NO! Jasmine to the rescue; Dawn can spend the night.

“No, sweetie, you need to stay with me, okay? You can sleep on the couch and we’ll get you figured out together in the morning.” Jasmine stroked Dawn’s arm, running her fingers up and down reassuringly.

Dawn smiled up at Jasmine. Her eyes were still red, and Jasmine felt a twinge of anger that Quentin had done this to Dawn. Dawn didn’t deserve this much pain.

“Thanks, Jas. For everything,” she put her arms around Jasmine in a grateful embrace, hugging her tight. Dawn pressed her cheek against Jasmine’s and sighed in to her ear. “You’re such a great friend. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Drive off a cliff no doubt,” Jasmine teased. “Come on, let’s get you set up.”

Dawn groaned.

“Your couch sucks ass, Jasmine. Every time I sleep on it my back goes into spasms. Can I sleep in your bed with you?” Dawn saw Jasmine’s eyes light up. “No funny business, though,” Dawn added.

“Of course, and of course not. My bed is big enough for the two of us…” Jasmine looked over at the doorway to her room.

Dawn coveted that bed, it really was huge. It was a king sized mattress that Jasmine had put directly on to the floor in the corner of the room. She had nailed a thin netting to the ceiling, sort of like a mosquito net used in hotter countries, which draped over the mattress and pooled at the floor. The bed was covered in pillows and blankets in chaotic places…it had probably never been “made,” but looked inviting nonetheless. It was a lot like the forts that Dawn and Jasmine had built together when they were young children.

Dawn went in to the dimly lit bedroom as Jasmine shut off lights and electrical appliances in the apartment. Dawn lifted the netting and lay down on the bed, folding her arms behind her head and staring at the ceiling. She heard the door shut creak open as Jasmine joined her inside.

“Want to borrow some PJ’s?” Jasmine asked her.