A gentle whisper was carried by the breath of life from someone's lips and into my ears, penetrating my dreams and arousing me from my slumber.

My eyes fluttered open. I knew this voice. It was the voice of someone who had come to me, of all the people in the world, had entrusted me in their secrets, had become panicked when I teased about leaving.

It was late. I didn't know the time. I just knew. I slowly sat up on my elbows and looked at you. My eyes were blurry and the darkness around us wasn't helping. Yet I knew it was him.

"Hey Dave." I muttered

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw his silhouette. I reached over for my glass. The clock next to them said 10:10. I blinked a few times when I put them on and then I could clearly see his smile. I smiled back. It was obvious he was having a sleepless night based on his attire. Soft pants, no shirt, and barely a bed head. Dave leaned over to hug me, resting his head on my shoulder. I returned the hug, resting my hands on his arms. He held onto me for a while. I thought he'd fallen asleep when he moved, cuddling closer to me.

"Why are you so adorable?"

I kissed his cheek. Dave let me go and sat up.

"You're so soft and cuddly."

I sat up, throwing the sheet off me.

"Everyone says that about me."

I crawled into Dave's lap, facing him, smiling gently at him. His hands rested on my hips while his head laid on my shoulder again. I didn't dare touch him.

"You're very cuddly." He muttered

"You're really warm."

"I know."

We sat there, silently, in the dimly lit room. In the silence, a heartbeat echoed. Was it mine or his? I spoke first.

"I'm cold…"

"Come here, Alice."

David's hands pulled me closer. I could feel my personality begin to shift. I pushed a little on his chest to stop him.

"What?"

"You're gonna make Neko come out!"

"Neko?"

David tilted his head slightly to the left. The smooth skin on his neck tempted me, just begging for me to touch it, bite it. I shook myself from these thoughts.

"I split my personality to keep my sanity."

Dave grinned.

"Naughty and nice?"

"It's five people. I'm insane."

The realization of how crazy I was returned to David in that moment. It was clear as that grin turned into a confused smile.

"What type?"

"Jada fakes sanity and is in denial about how psycho she is. Alice is the really psycho and extremely angry one. ViViLandi is the sexual character. Neko is bouncy and cute and fluffy. Alexander is my alter ego."

Dave just looked at me, peering into my eyes as if to try and see clearly each person inside of me, individually.

"You usually talk to Neko and ViViLandi."

Dave slowly leaned forward. I got nervous and tried to lean back. But his large hands held me close to him. I closed my eyes as a kiss was placed onto my cheek. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He smiled and patted my head.

A sudden breeze had me throwing myself against him. He fell backwards with a soft grunt. I held onto him, trying to somehow obtain his heat.

"It's too damn cold. I hate winter."

"Well, stay with me babe."

I sat up to look at him. He looked as if he were somehow in pain. His grip on my waist became tighter. It was as if he expected me to get up and leave and not come back; to abandon him as I'd been abandoned. His eyes were reflecting sorrow. A knife went through my heart in the bitterest ways. I chuckled.

"Where else would I go?"

The bottom half of me was suddenly pulled down as he hugged me.

"You okay?"

The pain in his eyes was replaced by a relieved smile.

"Yeah… You're just so cuddly."

I snuggled closer to him. For a long while, it was quiet and we were still. I began to feel tired and yet he remained still.

Finally, I heard a whispered "love you."

"Love you too."

Dave's arms wrapped around me. Weren't they just there though?

"Sorry if I woke you up. I couldn't sleep so I just said fuck it."

"Eh?"

I looked around. We were still on the bed but a laptop next to us illuminated us. I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the light. The clock read 1:37. I'd been asleep two hours.

"Want me to stay up with you?"

"If you want to."

Dave shrugged.

"I'll try to."

Another kiss, this time making its way onto my head lightly. I was still tired but not enough to fall asleep again. With a clear mind, I might've been able to see just how touchy he was today. And touchy like it meant something was bothering him.

"What are you doing?"

"Watching porn."

I rolled my eyes.

"Liar."

"I could be."

"In these pants, I'd be able to feel an erection."

I wiggled my hips a bit. He grabbed my waist to stop me.

"Hey, hey. I don't have an erection but keep doing that and you'll cause one."

I smirked.

"So what are you doing?"

"YouTube. I'm watching Bart Baker stuff."

"Is he over 9000?"

"Fuck yeah."

I laughed. He sighed though.

"What's wrong?"

"Too much on my mind."

"Aww."

My arms wrapped around his neck and held him close.

"It'll be okay. I'm always here to listen if you need me."

This time, a kiss went from my lips to his cheek.

"Thanks Alice."

I sunk back into his lap and for a bit we watched videos. Again, Dave pulled me into a hug. I returned the hug, thinking he just wanted to hold… something. But his grip on me tightened.

"I'll hold you," he whispered "for as long as you need me to."

"Seems like it's you who needs someone to hold."

"Yeah…"

"I'll stay right here with you for as long as you want me to."

Dave pulled back to look into my eyes with that soul searching stare.

"You're a good friend."

"So are you, Dave."

Dave leaned on my shoulder and exhaled. My cold hand held his cheek.

"Love you."

"Love you too."

I snuggled next to Dave when he lifted his head up. Again, the arms were around me. He lightly stroked my head making me purr. A smile spread across his lips. I smiled back and leaned onto his chest, letting the gentle sound of his heartbeat sing me to sleep.

The next morning, Dave was gone. I thought it was a dream until I sent him the usual good morning text.

Good Morning!

Hope you feel okay!

Love you much and don't forget to smile

And then fire the lasers :3

I shut my phone, expecting to hear word from him later that evening. But instead it vibrated in my hand. Opening it, I saw a text from him.

Thanks (hugs tightly)

I stared, a bit shocked.

That was the end of our connection. We were still friends who laughed and talked. But that night, I wasn't insane. On an emotional level, our souls connected. That night was the only time I didn't thinking of denying him. I didn't want him to abandon me. I didn't want him to let me go. I wanted him to be only mine in those hours. And in those hours, I learned the meaning of How To Save A Life

And I would have stayed up/ With you all night/ Had I known

How to save a life…