Reed Van Kamp woke with a thick comforter was twisted around him so he felt like he was trapped, unable to move. His thick strawberry blonde curls and the back of his neck were dampened with cold sweat. He struggled to free his body, but the covers were so expertly twisted around him that he was stuck. Naturally, Reed was in a panic, his breath came hot and heavy. He was panicking and struggling so much that it woke up Kurt Hummel, his roommate.

'Reed!' Kurt said. 'Calm down.'

Kurt turned on his bedside lamp and rushed over to where Reed struggled. Kurt pulled at the comforter until Reed could untangle himself, and Reed sat up, shaken and scared. His expression was blank and zoned out, but his eyes were full of fear. 'Reed.' said Kurt, taking his shoulders and shaking him. When that didn't work, Kurt bit his lip apologetically and slapped Reed. Reed stopped hyperventilating, and stared at Kurt with his wide, sepia-colored eyes.

'I'm sorry, Reed.' Kurt said sincerely.

'No, no.' he replied. 'I needed that.'

It was silent for a minute.

'You ok?

Reed nodded, but Kurt noticed he was twisting his fingers together, which were still stained with pale pastel colors from earlier in the night when he was up working on a still of it clicked. Of course.

'You had a nightmare didn't you?' Kurt asked tentatively.

Reed colored lightly, to where the pale pink color lined his lovely cheekbones in a very pretty way. Kurt allowed himself a moment to stare at Reed. He had never been romantically interest in Reed-nobody was even sure of which way he swung-but it was no doubt that Reed was beautiful. His mass of downy, strawberry blonde curls framed his cute face in the right way, and his warm eyes glowed with inspiration.

'Y-yes.' Reed said, looking down.

'And it was about Shane, wasn't it?' Kurt proded.

Reed's faint color turned into a full on, rose red blush. But he nodded. 'Do you want to talk about it?' Kurt asked his friend, eyes full of sympathy.

Reed ducked his head. 'Well, I was alone in the dark.' he swallowed hard.

Kurt knew Reed was terrified of the dark. 'And I heard somebody whisper

my name. It sounded like Shane's voice, so I followed it.I said 'Shane? Where are you?', and the voice whispered 'This way. Come to

me.' So I kept walking and walking forward. I didn't even know where I was going. But then I stepped forward and the floor gave away into a black pit.' Reed shuddered. 'I fell through, and I grabbed the edge of the floor so I didn't fall.'

Kurt nodded, urging Reed to continue.

'And then a saw a white light. I look to it, and it was Shane. He looked absoluely the picture of perfection.' Reed's eyes went starry and his cheeks flushed.

'Focus, Reed.' said Kurt, snapping his fingers in front of his face. Reed shook himself and continued. 'I yelled for him. 'Shane! Please help me! I'm gonna fall!' but all Shane did was look down at me. 'What was I thinking?' he said. 'Loving you?'

Reed's eyes misted, but he blinked rapidly. 'And then his face became my mothers. She told me how disappointed in me she was. And then it was my father, telling me how much he hated me. Then back to Shane. He stepped on my fingers, and I fell...' Reed's body convulsed in a dry sob. Kurt squeezed Reed's shoulder.

'Shane loves you. You know that. He wouldn't hurt you.'

'Do you-do you think he's ashamed of me?' Reed asked with wide, innocent eyes.

Kurt shook his head.

'Of course not! Reed, any guy-or girl-would be so lucky to have you. I love Blaine, but I'm jealous of Shane sometimes, because he has you.' This made Reed blush. 'Really?'

Kurt nodded. 'Reed, you're AMAZING! You're fun, and creative, and sweet.' Kurt tapped Reed on the tip of his nose in a cute, silly way, and Reed couldn't fight a smile. 'Not to mention, you're pretty damn cute. And I'm not just saying that.'

Reed's blush deepened and his eyes lit up. 'Wow, Kurt! Thanks!' he said, and Kurt knew he had succeeded in making his best friend feel better.

'Do you think you can go back to sleep now?' he asked, not unkindly. 'Its only 3am, and I'm tired.'

Reed smiled and nodded as Kurt straightened his bed sheets out again. 'Good night, Kurt.' Reed said as Kurt turned off the lamp and settled beneath his covers.

'Sweet Dreams, Reed.'

It actually took Reed awhile to fall back to sleep. Eventually, he got up quietly and pulled open the curtain. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he stared up at the night sky. It was full to capacity with stars and a silvery crescent moon, and the effect was so beautiful, Reed forgot to breathe for a minute. When he finally caught his breath, he smiled a little at his own silliness and sat on the window there Reed sat, staring at the stars and thinking about all the things that made him happy until he fell asleep. The feel of a paintbrush in his hands and the smell of paint, helping Kurt pick out the outfits he would wear on dates with Blaine, being tickled, the movie 'Rent'. But mostly, he thought about Shane. The feel of Shane's hair against his face, Shane's laugh. And that night, sitting in that window sill, Reed Van Kamp fell into a peaceful sleep with a smile on his lips