We ended up watching movies until it got dark out, and now, with it being 11:12 P.M., Alex, the twins, and Kelsie are all fast asleep. I yawned and Morgan and Emma yawned back. Emma groaned as she probably thought of something. 

"What is it?" I sat up, and so did Morgan and Emma.

"Just that tomorrow is Sunday so Monday's almost here."

"Technically," Morgan pointed at Emma, "Sunday is in an hour. Less, actually."

"Oh, shut it," I threw one of the couch pillows at Morgan and she and Emma laughed while she fell backward back onto the couch. 

"Actually! I stood up and ran over to the kitchen counter where my phone's been since dinner, charging. I grabbed it off the charger then ran back, falling backward onto the couch.

"Are you going to text your soulmate?" Emma asks, leaning forward. I nod and look down at my phone.

I turn it on and see my lock screen. It's a picture of Harper being silly and having her hair over her lip like a mustache. She had her brother take it and so I had Alex—because, let's be honest, Scarlett isn't taking silly pictures of me any time no matter who for—take a picture of me dressed up as a pirate with whatever we had in the house for her lock screen. 

"Wait, isn't it late enough for him- I mean her- to be asleep?"

"Nah," I shook my head. "She stays up late, Besides, she's in a way different time zone." I stretched out the 'way.'

"Really?" Emma asked. I looked up and saw Emma frowning, but I couldn't discern why. 

"Yeah. She, um, she lives in England."

"You know," Morgan held her chin in her hand. "All the recent talk about your soulmate made me realize we don't talk about them often, if at all. I think it'd be nice to, though, like where in books the character talks to their friend about their boyfriend. Or, I guess in this case for you, girlfriend." I nod.

"Yeah, that's true. All I know about Alex's soulmate is he struggles in math and has a test on Monday for it, and I only learned that this morning. I don't even know anything else about him or any of your guys'." I look at the ceiling and lie back.

"Well, then, let's do that tomorrow." I look at Morgan. "Let's talk about our soulmates tomorrow."

"I'm all for it," Emma shrugged.

"Yeah, sure. Why not." I agree.

I look at my phone again and go through my notifications: a couple of messages from Harper: a couple from Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media. I opened the ones from Harper on Skype and see her saying she's awake and asking if I was still. I respond that I am and check my other notifications while waiting for her response. The Snapchat was from Shaylynn who had recorded us without my knowledge while we were goofing around at lunch and sent me it, probably also to her streaks and her story.

"Hey! Isn't it late there?" Show up at the top of my screen. I tap it and open the conversation with Harper.

"Just a tad. What about you? Isn't it early to be awake on a Sunday? 7, right?"

"Ah, close. 6."

"Oh, yeah, daylight savings. I forget about it all the time."

"???"

"Arizona doesn't do daylight savings."

"Oh. Is it like that in all the states?"

"Nope. Just Arizona. Well, Arizona and Hawaii, but yeah."

"That's. . . Weird."

"You're telling me. Anyway, are you usually up at 6 on Sundays?" I made sure to italicize the 6.

"Yeah, I usually get that much sleep, 5-6 1/2 hours."

"So you could survive on even less sleep, then?"

"Like what?"

"Like... 4 hours?"

"Maybe? I've never tried it. Do you want me to??"

"No. Don't. It's bad for your health to get little sleep, especially as a teenager."

"Says the one up at 11."

"Oh, hush."

"Really, though. You should go to sleep." 

"I probably should. My friends are over and only 2 are still awake."

"How many friends are over??"

"Uh..." I sent the message and counted. I was too tired to remember. "6."

"So 4 are asleep?"

"Yup."

"You should really sleep."

"How come you're so persistent about it? I'm just wondering, not trying to be rude, I promise."

"I don't even know myself. I just know that knowing you aren't asleep when you should be is making my anxiety worse on your behalf and makes me worried."

"Woah, okay. I don't really get it, but I guess you win. You already care so much ;)"

"Shut up. Just go to sleep, please."

"Alright. It's not like I wasn't already yawning anyway. Good night."

"Good night." I turned off my phone upon receiving that and stood up, stretching. It's weird thinking Harper has anxiety, especially towards me and my wellbeing. She hadn't mentioned it, though there was never a reason to, I guess.

"Well, I'm going to sleep, my soulmate is being pouty that I'm not already out given the time."

"I don't really understand what it's like liking a girl." Emma paused to yawn. "But I'm glad she worries about you as a guy would. This sounds bitchy, but I kinda wish she was a guy." Emma's eyes were so droopy she didn't even notice my mouth open slightly and my eyes widen, all tiredness gone instantly. Morgan had fallen asleep while I was texting Harper, so she couldn't argue against it. 

"It'd be so much. . . Easier. For you, for us, for the world. It'd be easier if same-sex soulmates didn't exist." She yawned again and wiped her eyes. I could feel my eyes getting watery the longer she talked. "If they- you- weren't like that, weren't different, then we wouldn't have to worry. You guys demand so much as if we don't treat you equally."

"I really hope you don't mean what you're saying, Emma." I went to the kitchen to grab my charger, changing my mind about sleeping down here with everyone else. As I was going to march up the stairs, Emma spoke again.

"How come, though? What would you do if I genuinely meant what I'm saying? That I don't like same-sex soulmates?" I stopped, my foot on the first stair.

"Well, then, you'd find that you lost a friend. Maybe 2, maybe not, maybe more." I ran up the stairs and fell face-first on my bed. I propped myself up on my elbows and texted Harper,

"Nevermind. One of them might not be my friend for very much longer."

I turned it off just after I read Harper's reply, "What?"

I turned around so I was laying on my back and sighed. I looked at the doorway to my room and saw Alex there.

"I heard Emma," She whispered, the words slurred in her half-asleep state, then moved over to my bed, falling forward onto it on top of me. "She'd lose at least 2 friends, I can guarantee that," Alex yawned again while talking then went silent. She fell back asleep like that, and so did I.