First time away
Laurie couldn't sleep.
He'd travelled a lot, he'd spent time in several different places, never having any trouble to fall asleep in an unfamiliar bed, but… that was before he'd moved to Concord. Now, he was away from that town for the first time since he'd gone to live with his grandfather.
He was in a double room at the Harvard College.
He was laying on a hard mattress, gazing at the ceiling, hoping it would be morning soon so he could get up and do something –anything- to distract himself.
He was listening to his new roommate, Andrew Davis, snoring lightly.
He wasn't sleeping next door to Jo anymore. In the morning, he wouldn't be able to call her from the window, ignoring Brooke's lectures.
It hurt almost as much as knowing that Jo was, instead, probably sleeping soundly, not caring about his feelings.
He rolled over and tried to think of anything but Jo. Yes, he'd better focus on the thought of the following day's lessons. He wondered what they would be like.
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Jo couldn't sleep.
Her best friend had left that day to attend Harvard and, as happy as she felt for him, a small part of her was being egotistical and wishing he didn't have to go away.
She wished she could still greet him in the same playful manner she did every morning, or tell him about her ideas for a new play…
Jo sighed. No, she wouldn't cry. There was no reason to. She would see Laurie soon, Harvard wasn't far. And she wasn't a weak little girl, she wouldn't cry. She wouldn't cry for her father when he was away fighting, why would she do that for her friend that was only a short distance away, safely secluded behind college doors?
Despite these thoughts, a tear slowly made her way down her cheek. She angrily wiped it away. She missed her boy already and he had only been away for less than 24 hours.
She tried to fall asleep, convincing herself Laurie surely wasn't wasting any sleep over her.
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"Teddy! You're back!"
"Of course I am! I was so eager to see you all, a couple of weeks away from Concord seem such a long time." He cleared his throat, wishing he hadn't admitted he was homesick. He was a man and men never feel lonely, or at least never say it out loud. If anything, Jo was supposed to be the one who confessed to that sort of things, but he knew her and she'd never do it, not even under torture.
"Are you only staying for the weekend?" Jo asked, letting him inside the house, impatient.
"Yes." Laurie nodded and followed her inside the familiar living room he loved so much. He had so many things to say and he didn't know where to start from, the way she made him feel, so content, so fulfilled, was unbelievable.
"Laurie, you're back!" Amy ran into the room and hugged him. "I missed you! We all do, Jo complains every day that she wants to come to Cambridge and see you!"
The boy smiled and glanced at Jo. Maybe he was just imagining it, but she looked a bit redder in her cheeks. "Do you?"
"I only said a couple of times that I'd like to visit Harvard and see what a fine school it is." Jo mumbled, suddenly quiet. "Amy, leave Teddy alone, he must be tired."
Laurie felt better. Maybe Jo really cared and missed him too. He felt warmer and happier at once and he was sure it wasn't because of the heat spread by the crackling fire.