I don't know what to do.
I stood at my bedside. The whole day gone by, the sun slowly going back down and Slender... is still asleep. Still in the warm spot where he once joined me.
"Slenderman" I say his name for the hundredth time.
He does sleep and he needs sleep, more than he knew. Like all that time being awake has strained him unconsciously, and now being unconscious, his body doesn't want to strain anymore.
But when? When will he wake up? I remember the time when I fell asleep beside him. I felt so at peace in that tunnel; enough to fall asleep. Did he feel that way last night? Did I give him peace of mind? Enough for him to fall asleep? "Slender," again, "wake up." Crouching down I cross my arms on the edge of the bed, admiring his paleness. He breathed with nothing yet, he breathed like an animal. How odd, He sleeps like a human, breathes like a beast yet, I could feel it, he dreamt of nothing.
Of course I knew she'd be approaching soon, I'd have to stop her halfway, eliminate the consideration of coming into my room all together. I said I'd protect him, he trusts me, that might be the reason he fell asleep actually. And if she saw him, found him, still here. What would she do? She'd think I'm crazy, literally.
But maybe I am.
I close my door behind me. I head downstairs after checking another not-so-empty room with a snoozing "father" inside. Changing my stride, I try my best in making as little noise as possible. Only one turn left till I discovered her aswell, slumbering in a makeshift bed a.k.a, couch. I'm the only one awake. I take this opportunity and grab something to eat for dinner before heading back upstairs.
As a darker night approached, the logic part of my brain darkened with it. I bring out my sketchbook, while automatically letting Slenderman continue to take my original spot, I sit on the other side. With new songs making me dizzy with imagination, every once in awhile I turn my head thoughtfully to Slender, just checking on him. What am I so worried about?
Eventually my hands find their way to my red curtains. Concealing my room to a more suffocating yet, cozy state. I snap my bra off after changing into a more comfortable shirt; I'm still a little sore after going all last night with it on. Yet, now having him unconscious I feel a lot more comfortable with it off. Swinging around to go turn off my light I figure "Sorry for making it dark on you." But, it couldn't bother him could it? Now that I think about it, does my bright lamp effect his ability to sleep at all? Imagine him waking up tonight thinking it's the night before. And then... only to question why I moved away from him?
-Next Morning-
Somehow, Slender lightly moving my hair out of my face was enough to wake me up. I look up seeing that his position next to mine made it clear that he's been admiring my sleeping structure for a bit. "You're awake." I say right away.
"Did I wake you?" Polite.
"Yeah, but it's okay..." I don't remember but, I was dreaming of something very unpleasant. I wouldn't be surprised if my unsettling sleep finally woke him from his.
"Blaye, how much did I sleep?" I exhale amusingly.
"So you can tell that you slept a lot."
"Apparently so, but how long?"
"Two days." He doesn't say anything, probably letting it sink in. "You okay?" I sit up. He does the same with me.
"...Was I a burden?" He asks with concern ignoring my own. I give a kind of giggle.
"No, not at all. But you worried me there a little."
"Yes..." He sounds drained. Is he still sleepy? Or just... dizzy? "Blaye?" His eyes focused on nothing.
"Yeah?" Casually getting out of bed I go to my wardrobe. I wait for his continuation but, he seems to be thinking still. I put on a plaid long sleeve shirt and button it up; embarrassed of my lack of a bra underneath. Just after finishing the collar button, white hands appear from behind me unbuttoning it.
"I don't look at you like that." I turn as he sits right back on my bed. Look at me... like a teenage boy trying to get a peak? Even though that's not exactly what I was thinking, was it that obvious?
"I- isn't there something you wanted to ask?" I avoid the awkward topic entirely.
"Ah yes, how do I say this?" I take the silence in between to sit next to him. He changes his position to face me more. "I want to take that offer you made for me last night." My offer? "I mean- the night before, about letting me sleep here." Oh yeah. But, then again.
"But then again, I still don't think this is the nicest place to be during anytime of the day." I should have thought of that before suggesting it. Why do we both have sleeping problems? I can't sleep well here because of those two. And he hasn't slept in forever. "Um," I scratch the back of my neck. "There's still the truck like a suggested a while ago. I could bring a couple blankets and we could camp out." What am I saying? Honestly.
"That actually... sounds nice." He totally doesn't think it sounds nice. I laugh to myself. "Sadly, I doubt your mother is going to let you leave anytime soon."
"Why? Is she feeling protective?"
"No... actually rather offended."
"Why offended?" I cross my arms, (still wanting to cover myself.)
"Maybe because now even her daughter seems to know more than her. She wants to be in control."
"Wow..." I didn't see this coming. "Do you think it's still worth a try asking?"
"Definitely not, I suggest you simply sneak out. And I'll get the blankets."
It's not like I haven't sneaked out before. It wasn't long till I saw Slender in the distance waiting for me. His whole form truly complementing the forest in a way I can't explain. Sprinting up next to him the harsh ground under my feet is more welcoming than my own carpet. Without a word we both start heading down the path while pacing ourselves to suit eachother. Now that I wonder-
"So is it just me, or does it seem like I can always see you, while you can choose whether my parents can?"
"That's a good question, I don't like to answer really." My chested gives a slight ache.
"Well give me an idea atleast." As my goal is always an answer, he never seems to have many.
"My guess is... I'm weak around you." Weak. I make him weak.
"Is that all?" I eyeball at him innocently.
"Is that not enough?" He says intently.
"Yeah, I suppose."
"Always so curious, are we?" When am I not?
"Only about you." I say playfully. But is it true? I'm curious of my parent's topics that they argue about. Almost making me long for something else to be curious of. But, now I have Slenderman to be curious about. And the questions will never stop. Well atleast till I... really feel the same way. Oh god, did he hear that? From the night before? "Slender... do you remember what I said to you before you fell asleep?"
"You said something? ...I don't recall you saying anything." He doesn't remember? Because he was tired? Or... is that just how quickly he fell asleep? I'm kind of relieved he doesn't remember though... "What did you say?"
"Oh nothing." I smile, I shouldn't have said it anyway. It was the warm moment that made me.
"Did I miss something important?"
"You could say that." I notice Slender's shoulders lift, then gradually lower. Did he just sigh?
"...You make me wish I'd heard it." I bite my lower lip. Oh I'm sure he would have loved to hear me say those words, if not the deeper ones. I like you; I love you. Both sweet in their own levels of sour. But I can't bring myself to say either, especially again. Not until I know that I mean it. It would be wrong to do so otherwise... It would just be a lie. Well not the, I like you part. I do like him, but do I... like him like that? What's enough to intrigue a genuine, I like you?
"You're such a gentlemen." Thinking of traits that are admirable I apply them to him. But when has he been a gentlemen?
"You really think I'm a gentlemen?"
"Well compared to my dad, you're fair kinder and considerate. Even when you're forceful you have the integrity of knowing when to stop."
"And that makes me a gentlemen?"
"Well no, but you definitely look like one." Slenderman's arm swings around me in a swift movement bringing me closer to him as we strolled.
"I think I have too much bottled up emotion to convey myself as polite." I softly laugh.
"That's one way to put it." Bottled up. Really it's just a more casual way to say he's hiding all of his emotion deep down. And he's done a great job, until me that is. The bottle is leaking; and it stains our relationship. While I get to watch as he becomes more of a feeling mess. As he becomes the guy he originally was; his human personality that he's thrown away. And that's the way he's handled his situation, I guess. He chose who he thought he had to be, a monster. Maybe now he's realizing the other option is okay too.