Standing Up With Love

Chapter 2

Will sat with his back against the wall, his hand rubbing his throat as he watched the girl start to have a nightmare. He wasn't sure what it was from, but it looked pretty nasty. When tears started to stream down her face, he finally woke her up in hopes to help make sure they wouldn't come back.

"Are you okay?" he asked, not moving from his spot in fear that he'd scare her more than she already was. "My name's Will. I saw you were having a nightmare."

The girl sat up with red-rimmed eyes and a running nose. "Why are you in my room?"

"I saw you crying." Will sat cross-legged. "You were having a nightmare?"

She nodded. "About mom dying."

Will frowned sadly. "Oh... Is it different each time?"

She nodded. "Every night it changes... If I tell my dad he gets sad."

"That's cause he cares about you," Will explained. "He doesn't like to see you sad. But you should still tell him so he can help... What's your name?"

"Octavia," she answered quietly. "I hate it."

"Why? I think it's pretty." Will replied. "It's different than everyone else's. That's good."

"My sister can't say it," Octavia muttered. "She calls me Octa. And people look at me weird when I tell them. I want to change it."

"Maybe you can when you get older." Will wrapped her blanket around her shoulders when he saw that she was shivering. "But your parents named you that for a reason. They really like it and think it's pretty."

"Yeah..." she kept the blanket close. "Do you live here?"

Will nodded. "So does Nico. He's my...friend. Special friend."

Octavia giggled. "That's what dad says about mom."

Will smiled. "I guess so."