The wall groaned in frustration as Bluejay forced the broken window open, creaking and crackling and spewing dust in spite of his efforts to move quietly. He shivered, cringing a little, as the cold night air rushed in, smelling of the sea. The boy behind him began a little dance of victory, bare feet thumping on the wooden floor. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" he whispered loudly.
Bluejay laughed a little. "It's just a broken window, Sunshine. Nothing amazing. And hardly a surprise."
"Yeah, whatever. But it's our secret, right?"
"If you say so. Where are you going?"
Before Bluejay could stop him, Sunshine hopped out of the window. He shivered, bouncing on his heels. "Let's go on an adventure."
"No way!" said Bluejay. "It's cold out there. Get back in here, you don't have any shoes on."
"I will if you bring them out to me. Come on, let's go!"
"I won't do it. I need sleep."
"Then I'll go without you."
"Then I'll lock you out and eat your breakfast."
Sunshine twisted his face in preparation for a wounded reply, but dissolved into laughter instead. He took the hand Bluejay offered and clambered back into the dustiness of the room, rubbing his cold hands together.
Bluejay lingered for a moment, leaning out into the fresh air, trying to catch a glimpse of the moon beyond the height of the building next to theirs. Sunshine resting in the windowsill beside him.
"You do go out in the middle of the night, don't you?" he asked Bluejay.
"Sometimes."
"Take me with you sometime."
Bluejay withdrew from the window and looked down at him. Sunshine looked back up. "It's not all that amazing," Bluejay said. "The outside is the same no matter what hole you use to get to it."
Sunshine huffed disdainfully, straightening. "It's not about getting outside, stupid." He poked Bluejay's chest meaningfully. "It's about having a secret broken window. And it's not just your secret anymore, right? So take me with you sometime. Promise."
Bluejay laughed again. "It's not exactly a secret at all."