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The phone is on silent. Liam only notices it ringing because he happens to be restlessly staring in the direction of his nightstand at that particular moment.

The name on the screen reads ‘Milo’. Liam’s heart is racing before he even gets his hand on the phone.

“What are you doing calling at this hour?” he hisses.

“Because I knew you’d be awake at this hour,” Milo replies. “Duh.”

He sounds sleepy.

“What do you want to talk about at this hour?” Liam demands.

“I was thinking about Archie and Chloe,” Milo says, conversationally. “I’m not sure we should let Archie use us as crutches any more. Chloe really adores him, and he actually seems to do better when we aren’t around.”

“You never cared about this before,” Liam says, suspiciously.

“I’m making an effort to care about your friends, now,” Milo tells him.

“Why?”

“Because you’re my boyfriend.”

The phrase washes over Liam like water, as comforting as it is terrifying, as exhilarating at it is embarrassing.

“So you called me to say you’re stealing my friends?” he manages, eventually.

“Yes,” Milo says, and Liam can *hear* the eye-roll. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He still sounds really sleepy.

“Did you wake up just to call me?” Liam blurts out, suddenly.

“Eh,” Milo tells him. “I know you’re an insomniac. I figured now would be a convenient time.”

“Huh,” Liam says. “Thanks.”

They stay on the phone until the sun comes up, and yet Liam goes to school feeling strangely well-rested.