Tristan

I couldn't sleep. I had been trying for hours but just when I was about to surrender myself to sleep, images of Damien and that boy flooded my mind.

I looked at the bedside clock. It was almost midnight. He wasn't here yet. Which meant he was there with him doing god knows what. Earlier when he used to be late I would think that he was saving lives and feel proud.

But now I knew what he was actually doing. My mind was a myriad of emotions in which anger and sadness stood out prominently. The rational part of my brain however was confused. It did not understand why I was so upset. I did have the right to be angry because he had lied to me but the burning passion I now felt was dangerously close to being jealousy.

Jealousy.

But what exactly was I jealous of? Was it because Damien seemed to have a stable romantic connection while I had none? No that was not it. So what else. I did not know and I certainly did not want to think about it. It was a problem I could ponder over later.

The click of the door opening sounded from below. He was here. Abruptly all the anger and sadness changed into panic. Utter helpless panic. I had to face him. I knew very well that he always looked into my room before going to his.

I could pretend to sleep but that would make things worse in the morning. For me of course. He had no idea that he had been caught. I decided to talk to him now. I wouldn't tell him that I had seen him, just talk casually.

True to his nature Damien looked into my room. I could feel his eyes on me. He must have been surprised to see me awake since by this time I am usually fast asleep and dreaming of unicorns.

"Tristan," I heard him say as he made his way into my room. My heart started beating mile a minute as he came closer. "Are you okay? Why are you awake."

I hoesntly had no answers to his questions so I just looked at him. He looked more like the Damien I was used to seeing. Gone were the cold eyes and the dominating attitude. He had the same warmth in his eyes, now diluted with concern.

He came over to my bed and placed his tea on the table beside it. I turned to face him while he sat down on the bed.

"Are you okay," he asked again,his voice soft and worried. I nodded. He smiled and his fingers found their way to my hair. He started to slowly run them over my scalp and I couldn't help but sign in pleasure.

He laughed. "Want me tell me what's wrong?"

I hesitated. What was I supposed to tell him. I very well wasn't going to let him know that I had seen him at the club. An image of him and the boy suddenly flashed before my eyes and I  gritted my teeth in anger.

Had he done this to him too? Sat beside him and run his hands through his hair? The thought was not very pleasant and made me feel sick. I tried to ignore the burn in my guts and put on a weak smile.

"Nothing much. Just work."

It was a lie of course and not a believable one. He frowned and narrowed his deep blue eyes.

"Work? You are awake over something from work? That doesn't seem like you," he said. "If it is something that critical then maybe I can help?"

"Well it's not something about work per se. More like someone from work."

"Oh. Is someone bothering you or is it more like a crush," he asked, his tone lower and colder than before. He never showed too much enthusiasm whenever I fancied someone. I had always chalked it up to him being an overprotective friend.

"No no not a crush. You know it's not easy for me to have a crush with my weird standards," I said. It was true. I rarely ever had crushes. I blamed it on books and tv shows which made me have these unrealistically high standards. It really was unfair to expect all guys to look like Christian Bale.

Damien visibly relaxed at my words and his smile was back. "So what is it then," he said in voice that was so incredibly warm and comforting that it lulled me to sleep. "What is keeping my best friend awake at night?"

All my pent up fatigue and strain chose to crash over me at that instant. I realised just how sleepy I was. The tensions at work and the mental whirlwind after seeing Damien at the club had all but drained me.

I stifled a yawn. "Can I tell you tomorrow? You won't believe just how sleepy I am."

He chuckled. "Sure thing. Want me to stay for a bit?"

I hummed in response while turning and wrapping myself up in the warm blanket. I was aware of Damien getting into bed beside me and putting his hand around my waist.

I sighed happily and before I knew it, I was dead asleep.