A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

When All You Got Is These Four Walls It's Not Hard To Feel So Small

Kellin has nightmares again. I wake up to hear him crying in the middle of the night. The sound is painful to hear, a lump forming in my throat. I cross the room, reaching over to shake him awake. Thankfully, this time he wakes up quickly, blinking at me groggily.

"Hey," I whisper. "You okay?"

He nods, sitting up quickly, so he's facing me. His eyes are glistening slightly as he blinks rapidly.

"Nightmares again," he whispers.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask, knowing he won't.

As expected, he shakes his head. "Not know," he mumbles. I don't want to press him, so I nod, getting up to leave.

"Can you stay here?" he asks. He blushes as he says it, hurrying on. "it's just easier when there's someone else with me, and I'm not alone," he mumbles the last part, as if he is embarrassed.

I nod. "Yeah. Of course. Anything you need."

The bed creaks as I lie down next to him, hearing him shift over on the small bed to give me more room. It's still cramped though; he's practically lying on top of me. The thought makes my face heats up. I'm glad he can't see me from where he's lying.

"Thank you," he whispers.

"No problem," I reply. "I don't mind."

"No one's ever been so nice to me before," he mumbles. My stomach twists at his words, disgust filing me. Why haven't they? I'm just being a good roommate and friend. A part of me wonders if he meant to say that or not—since he is half asleep. But before I can ask him, he's asleep.

Lying there, next to him, I'm suddenly aware of everything. The way his body is pressed against mine. The way his shirt rides up slightly, revealing just a sliver of pale skin. I want to wrap him in my arms and hold him, but I'm not sure how he'll react, so I don't. I opt to listen to his breathing until I drift off into sleep as well.

But I wake up in the morning, finding my arms around him anyway.

---

When afternoon comes around, all I can do is worry about Kellin as I'm standing in the room. They gave me a day off today—not sure if I should be concerned or not about that.

The door flies open, and I jump to my feet, expecting to see an injured Kellin stumbling in, but Mr. Styles walks in instead.

I tense as his gaze travels around the room. There's no way he could have found out about my trip to Jack and Alex's, right? Is he coming to tell me something happened? Is Kellin alright?

"Glad to see you're doing well, M-37," he says. "Your results have improved." Have they? I haven't noticed a difference at all.

"We're glad you can put in the effort," he says, grinning at me. As if they don't threaten to beat me or lock me in the Dark Room if I don't comply. As if I have a choice. "We weren't certain after M-26 if you would—"

"Don't." The word comes out less of a shout and more of a choked whisper.

I swear Mr. Styles smiles at my reaction. "Well, M-49 hasn't been doing well," he says. I tense at the mention of Kellin's number. I swear, if they did something to him again, I'll—

"We are hoping that since you have experience with this, you can guide him into being more cooperative and willing to work." I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from exploding. Guide him? It's not his fault he can't access his powers. How in the world am I supposed to do this?

"I don't know what you want me to do," I say quietly, keeping my gaze trained on the floor.

"Do I have to remind you what happens if you don't?" I don't know whether it's meant to threaten my safety or Kellin's, but either way, I know I can't let it happen.

I shake my head, and he smiles. "Good," he says. "I hope to see some progress." With that, he leaves, slamming the door behind him and letting me sit with an impossible problem to solve.