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Todd couldn't sleep. The night wasn't any different than the rest, but for some reason, he simply couldn't drift off. He kept tossing and turning and shuffling under his blanket as he tried to find the least irritating position. It felt like the fabric just wouldn't cooperate. A groan escaped his mouth after an eternity of strangling himself. He knew he shouldn't have taken that nap, but regret arrived a bit too late.
"Still can't sleep?" Neil's voice came from the other side of the room, so low as if he were afraid of disrupting him.
That made Todd freeze in his place; his eyes shot up from the mattress to the other person. "Sorry, did I wake you up?" He promptly apologized. "I'll be quieter."
"No, no. It's fine. I can't sleep either," Neil said. "I just think it's funny for us to be losing sleep on the same night."
Todd hummed in acknowledgment of the response. It didn't take him long before he started rolling in his bed again, with less and less patience this time. Just as he was about to throw hands with the literal air, he felt a light tapping on his shoulder. Aghast, he opened his mouth, but another hand covered it just in time to muffle any sound threatening to shatter the night.
"Shh, it's me," Neil whispered from the floor, trying to calm the scared bunny in front of him. "I'll let go of you, so please don't scream, okay?"
Todd nodded, the terror in his eyes waning. He sat up, leaning against the wall and sending Neil a confused look. "What are you doing?"
"I was just thinking…" Neil brushed his chin with his finger. "Since we both can't sleep. Do you want to, I don't know, hang out?"
"Tell me you're joking."
"No I'm not."
"Oh, you're crazy. Neil, you're crazy." Todd half-screamed-half-whispered as he shook his head frantically. "We're gonna get caught!"
"Hey, don't jinx it!" Neil got on his feet, though still slightly crouching to be at his roommate's eye level. "It's such a waste we're spending this beautiful winter night inside when neither of us is asleep."
"And then freeze to death?" Todd stared at Neil, still trying to figure out if he was being serious or not, and Neil wasn't going to give up either. That resulted in a staring contest, with Todd being the first to cave. "All right, all right." He gave himself a facepalm. "I still think this is your worst idea ever."
"Keen, let's go."
They had a brief plan—get out from the side gate, which had always been left open, mess around, and then get in—simple enough. So far, it had been going so well, until they walked past the school's dog, and the wooden flooring made a creak. The dog's ears perked up, and it started barking. Todd panicked, his knees nearly giving up. Neil, however, magically pulled out some biscuits from his pockets and threw them in the opposite direction. Thankfully, the dog immediately ignored the boys and went down on the surprise midnight treats. They got away right in time, just before Hager unlocked his office and scanned the hallway with a flashlight; nothing was there.
Tiny snowflakes were already falling when they got out of the building; one even landed on Neil's nose. The chill went down his spine as he shivered and shook it off his face, earning a cackle from Todd. "Why are you laughing?" He asked with an amused huff; his breath fogged up into little white puffs of air.
"Nothing." Todd wanted to comment on how much Neil resembled a wet puppy there so badly, but he figured he'd better keep it to himself. "So, what are we doing now?"
"Fancy another Dead Poets meeting, just us?"
"I… but I don't have anything to read, and I don't really want to…"
"Perfect, I've got one." Neil shrugged. "You have the honor to be my audience."
Upon arrival at the cave, they settled in their usual spots—next to each other—albeit being the only people there tonight. It was even colder inside, so despite having the space all to themselves, Todd still moved over closer to Neil, stealing his warmth; he was always warm for some reason. Neil didn't seem to mind. In fact, he also leaned against Todd, shoving both of their hands into his jacket pocket. It would've been a much prettier scene had he not hissed, "Geeze, why are your hands literally freezing?"
"What? Because it's snowing outside." Todd broke into laughter. "The question is, why aren't yours?"
"Because I'm filled with love and passion, obviously," Neil said as he reached into his other pocket with his free hand. Todd's eyes followed it in an instant; he raised a brow when he saw him pulling out a piece of paper. Neil didn't read it right away, though. Instead, he brought it to his side, shielding it with his body and quickly scanning the lines on it. When satisfied, he cumpled and tossed it to the side.
Pretending to scoff, Neil began with his poem.
"The fella with his magic powers
I could rub his gentle brow for hours.
His rosy cheeks, his stubborn jaw,
Everything about him leaves me in awe..."
Baffled, Todd searched the surroundings; surely Neil couldn't be talking to him. "What are you talking about—"
"...with joy," Neil raised his voice, continuing his prose despite the question, even standing up out of excitement. "Oh, Anderson, your very name will never leave me the same."
"Wow… what a mind, huh?" Todd shook his head as he watched Neil sit back down, biting back the chortle. He leaned closer, whispering to Neil with a straight face. "I'm not a psychiatrist, but just between us, I think you should get that checked out…"
"What's wrong with my wonderful poem for you?" Neil grabbed his heart, feigning being offended.
"What's not wrong?" Todd looked away in an attempt to hide the fact that he was grinning stupidly. There was no response; in fact, it was too quiet. He turned back, his eyes meeting Neil's. He was already standing just an arm's length from Todd, staring intensely at him while plotting something, and that made him nervous. "What?"
"Your turn," Neil yelped as he pushed Todd's shoulder. Before he could say anything, Neil had already fled, his laugh echoing through the cave.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Todd scrambled to get on his feet as he tried to catch up with the other boy. "That doesn't count—" His voice was suddenly cut off. He seemed to have fallen, burying his face in the thick layer of snow.
Neil noticed that, and he immediately stopped in his tracks, rushing back to check on his friend. "You okay? Did you get hurt?"
"No." Todd's response came out muffled, like he was going to cry. That almost worried Neil until he looked up with a mischievous smirk. "But it's your turn now."
Neil was caught off guard, and he helplessly watched the boy set off right in front of him. "I see. We're playing like that now, hmm?"
Todd turned his head toward Neil, not even slowing down a bit. "You started it! You only reap what you sow." Something interrupted him—this time a thug sound—leaving him on the ground holding his ankle while he grimaced. "Uh… Neil? Can you come here?"
"Nuh-uh, you're not getting me this time." Despite that, Neil still approached Todd cautiously, his eyes scouring where he was holding on his leg.
"Seriously, I think I've sprained myself." He inhaled sharply, and that was all it took for Neil to let down his guard. He dashed toward Todd with a frown, inspecting the spot as soon as he got there, his knees dropped on the snow. Todd, even though still in pain, gathered all his last strength to pull Neil down and tickle him, which ended up with them lying on the snow together while laughing hysterically.
"Hey, you ever heard of the boy who cried wolf?" Neil said between his laughs. "If I ever believe you one more time, I swear."
"No. That's real, but I also wanted to mess with you." Todd seemed awfully smug for someone who was in pain. "My ankle does hurt, though."
"That means we should get back and get you some rest." Neil stood up, brushing the snow off his jacket as he offered Todd a hand. "Here, can you walk?"
Todd took the hand, using it as a lever to get up, but he quickly dropped himself back on the ground with a scowl. "No… Guess that's what cheaters get."
"Then it should apply to me, too, but it didn't. Maybe I'm the chosen one," Neil said as he lowered himself, patting his shoulder from the front. Since he took notice of the hesitation in Todd's eyes, he scooted closer, urging him to hop on with a reassuring smile. "Come on, don't be a turkey. You don't think I'm gonna leave you out here in the cold, do you?"
Reluctantly, Todd climbed on Neil's back, letting out a whoop as he scooped him up without a warning. Neil giggled, pleased with himself for that. After making sure they were all set, he started walking back to their room. The first half of the way back was still, with Neil too focused on keeping them up straight to talk, and Todd too… distracted to do so. How could he not? He was on his roommate's back, arms wrapping around his shoulders and head resting on the back of his neck. That also meant he could very much catch Neil's scent—the creamy wood in his shampoo with that earthiness of fresh snow. It
Todd was apparently too lost in admiration of the person carrying him to keep his thoughts from slipping out. "How do you do that?" He jerked up at his own words, and even though he prayed that Neil hadn't heard it, luck wasn't on his side today.
"Do what?" Neil turned his head around; their cheeks almost touched, and Todd nearly jumped at the sudden proximity.
"People's attention," Todd muttered, his voice something close to frustration, not at Neil but more likely himself. In for a penny, in for a pound, they said; he took another deep breath. "You're like the sun. You know, you burn and shine, and people just—they just adore you. You say things and people listen!"
"Pretty sure you can also do that if you try—"
"No, I can't!" Todd cut him off. "I-I'm not like that. There's nothing about me."
"So what?" Neil looked up to the sky, his steps slowing down subconsciously. "The stars tonight, aren't they beautiful?"
Todd didn't answer; he just nodded slightly, his hair brushing ever so slightly over Neil's neck, and a smile came to both of their faces.
"Maybe you're meant to be the stars. If everyone gets to be the sun, then what's even the point?" Neil seemed frustrated and his voice got harsher, maybe a scold, though it most definitely wasn't on purpose. "You're not nothing, Todd, but you only shine to those who care, so brightly even. You matter to me, and there's so much I want to learn about you. And unfortunately, I enjoy my roommate as an unapologetic version of him."
Todd certainly didn't expect whatever that answer was. His breath hitched; his voice became so much softer, almost a plea, "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Being nice to me," Todd muttered. His head hung low over Neil's shoulder in defeat. "I'm not used to having someone care about me not out of pity…"
"Well, now you do, and you'd better be soon." Neil chuckled at the absurdity of that response, though there wasn't even the tiniest hint of mockery; he meant it. "You're never ever getting rid of me, Mr. Anderson." His grip on Todd's legs tightened.
As a reflex, Todd's hold on Neil's neck followed suit. "Never planned to, Mr. Perry."