Eli hated having to call Clare and ask her to come over in the middle of the night, but this was the third night in a row that he was having nightmares about Campbell. He couldn't take it anymore.
It was 2:00 in the morning, but Eli got up anyway and went to his door. He gently creaked it open, looking down the lighted hallway. Bullfrog would be back from the radio station any second, and he would ask him if Clare could come over and spend the night.
She quietly snuck down past the room his mom, Cece, was sleeping in. He went downstairs, and sat in the living room, waiting for his father.
Xxx
Clare's eyes fluttered open as a bright light filled her room. She froze for a moment, before realizing that it was only her phone. She looked at the alarm clock on her nightstand, seeing the numbers 2:16 AM.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she grabbed the phone, answering it without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?" She asked groggily, rubbing her forehead before flopping back down onto her pillows, the phone pressed to her ear.
"Clare?" Eli's voice woke her up, and she quickly sat up again.
"Eli? What's wrong?" She asked.
"I can't sleep again… Do you think maybe you could—"
"I'm on my way," Clare hung up and grabbed her backpack. She threw her hair into a pony tail and left a quick note on the kitchen table, then quietly walked to the front door, locking it, and walking to Eli's house.
Xxx
10 minutes later, Clare was at his door. She gently knocked, and not 10 seconds later, Eli answered, wearing boxers and a skin tight t-shirt. He leaned against the door frame, suddenly feeling tired now that she had gotten here, when just a minute ago, he was wide awake.
"To your room we go?" She whispered, hopping inside and pecking him on the lips.
"To my room we go," He answered, smiling. They tiptoed up the stairs, slowly entering his room, and gently and carefully closing his door.
"Alright, get over here," Clare called, jumping on his bed and diving under the covers after putting her book bag on the floor. Eli smiled and walked over to her, climbing in next to her.
He scooted close to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She nuzzled her face into his chest, and he rested his chin on the top of her head. Their feet twisted together, as did their legs, so they were completely entwined.
"So what happened this time?" Clare whispered as Eli closed his eyes and played with her hair.
Eli sighed heavily, pulling her closer to him. "He was in my room this time… I was lying in bed, and he was… He was just standing there," He shivered, remembering the dream.
Clare snuggled closer to him, placing a sweet kiss on Eli's chest. "It's alright… I'm here now. You're fine," She reminded, looking up into his eyes. She planted a kiss on his lips, before settling back into his chest, both of them closing their eyes and drifting off into a sweet slumber.