A DAY LIKE THIS
Elbow
Suggested by: Peachie X
.:.
Tyler shot up in bed, ripping himself from sleep. He was gasping in his sweat soaked skin. He brought his hands up, shaking in front of his eyes. They were clean. He couldn't believe it. He flipped them both ways, examining every centimeter of skin, still gasping. He ran his hands over his face roughly, letting the tips dig in for a second. The dream was still so fresh, still so real. It should not be possible. The sun was creeping in under the curtains. Just a dream. Only a dream. Not real. Not real. He couldn't convince himself. He could still feel the blood soaking his hands. He could still smell it. Tyler could even still hear Jeremy's gasp. The perfect 'o' of surprise his lips had formed in death. He tore the sheet away before getting out of bed. The dream was still there, pressing on his lungs, slowing his heart. He had to make sure. Right now, he had to go and make sure that Jeremy was okay. He pulled on clothes as he ran out the door, not bothering with shoes. He ran, the panic fueling his adrenaline. He arrived before he'd even decided what to do. The sky was sill pink with dawn and he had no doubt that no one in the house was awake yet. He crossed the lawn and planted his feet before jumping. Jeremy's window was the first one he got to but looking in wasn't enough. Sleeping he might as well have been dead. He wrapped on the window impatiently. Jeremy didn't move. Tyler knocked again, louder. He pulled a pillow over his head. Tyler sagged in relief, nearly falling off the roof in the process. He regained his footing and looked in again. Jeremy was sitting up, clearly confused. Half of his hair was pressed vertically on the side of his head. Any other time Tyler would have laughed. He was debating what exactly to do when Jeremy looked over at him. And leaving was no longer an option. Jeremy frowned and got out of bed before crossing to the window and opening it.
"Tyler? What are you doing here?"
"Um." Shit. There wasn't really any good possible lie for this. He hadn't thought of that.
"Please don't tell me you were looking for Elena's room."
"What?" Tyler frowned, "God no." That was just…wrong. "You gonna let me in or what?" Tyler wasn't sure exactly how he did that, flip the situation around so that he was somehow in control. Apparently it was just what he did when he panicked.
Jeremy frowned, shook his head, and stepped back. He crossed back to his bed and sat down as Tyler came in.
"You gonna tell me what's going on?" he questioned with a yawn.
"I had a nightmare," Tyler admitted, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I had to make sure you were okay."
"You had a nightmare about me?" Jeremy questioned, eyebrows arching.
"Sort of." Neither of them spoke for a minute.
"So…is that it?" Tyler bit his lip. He couldn't put his finger on it but he didn't want to leave yet. Eventually he shrugged.
"I don't know. I just was freaking out and I had to get here but you're okay so…I don't know." Jeremy nodded slowly, blinking a few times.
"Well thanks for checking on me I guess."
"It really scared me," Tyler admitted on a whisper. "I never thought about what would happen if something actually happened to you."
"Tyler, I'm okay."
"I know," Tyler scratched his head, "I know that. I don't know. Sorry I woke you up." He wasn't making any sense. He really couldn't even think straight. Talking to Jeremy was such a stark contrast from the dream he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. He'd been so worried. Why? He knew as soon as he woke up that it was a dream so why did he have to run over here and see Jeremy? Tyler knew he didn't kill him. Knew he couldn't kill him really. He knew because he'd tried once. Jeremy was still alive. Tyler was still hard pressed to find a time he'd ever been more scared though. It didn't make any sense. He used to think he hated him. Obviously not. He looked back at Jeremy. It hit him then. He sank to his knees with the sudden weight of it. He was scared because he didn't hate Jeremy. He didn't hate him at all. "I killed you," he whispered. "There was blood everywhere. And you were dead." Jeremy watched him silently, lips pursed in thought. Tyler wondered how he could have been so blind. Slowly he reached out with both hands, framing Jeremy's face. He was alive. He was perfect. He was everything. He leaned forward and kissed Jeremy deeply, drinking from his lips. He pressed closer at the same moment Jeremy did. Jeremy's hands tangled in the neck of Tyler's shirt, pulling him closer still. Tyler traced Jeremy's face before letting his hands drop to the sheets, fisting there. "I'm sorry," Tyler gasped out, kissing him between the words, "for everything."
"It's okay," Jeremy responded, holding Tyler's chin. "I'd go through it all again for today." Tyler smiled slightly as Jeremy kissed him.