Chapter 7

I woke up several hours later to the sound of my alarm going off, letting me know it was time to get ready for work. I let out an involuntary groan as I felt the pain in my chest from coughing so much through the night. This cold definitely wasn’t going away any time soon like I hoped. Hell, I felt like it was going to kill me in the end.

I stood up and walked into the bathroom groggily and stumbled around, trying to find the light switch. As soon as I snapped the light on I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and was instantly taken aback why what I saw.

I was still looking quite pale but my cheeks were flushed slightly, indicating that I was probably running a fever. Not to mention the dark circles starting to form under my eyes. So now I’m conflicted on the whole work situation. Do I suck it up and go or call in sick? I may have been more willing to call in on any other day but this was a twelve hour shift and I needed it bad.

So I toughed it out and got ready for work. I thought maybe if I got moving enough I wouldn’t feel as bad. Not likely, but I held on to the thought nonetheless.

I checked my phone as I headed towards the door and noted that I had about an hour and a half to walk to work. Should be plenty of time even if I was slowed down a bit this morning. I also noticed I had a text from Jess which was sent at five in the morning.

‘Hey babe, let me know how you’re feeling this morning. You weren’t looking very well when I dropped you off xx’

I smiled automatically at the text as I was making my way down the street. It was odd to me how Jess could make my day seem a bit better just by checking on me. I typed out my reply quickly seeing as it was still freezing out and my fingers were already starting to feel slightly numb.

‘Hey Jess. I’m feeling all right. I’m on my way to work now but I’ll see you later’

I felt like I was lying to Jess by telling her I was fine but there was no point in telling her I felt like death was upon me when all it would do is cause her to worry. I shoved my phone in my coat pocket and wrapped my arms tightly around myself as I continued the long walk to the restaurant.

By the time I made it to work I felt like I was going to collapse. I barely made it with five minutes to spare and just as I finished tying my hair back I turned to see Travis standing behind me. He had his arms crossed and he looked me up and down before he finally spoke.

“Why are you here?”

“Erm, I work today?” I said as I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

“No offense, but you look horrible, Elena. Have you even been to the doctor?” he asked.

“No, I’m fine. Honest,” I lied.

Travis only shook his head at me and handed my coat back to me which I had hung up only moments before. I looked at him in disbelief.

“I’m sending you home. You should have called in sick.”

“No please, don’t make me go home,” I pleaded. “Please. I need the money,” I admitted pitifully as I looked down, almost ashamed to say it out loud.

I heard him sigh and I looked up, thinking for a moment that I had won and he would let me work today.

“Look,” he started, his voice gentling slightly. “You’re the best employee I’ve had in a long time, and I mean that, Elena. But I’m not going to let you work in your condition, especially twelve hours!

“Now, I don’t normally do this but I’m paying for a taxi to take you home right now and I’m giving you the week off….with pay.”

I shook my head furiously at this. There was no way I could accept that.

“Trav, I can’t just take your money without having worked for it. That’s not right,” I argued.

“You can take it or not but either way I’m sending you home,” he said firmly.

I glared at him, desperately trying to think of another argument but to no avail. I felt my shoulders slump in defeat and I sighed heavily knowing that taking his offer was my best option.

“Fine,” I mumbled as I slipped my coat back on.

 “Well, I’m glad we could come to an agreement,” he smirked. “I’ll mail your check at the end of the week.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I walked off to wait for the cab that was called for me. I hate seeming so ungrateful but I just can’t handle when things are handed to me. I suppose it all goes back to what Jess said. She remarked often about how I shouldn’t feel undeserving of kindness but I couldn’t help it. That’s just how I felt. Undeserving.

Twenty minutes later I was back at my apartment and feeling like I was literally just hit by a truck. The pain in my chest was getting worse and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and sleep for ages. As soon as I opened the door to my apartment I slipped off my shoes and changed into more comfortable clothes. I didn’t bother with anything else as I got back in bed. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

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I was awakened sometime later, but not to the sound of an alarm or by my own accord. I had yet to open my eyes but I could feel someone’s fingers brushing lightly against my face. The feeling was so soothing I unconsciously leaned into the sensation but quickly realized where I was. Who the hell is in my apartment? I opened my eyes quickly, shocked to see Jess sitting on my bed.

“Jess? How did you get in here?” I croaked, my voice quite hoarse at this point.

“You left your door unlocked… I knocked first but you were out cold,” she explained. “I wish you would have texted me to let me know you were sent home. I was worried when you didn’t come out of the restaurant and you didn’t answer my calls…”

“I’m sorry I -- wait what time is it?” I asked, finally looking around. It was already dark outside which means I’ve slept the whole day.

“It’s gone past midnight. I was here earlier and I was going to cook for you but then I noticed your cupboards were pretty much empty. So I went out and bought some groceries and started a soup for you.”

Well, that would explain the smell of food cooking. Now that she mentioned it, I was starving.

“You didn’t have to go to all that trouble, Jess, but thank you. Really,” I said gratefully.

She flashed me one of her dazzling smiles and with that she stood up.

“It should be done now. I’ll be right back.”

I watched Jess walk out of my room to go into the kitchen. The things she’s done for me over the past couple weeks, well, not many people would go to the lengths she has to make me feel happy again. Happiness isn’t something I thought I would ever really achieve, especially in these last few months but Jess just seems to make everything better. Of course there’s more to everything than what I’ve told Jess and I don’t think I’ll ever fully feel ‘normal’ again but I’m not miserable. And I’ll take that any day.

I was only waiting about five minutes before Jess came back into my room with two bowls of the soup she made. I could see the steam rolling off of each bowl and just the sight made my stomach growl slightly. Jess set the bowls on my bedside table and turned to help me sit up as she propped some pillows behind me. I scooted myself closer to the wall so she could sit beside me as we ate.

“So,” she started, breaking the comfortable silence. “I’m taking you to the doctor in the morning.”

“Like hell you are,” I blurted. “You’ve done way too much for me already, Jess. I can take myself to the doctor.”

I did my best to make my tone sound defiant but it was difficult considering how weak my voice already was. Jess simply rolled her eyes at me, obviously not taking me seriously.

“You could take yourself to the doctor but then I know that you won’t, Elena.” She had a point there. I probably wouldn’t go.

I sighed heavily, resulting in a coughing fit from me which only proved Jess’s point further. I could see her smirking out of the corner of my eye as she knew she had won this argument, just like she wins every other disagreement we have.

“Fine but you have to let me do something for you,” I told her.

“Like what?” she challenged. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as if this was a game she knew she would win.

“Do you think this is some kind of game?” I laughed.

“Maybe,” she smirked.

“Hmm. Well I don’t know yet,” I murmured as I leaned across her and set my empty bowl on the table.

“Elena?” she said timidly.

I straightened myself up at the sound of her voice, a bit shocked at her change of mood.

“Something wrong?” I asked. It wasn’t like Jess to look or act timid. Ever. She averted her eyes from mine for a split second before meeting mine again.

“I, um, I-I should head home. It’s really late…” she finally said. Somehow I don’t think that’s what she was originally going to say to me.

“Why don’t you stay here? Please?” I said, almost whispering.

Jess’s eyes flickered to the door then back to me in a moment of hesitation. I knew there was something bothering her but I wasn’t going to try to force it out of her. If she wanted to talk about it then I know she would.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll stay.”

We laid in my bed for I don’t know how long watching the small television I had set up on the other side of my room. Jess had grown quiet like she had yesterday. Meanwhile, I made myself comfortable against her side as I could feel myself falling back to sleep. Without thinking, I moved my arm so that it rested across Jess’s stomach as I pulled myself closer to her, my mind already feeling a bit hazy.

“Hey, Jess?” I mumbled as I felt her fingers lightly brush up and down my arm.

“Yeah?”

“You won’t leave me right?”

Jess leaned her head against mine slightly. We were so close that I could feel her slow breathing against my face.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

A/N  Let me know what you think pleeaase.