I wake up much later to Dale still cradling me, it's not much later but it should be well into the afternoon with how bright the sun is.
"Dale?" I murmur, crawling into his arms again, I had slept with my upper body on his legs, his hands buried in my hair.
"Mmh?" He hums, unnaturally quiet --- it breaks my heart to see.
"I had a horrible dream." I whisper, my eyes stinging again.
"Wha…"
"I never got to tell you…" I cut him off with tears in my eyes. "...that…"
"Hayden." He cuts me off with a tight grip around my waist, agony on his face.
I startle, falling quiet, I couldn't remember the last time he had said my full name.
"Please don't."
I bite my lower lip to keep it from wobbling but swallow my words, feeling it crawl down my throat like a sip of lava.
He tugs me in close and I'm relieved that he's not pushing me away entirely, foregoing our friendship.
