(draft)

"Come on here big guy!" I wrap my arm around his waist to help him get through the window. He puts his arm around my shoulder. He almost falls on me, letting himself go with all his weight when his second foot touches the ground. Damn, he is heavy.

I try to lead him the best I can to his bed, his legs hardly support his weight. It seems that the drink is finally working fully. I'm more surprised that the alcohol didn't knock him out sooner.

I take the bottle from his hands before Tyler collapses into his bed and I leave it on his desk. It's almost empty. His mattress sinks slightly when he falls on it.

"Thank you," he mumbles.

He is now where he wanted to be by opening that bottle.

"I didn't mean to scare you earlier." His voice is soft. I stand up slightly to be able to see him better. His hair has fallen, covering half of his forehead. It makes him look younger, but messier at the same time. I want to push them back, but I prevent myself from doing so. And I wasn't scared. Annoyed yes, but not scared.

"It's just... you are so cold. I wanted to break your wall. See what is behind it."

I sigh. I am maybe cold, but he has to take part of the blame for my behavior. How did he expect I would react to all his comments, and that since we first met? A kiss? A hug? An invitation to be friends?

"What is said is said," I reply. He watches me with dull eyes, I can't be mad at someone who is drunk. I know how easy it is to find yourself in his state, for whatever reason.

"Have a good night and try to get some rest." On these words, I walk away toward the door when he talks again.

"I don't drink. Just tonight."

I turn around. He holds his body up by his elbows. His eyes met mine for a countless time tonight. All I see his the truth. Maybe he is right, maybe we can read someone else eyes, even if we don't know that person.  I smile at him. Softly and genuinely.

"You don't have to defend yourself, not with me."

I leave him to sleep. I pull my phone out of my pocket. 35%. It should be enough. Before I forget, I leave a message to Maddie to tell her I left. I don't need her to freak out. I enter the address of my dorm in the app. I have about a half-hour walk home. Perfect, I need a moment alone.

I take out a new cigarette and with my free arm, I hold my jacket closed against me. Tyler truly doesn't let me smoke in peace, even when he invites me to. Maybe he lost someone because of it. This boy is confusing. With the help of alcohol, I saw two sides of his personality in a few minutes. He went from a pain in the ass who was trying to find my secrets by looking inside my soul to a lost boy. I don't understand why he did it. It's weird. I want to think he is into psychology, like Amelia, therefore, he wants to understand everybody. Or he is looking for somebody that went through hard stuff to feel less lonely. I'm not sure to be the right fit then. I've been through shit, but probably not the same as his.

The dorm is quiet when I finally reach it. Walking on my tiptoes, my shoes in my hand, I enter our room. I use the dim light produced by the screen of my phone to see something and navigate without knocking everything, or me, out. I don't risk using my lamp for fear of waking Amelia who is sounds asleep. I quickly grab my clothes and necessity to take a shower, I need it too badly. I don't stay long under the water, just enough to wash away a few of my sins. I take a pill, hoping it will ease the rest of my headache and avoid the one of tomorrow. I smile with delight when my body slides in the fresh sheets. It's so good.

I plug my phone.  I have a new notification showing on the screen. I can't help but smile when I read Tyler's Instagram username. Tyler the stalker. I would have bet he'd be sound asleep by now.

*I want to make sure you arrived .* It reads. I received it a couple of minutes ago.

*I'm in my comfy bed right now. Thank you again for the charger.* I tape back

*Okay. Have a good night! Sleep tight.*

I smile, slightly shaking my head. This boy.

I put my phone on the floor and close my eyes. This night was definitively something.