"How's he doing now that his parents are here?" Luna asked.

In a subconscious manner, I turned to look at my bedroom door, as if expecting to see right through it into Carson's room. I turned back to look at Dylan and Luna, sprawled out on my bed lazily, their full attention on me and my answer.

I sighed, "He doesn't really say much about it, but it's obvious they have an estranged relationship.

Dylan rolled his eyes. "It's always been like that. They've never been a close family. Personally. I've never been the biggest fan of his parents.

"Do you think he's gonna be okay?" Luna asked.

I nodded, "He's learning how to handle his emotions in a more healthy way– therapy and all. Really, I think with everything, he just needs a bit of time to process."

"And how are you?" Dylan asked.

"It's not really about me."

"No, but you have been Carson's main support system. That has to take a toll."

I shrugged, "I care about him. I'll do whatever he needs."

"Right, so have you told him that yet?" Dylan asked.

"Told him what, exactly?"

"That you 'care' about him," Luna finished.

"No, that would be insensitive. What do you want me to say to him? 'Hey, my condolences about your sister. By the way I maybe kind of like you.'?"

"So when are you going to tell him?"

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not sure I will."

"Madeline," Dylan started, in a tone that warned me I was about to get lectured. "If you don't plan on telling him, then you need to stop giving him hope. You need to remove yourself before he gets seriously hurt."

"I know. Now can we please drop it?" I said, fighting back a yawn.

Dylan and Luna shared a look, but agreed.

It was like one in the morning after all, and I was getting tired. The least of my current worries was telling Carson about what I felt toward him, not when he already has so much to deal with.

Part of me felt guilty that we were all in here, talking and laughing and carrying on, while Carson was in the room right next door. As expected, he hasn't really been all that sociable lately, and has put a bit of distance between himself and all of us for the past week.

Luna and Dylan had quieted down, both beyond tired but too stubborn to actually go to bed. I turned off the bedside lights, hoping to encourage them to settle down and give into their own yawns.

Dylan was the first one out, snoring the second he decided he put his head to the pillow. I looked over to Luna, her blinks becoming longer and at shorter intervals. She opened her mouth lazily to mumble a "goodnight" in my direction.

"Goodnight."

* *

Inwardly groaning, I climbed out of bed, and tried not to grimace at the ungodly hour that flashed on the clock. I needed out of this room.

"Maddie? Is that you?" I turned around and saw Dylan looking up from the pillow. I was half-startled, part of me having forgotten that Dylan and Luna were here.

"Yeah," I whispered back to him. "I'm fine, just need a glass of water. Go back to sleep."

Dylan nodded and closed his eyes again, once again effortlessly falling asleep.

I left the room slowly, trying to make out what was in front of me in the dark. I closed the bedroom door behind me gently, and assessed my surroundings in the hall. I didn't exactly have a reason to get out of bed at three in the morning.

"Maddie?" A voice called out, just as soon as I had opened the door. I thought I had been quiet.

"You're awake?" I asked.

"Yeah. Can't sleep."

"I couldn't either," I said.

Carson held up the bed sheets, signaling for me to join him. I smiled and gladly got in his bed.

"Madeline Spencer unable to sleep? How unlikely; this must be your sad attempt to get into bed with me." I could practically see the smirk on his face.

"Is that a joke? Are we making jokes now"

"Maybe," he responded. "Why couldn't you sleep?"

"Nothing, I just... had a bad dream."

"Aw," he said sarcastically. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the monsters." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest, clearly mocking me.

"You're mean."

"That's my middle name."

"What is your middle name?"

"What is your middle name?"

"Ryan."

"That's a boy's name."

"Try telling my parents that. Now, back to you."

He sighed, "Reed."

"Reed?" I tried to hold back my laughter.

"Yes, you dare make fun of it, and you'll regret it."

I laughed, "Good thing I'm too tired to. But tomorrow, I won't hold back."

"Mhm, alright."

I struggled to keep my eyes open, not wanting to be the first to give into sleep. "Reed," I laughed again.

"Sweet dreams, Princess," Carson said, ignoring me.

He kept me tight against him, not loosening his grip at all. His face was only a few inches away from mine, and if I just pushed my head up a bit, we'd be kissing.

I continued to stare at him. His face had relaxed; there was no frown pulling at his lips, and his eyebrows weren't angled downward, and the angry lines on his forehead disappeared.

Five minuted passed. Then ten.

"Are you awake?" I whispered.

"No."

"Carson, I-" I cut myself off.

He opened one his eyes, "Yes?"

"Nothing," I shook my head. "Never mind, sorry."

"Alright," he said. "Goodnight."

I need to grow up.

* * *

"Hey, lovebirds. Get up!"

I groaned and opened my eyes just enough to see a sliver of my surrounding without being blinded by the morning light. Before turning to see who had decided to wake me, I quickly assessed the situation.

I was surrounded by a comfortable warmth.

My head was buried into Carson's bare chest, my ear pressed so tightly against him that his heartbeat flooded through my head. Our legs were completely entangled, and one of Carson's arm was tightly wrapped around me and resting over my shoulder. My arm was under his, and I had let it fall lazily in between his shoulder blades, just barely brushing his skin. My sweatshirt had ridden up, our stomachs bare against each other. Warm. I felt warm.

I already had my guess as to who had woken me up. Once I had gathered myself, I turned to confront Dylan and Luna.

I sat up, allowing Carson's arms to limply fall down around my waist.

"How was your glass of water, Maddie?" Dylan asked sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever. Let's go."

"What, you're gonna leave your boyfriend to a cold, empty bed?" Luna laughed. I turned and looked down at Carson, who was still sleeping soundly.

Luna and Dylan were busy making jokes with each other and snickering. Right now, I hated both of them.

"Sorry, let me rephrase that. You two go. I wanna go back to sleep."

"Aw, you're no fun," Luna pouted. "But fine, we'll go."

I checked the clock and found it to be barely 8 in the morning. I was still so tired and wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, back to the warmth.

I pressed myself back against Carson's chest, trying not to disturb him in any way. I think my efforts were futile, however, because once I had accomplished my mission, Carson tightened his arms around me. He was probably awake the entire time. Unlike me, though, he was smart enough to ignore Luna and Dylan.

"I didn't know I was upgraded to boyfriend status," Carson mocked. His eyes were still closed but that smile had found a way to his face.

"Shut up," I laughed. "It's too early for this."

"You're the one who invited them over."

"Excuse me for being hospitable. And thinking they would be nice guests."

He let out a deep, raspy chuckle that sounded through his throat.

I yawned, "Can we go back to sleep?"

"Yeah, let's go back to sleep."

I let it be quiet for a moment, contemplating if I really wanted to go through with this.

"Carson?"

"Hm?"

"What are you doing today?"