I laid there as still as a rock, while my phone pinged loudly. The noise wasn’t what woke me. It wa the light on the back of my phone constantly flashing every time my phone went off. Tae had set it so that it would do that, and I have yet to find the setting to turn it off.

I groaned loudly, reaching to grab my phone. A thousand and one texts were covering my lock screen, all from Taehyung. I groaned even louder, opening my phone and scrolling briefly through the messages, only paying close attention to the very last one.

From: TaeTae [2:10am] — Stop ignoring me… I know you’re awake. >->

I scoffed because I most certainly was not awake at two in the morning, not until he woke me with his barrage of texts.

I decided my eyes hurt too much to stare at the screen, so I decided to call him instead. As soon as he picked up, I put him on speaker and laid the phone down on my chest.

“What do you want, Tae?” I groaned, not making much of an effort to hide my annoyance.

“Oh good, you’re awake!” He said in an oddly chipper voice for it to have been two in the morning.

I was a little salty about having my precious sleep disturbed.

“Taehyung, what do you want?” I said more sternly. “I was having the best sleep I’ve had in weeks, and then your messages woke me up. If you don’t give me a good reason not to hang up, I’m going back to sleep.”

“Because you love me, and I’m your best friend, and you love talking t—“

I tapped the red button, effectively silencing him. I tossed my phone onto the foot of the bed and rolled over.

Not seconds later, the flashing light was back. I groaned for the nth time, sitting up to look at my angry phone.

All messages from Taehyung.

WHY DID YOU HANG UP??

I can’t sleep and I need someone to talk to.

Please????

I know you’re not asleep! Call me back!! >:(

I love you! You can’t do this to me!!

The messages following that last one were a literal ****-ton of angry emojis. I rolled my eyes, finally making an effort to respond to my overdramatic best friend.

To: TaeTae [2:16am] — Stop texting me weird stuff so late at night

From: TaeTae [2:17am] — What weird stuff? I’m only giving you the FACTS. I know you love me!

To: TaeTae [2:17am] — What gave you that idea?

From: TaeTae [2:18am] — You answered my texts didn’t you?

I rolled my eyes again, finally accepting the fact that I was not going back to sleep right now—not if Tae could help it.

To: TaeTae [2:19am] — What’s keeping you from sleeping?

From: TaeTae [2:20am] — Just general stress about life. Finals are coming up, my girlfriend broke up with me, and my friends are out getting drunk while my best friend ignores me…

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling a little guilty for brushing him off so easily. I didn’t realize he had so much on his mind.

To: TaeTae [2:21am] — OKAY, wait! She broke up with you? Why didn’t you start with that? Are you okay?

He didn’t respond to that one. I decided to keep the conversation going. If I couldn’t fix it, I could at least occupy his mind for a little while. I bit my lip as I typed my reply.

To: TaeTae [2:21am] — I’m always here for you. Do you need to talk about it?

His next reply took a few minutes. It was short, but it made me feel a little better.

From: TaeTae [2:24am] — I can always count on you. :)

To: TaeTae [2:24am] — Do you want me to call you?

Again, his reply took a minute or two, as though he were thinking about it. I chewed on my fingernail in anticipation.

From: TaeTae [2:26am] — Actually, can I come over? I don’t wanna be home alone.

To: TaeTae [2:26am] — Of course, I’ll wait on the front porch.

From: TaeTae [2:26am] — Thank you. I’m gonna put some clothes on and head over. I’ll be there in 15

Tae’s frat house wasn’t far from my sorority, literally down the street, so I didn’t mind waiting outside for him. I got up from my bed, sliding my shoes and jacket on. I had to sneak through the halls of my shared house because everyone else was asleep like most sane people. I didn’t mind being up now though. My best friend needed me, so I’d bare with the pain of missing a few hours of sleep.

I gently shut the front door behind me, moving to sit on the top step. I rested my elbows on my knees, looking out at the street. One of the frats down the road, in the opposite direction Tae’s house was located, was having a party. That’s where I assumed the rest of his frat was getting plastered tonight. My sorority was a quiet one, and it wasn’t often that we went out. We only really partied when finals were over, or if someone’s birthday was coming up.

“Hey,” I heard a deep, smooth voice call out from the yard.

I looked up, seeing Tae approach in his sweatpants and hoodie. I stood as soon as I locked eyes with him, outstretching my arms to him. He gave me an expression that was a mix between a pout and a smile, tilting his head as he stood in front of me.

“I’m not a sad puppy,” he told me, rolling his eyes.

I ignored his comment, grabbing him and pulling him into my embrace. He didn’t resist me, wrapping his arms tightly around my back instead. He buried his face in my shoulder, while I rubbed his back.

“You’re not a sad puppy. You’re my best friend, and you’re having a bad night. I wanted to give you a hug,” I said plainly, still holding him tightly.

He didn’t say anything as I pulled away, but his expression was much more relaxed than it was before. I knew he had a tendency to try and hide his stress or sadness behind a wall of humor, and he knew better than to try that with me. I could easily see past all of that.

I pulled him by the hand up to the front door. “You have to be quiet. Everyone else is asleep.”

I opened the door just to catch a glimpse of my housemates rushing up the stairs, small giggles filling the foyer.

“Or not,” he chuckled behind me.

I rolled my eyes at my sisters, pulling Taehyung inside. “Just come in.”

He took his shoes off at the door, following me up to my room. As I closed the door, he spoke in an amused tone. “I thought they were asleep.”

I scoffed, “You and me both.”

I kicked my shoes off, pulling my jacket off and tossing it onto the armchair by my window. Taehyung pulled his hoodie off and tossed it on top of my jacket. We had countless sleepovers like this, so this part was all routine.

He didn’t like to show it, but Tae was a big worrywart. Whenever he was worried about something, he came to me, and we hung around my room in the wee hours of the night, eventually falling asleep on my bed together.

My housemates were convinced that he was in love with me and I with him, but each time it happened assured them that it wasn’t anything of the sort. We were just each other’s people—the person we could turn to when no one else would listen. I had spent a few nights at his frat house when my last ex broke my heart, and Tae was understanding with me and helped me get over it. I was determined to do the same for him. That’s what best friends do.

I moved to plop down on the bed first, sighing at the comforting feeling of the mattress beneath me once again. He followed me, catching me off guard as he curled into my side. He rested his cheek on my chest, his arms wrapping around my abdomen. I blushed slightly but wrapped one arm around his back, my free hand coming up to pat his head comfortingly.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” I asked cautiously.

He shook his head, squeezing me a little tighter. “No. I just want to stay like this for a while.”

A few moments of silence passed, and I decided to try my hand at eliciting a chuckle from him. I wanted him to smile for me, even if just for a second.

“I’m pretty sure half the girls that live here have the hots for you,” I tell him in a matter of fact tone.

“Oh yeah?” He chuckled.

I nodded, even though he wasn’t looking at me. “Oh yeah,” I laughed slightly, my chest shaking beneath his head.

I stroked his hair, listening to his breathing slow. I allowed my eyes to drift closed.

“Are you awake?” He whispered.

“Almost,” I chuckled.

“Thanks for being here,” he sighed.

“Always.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Tae. Get some sleep.”