After Noah woke Jack up, I walk through the hallway to my class.

I'm not too late, but I'm sure Dane will already be there. Just as I head to the stairs, I hear a noise. I frown. No one's supposed to be in the hallways anymore. 

Maybe I should go check?

I walk in the direction of the noise, and see it's from the janitor's closet. Without noise, I open the door and peep through the small crack. Now I hear it's sobbing. Someone's crying in here!.

I turn my head and see the shoes of the person. Exactly the same as..

Dane?

Is he crying in here?

I frown. Should I go? I don't know. If I go, we probably will start talking and end up kissing, making me forgive him. I shake my head and close the door.

I let him cry. Happy with myself, I walk to class and sit down alone. That's a disadvantage, but oh well. I used to sit alone all the time, one time doesn't hurt.

The door slams open and I see it's Dane. He has his hood on his head, but if you look closely, you can tell he broke down. I gather my stuff to make his spot free, but he passes my -our- desk and sits down on the one behind me.

What?

I probably shouldn't, but I turn in my chair, to him. He was staring at his pencil, but then he looks at me with big, wide eyes. I frown and gesture to the chair next to me. He sighs and places his arms on his desk, crossed, then rests his head on them.

I can still see his face, and I see tears leave his eyes again. He's hiding them from me, so I turn back around and leave him alone. His loss. 

Tyson turns around from his desk in front of me, so does Nick, and frowns at the empty spot next to me. I point to Dane behind me, and Tyson waves at him. I roll my eyes, but as I turn around, I catch him staring at me.

He quickly looks down again and starts to mess with his pencil. I sigh, frustrated. If he's staring at me, he could have just sit down next to me, right?

Tyson smiles at me. 'It'll be okay,' he mouths and I nod, but sigh. Nick gives me a wink and gestures to Dane with his eyes. I quickly turn around again, so fast Dane didn't see it coming, and lock eyes with him.

He gulps, but stares at me, looking terrified. I roll my eyes and he sighs, looking down again. Eyes wide with annoyance, I turn around and focus on my work. He's so frustrating and doesn't make sense. Ugh.

Finally, the bell rings and I get up, glad I can leave this awkward class. But just as I'm out of the classroom, someone grabs my arm and pulls me behind the corner. Mad, I turn around to see who just gave me a bruise.

I fall silent when I see it's Dane. His eyes are watery, his hair is messy and he hides his hands in his pocket of the hoodie he's wearing. He looks vulnerable. And it almost makes me melt, but then I remember what Noah said and cross my arms over my chest.

I start tapping with my foot, and he cringes. "I-I," but he doesn't come any further. "You what?" I snap and he closes his eyes, looking down. "I just wanted to tell you that," he breathes in deeply before continuing," I don't expect you to forgive me. I was wrong, and I'm so sorry, but I understand if I hurt you to much. So, I'm not going to bother you anymore. You even can have my friends. I'll sit alone at lunch, I don't care."

He smiles a sad smile, then walks away. He leaves me speechless. Not going to bother me anymore? Sitting alone? 

I sigh, hard. Then, I walk to Noah and Jack. The last two classes we have P.E., with their class. I quickly change, then start telling them.

Noah's eyes widen. "What? He, ugh," he groans frustrated. I see, out of the corners of my eyes, that Dane walks in the gym. 

I punch Noah's stomach and he groans. "Jesus, woman," he sighs painfully. Jack chuckles and gives him a kiss. "Dane is here," I whisper. "But don't look."

And of course, they look. So, I look too and see he's leaning against the wall. He's just twenty feet away, so he can hear everything we say. But I don't think he's listenting. 

He's playing with his fingers, and I see his cheeks are wet again. He's been crying the whole afternoon, it's kinda sad. I almost want to give him a hug, but know he deserves this. 

"Okay, everyone, pair up!" our teacher yells. 

I smile and look around. Noah is with Jack, obviously, Nick and Tyson, so... Oliver? But then Dane is alone...

Oliver approaches to me, and I look around. Dane is sitting now, not looking like he's planning to do whatever coach wants. So, I shrug and smile at Oliver.

"Hi, Willow. Wanna pair up so you don't have to go with Dane?" he asks with a nod in Dane's direction. I nod and smile. "Thanks, Ollie."

He cringes. "Oh God, no. Please don't tell me Ollie is my nick name now," he groans. I giggle and nod. "Nick's nick name is Nicky, and Tyson's is Tissie, like in sissy, but with his name," I giggle.

A smirk darkens his face. "Oh, he'll love that," he chuckles. We see Tyson and Nick and he snickers, then walks up to them. "Hey, Tissie!" he yells. 

And Tyson looks up. Then cringes.

"Oh my God, no, Willow! You said it was just for you," he shouts and I fall on the ground for laughing so hard. I hiccup and see him walk up to me. "Can't keep promises, hm?" He cocks an eyebrow and I gulp.

Uh oh.

He lowers to his knees and starts tickling me. "N-no! Tissie!" I yell and he groans, tickling me even more. I scream. "T-Tyson! S-s-stop!" I shout, but he doesn't.

I can't breath now. I remember I haven't told him I have asthma, so he doesn't know I'm on the edge of fainting right now. "S-stop," I whisper, but my voice is weak.

Suddenly, I feel him stop and I look up, gasping for breath. Dane locks eyes with me, and cups my face in one hand. "Here, your puffer," he whisper, then stands up and sits back in his spot.

Tyson lays down next to me, clearly pushed by Dane. His eyes are wide. "You have asthma?" he asks, and I nod, ashamed. He sighs and shakes his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I shrug. "It's not something to be ashamed of, but," I say and shrug again. He nods. "But you are. Will, you should have told me," he sighs and hugs me. I nod. "Sorry."

He nods and smiles, walking back to Nick. He says something to him, and then I feel both of their eyes at me. I smile and wave, and Nick rolls his eyes.

Oliver approaches to me again and we start working out.

*****

I'm in bed.

Lonely.

Crying.

Why did I listen to Noah and the boys? They aren't the ones who have nightmares without Dane. 

I'm afraid of falling asleep. I just know I'll have nightmares. I sigh, but don't stop crying. I just can't without Dane. It's killing me.

A tap on the window horrifies me. I stiffen. Is it a burglar? Or Dane? I don't know which one I'd rather have.

I slowly turn around, and am slightly relieved it's Dane. But now the nerves are overpowering and I hide under the blanket. I sigh, frustrated with myself. What am I? A child?

So I stand up and open my window, seeing him sit on the roof of our porch. He has a blanket and a book, and some lamp. Huh?

I frown and clear my throat, and he looks up. His gaze goes from confused to startled, and he quickly gets up. "It's- it's not what you think," he mumbles. I arch an eyebrow.

He sighs and looks at his feet, slumping his shoulders. "Okay, maybe it is. But I just knew you'd have nightmares, like last night, and I I just don't want you to suffer. I should be the one who suffers," he explains.

I frown. "Then why are you on my roof?" I ask, and he sighs again. "I wanted to wait until you're asleep, and then hold you in my arms, so you didn't have nightmares. And then leave ten minutes before your alarm, so you didn't know I was there, but also didn't have nightmares. And that plan kinda not worked, so I'll go home now."

I shake my head. "No," I whisper, but he doesn't hear me. "No, Dane," I say, clearer now. He stops, his back to me. But I know he's listening. "Just holding and sleeping?" I ask.

He nods, and turns around to face me. I nod and let him in. "Just holding and sleeping," he repeats and lays down. I nestle on his chest and sigh. 

I'm too happy about this. But I don't care.

***

He moves and wakes me.

I groan and clutch his shirt, then remember and let go. He leaves and I hear my window open and close. 

And not even five minutes after, Noah comes in. "Hey, Willow," he smiles. I smile back. He sits down on my bed. "You didn't have nightmares, did you?"

I shake my head and sit up straight. He looks around in my room, but his gaze stops at something in the corner. I follow his gaze and see it's a shoe of Dane. My eyes widen and I groan, hiding myself under the blanket.

"Willow?" His voice sounds like he can't believe me. I sigh. "I'm sorry. But he came because he thought I would have nightmares without him, which is true, and I said only sleep and hold me, and that's what happened. He just left."

He nods. "Forgave him yet?"  I shake my head and he nods again. "Good."