Fenner couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the insomnia, maybe it was the cute boy next to him. Glancing at his clock, he realised it’d been two hours. Maybe he had slept a little then. He shifted to look at Albion, who was facing him. He looks so peaceful, Fenner thought. Until he didn’t.

Albion began to cry, little tears forced their way out of his eyes, gliding over his face. Umm…does he always cry in his sleep?? Fenner began to panic, he had no clue if this was a regular occurrence for the boy, like how some people cry a little in the morning when they first wake up.

However, when Albion began to shake slightly, whimpering, Fenner concluded this must be a nightmare or something. He reached out his hand, placing it gently the other boy’s head, stroking his hair gently. The whimpers stopped, but he continued to cry and shake.

So Fenner made an executive decision to cuddle him. He pulled Albion close, wrapping his arms around his back, rubbing circles gently. He made calming sounds, like mothers do to babies. He had no idea if it was helping whatsoever, but it felt better than nothing.

Eventually, Albion calmed down, and resumed his peaceful slumber. Fenner, on the other hand, was even less able to sleep now. He sighed slightly, and decided to preoccupy his mind with the maths he’d learned earlier, instead of his crush in his arms. It was a pretty decent distraction, and in time, he also fell asleep.

Fenner’s alarm rung at 6am, waking Albion. He opened his eyes, but all he could see was darkness. He panicked. Have I gone blind in the other eye too?? And then Fenner sat up. Light flooded Albion’s vision, and he realised they’d been snuggled up together.

Ahh I can’t believe I slept through that, wish I’d been conscious to witness it, he breathed out, stretching in relief that his vision remained. “Sorry for…like…holding you.” Fenner scratched his neck, a light blush sprinkled across his face.

“You were like…shaking and crying, and I wasn’t sure what to do…so I just…ya know.” Albion giggled, ruffling the other boy’s hair. “Thanks, it’s just memories don’t worry.” Fenner looked at him abruptly.

“Memories?” Albion froze. “Oops, I meant nightmares.” He got out of bed, squeezing his eyes shut.” Fenner frowned, but decided not to push the matter any further. “I’m gonna shower.” Albion nodded, quickly throwing on his clothes again. He’d change once they went to his house anyway.

—————

Fenner couldn’t believe it - he actually knew what to put for one of the questions. That never happens. He’d known or been able to work out some of the problem on almost half of the test, and was feeling very proud of himself. I better pass this time or I’ll disappoint Albie. He clicked his tongue at himself. I’ll disappoint my parents, that’s what matters.

He couldn’t believe how much he’d been thinking of the other boy recently, it was like he was constantly in his thoughts. I wonder if he thinks about me anywhere near as much as I think about him? He shook himself mentally, and returned his focus to the test.

Besides, any thoughts he might have about me now will be gone this week. A wave of loneliness surged through him. He knew it was coming, but part of him was still holding out hope. Hope that maybe, Albion was…the one.

His soulmate.

For generations, every ancestor of his who had had the same power as him, had a soulmate. That person would never forget them when they turned invisible. That’s the way it had worked in his family for generations; it was how his father never forgot his mother.

He scribbled down another couple of answers, just as the bell rang, signalling the end of the test. “You’ll get your results in your next lesson which is…tomorrow,” the teacher said as she took Fenner’s test papers.

Albion was waiting outside the classroom for him, as they walked to their next class, Fenner filled him in on how he thought he did. Albion smiled hopefully. “I’m sure you passed, you worked really hard, and besides,” he flicked his whiskey golden locks dramatically. “I’m an excellent tutor.”

Fenner smirked, a surge of courage made him grab Albion’s hand as he led him into the class. He sat down quickly in his seat, releasing the other boy’s hand. Albion sat next to him, his ears tinged pink still. The girl to Fenner’s left poked him with her pencil.

“You look unusually happy,” Fenner rolled his eyes. “I’m not smiling.” She laughed, “no, but normally you look suuuper bored, but right now you look more…alert?” She suddenly clapped her hands together. “Oh! Did you sleep well?” To both her and Albion’s surprise, Fenner’s face turned a dusty pink, but he quickly laid his head on his desk, hiding his face.

“It was the same as usual.” That wasn’t strictly true, he had slept better than he had in a long time, after he began cuddling with Albion. He 100% wasn’t going to tell them that though. The teacher entered the class, causing Fenner to sit up a little. Albion reached out, squeezing his hand under the desk gently.

When Fenner peered at the boy out of his peripheral vision, the boy was strategically covering his face with his textbook. Fenner let a tiny smile tug at the corner of his mouth.