Addison wasn't aware of ever falling asleep but as she slowly stirred she saw that the only light in Dylan's room was now coming from the television screen which was showing the main title menu of the DVD they had been watching hours before. Addison blinked several times before glancing over to the small digital clock on Dylan's dresser. 3:26 flashed in tiny green numbers causing Addison let out a small groan. She fished around in his pockets from his phone and it took a moment to locate it on the floor as it must have fallen out her pocket when she'd fallen asleep. There was only one text message from Aaron which was something of a relief.

Aaron: 1:16 - Assume you're at Brigid's for the night...that was what I told Dad anyway.

If Addison left now, she would be home in less than fifteen minutes, ten if he jogged. He wasn't sure what Dylan would say when he woke up to find Addison not there but it probably wouldn't be as bad as what Aaron, or worse Eric, would say when he found out that Addison hasn't stopped over at Brigid's. Addison grabbed his things and quickly hurried out the room, making sure he didn't wake Dylan is the process.

The Willis's house was in complete darkness which made moving across the long hallway a difficulty but after blinking for several moments Addison's eye slowly began to adjust to the gloom. Turning on the light would have been easier and more helpful but there was a strong possibility he might wake someone up.

"If you're planning on sneaking out then you should know that the third step from the bottom creaks really loudly and next door's dog is a barker." A voice muttered sending waves of shock through Addison's body. He whirled round in the dark and sighed with slight relief when he saw that it was only Niamh standing in her doorway, the faint glow from a laptop inside her room being the only source of light until, with a tut, Niamh turned on a nearby lamp filling the hallway with a soft orangey red light. Niamh folded her arms across what looked like Harry Potter themed pyjamas and gave Addison a raised eyebrow.

"Fuck sake Niamh, you scared the shit out of me!" Addison said though from the way he had jolted that was fairly obvious.

"Dude, it's three in the morning, why are you sneaking out of my brother's bedroom looking really shifty?" Niamh asked raising an eyebrow.

"A better question to ask would be 'Why are you awake at three in morning?'" Addison asked though knowing Niamh she had probably been sat in her room watching TV shows for the past five hours eating copious amounts of pizza and complaining about the lack of characterisation over the internet.

"I was having a Community marathon and Skyping my friend back in Bristol." Niamh said with a shrug. Well, that proved that Addison had indeed been right. "Now why were you sneaking out my brother's room?"

"We were watching a film and I guess I fell asleep." Addison said.

"You know, sneaking out his room implies that Dylan doesn't know you're leaving at this moment in time." Niamh pointed out. "Listen Addison, He may be a lot of things; cocky, sarcastic, painfully blunt, rude, a pain in the ass as well showing a clear lack of respect for anyone with authority but he's also pretty closed off and it's clear that he likes you enough to open up in some way. Please don't be an asshole towards him" Niamh said. "You're like my only friend here so I don't mind saying this Addison; please don't fuck around with Dylan. If you do like him then just tell him because if you don't then I might end up locking the pair of you in a small room until you tell him."

"I don't-"

"Oh for God sake, cut the bullshit and don't act stupid because both you and Dylan are far too smart to get away with it. You like him and Dylan-

"Niamh-"

"Oh for God's sake! It's kind of obvious that Dylan likes you too seeing as he never shuts up about you!" Niamh said. "Do you know where Dylan could have been tonight?" she then asked.