Linus opened his eyes with a start, turning round on the mattress. He lifted his head up and tried to rearrange his pillow.
"Pssst…Linus, you awake?"
He looked at the outline of Sally leaning up in her bed across to him, and he turned on a faint lamp to illuminate them.
"Couldn't sleep" he murmured, "I've been laying here for several minutes".
"Same here" Sally said, "okay if we talk?".
Linus realised that Sally had something to get off her chest, and that was why the mattress had landed in her room. He nodded.
"Are…you still mad at me?"
The two friends glanced at each other.
"Not now, no" he said in response, "cause, I was only ever half-mad at you Sally"
"I'm sorry…" Sally whispered. But it was now clear that Linus had changed his mood from earlier.
"I just was upset…you caught me when I was mad from before after…"
Sally nodded, "your sister".
"I mean that girl, my supposed "sister" Linus suddenly vented, "Kick me out of the house simply cause she was in a mood. I MEAN WHAT'S HER PROBLEM!".
Linus immediately gritted his teeth, feeling he nearly woke someone up. His face made Sally fell uneasy, but as she descended onto the mattress, an angry tear fell from one of his eyes.
Sally rubbed his back softly, as Linus calmed over the next few moments. He moved his hand to wipe his eye, but she stopped him.
"You don't need to close up and hide it".
He continued feeling her rubbing his back, leaving the single tear-stain on his cheek, "I know, I just don't take it like this often"
Sally stopped rubbing his back and nodded.
"I admire you y'know" she smiled, "given that you're thoughtful and patient".
The two of them stayed in solace, before Linus glanced over at Sally in curiosity.
"And look, I see that Big Brother could be much worse than incompetent" she muttered "If me and you traded places, I think I'd struggle".
"Struggle?"
"Yeah, I don't click well with those older girls. Not as well as those more my age".
Linus thought about this, and saw Sally with a similar pondering look.
"Then don't put yourself there" he told her, "Maybe it's better you don't. I like your friend group"
"Yeah, besides, as one of them told me" she nudged him, moving back up to her bed, "there's worse things than incompetent".
Linus gave her a pat on the knee, showing his approval. Sally laid back, but rolled over one more time.
"Wait, just how much do you like them?"
Linus smirked to himself, "Night Sally".
A/N: One chapter left