Touch of winter

[First Person POV, Olivia]

I woke up with a sharp gasp. Another nightmare jolting me awake. Looking around my room frantically I took in the dark interior. The trees casting eery shadows on my walls, The winter wind howling from outside. It sent a chill down my spine. I reach over to turn on my light, but to my avail, no hydro... I cursed lewdly to no one but myself due to the fact I was still home alone.

I reached for my phone and turned on the flashlight my first instinct was to call Alex, But to my dismay... No service... It was then that I realized how bad the storm had gotten since Alex left. I let a small sob escape my lips as the howling wind outside intensified.
With shaking fingers I typed a text anyway, in hopes that I will gain service for at least a moment.

Alex... I have no service at the moment. No hydro either. I'm hoping this goes through... The nightmares, they're back again-

I was in the middle of typing when I heard rapid knocking at my door. Shakingly I stood up and descended down the dark hall. An unsettling feeling creeping its way into my bones. The rapping at the door came again, harsher this time than the last. Causing me to shriek.

"Olivia?!" I heard Alex' worried voice carry out through the creepingly silent house. I wasted no time in racing to the door and ripping it open, to reveal a half-frozen Alex, shivering with snow covering him.

"Alex?" My voice cracked, partly from sleep and partly from the bone-chilling nightmare that was keeping my thoughts occupied. "Olivia, Are you okay?" He inquired, stepping inside and shutting the door. I quirked my eyebrow at him... How did he always know? "I just..." I took notice of how raspy his voice was, and how his breathing was slightly labored... I smiled in spite of myself knowing all too well that he had run here. "I had this feeling... That you weren't okay. I didn't wanna take the chance... I was going to call but... The storm has the service knocked out." I stared up at him with adoration and admiration. How he always knew when something was wrong. And he always came to my aid. Which is only one of the reasons I swoon over the quirky and slightly gauche, Alex Gaskarth.

"I just" my voice stuttered and slightly strained. "Had another nightmare" I shrugged as if it were no big deal... When I knew he knew all too well how violent and brash my nightmares can get. Even if I wake up and have no recollection of what happened in them, besides the screams and paralyzing images that always had me distraught and sobbing when I wake up. Alex wasted no time in pulling my quaking frame into his strong protecting hold. "Its okay, Liv" He whispered promisingly. His smooth voice sending a wave of serenity over me. Calming me almost instantly, but the nightmare still leaving me slightly shaken.

"How about we try and get some sleep, Yeah?" He whispered placidly. I was quick to shake my head "Alex, no" My voice no louder than a whisper, I felt the rise and fall of his chest as he sighed "You need slee-" "I need to not be haunted by my own brain everytime I close my eyes" I argued before he could finish. "Liv... Just try?" I sighed looking up at him with tear-filled eyes "Lex..." I whimpered "I'll put on some music on my phone, we can stay down here, I'll stay here as long as you need me to"

I sighed heavily before looking up at him through my lashes taking notice of how he looked in the dark. Shadows contorting his face into slightly unsettling features.

Quickly I shook the thought off and leaned into him more "Cant we just sit and talk?" I mumbled dryly causing him to sigh "I can see the dark circles under your eyes, Liv... You look exhausted. Please just try, for me?" he pleaded softly with warm eyes.

He got me every time with that look.

I could never say no to that look.

"I'll try" I murmur soundlessly.

I caught him smile slightly before he leads me over to the couch and pulled it out into a bed. He wasted no time in pulling me down with him before landing a soft hand on my hair, playing with it gently. Causing my eyelids to droop dramatically before I finally gave into the sleep...

But just as suspected I was thrown into my nightmares. Nothing recognizable though.

That is until I was face to face with Alex. But... He didn't look like Alex. His face was contorted into an evil grimace and his eyes held pure hatred.

"God. Look at you, you fucking failure. No wonder so many people hate you." he seethed. My heart plummeted. "Wh-What?" My voice stuttered "You cant even lose weight right" His eyes darkened and I shook harder "You're just destined to be fat for your whole fucking life" This wasn't Alex... This couldn't be Alex... "Why are you being so crude right now?" I could tell my comment perturbed him more "NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE SAYING!" I took a step back "WITH ALL YOUR BIG FUCKING WORDS, FUCKING SPEAK NORMALLY!" tears filled my eyes... "Alex, why are you so disquieted with me" my voice was no louder than a whisper... "WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? FUCK JUST STOP FUCKING TALKING ALL TOGETHER"

My heart was beating faster with each passing second.

"Hey, Olivia. Its okay" I heard Alex, the real Alex, whisper. But I couldn't get out of this state of mind, I was trapped in the violent thoughts.

"Olivia, I'm here... It's not real. I'm real. Wake up, Liv"

I sat up, again, with a sharp gasp and a choked sob. I felt Alex pull me into him and kiss the back of my head "It's okay, Whatever it was wasn't real... I promise." I nodded and curled into him.

I took a shaken breath before looking up at him "Lex..." My voice was soft "Yes?" I sighed slightly "Do... Does my vocabulary cause you to resent me?" Alex quirked an eyebrow at me "Olivia, What are you talking about?" I shrugged at his question. "No" Alex pressed "Where is this coming from?" "Its, it's just... In my nightmare. You were very brash... You told me that no one understands what I'm saying... That I was annoying..." I shrugged looking away, He tilted my head back though so I was looking into his eyes again "I would never say that to you. Ever. Okay?" He said strongly "Y-Yes" I whispered looking back down.

"Get some more sleep, Liv. I'll be right here if you need me..." I nodded "Can you... SIng to me?" I heard him let out a breath of a laugh "Of course." He hummed.

'so shut your eyes.
kiss me goodbye.
And sleep.
Just sleep.
The hardest part.
Is letting go of.
Your dreams...'

And that's all it took for me to fall into a peaceful sleep.

Notes

This is a short one.

Its about to get like really angsty in the next few chapters.

sorry I've been away for so long xx