Hello again! So…it's almost time for school once more. I just hope I'll have enough time to write between the craziness of senior year. But it's a week away yet, so for now please enjoy the next chapter!
I woke up at 3:00 a.m., lying on my back and floundering out of an all-too familiar nightmare.
My body was shaking and my pillow was damp with cold sweat and possible tears. I wiped my face with my hand, sighing wearily. It wasn't like I hadn't expected this to happen after dropping off to sleep. The last thing I could remember was hearing Sandy typing on his laptop. The sound was soothing somehow, and I'd fallen asleep. He'd stopped since then, but for some reason I could still see light coming from his bed. I turned all the way over and faced his side of the room. His face was illuminated by a Nintendo game, and he looked content, if not happy, to be playing video games at three in the morning.
"Sandy," I gasped without thinking. A wave of embarrassment crashed over me when he jumped and looked over. He gazed at me with concern, pausing his game and putting it down on the desk beside him. He turned on the desk lamp there and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He was looking at me expectantly, and I assumed that he wanted to know why I looked like a frightened child. I didn't tell him. Instead, I asked my own question.
"You're still awake?"
I woke up. He took a moment to write down and show his response to me. It happens to me sometimes.
"You mean you just…woke up randomly?" I internally cringed at how blunt my question sounded. Sandy merely nodded and wrote some more words down.
My mind gets full and I can't concentrate. So I play games or draw to let off steam. Sandy gestured to his Nintendo as well as his computer sitting on the desk.
"Oh…" again I cringed at my brain's failure to form more solid sentences.
Are you feeling okay? Sandy's next message read.
"I'm…fine," for some reason it took a moment to get the words out. "Just fine."
Did you have a nightmare?
"How-" I cut myself off in surprise as Sandy stood up and went over to his computer. He opened it up and started clicking through things. I took the moment to try and gather my bearings. Why do I keep getting myself into these situations? Why was Sandy even worrying about me so much? I watched him curiously, and found myself taking in his outfit; he was wearing pale yellow shorts and a lilac t-shirt with a design on the front. When he turned around I got a better look – it was a cute, stylized creature (assumedly a Pokémon, what with his love of games) that looked a bit like a pink-and-purple anteater, and it was curled up asleep on a cloud. Moving my eyes up, I noticed that Sandy had a small smile on his face, and after a moment the sound of ocean waves came from his laptop.
"What's…that?" Sandy's shoulders gave a little jump and he beamed happily; a laugh. He wrote another message in his notebook.
Nature sounds for peaceful sleep. It's gotten me through a lot of nights. Sandy's grin softened into a more understanding smile. Wouldn't want to be drowsy in your first class.
"Um…" I scratched my head, willing the words to come out. "Th-thank you."
Glad I could help. I hope it works for you, Sandy nodded at me, then put his book down, turned off his desk light and climbed back into bed. He cast me a final glance, and looked as if he wanted to say something, but he just smiled again and turned over. I lay down too, staring up at the ceiling and listening to the sound of a quiet beach.
I woke up at 6:30 to my cell phone alarm. I blearily searched for the dismiss button and tapped it, and then sat up to stretch. My nightmares hadn't returned, and thankfully I could barely remember the specifics of the one I had before Sandy had turned on his ocean sounds (which had ended sometime during the night). Speaking of the blond, he was still fast asleep, cuddled up against his pillow. I considered reaching out to wake him, but it was early yet and I still needed to go wash up. I'd do it when I got back from the bathroom.
I hadn't known such a relief as when I entered the bathroom to find it empty. I got myself ready in a flash, changing into a graphic tee and dark skinny jeans, and hurried back to the bedroom. Sandy was still asleep, but his position had changed. He was on his back, his limbs spread-eagled and his head nuzzling into the mattress. I laughed softly. He looked ridiculous. I stalled in front of his bed, watching his round stomach rise and fall with his peaceful breathing. I stood there for a few moments, and it wasn't until I felt warmth in my cheeks that I snapped out of my trance. I backed up, mildly horrified at what I'd been thinking. I shook myself; the most I'd be able to admit was that Sandy was cute. He was cute because he was little and cheerful, like a puppy or something. There was no possible way I found that cuteness attractive.
I didn't have much time to get back on a reasonable track of thinking, because just then Sandy woke up. He yawned, and then looked up at me with half-lidded eyes. It only made me blush harder for being caught staring. I coughed and looked away from him.
"S-sorry," I said. "I didn't remember to ask if y-you had morning or evening classes…"
Sandy stretched his arms and gave me a little wave. I scoffed and turned around.
"I have morning classes, so I'm going to get breakfast."
I felt a tug on my shirt. I turned around in surprise to see Sandy giving me a determined pout. Now that he had my attention, he got his notebook and wrote something down on it.
Wait for me.
"Why?" I didn't mean for that single question to sound so surprised. Sandy, like all the other times I'd said something rude or blunt, shrugged it off and wrote me another message.
I want to go with you. Can I?
"You…want to…with me?" I was stammering, quite honestly shaken. Sandy nodded cheerfully and got out of bed. He hurried off to the bathrooms before I could protest, and I found myself waiting until he came back. When he returned, he was wearing a yellow-striped jacket over a t-shirt and jeans. He plucked his phone from the desk along with his room key and notebook. He wrote down another message.
Can I have your phone number? It might be a little easier if I can text you rather than writing all these notes.
It was a good idea, I decided. We ended up getting each other's numbers, and Sandy grinned and left the room. A second later he sent me a text.
It works! Cmon lets get breakfast (\(^o^)/)
Whats with the emoji? I typed back, for lack of anything better to say in response to Sandy's refusal to stop being cute even for a second.
It's cute, right? Cmon now, breakfast! =^w^=
So he admits it.
I sigh and slip my phone into my pocket before heading out after him.
Alright, there you have it! I really do picture Sandy to be the kind of person who knows full well how cute they are :) and he wanted to help Pitch, isn't that sweet? Next chapter will get further into their personalities, I think. This is all for today though. I've been doing chores and looking at college choices, I'm sleepy~. Goodnight!
P.S.- Smiley points if you know what Pokemon is on Sandy's shirt ;)