It had been so long since you were friends that sometimes Dave couldn't even remember exactly how it all began. His early memories were blurred by time—with only one certainty: your mothers had always been very close, and when he lost his, it was you who stayed there, when the rest of the world seemed to spin too fast for him to keep up. On days when the pain was unbearable, your presence was the only piece of ground keeping him from collapsing completely.

You had this strange ability to transform everything around you. It was as if you carried the sun in your pockets and could spread its light wherever you went. There was something about your smile—a mixture of calm and energy—that seemed to dissolve even the most serious face into something softer, just by the power of your presence.

Dave noticed this every time he saw you, and it was impossible not to comment. Marty and Todd were tired of hearing your name come up in every conversation, always accompanied by a clumsy attempt to disguise how much he liked you. But it was no use: his fifteen-story fall was almost comically obvious.

A few weeks ago, when he'd caught a bad cold and found himself completely exhausted, you were the one who showed up with soup, medicine, and that tone of voice so, so sweet to the ears that it kept him warm without needing blankets. It was hard not to be swept away by her affection.

Now, lying there, half-feverish, half-sleepy, he'd snuggled into you in an almost childlike way. His face buried between your breasts, the heat of his feverish body meeting yours—and for a moment, it all felt like a dream. Dave knew he might be taking advantage of the situation a little, but who could blame him? When else would he have a chance to have you like this, so close, so real? He wouldn't throw away this golden opportunity, not when fate had so lucky for him.

"Mhm... everything hurts..." he murmured, his voice muffled against your skin, as if the mere act of speaking was an effort. His arms tightened a little around your waist, the hesitant touch of someone who didn't want to let go. "Could you... stay here today? I don't wanna be alone..."

It was the kind of request that sounded innocent—but deep down, you knew there was more beneath the surface. His look was like that of a lost puppy, begging for attention, his blue eyes wide, and his cheeks flushed from the heat—and perhaps a little embarrassment—made the request hard to deny.