@hellfireleads , continued.
ben isn’t home. carter suspects he’s at the boxing ring, or out on a date - either way, she doubted he would be home tonight. she worried about her brother, most of the time, but tonight, she was worried about herself. and despite feeling selfish for that, she couldn’t stop herself from asking eddie to stay with her. nights alone have been difficult, recently. so many nightmares, the guilt piling on her chest, making it hard to breathe. talking to ben would only get him riled up and concerned, but talking to eddie . . . she thought she could count on him not to ask any questions. which he doesn’t. instead, he agrees quickly to her request and suggests a totally normal thing to do together. carter smiles and nods before settling into the couch.
a few half hearted laughs leave her several moments in the film, but she’s mostly focused on the top right corner of the screen, just trying to keep her eyes open. afraid to fall asleep, like those kid’s in nightmare on elm street. her bad dreams couldn’t kill her, she was pretty sure. but they left her feeling like death every time she woke from them, startled and sweating. she hadn’t noticed eddie fall asleep until his temple laid against her shoulder, and even then, carter left him there. when he does finally wake with a start, carter gives him a tired and teasing grin. ‘ don’t be. you weren’t snoring or anything. well, maybe a little, ’ elbow nudges eddie’s rib, brow creasing a bit at the thought of him leaving. ‘ did you wanna go home or . . . ? ’ he could stay the night. carter doesn’t think her pride would allow her to ask a second time. ‘ it is super late, so . . . ’ she leaves it at that, but her eyes are pleading.