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It was the middle of a snowstorm and Albert found himself struggling to fall asleep on his best friend's couch. He had decided to visit Jake for the New Year; he had nobody else to see and had been missing him as of recently. Jake had offered to let Albert sleep in the guest bedroom, but the room had no heater and was beyond frigid. He didn't hate himself quite enough to choose to sleep there.
He'd been trying to sleep for a couple of hours now, but with no luck. Reaching for his phone, Albert checked the time: 2:34 AM. Ugh. Why couldn't he just doze off already? He never usually struggled to fall asleep in his own home. Was it the unfamiliar surroundings? No, he fell asleep at his other friends' houses just fine. And it wasn't the couch, he'd slept on couches many times before, it wasn't some sort of new concept to him... was it Jake? No, that didn't make sense.
Albert groaned as he rolled over, adjusting his body to a more comfortable position. Surely if he just tried for a little longer, he'd doze off. It wasn't as if he had much choice in the matter, anyways. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he found his mind would always circle back to Jake. Something that made his stomach twisted and ache.
After around ten more minutes of this, Albert heard a sound: a floorboard creaking. Letting out a sleepy mumble, he lifted himself up and turned towards the source of the sound. It was dark in the living room, but he could make out a shape. The noise seemed to be coming from Jake who nervously standing in the doorway, anxious to take up too much space. Albert blinked sleepily before fully sitting upright, facing his body towards the other man.
"Jake? Are you okay?" Albert's words came out as a mumble, but he knew Jake well enough to trust he understood, "what are you doing up?"
"I heard you shuffling around from in my room, I just wanted to check in on you."
"Could you? Ugh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how loud I must've been."
"No, it's okay. I wanted to make sure you were alright out here. It isn't too cold, right?"
"No, it's, uh, fine. It's not that. I don't know what it is."
Jake seemed to pause upon hearing this answer. Albert wasn't sure for how long, but eventually Jake settled on a reply he felt content with.
"Do you want me to give you any, uhm, company? Until you fall asleep, I mean," He awkwardly shuffled his feet, taking a gulp before continuing his sentence, "of course, it's fine if you don't wanna, it was just an idea is all."
"Uh, sure. Alright."
After hearing confirmation, Jake made his way over to Albert and extended his hand. Oh shit. Did he misread the situation? He'd just assumed Jake was going to sit on the armchair or something along those lines. Following an awkward pause that he'd let go on for a few seconds too long, Albert took Jake's hand and hoisted himself off the couch. He was slightly shorter than Jake, but not by too noticeable of a difference. Still, it made him feel funny to be the shorter person for once. He was a taller man, so he often found himself standing above others, but it wasn't like that with Jake. It made him feel fuzzy inside for some odd reason.
In silence, the pair navigated their way to Jake's bedroom. Once inside, Albert hesitantly let go of Jake's hand as the other turned to face him.
"You can sleep in my bed if you want, I can get a mattress or something for myself," his voice was warm and comforting and his words were spoken with genuine care for Albert, "I want you to get some actual rest."
"Uh, are you sure? You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Jake."
"I'm sure, Albert. I'll be fine, don't worry."
Albert nervously fidgeted with his shirt collar, carefully thinking about his next words.
"We could, you know, share the bed... maybe?"
"Oh, wow, haha, you, uh, really? You'd, like, be fine with that? I mean I am, but are you? Like, uh, sure?"
"Uh, yeah. I am."
The two stood in silence for a short moment after this reply from Albert rather than go lie in Jake's bed. This is because they are stupid. Eventually, Albert turns and makes his way over to the bed and climbs in, making himself comfortable underneath Jake's blanket. Jake then follows suite until both are warmly wrapped inside the duvet. Together they lie like this for twenty or so minutes before Jake decides to move. He wraps one of his arms around Albert and pulls him close into himself.
Albert freezes, his mind a mix of joy and confusion. He finds himself remaining quiet, oddly enough. He'd rather not do something to disturb this moment. Instead, he leans into Jake's touch, allowing his warmth to comfort him. The feeling of Jake's arm holding him gently and lovingly. Albert begins to doze off, realizing that everything keeping him restless earlier seemed to have gone away. He felt as if he could finally sleep, as if a weight was lifted from his chest. In a moment of vulnerability, he decides to voice his thoughts rather than remain silent.
"I love you, Jake. I really do."
"I love you too."