Our Tainted Dream

Eleven: More Than Acquaintances

One memory lost, another one given.

I wake up in cold sweat, my heart beating faster than a galloping horse. The tightness around my throat and chest is no longer there, replaced by a hollow feeling after a nightmare.

A hand rests on my forehead, stroking lightly with its thumb. I almost fall back asleep but jolts up when I realize whose lap I'm sleeping on.

Gray pushes me back down, her hand now closing my eyes. "Sleep, Reid. It's three in the morning." She whispers, hands travelling from my closed eyes to my forehead, stroking my hair.

I relax against her touch, letting my mind wander somewhere far away. Until it comes back. "Shit," I curse, quickly standing.

Her eyes snap towards me, eyebrows raised. "What's wrong?" She asks, rather worried. "You've never cursed before, what is it?"

I groan, rushing towards the kitchen and rummaging through the fridge. "Reid?" she calls as I bring out a plate.

"I was on your lap for a while. You haven't eaten dinner yet. Or have a proper lunch, or—"

She laughs, standing on her toes as she ruffles my hair, almost making drop the plate.

Fucking tell me beforehand I have a soft heart.

Yea, no I don't.

"Kei handed me a snack while you were snoozing off. Besides, I was the one who you put you on my lap."

Then she takes a step back, almost flinching as she does so. "Ah crap. Um... sorry for being a bit touchy. Most people hate me for that uh... I'm not trying to be sexual or anything I just—"

I pat her head, shushing her midsentence. "You just love cuddles and hugs and fuzzy sweaters?" I laugh quietly, proceeding to make a sandwich on the counter.

"Yes." She murmurs.

She just stares as I make the sandwich, back resting against the counter as she observes. "Honestly, I don't mind. You know? I've never really had someone to give me hugs—"

"Other than your mum?"

I hum out a yes. "I forgot that it feels... nice." I smile, warmth spreading in my chest. Hell we're barely friends.

She giggles in her hand, reaching to pat my head but stops midway, waiting for my permission to do so.

I lean a bit, granting her permission as she ruffles my hair into different directions before fixing it all back. "You're so pure, Reid."

"Gray, get a room—"

"Sleep you lil fu—" Gray almost curses, clearing her throat at a slouched Kei on the armchair, half asleep with his green eyes half lidded.

"Honestly though, I wish I had a girl like him. Willing to make a sandwich even at three in the morning while making out in the kitchen—"

Gray throws a penny at his direction, her pocket flopping out from the speed she puts into pulling it out. It hits Kei's head, making him groan as he slips and falls on the floor.

I curse myself for smirking at that.

"I love you, Kei. You're like my brother. But no way am I letting you take my sandwich." Kei groans as I plop the sandwich on the plate, handing it over to Gray.

"I wanted the man not the sandwich—

"Wait, no. I said I want a girl like him. Like, like him—" I raise one brow, "What are you raising your eyebrows for?" He murmurs, a bit of suspicion laced in his tone.

Gray laughs, taking a bite of her sandwich. "That brow means no sandwich for you goldilocks."

Kei frowns, crossing his arms childishly. "But a dad needs to feed his son." Gray's eyes snap towards me, head tilted as I flush a pink shade. "I've never even been in love. Getting married?"

I proceed on making another for Kei.

"I mean, Gray's available." He mutters.

I automatically stop, looking at him in confusion, Gray choking on her sandwich. "Aren't you two in a relationship?"

Three seconds of silence pass.

I'm so sorry—

Kei bursts into laughter, Gray's cheeks completely flushed. "What's so bad about me?" She murmurs, not expecting a reply from the dying boy.

"I mean... I'm sorry if I'm surprised?"

Kei wipes an invisible tear with a finger, gasping a breath of air before wheezing in his seat. "Gray can be a total sass sometimes. But she ain't a hoe that touches every man she sees for hugs and cuddles when she's in a relationship.

"And when she's interested in something, she touches it."

I turn just in time to see Gray too distracted, poking a button on the side of my arm. A hook in case I want to fold my sleeves.

"You see what I mean?"

Gray quickly pulls her finger away, face flushed red. "Then you better not be interested in fire or electrical circuits." I laugh, not realizing the smile forming on my lips until I stop.

"Oh my god, Reid." Gray calls, looking at my face with raised brows.

I look at her, tipping my head as hum out a 'yes?' She quickly shakes her head, smiling to herself before taking the other plate of sandwich from my hands, heading over to a hungry Kei.

"Thanks," He beams, sending a smile my way. I nod my head, waving of an overdramatic Kei as he sniffs. "I shall remember this 'till my last breath—"

"Kei it's a sandwich." I murmur.

"It's a sandwich made of love." Gray laughs, jumping on the boy as she fits herself onto the small armchair, squishing Kei beneath.

He chokes on the air, wiggling to free himself before giving up and proceeding to eat his sandwich.

"Oh and," Gray stands, making Kei sigh in relief. She strides to her room, after a while coming back, gesturing for me to sit on the couch.

She grabs my hand, putting something inside, small and cold. "I saw it in your pocket when I was about to wash your clothes. Thought it might be something important."

I smile, hand starting to shake as I hold the piece of metal in my palm. The burn marks wept clean, the broken chain replaced with a new one. "Reid?" She calls, tipping her head.

"Thank you." I mutter, lightly grazing at the picture inside. "Reid, don't—don't cry oh god Kei help me."

Kei smiles, shaking his head. "Let him have his time. Those are tears of Joy, Gray."

Gray takes a while for her lips to curve upwards, her hand gently wrapping around mine, shielding the pictures from my dropping tears.

"Damn it, Reid why do you have to be so nostalgic? It makes me sad." She mutters, laughing afterwards before smiling at my shaking hands.

"I 200% agree with the lady." Kei exclaims.

I shake my head, the tears starting to dry as I only stare, a smile painting my lips as I brush my thumb against mum's picture; against mine. Gray laughs another quiet laugh, "He's just too pure."

I feel her hand ruffling my hair, rubbing my cheeks here and there.

"BEEP BEEP SEXUAL HARRASSMENT!"

Gray grabs a pen on the coffee table, throwing it at the boy across.

"You mood killer!" She huffs out, puffing her cheeks at him as he laughs aloud.

For a while, I close my eyes.

I close my eyes and I don't think.

I close my eyes and don't see anything, only the darkness that soothes everything that is wrong. I block all the voices that hiss in my head. I block them all but the laughter of Gray and Kei.

Will it stay?