[ E P I G R A P H ]

For the last month you have been couch surfing; after being evicted from your apartment, you've been slipping from house to house looking for a place to stay. After falling from your best friend Emily's house, to your mothers, to your grandparents, your cousins, you were finally at the last person on your list. There was no turning back. You'd already knocked on the door.

[ E N J O Y ]

You waited nervously for the door to open, secretly praying that Tom was home. It was a Friday night, and it was rare Tom stayed home at the horizon of a weekend. Never the less, you were still there on the doorstep, bags in your hand as your nervously tapped your foot against the concrete slabs.

To your surprise, the door opened to reveal a underdressed Thomas, standing rather worried and confused. You couldn't help but break down, not crying or screaming, but crumbling in silent desperation.

"Y/N, are you ok?" He asked, opening the door until it smacked the wall harshly and invited you into his arms, your nose pushing against his bare collar bone. His familiar scent was still present, despite the lack of clothing on his upper body. "I- got evicted" you sighed, feeding into his body heat after being attacked by the cold for so long. He let out a deep sigh before inviting you inside, picking your bags up behind you and following you in.

You naturally trailed off into the living room without hesitation; over the years, Toms house had basically become your second home. You sat down on the couch, trying to evaluate everything that had happened over the past week.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tom asked as he slipped on a t - shirt before seating himself next to you. You shook your head, rolling your fingers through your tangled hair. "I didn't want you to worry?" You shrugged, not giving into an honest answer.

"Y/N what else am I here for?" He sighed contently, wrapping his arm around you. "You can crash here if you need to" he smiled as you leaned against him. There was always a home in Tom, whether it be in times of joy or sadness. He was here. Always, here.

The night had passed quickly, conceiving of you and Tom watching various horror movies liked The Conjuring 2, Lights Out and Don't Knock Twice. However, time had passed too fast and Tom has headed to bed, leaving you dangerously alone with your own thoughts.

It wasn't Toms fault, he was tired, and you weren't. There- leaving you alone in the night to think in the demeaning whiteness of the living room. Your knees were tucked against your chest and the blanket was discarded to the floor, leaving you without the familiar scent of Tom.

After looking over at the clock and realising you had been sat awake for almost three hours since Tom left, you decided to jump the gun a little and head upstairs to Toms room. With every step brought a new reason or scenario of Tom rejecting you and telling you to sleep downstairs alone. You'd been friends since college, and were open and comfortable with each other. But you'd never shared a bed, and that's not weird.

You found yourself at the top of the stairs, looking back and forth between his foot and the staircase. "Get a grip" you sighed to yourself before gripping the metal handle between your fingers.

"Y/N?" You heard Toms name before even twisting the handle. Your heart skipped a beat as the frame opened in front of you, leaving you stood in the doorway. Tom sat up in bed, his hair sticking out in several directions, and yet he looked so inviting.

"I'm sorry- I can't sleep. Can I uh- can I sleep in here?" You asked, fumbling with your hands. Tom smiled, nodding and pulling back the bed sheets. You walked over gingerly, setting yourself stiffly on the bed before Tom brought you down towards him, his hand wrapping around your waist. Your breath hitched at the sudden contact, the sudden toughness making you jump.

"Sorry, did I-"

"N-No- I've just never really... Slept with a boy before so I guess I'm kinda nervous" you blushed, and if it weren't for the dimmed lights you'd be slightly more embarrassed.

"Oh, uh, well it's only me"

"That's the problem" you whispered under your breath, and as if the devil was with you, Tom managed to hear it.

"Was that an insult or a compliment?" He asked, propping himself up on his arm. You ground your teeth together, swallowing before rolling over and ignoring the question.

Tom sighed, understand the situation before settling down into his pillow and encasing you once again in his strong arms. This time it was much slower, and you became one under the heavy quilt.

For the next six hours you felt the most content you had in your life, warmth, a roof over your head and your best friend right beside you.