"Ok, that sounds fun but I want to know why you were crying."
                          
"Cool." Jacob got out Chutes and Ladders. "Which character do you want to be?"
                          
"The kid with the blonde hair. Are you ignoring me or are you just distracted?" Jacob looked uncomfortable.
                          
"Ok, I'll be this one." They placed their characters at the start and the game begin. 
                          
Mark's character moved up two spaces. "You aren't going to tell me are you?"
                          
Jacob's character went up a ladder. "I don't know. It's kind of hard for me to talk about." Mark's character was on the same space as Jacob's.
                          
"That's ok. But if you do want to talk, I'm here."
                          
"Heh. Thanks, I will."
                          
There was a knock on the door. "Hey. Your father dropped these off." Jacob's dad brought a suitcase and sleeping bag into the room. 
                          
"Oh thanks!"
                          
"No problem. There's guacamole and chips in the kitchen if you want any."
                          
"Gracias papá." Jacob said as his dad left. He looked over at mark. " Want a snack?"
                          
He shrugged.  "Sure."  They left the game on the floor and went downstairs.
                          
After the game and guac was finished, they boys skyped Alex and the others. 
                          
"Yo." She said. "How's the playdate going?"
                          
"The "playdate" turned into a sleep over thanks to my dad painting the house." Mark said. "How's the project going?" 
                          
Alex shook her head. "Not gonna lie, it's going pretty bad. Toby had a mental break down a little while ago. He tried to fix our ten page essay and ended up deleting it by mistake.  We told him it was fine but he passed out anyway."
                          
Jacob winced in sympathy. "Is he ok?" Jacob asked.
                          
"He's asleep right now. His mom said he needed a break before he could work again. Tina's got a good memory though, so we should have this fixed by five."
                          
"That's good," Jacob said "What's the essay about?"
                          
"The negative effects of smoking and alcohol on the human body. Exciting isn't it?"
                          
"I'm sensing sarcasm in that comment." Mark said. "I take it you don't like it very much?"
                          
"It's horrible, help me."
                          
"Nope."
                          
"I hate you."
                          
"Aww you too." Tina grabbed Alex's phone before she could end the call out of rage. 
                          
"Hey guys! Alex, no. We do not throw phones." There was inaudible yelling on the other end.
                          
"Well, we need to go before Alex blows a fuse. Bye!"
                          
The boys both said their goodbyes and ended the call.
                          
"Well that was interesting." Mark said. "I knew Toby would freak but I didn't think he would pass out."
                          
"Does that happen a lot?" Jacob asked.
                          
"Only when he does a lot of work at once. Other than that he's pretty good about it. His sister makes sure he gets enough sleep and food when he has a lot to do. I'm convinced she's the only reason he's still alive."
                          
"Heh it sounds like it." Jacob checked the clock on his desk. It read 5:30. "Oh shoot I gotta make-"
                          
His dad called from downstairs. "Dinner!"
                          
Mark was standing. "What do you have to make?"
                          
"It's nothing." Jacob said as he stood. "Come on, let's eat."
                          
Jacob had to admit, he was shocked that his dad had prepared dinner. He was usually too busy to make it himself. Not that he minded. He liked having a break from cooking but his dad wasn't the best at it.
                          
"I had pizza delivered." He said to the boys as they sat at the table. That makes a lot more sense, thought Jacob as his dad handed him and Mark a slice. 
                          
"There's more on the counter if you want any." He took a slice and left. Jacob was sad to see him go but it wasn't like he was alone.
                          
"So," Jacob said. "What do you want to do after this? Watch a movie?"
                          
"Sure, but no horror films. I still don't understand why you like that stuff."
                          
"It's fun!"
                          
"Dude, I don't know what you think "fun" is, but being scared out of your mind is not fun."
                          
"It's not scary if you know what's going to happen. Remember the music trick I taught you?"
                          
"Yeah but the visuals are still terrifying!"
                          
"Nah, those are just special effects and makeup."
                          
"I envy your ability to be so cool about horror films."
                          
"I envy your ability to be scared."
                          
Marks eyes were wide with surprise "Seriously!?"
                          
"Nope. Only joking." He smiled as he took a bite of his pizza.
                          
Jacob didn't sleep much that night due to his nightmares. If he whimpered and Mark heard, he would turn over and stay quiet.This seemed to be working until something started beeping. He didn't know where it was and he didn't know how to stop it. He remembered the hospital he stayed at and listening to the machines keeping his mom alive. He remembered waiting and crying. He trembled in his sleeping bag and covered his mouth as a nightmare started.
                          
Mark groaned. "Sorry! Sorry! That's my phone. Ugh what time is it? Who's calling me?"
                          
He fumbled for his phone and answered it. "Tina what the heck?! It's one in the morning!"
                          
"Oh sorry I didn't realize. But I need to show you something, Jacob too." 
                          
"No, Tina I-" He saw the shaking lump next to him. "I need to go! Call you later!"
                          
He hung up and shook Jacobs shoulder. "You're dreaming. You're dreaming, wake up!"
                          
Jacob screamed and sat up.  He covered his mouth and waited. When his dad didn't come down he tried to go back to sleep but Mark stopped him.
                          
"Tell me what's wrong." Jacob couldn't hold it in anymore. He let himself cry. Jacob cried until he couldn't cry anymore. Mark didn't stop him. He let Jacob lean on his shoulder while he sobed. Eventually, Jacob's breathing slowed.
                          
Mark nudged him a little. "You wanna go back to bed?" Jacob moaned in response.
                          
"I'll take that as a yes." Mark let him go and Jacob crawled into his sleeping bag. He fell asleep almost immediately. Mark took his friends music box and played it for him. He laid on his back and yawned. "Sleep tight pal."