A/N: A random ficlet, inspired by the ice storm that decided to come today. And the dream I had last night, which was basically exactly what this is. It was pretty awesome; I love dreaming about musicals…anyway, moving on.

“We’re expecting a temperature drop overnight and a continuation of this evening’s snowstorm, so stay inside, keep warm and have a great weekend. This is Daniel Morrison on FM 190, and this concludes our news for the evening.”

Elle clicked the radio off, peering out her window, which was coated with a sheet of ice. She could see, unclear through the ice, the snow covering the streets and flurrying around in the fast-moving winds.

“Okay, there’s no way you’re leaving.” She turned to face Emmett, who stood near her desk with his bag and jacket, “It’s way too dangerous.”

“But Elle-“

“No buts, you’re staying here. I won’t let you go out there and get into an accident.”

He smiled at her, “Okay, okay. I guess if that happened, you wouldn’t have a walking study guide, would you?”

She laughed, but then looked at him seriously. “I do mean it, though, Emmett, I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you.”

With that, she moved to her closet to pull out extra blankets for the chilly night, and he pondered the meaning of what she’d said to him.

They spent a few hours studying on and off, talking in between quiz questions, and Emmett learned things about Elle that he’d never known, and she about him. Emmett learned that Elle was deathly afraid of snakes and complete darkness, and she learned that although his mother had been with quite a few men that were less than noble, years earlier she’d married Emmett’s stepfather, who inspired Emmett to go to law school.

Eventually, it was midnight, and the time came that they had to go to sleep. Emmett stood in the middle of the dorm awkwardly, expecting her to hand him a blanket and pillow to set up on the floor. Instead, when she returned from the bathroom wearing her flannel pajamas and carrying Bruiser in her arms, she sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for him to walk over to her.

He stood silently, and he must have looked thoroughly confused, because she laughed and smiled at him. “Emmett, the floor is absolutely freezing. This room is cold enough as it is. I refuse to let you sleep uncomfortably and cold. Now, come over here.”

She patted the half of the bed next to her, and he stumbled forward.

“I know it’s…weird, but seriously, we’re adults, we can handle it. We’ll both get a better night’s sleep this way.”

He slowly and carefully climbed into bed beside her, keeping as much distance between them as was possible to try and avoid the awkwardness he knew they both felt.

“Well, goodnight.” She said, switching off the lamp and rolling onto her side to sleep. He stayed still there, the bright pink comforter and pillows surrounding him, Bruiser curled up at his feet.

He didn’t get to sleep for a while; instead he sat there wide awake the friendship he had with Elle and if he told her how he really felt…it was inevitable. Of course the friendship would be ruined, there would be no turning back, and there was no way she felt the same way about him. He looked over to her, breathing evenly as she slept, a slight smile still on her lips. He smirked then at the fact that even when she was asleep, she was optimistic. Thoughts of Elle flooded his mind for the next few minutes, but somehow he drifted off, giving way to the exhausting day he’d had.

Elle had been asleep for about an hour when suddenly something fell lightly onto her back, and she almost jumped right out of the bed until she remembered Emmett behind her. She turned her head, eyes adjusting to the darkness, and saw that Emmett’s arm had fallen from its place on top of the comforter to land on her. She placed it back gently and turned over to go back to sleep, but the thought that Paulette had initially put in her head kept flashing at her. She tried to push it aside, knowing Emmett would never reciprocate the feelings she had for him, but she turned back and looked at his sleeping form one more time before acting on impulse.

She reached for the arm she’d put back, trying her hardest not to wake him up, and pulled it gently to drape around her while moving towards him. She smiled then, finally feeling like she was able to get back to sleep, and let her eyes flutter closed.

After all, what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.