3:28 AM

I wondered if sleep was an abstract concept that was rarely realized by mere mortals. Stretched out on my bed, upside-down with one foot in the air, I desperately searched for said concept. God knows I needed it; it had been days since I closed my eyes for longer than a few seconds, and it was starting to wear on me.
I heard my phone buzz abrubtly. My eyes widened as I groped around it attempting to pick it up. I groaned as the backlight blinded me; I fumbled with the lockscreen and checked my messages.
Are you still awake?
I frowned at Mark's text. He had neglected to respond to a single thing I sent him all day, and now he wanted me to be awake at--I checked the clock--3:28 AM?
But I sighed and answered, Of course.
I put the phone down, closing my eyes and looking for a little solace in the darkness.
It was not to be found. Moments later, my phone exploded with the continuous bursts of vibration that indicate a phone call. Groggily, I pressed the 'answer' button and pulled the phone to my face.
"Hello?" I mumbled.
"Hey." Mark's voice, more beautiful than ever, was not done justice by the cheap microphone transmitting it.
"Did you need something?" I growled.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"It's fine, I'm used to it," I replied tersely. "After all, Jason has been ignoring me too, but it's okay, feel free to--"
"Things haven't exactly been roses over here, Taylor," he whispered, and I could hear the pain dripping from the words.
My anger melted instantly. "I'm sorry darling, I just... you know I miss you."
"I do," he answered softly. "But things have been bad. Things have been very bad." He sounded to be on the verge of tears.
I felt my heart snap in half at the sound of his sadness. "What happened?"
He sighed shakily. "I want to tell you. I want to tell you so badly. But I... every time I try, I... I can't."
"You know I won't judge you, and I'll still love you no matter what, right?" I murmured soothingly.
I could hear him shaking his head. "No, it's not that, I'm just... too scared."
I nodded. "I understand."
"Will you... will you stay on the phone with me?" His voice trembled.
"Of course, love," I whispered, laying down with the phone against my ear.
"Thank you," he murmured, and I heard the staticy sound of him lying down as well.
"You're lucky it's summer, or I'd be damn pissed you woke me up so early," I growled good-humoredly.
He humphed, saying "You would've been awake anyway and you know it."
"True," I chuckled. "Sleep isn't my forte."
"Well, it's certainly not mine," he replied, a smile hiding behind his words.
"I'll probably fall asleep on you eventually," I yawned, rubbing my eyes with one hand.
"That's okay," he mumbled. "I might too. But maybe, this way, I'll fall asleep feeling safe."
"I hope so," I whispered, the heavy weight of my eyelids pulling me into the abyss.

I woke up suddenly to a voice saying "Taylor, I miss you so much."
"I miss you too," I replied groggily into the phone, rolling over to see that the sun was streaming through my curtains.
"Oh. I didn't know you were up." Mark's voice seemed to carry undertones of embarrassment, but I couldn't be sure, so I ignored it, saying "Why are you up so early?"
"I didn't sleep," he answered hoarsely, and I could almost feel his exhaustion.
"Darling," I whimpered. "That's not a good thing."
"I know. I talked to you all night. It took me about 30 minutes to realize you were asleep," he groaned and stretched as he continued.
"You didn't tell me anything important, did you?" I asked pleadingly.
"Not at all," he said quickly. "Just stupid stuff. I knew you were asleep, so I didn't say anything important."
"Good," I sighed. "So, um... are you busy today?"
"Not at all," he answered hopefully.
"Want me to sneak through your backdoor?" I asked, a mischievous grin creeping across my face.
"God yes," he answered, and I laughed heartily.
"See ya in an few." Suddenly energized, I leapt to my feet to go to the side of my very best friend in the whole world.
"You too," he laughed, and I hung up with a flourish, bouncing out the door.