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I was at Hannah's place along with three other friends for a sleepover. I was excited after a very long time. We had fun all day, had pizza and ice creams for dinner and by midnight, we decided to watch a horror movie.

After many arguments, we finally concluded that we would watch Annabelle.

The lights of the room were turned off and the door was shut. The only source of light was the screen of the laptop playing the movie that fluctuated from bright to dim. The four of us were sunk in the bed under the warmth of the blanket.

The movie went on with some scenes that made us flinch but we laughed it off while munching on the choco-chunks.

I had always hated dolls. Even barbies. I had never played with them in my childhood either. So the only thing I actually hated or let's say scared me in the movie was obviously, Annabelle.

Not her actions but her appearance.

Soon, when the movie ended, for the millionth time I told my friends how much that doll disgusted me and they all agreed with it.

By almost 3 in the night, we all had drifted off to sleep. At least, that's what I thought.

I was never a very deep sleeper. So while I was in my slumber, I felt the blanket slide down my body, exposing me to the cold. I brought it back to me but it happened again. I stopped caring about it after multiple tries but this time, I was a bit more conscious, although still sleeping.

After a few seconds, a hand slid on my waist, grabbing me tightly. I groaned and shrugged it off thinking it was one of my friends but it circled me again, more tightly this time.

I finally opened my eyes and turned around to see the face of the one who had been disturbing me.

And I almost got a cardiac arrest when I saw Annabelle terrifically grinning at me.

I pushed myself off the bed and screamed in the dark room. All my friends were missing. Just like in the movie, that disgusting creature sprinted towards me in her white dress and I stumbled upon my feet and fell on the ground. Somehow I crawled to a corner and hid my face on my knees, crying in fear.

I could sense it's movement. It hovered over me and I squirmed. It touched my shoulder and screamed loudly.

The lights turned on.

All my friends came running to me and hugged me tightly, making it hard for me to breathe. When they pulled back, I saw their faces. They were guilty about something but they were giggling. They were concerned about me but there was a mischievous glint in their voices. They apologised to me for something but they barely meant it.

I saw 'Annabelle' wiping her face with a tissue and a familiar face appeared to me.

It was Megan, Hannah's younger sister.

It took me a while to realize what had happened.

They had pranked me.

.

.

"Bwahahahahahaaa" A loud laughter echoed in the room and I glared at Adrien who was rolling on the bed while grabbing his stomach.

"Stop laughing, you moron! I had a near-death experience." I hit him with the pillow but he didn't stop.

"Wow! That was hilarious! I wish I could see it live." He laughed even more and I huffed in annoyance.

"I was traumatised." I mumbled.

His laughter slowly died down but he was still grinning like a maniac.

"Oh, Come on. Annabelle wasn't even that scary." I glared at his comment.

"It wasn't until the hideous doll decided to cuddle me to death." I snapped at him and he broke into fits of laughter once again.

"Go to hell!" I threw the pillow at him but he dodged it skillfully.

"Okay, I'll stop. Sorry." He suppressed the rest of his laughter and laid on the bed beside me.

My eyes burned at the need for sleep but I didn't want to. I knew I'd wake up again with another terrific dream. I yawned and covered my mouth with my hand, then rubbed my eyes.

"You look tired. Try sleeping. Maybe you can this time." Adrien said.

"The moment I close my eyes I see some dreadful creatures that probably don't even exist. I don't think I can sleep." I told him and he chuckled.

I ignored because I was too tired to even glare at him.

"You should sleep. I will make myself some coffee then read a novel in your study." I told him as he too looked equally tired. Before I could get up from the bed, Adrien held my wrist.

"I'm all right. You can stay here." He didn't even let me deny and spoke again. "What did you do back then after the Annabelle prank?" He asked me.

"That night I didn't dare to sleep. Neither did I let the others sleep. I cursed them all night." We both chuckled then I continued. "Then for the next few weeks, I slept with mom, snuggling in her embrace. Dad was gone by then." I said with a sad smile, remembering the old good memories.

How I miss her warmth, her embrace, her love.

I sighed softly and Adrien's grip on my wrist tightened, as if telling me that he was there for my comfort.

I looked at him and smiled. "Good night." Before I could go, he stopped me again.

"Wait." I looked at him. He brushed his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat. He wanted to say something but was hesitant. He slowly stretched his arm and patted his bicep. "Lay down."

I looked at him with a questioning and confused frown.

What is he trying to do?

"I can't give you the comfort like your mother did, but I hope this will help." He said and my heart beat faster.

How can someone be so sweet?

I wanted to hug him so tight that he would squeeze in my arms.

"I mean, if it makes you sleep better, I'll be glad to help." He said again and I looked at him with admiration.

Butterflies exploded in my stomach as he looked back at me with hopeful eyes.

"Are you s-sure?" I asked him in case he would like to change his mind. But unlike what I thought, he nodded his head with surety.

"Come on." He settled himself on the bed and I laid on his arm. Our faces were barely an inch away and my heart hammered against my chest as our eyes never left each other's.

Adrien's free hand snaked around my waist and he gently tugged me close. My breath hitched when his breath fell on my nose. He angled his face upwards and placed his lips on my forehead, making me feel giddy.

I couldn't stop my hands from circling themselves around his torso. As if there was a magnetic force, we were being pulled impossibly close to each other. I hid my face in the crook of his neck. The warmth that his body radiated made me have a tingling sensation in my stomach.

I felt secure in his arms. The scary thoughts I kept having earlier were long gone. The only thing all over my mind was Adrien.

The fingers of his hand under my head were fiddling with my hair and when he nuzzled in my neck, I felt the goosebumps rise.

"I like your smell." He whispered softly against my ear. "You smell like peaches."

And you smell like home.

"It's my body lotion." I told him.

I prayed to the heavens above to let me stay in his embrace. Without him around me I would feel lonely and stranded.

The feeling of being in his arms was so soothing that it hurt. It hurt because I was well aware that it wouldn't be for long.

"Good Night." He whispered on the verge of sleeping.

I felt the sleep overpower me as well but before I could doze off, I replied to him.

"Good Night."

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