Insomnia
Clare yawned, her hand flying up to cover her mouth.
"Am I really that boring?" asked Eli, wearing an expression of fake hurt. He put a hand over his heart, and pretended to be offended.
"Usually, yes." Teased Clare.
"My ego says 'thanks' for, y'know, crushing it. " he smirked.
"But I'm just tired. I can't sleep these days." continued Clare.
"So, you're an insomniac now?" asked Eli before he lifted the mug of coffee to his lips and took a long sip.
"Maybe." She replied. She shuffled her notes and tried to focus.
"Good to know I'm not the only one." He murmured to himself.
"What?" asked Clare, looking up at him. She couldn't hear what he'd said over the roar of the Dot, where they were studying for an upcoming English test.
"I said, uh, what's it like?" he asked.
"Well, you're tired. But you just can't sleep. Instead, your mind is racing with thoughts. Random ones. And no matter how hard you try, you can't shake them." She explained, before going back to her notes.
Clare had forgotten to mention the awareness, Eli thought to himself. The deafening roar of the silence. And once the thoughts stop, even if it's for a brief moment, you realize how alone you truly are. He hated insomnia.
Eli was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed Clare fall asleep. Right now, her head was on her book and she looked peaceful. He could really study her now. And when she was asleep, all the pain and bitterness melted away. She looked even more innocent and sweet. He hadn't even thought that was possible…
I'm such an Edward, he thought. So, he turned to his notes. Little Blue Eyes needed her sleep; he wasn't going to wake her up. He was deep in studying when her heard Clare murmur, "Eli."
He put down his notes, thinking she was awake. She wasn't. Clare Edwards had just said his name in her sleep. He grinned.
Maybe insomnia wasn't such a bad thing after all.