When I woke up, I felt weird. I turned to my side to see Pete laying there, on the couch, his eyes clenched, and his eyebrows twitching. I stood up quickly, looking over at the alarm clock to see it was one fifty. I sat next to him and rubbed his back to try and make his nightmares go away. Once he became relaxed, I went back to sleep, hoping for this all to end when I woke up in the morning. That I would wake up to Mom making pancakes and Pete in my arms, hoping for all of this to go away and that the streets would be safe again.
"Shit!" I jolted upwards, looking over at Pete who was sitting there, just woken up out of a dream.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Oh, sorry I woke you... Maybe Patrick should come in here instead," he started to stand up and walk away, but I grabbed his sleeve and sat him next to me, patting the spot beside me.
"No, it's okay. What's wrong?" I rested a hand on his thigh.
"Just dreaming."
"Pete," I started.
"How did it happen?" he finished.
"Y-Yeah, how did you know?" I asked, shocked at his knowledge.
"I was eighteen. Young. Dumb. I was out during the swarming and I was being cocky and was like 'oh yeah, I can take these bitches' but... I couldn't. Brendon was my best friend... My boyfriend even. And he was making out with me, but I didn't know- and," he stuttered, his eyes glazing over with tears.
"Pete, I'm so sorry," I hugged him and he hugged back. He felt almost warm. Normal, even.
"Me too," he sighed, sniffling onto my shoulder.
"We'll get them back," I reassured, releasing and looking at him.
"I don't know, William brainwashed him and he'll never be the same. We have to outsmart them."
"What if we play their game? We become Dandies? We steal Urie?" I suggested.
"I'd love that. We have to stick together. The others will not find out," he smiled and I laid back down, exhausted.
"Oh, well, uh, goodnight, Syd."
"Night," I hugged him again and got under my covers. Later on in the night, I opened my eyes a little and felt arms wrapped around me, legs curled under mine. I smiled and snuggled closer to him. Jesus, he's my favorite. He's pretty good at snuggling too. He should stay here all the time.
"Anytime you wanna snuggle," he groaned. I giggled, remembering he knows practically what I'm thinking.
"Thanks Pete," I smiled and we both fell asleep.
Pete was up, I heard him moving around.
"Morning, beautiful," he said, lifting me to my feet and sending me out the door with him.
"Morning," I smiled. It was nine, early as hell. The sun was out, the white walls glowing.
"Why are you up? It's way too bright," I started shoving him back to his room.
"I'm okay," he grinned. I let go of him and went to find Patrick.
"SYDNEY!" He called, pulling me into his room and dragging me to his desk.
"Yeah?" I laughed.
"I found something. Pete doesn't have to be a vampire anymore. He'll drink this, take this, and we'll make him a human again. He can love again. He can feel again," he sighed.
"Wow. You're sure this works?"
"Foolproof."
"Oh my, he'll be so excited!"
"Shh. It's his birthday present. He'll be twenty one. His biggest birthday. All vampires, gone. Happy birthday to Pete."
I ran out, talking to Pete about our plan from last night and he said tonight was the night and that I should be ready by ten. The day passed in a blur... it was time.
