Dave opened his eyes in a panic, trying to define what his surroundings were. Quickly, he spotted his shades on the nightstand, and slid them on, slowly adjusting as the memories of last night came to him. The clock on the wall read 10:53, and Dave took a moment to enjoy the steady ticking sound the clock made.
He then got out of bed, and pulled on his shirt, glancing over at John. He forgot to take off his glasses last night, and the angry red marks on his nose from the frames being broken almost annoyed Dave. He made a mental note to do something about that.
Slowly, he crept over to the other side of the bed, gently taking John's glasses off, and setting them on the nightstand. John looked so peaceful while he was asleep, the worries of his position not seeming to matter to him. Something about John was so kind, so soothing, so understanding and wonderful. Maybe that's why Dave had grown to like him so much. Normally he was an introverted, irritable kid that was mad at the world for his own issues. He hadn't slept a full night like that in almost a month, and he was glad John had gotten here when he did. Dave needed a friend.
Staying silent, Dave pulled the blanket up over John, tucking him in and going downstairs, where he smelled the chalky, overwhelming aroma of flour and burning sugar. "Jake, I get teaching me how to cook but fancy shit like crepes? Really?" Dave heard his brother ask from downstairs.
"Of course Dirk. They're easy, see? Just flip it like this. Yes. There. That's the best one you've made."
"I'll never get the hang of this dude. I'm lucky to have you, or else the house would burn down."
Dave looked over the stair railing at the kitchen, smiling upon seeing the two at the stove, Jake's arms wrapped around his older brother's waist. He was glad to see Dirk happy, he could be a dumbass at times, and a jerk, but he'd always been there for Dave. Jake really worked wonders for him.
So he didn't go downstairs and ruin the moment. Instead he went back to the guest room, laying back in bed, and putting his glasses back on the nightstand. For a long time he stared at the top of the canopy bed, unable to fall back into sleep despite John's warmth by his side. "You're pretty cool, actually." he said to the sleeping Egbert, glancing over. He snuggled into the blanket that had been pulled up under his chin, a resting smile on his face. Dave wondered what he was dreaming about. John didn't seem like much of a dreamer. Or at least not like he once was, if he once was. Dave speculated that John hadn't had much to dream about. It seemed like he'd always lived the ordinary life, so normal and plain that he didn't know what to dream about. It wasn't hard to see that kind of thing in people.
But he would had thought different for John. He seemed like a happy guy most of the time, and happy people dreamt, right? Now it seemed that dreamless nights were for the lonely and lost. Not for John. He deserved so much better.
But maybe Dave was wrong, and dreams were for those who didn't know what to do with themselves. Maybe dreamless nights were for those with no fears or worries, those who had no need to be strong or carry weights they didn't deserve. Dave knew John missed the life he knew, he knew John missed it terribly. He wanted to make it as nice as possible for him. Though he didn't have the faintest idea about why.
John was new, hell, he'd known the kid for two days. Maybe it was because John was a good target for a friend. Maybe it was because John was so approachable. He was certain to have plenty of friends after summer vacation, when they entered freshman year. John wouldn't have a hard time starting high school, that seemed impossible.
But then again, that's what Bro thought for him, and Dirk. But he didn't really have any friends that he could hug, or high-five, or rap with. Sure, he had Rose and Jade, but Rose was in New York, and Jade was out in hell's furthest ring for all Dave knew. They didn't talk much anymore, anyway. They all had their own lives, and Dave had long-ago accepted that the feeling they were supposed to be more wasn't actually a thing.
So yeah, he guessed it was a decent assumption, that John was a good attempt at a friend. John had probably left so many friends behind in Washington.
After a few more thoughtful minutes, Dave turned back around, and closed his eyes, trying to doze off once more, and surprisingly, he did. The world went dark as he lost consciousness, breathing slowly and steadily, lost in the sound of the trees rustling in the summer breeze and the pale sunlight coming in through white curtains.