Eli suddenly grabbed my arm. "Are you serious? I feel the same way about everything you said! Henry should go fall off a bridge! Leo all the way!"

He's not mad... He didn't even tell me to stop talking so much... I can't believe it.

"Leo has done so much more for her since she was so scared of Henry," I slowly said.

"I know right! While I am glad Henry got better and stopped acting so cold, Leo at least acted like a decent person with her from the beginning!"

"And he's got that cute guy-next-door charm," I continued, feeling excited.

"Way better than some rich asshole who softens over time!"

We kept talking back and forth about the story. As we talked, my worries lessened and eventually faded away. I noticed Wayne shake his head as he flipped through the comic book as well. Maybe I just needed to find someone with a similar hobby who could be just as passionate about it as me... Maybe that's what was missing...

We talked for so long I didn't realize the time. I quickly got to my feet. "I have to go now... My family will be upset if I'm out too late..."

"No problem," Eli said. "We should hang out again soon. Sorry if Wayne is too much of a downer, I can uninvite him."

"But I live here," Wayne said.

"No you don't!"

"Whatever, I'm going to bed. I've been awake for too long."

Wayne began getting back into Eli's bed and he tried to stop him by pulling on his arm.

"No way! You really will stay the night if you fall asleep! Go home already!"

I tried to muffle my laugh with my hand. They're such a funny duo. "It's alright," I said. They both stopped to look at me. "I think you're both fun to hang out with."

Wayne stopped trying to get into the bed. Instead, he turned around and suddenly came up to me. "Owen..." He wrapped his arms around me, making me freeze. "You're so nice..."

"He doesn't really mean it, he's just trying to be nice! Let go of him!" Eli yelled, trying to pull him off of me.

"Um... I think you're nice too," I managed to say, patting his back.

He tightened his grip on me. "You're really too nice... Let's be good friends, okay?"

Friends... Really? He wants to be friends with me? I couldn't help feeling overcome with emotion. I hugged him back tightly and nodded. "Yeah, let's be good friends."

Eli suddenly joined the hug. "Let's all be good friends."

Eventually we all let go and were smiling except for Wayne who always has a blank expression.

"I would ask if you wanted to have a sleepover but... I guess this isn't my house," Wayne said.

"And he just said he had to go home," Eli glared at him.

"Maybe we can plan a sleepover sometime!" I said. "But I really do have to go now. I'll see you guys at school."

They walked me to the door and I got to briefly greet Eli's parents as well. They were really nice. As I left, Eli tried to push Wayne out too but he didn't budge. I couldn't help laughing as I walked down the street. Friends... Did I finally make some? I hope I don't do anything to mess it up. But to think all it took was that comic book for us to become friends...

When I got home, mom was still awake. "Where were you?" she asked.

"Sorry..." I apologized. "I was at a friend's house..."

"Alright. Just don't stay out too late. I have work in the morning, I can't always wait up for you."

"Yes, I'm sorry..."

"Go to bed now. You have school too."

The interaction put a damper on my mood even though I was expecting it. And the next morning I got an earful for not being home to play with Abby. Although, Max joked about how I should move in with this new friend. I'm not sure if it actually was a joke though.

My family problems faded away once Eli and Wayne greeted me at school. Eli even grabbed my arm to go have lunch with them. There was a spot under a tree outside that they usually ate in. Wayne inhaled his food then passed out on the grass.

"I don't know how he can sleep so much... He even sleeps in class but still sleeps through the night at home," Eli said.

"That's pretty incredible," I answered. "I usually wake up multiple times during the night and can't nap during the day."

"Thankfully I can sleep pretty well at night, but I can't nap during the day either. I don't know how people do it."

Wayne stirred and turned over to face us. "We should nap together."

Eli quickly shook his head. "No way! You've got sleep magic or something! I've got to stay awake for the next class!"

Wayne slowly reached a hand out to grab him. "Come on. I'll wake you up before the bell."

"There's no way you'll wake up before then!" Eli moved away from his hand.

Then he turned his hand to me. "Owen? Just one short nap?"

Eli shook his head at me. "It won't be short."

"I'm alright," I tried to politely decline with a smile. What does napping together even entail? Being close to each other? Even cuddling?! There's no way I can do that with Eli's crush. They practically seem like they're dating with how they act anyway.

Wayne dropped his hand. "Fine... I'll get you one day though..."

Ah, are these the words of a bed monster? I think I understand Ruby and Jack better.

"It sounds like you have trouble sleeping though," Eli said. "I wonder if there's a way to help."

I remembered the recent time I slept well. It was when I last cried myself to sleep... But there's no way that's a good solution every night. "I'm not sure," I said.

"Eli's bed is pretty comfortable, I always fall asleep immediately," Wayne said.

"You always fall asleep immediately no matter where you are!" Eli said.

"And you sleep well in it, maybe Owen should try it."

"Do you think my bed is the problem...?" I asked. I'd have to ask my parents for a new bed but they're expensive, I doubt they'd want to give me a new one suddenly. They even complain when I need supplies for school, there's no way they'd give me something outrageous like a new bed.

"Changing your entire bed seems extreme," Eli shook his head. "Maybe you just need to change your habits before bed. I think there's something that's said, like you shouldn't look at screens before bed, reading might help you sleep... Something like that."

"The internet is your best friend," Wayne added.

"I'll have to try that then," I nodded. "Thanks, you guys."

The next time I visited Eli's house, Wayne pushed me towards his bed.

"Just try it, I wanna see something."

"Don't force him," Eli said.

"I actually slept a little better last night, so–" I tried to appease the bed monster.

"A little better isn't good enough. Get some good sleep for once," he said as he continued pushing me.

Suddenly, the twins ran in. "The bed monster has another victim!" they yelled before trying to tackle Wayne.

"Hey, I'm not a monster. I just help people sleep better," Wayne said, lifting his arms as the twins hung from them.

"Monster!! Get him, Ruby!!"

"You won't make me nap again!!" Ruby tried kicking his side.

"Ow ow ow..." Wayne sounded so monotone I couldn't tell if it actually hurt or not. But I started to feel bad as the kids continued to kick and bite him.

Eli grabbed Ruby and I grabbed Jack.

"That's enough," Eli said.

"It's alright, you don't have to sleep if you don't want to," I said.

"Don't become a victim!" Jack squirmed in my arms.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," I said as I put him down on the ground.

"Get out of here you rascals," Eli said as he put Ruby down.

"Ugh..." Wayne groaned as he rubbed his side.

The kids jumped. "Run!!" They ran off holding hands.

"Still like kids?" Eli asked.

Wayne nodded. "They're funny... But ow..."

"Okay, I think it's time for you to lie down."

Eli moved him to the bed and Wayne lied down.

"But Owen needs rest..." he said while Eli tucked him in.

"Owen can rest when he wants to. You can't force him."

"Fine..."

I sat with Eli on the floor while Wayne closed his eyes.

"Kids are ruthless," I commented.

"I know right. I didn't think I was that bad as a kid but maybe I was."

"Same."

There was a moment of silence before Eli smiled. "Hey... I bought some new comics recently..."

I lowered my voice just as he did. "Really...? Which ones?"

He crawled over to a shelf and pulled out some of the books. "Check these out."

We spent a lot of time reading and talking about the books. At one point, Wayne got up and hugged Eli from behind, looking half asleep. Eli tried to elbow him away but he didn't budge. He then accepted it and they stayed like that for a while. I was so distracted watching them, I barely read another word. I couldn't help feeling like I was in the way now. I checked the time.

"I should go now," I said.

Eli looked up. "Oh right, it's gotten late. I'll walk you out." He tried to get up but Wayne held him down. "Wayne! Quit it!"

"It's alright," I quickly said. "Thanks for having me over again."

"Definitely. We should plan a sleepover on the weekend."

I nodded. As I left, I saw Eli quietly talking to Wayne. There's no way they aren't dating. I should give them some space.

The fact of them dating was made more apparent when at lunch, Wayne cuddled Eli and they both fell asleep. Eli fought it at first of course, but then he soon drifted off. I stayed a moment longer with them before I couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore. I ran off to do my own thing before class. My own thing being, enjoying a walk outside before going back in and waiting for the bell to ring. Eli waved at me as he made it inside just before the teacher entered so he wasn't late. I waved back, noticing grass in his hair.

"Having fun with your friends?"

Millie's question one day after school caught me off guard. We were playing video games with Abby.

"Yeah," I answered after a long pause.

"You keep coming home later."

"Yeah... I hope mom doesn't wait for me for too long."

"If she didn't want to, she wouldn't."

"Right..."

Silence stretched between us. I didn't expect anything else but she spoke again.

"You haven't stayed out lately."

I paused. I've claimed to Eli and Wayne that I've been busy with family time and I need to study for tests. I just don't want to get in the way or make them hate me somehow by sticking around. I've even put off the sleepover we promised to have because I know they're going to act close again. Maybe I still have small feelings for Wayne... And somehow maybe Eli too. I really appreciate him for being my friend and everything. It would just ruin things if I caught feelings. Especially when he's already in a relationship with Wayne.

"I just... Don't want to be a burden."

It was quiet. She'll probably leave me alone now. Abby dropped her controller and stood up.

"I have to pee!" she exclaimed before running off.

I lowered my hands holding a controller. I wish I could leave now since it's become awkward.

"You're not a burden..."