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The rattling sound was something Neil had a very tough time placing. It was faint yet loud enough to wake him up from a very nice dream he had been having about the upcoming play and a shy boys applause from the audience. Suddenly the noise clicked in his brain, Todd's teeth were chattering. Not only that but the boy was curled up into a ball on his bed, shaking so vigorously Neil almost thought he was awake and doing it on purpose.
Quietly, Neil crept over to his bed where he saw that Todd's eyes were screwed shut as if he was having a wicked dream. After grabbing a sweater from a near by desk chair he gently shook Todd until he was finally awake.
“Hey sorry, you looked really cold so I brought you a sweater.”
“O-oh thanks” Todd clamored out between his still chattering teeth.
“Wait Neil, t-this is your sweater.” Todd said growing a faint shade of pink in the pale moonlight. Neil hadn’t noticed that but secretly he liked the idea of Todd wearing it.
“Yeah, its super warm so I figured it would help you. But I can grab yours if you want.”
“No! I-I mean no. This is fine thank you.” Neil grinned at this not being able to help it. He hoped that Todd just assumed it was because Neil managed to be helpful.
After putting on the sweater Todd seemed to relax a bit, and after saying a quick goodnight, the other boy headed back to bed. Not a few moments later he heard the same chattering again.
“Todd, are you still cold?” Neil called out across the otherwise quiet room.
“Yeah sorry, I think there is a draft coming from the window.”
Neil got up to investigate and sure enough a draft of cold air was coming from the window and blowing directly on Todd's bed. It also didn’t help that it was snowing out and the heaters at hellton were notoriously bad at doing their job.
“You could sleep in my bed if you wanted.” Neil said. “I sleep hot anyway so I don’t mind trading places.” Neil didn’t really feel like sleeping with the draft on him, but if it meant Todd would feel better he would do it.
“No Neil, I am not putting you out of your bed. It really is fine.”
“We could share my bed then.” Neil hadn’t even really registered the words spilling out of his mouth until it was too late. What was he thinking? Sharing a bed with the boy he had a crush on since he first heard his poetry in Mr. Keating's class was a very bad idea. But before he could take it back he noticed a shy smile on Todd's lips which quickly erased any doubt he had. The smile soon disappeared however and in its place was a worried line.
“Are you sure Neil? These beds are pretty small and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable and-“
“Todd really its fine. I don’t mind. Now are you coming?”
Neil had managed to get back into bed and was now holding up the blanket for Todd to join him.
Cautiously, Todd crept across the small space and into Neil's bed where he kept his entire body as close to the edge as he could. Neil was worried Todd was uncomfortable. He must have misread his smile earlier; but Todd had joined him after all so that had to count for something.
After Neil had gotten comfortable he realized how ridged Todd was holding himself. His entire body looked like a live wire and Neil knew that there was no way he would fall asleep like this.
“Hey, its okay you can get comfortable.” Neil said quietly, making sure that even if Todd scooted closer there would still be some space between them.
Slowly Todd moved in a bit and soon his body relaxed from not being on the edge. He was still slightly shaking though from what Neil assumed to be the cold.
“I’m going to try something alright? If you want me to stop just let me know.”
Todd glanced over his shoulder at Neil and whispered “okay”.
Neil then inched forward so that his chest was against Todd's back. The smaller boy immediately tensed up again, but soon relaxed further than he had that night. Neil snaked one arm around his waist and tucked his head into the crook of Todd's neck. He could feel how cold Todd's skin was seeping through his sweater but Neil was more than happy to be the warmth for both of them. After a while Neil heard a faint whisper coming from Todd.
“Neil, you are ridiculously warm.”
Neil laughed at this and only pushed closer to the boy.
“And you are ridiculously cold.”
“I guess we were made for each other then.” Todd responded and Neil could tell he meant it lightheartedly, but the reality of what he said sank in rather quickly. In that moment Neil decided to seize the day.
“I guess we are.” He said planting a small kiss onto Todd's neck.
At first Todd did nothing but then he felt Todd's hand sliding into his own that was laid across the other boys side. Todd then brought his hand up to his mouth for a quick kiss.
Grinning wildly now, Neil just hugged Todd even closer and that was how they fell asleep. Dreaming of soft kisses and warm nights.