~Solby~

Chapter 2: Falling Asleep

     They walked in the trap house at 11:46 pm, which usually means that Corey and Aaron are playing video games. Colby went to the game room and saw that the lights were turned off and no one was around.
    "Everyone's asleep, Colb."
    "That's weird, usually at least someone's up past 1:00" Colby said and then stopped dead in his tracks, causing Sam's eyes to widen with a hint of fear, "Listen, oh my god, you can hear Aaron singing himself to sleep." Colby laughed quietly, but not to make fun of him.
     His fear melted into a little smile, "Oh you're right, that's so adorable."
     "He's singing the beatles I think... yeah, it's definitely Blackbird. We better be quiet I don't wanna keep him up."
     They headed upstairs and down the hall quietly.
     "Night, Colb," Sam said as he went into his room.
     "See yaaaa" Colby said in his trademark goofy voice.
     They both instantly threw their shirts to the ground and tried to relax after such a horrifying experience only hours earlier. Sam checked his phone for notifications but none were important enough that he had to answer them at the 11:56 pm. Sam sat at the edge of his bed, just recapping everything. He undid his belt buckle and let his pants fall down and climbed into his bed, wearing nothing but his plaid boxers. He went across the room and flipped the light switch off. He climbed under his black and white covers but everything seemed wrong. First, his pillow was too flat and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't fluff it up. Second, he was boiling hot even though it was still hoodie weather. Third, the darkness of the room made him feel alone and vulnerable. His loneliness was the most prominent thing in his mind. Little did he know, but Colby was feeling the same way as he shifted positions restlessly in his room. Sam stood up and walked back to the light switch to turn them on again, the dark was too consuming. He flopped back onto his bed and groaned because now the room was too bright to sleep in. He thought of the lighting in Colby's room and whether it would be worth it to ask if he could sleep on the floor. Even the floor would be more comfortable than his room right now. Plus, he didn't feel good being alone. Sam stood up, preparing to knock on his door and ask if he could sleep on the floor, but then sat back down.
    Colby will think I'm scared of my own shadow, I should just try to sleep...it's already 12:15. He's prob asleep by now, He thought.
     Then Sam heard a loud cough that he recognised as Colby's. There was no logical reason to be worried, but the second he heard that, he was scared that Colby was in danger. He kept telling himself it's just a cough, but he had an instinct to go and save him. Sam thought he would just go ask he was ok and then try to go to sleep.
Sam opened his door with a loud creak and crossed the hall. He had forgotten that he was only in underwear, but he couldn't go back to his room now. Colby had seen him like that before, it wouldn't be a big deal. He knocked on Colby's bedroom door.
     "Come in," Colby said tiredly.
     "Hey dude, I heard you coughing. You ok?" Sam asked as he walked in and sat on Colby's desk chair. He noticed that Colby was also just in underwear, much tighter underwear.
     "Yeah totally fine. I mean I only coughed once" He said and stifled a laugh as he pushed his hair out of his eyes.
     "Ok..fine. No way could I sleep after hearing all those ghosts at the military town. I know I'm usually up to this and..."
     But Colby interrupted him before he could make excuses, "Hey, it's fine. I couldn't sleep either."
     They sat for a second, staring at the floor in silence. This silence was loaded with unasked questions. They both didn't want to be alone, so why not just sleep in the same room?
     Sam made a brave move and asked him, "Could I maybe sleep on your floor for tonight? I just don't want to be alone."
     Colby didn't look surprised at all and said, "Yeah, having another person here might help me sleep too," And then added nonchalantly, "But not on the floor, it's way to uncomfortable. You can sleep in the bed with me. I mean, we've slept in the same bed before for tours."
     Colby couldn't believe what he'd just said. It wasn't planned. Both of the boys hearts skipped a beat. Sam hid his utter disbelief at what his best friend had just suggested, but a part of him knew that sleeping next to him would make him feel safe. They'd slept together out of necessity before, but never because they wanted to.
     Sam stood up out of the chair and Colby pulled away blankets from the other side of the bed to make room for him. He held up the blankets and invited him over and Sam laid down next to him. Sam wrapped the blankets around himself and could feel Colby looking at him. He turned his head and met his gaze. They smiled at each other.
     "Thanks," Sam said, never breaking Colby's eye contact.
Sam's hand was laid flatly on the bed, only about an inch from Colby's. He wanted to hold his hand and feel his warmth. Sam's eyes darted down and broke the meaningful eye contact to non-verbally ask permission, and of course, Colby understood the gesture and looked down with him. Sam entwined his fingers with Colbys and squeezed his hand. Touching each other made them feel secure and confident enough to finally fall asleep to the sounds of each other's breathing. They lay like that, sleeping on their backs, inches apart, holding hands, naked except for underwear, until they both drifted off.