Sleepover

3 AM.

3 AM.

Jack could never sleep when Randy was over. That's why he was awake at three AM. That's why he was sitting in the living room, covered in crumbs and markers.

Randy was his best friend, ever since third grade. It's been a while he thought about third grade, actually. Randy seemed a lot different then, despite their meeting was only 2 years ago.

3:05 AM. Randy was asleep, wasn't he?

"Jackypoo."

No, he's awake.

"Yeah?" murmured Jack in reply, as hushed as his voice could let him. The entire house was covered in a black blanket of darkness, just like every night. All of the lights in the entire neighborhood was shut off. Against all of this dark, Randy was all but a silhouette.

"What'th that on top of the stairth?" Randy whispered. Instantly, Jack snapped his head to where Randy's silhouette pointed.

Randy wasn't the only silhouette here. A figure stood on the top of the stairs, dark and overpowering. It stood there, staring. It stared and it stared, never ceasing to end its gaze.

This is how it ends, Jack thought to himself. No matter what Jack tried to do, his body had frozen at the spot. This is how it ends. This is how a witch appears.

"Jack, it'th probably nothing scary!" Randy exclaimed, tugging on his arm. "Maybe it'th your mommy."

"My mom's on watch for people after curfew, Randy. She's not going to be back for another two hours," Jack snapped. He tried to play it cool, but his voice betrayed him. It shook at every syllable.

"Oh..."

They both fell silent, staring at the creature. Jack could feel his heart wildly thrashing.

Until someone's fingers brushed against his.

"My brudder alwayth thaid that witches can't catch you when you have thomeone with you," Randy said. Slowly, he inched towards Jack, until they were right next to each other. Randy took his covers, and spread it across the both of them. "If it'th a witch, I'll protect you, and you'll protect me."

Of course, Jack was too scared to protest. He was too scared to move at all, his fingers never letting go of Randy's hand. It certainly made him feel better knowing that, though.

Before long, Jack was even calm enough to fall asleep into a dreamless night.

COKADOODLE DOOOOOOOOOO

"HELLO, YOU GUYS! How'd you both sleep?" Jack's mom exploded later that morning. It was obvious she didn't sleep that night, either. Her hair looked like it done two days ago.

"It was okay," said Jack.

"It wath awethome! We thaw thcary thingth! I love pancaketh, Mith Thamantha!" said Randy.

"Sounds a fun time. Well, how about you, Gerroson?" smiled Samantha, and elbowed Gerroson gently. At the mention of his name, the seventh grader ducked his head down and fiddled with his hands.

"Just couldn't sleep," Gerroson quietly answered. "I just spent all night standing at the top of the stairs. You know, just to think."