School Affair

Chapter 18

"All right, lets eat to a successful study camp!!" Arriving at TimeOut they ordered some food and drinks. Taking a bite of her food, Jessica sighs with relieved.

"It tastes even better knowing the camp was a success!" on her right side was Taylor who says with a smile:

"You worked really hard, Miss Hower. I heard that your new lesson plan went really well."

"Thank you for helping me. I will try making my classes even better." Joining the conversion Simons says:

"You are pretty serious about your job. Jess." On her left side she feels Mike coming closer and putting an arm around her shoulders.

"That is SO attractive! A hard working woman is my dream woman-" not being able finish his sentence Luke notices how Jessica haven't gotten her drink yet.

"Dominic! I haven't gotten my drink yet." Everyone looks like they are having a good time and Jessica feels nice to just relax like this looking straight she comes face to face with Nathan who hasn't eaten anything and just looked spaced out again.

"Mr. Johnsen? Hello, earth to Mr. Johnsen!" snapping her fingers, he blinks at looks at her.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Are you all right? You have been spacing out all day."

"Oh, please. That's your specialty."

"Well, that's true..." coming out of nowhere Mike joins in and teases Nathan with a smile.

"You do look kind of out today, though!" being the cold person, he is, he fires back.

"Not as much as your brain..." Jessica notices that something is off with him, even though he speaks like always. He got his poker face on as usual, but something bothers her about how he is acting.

Finishing their meal, they still have a great time just sitting together and getting to know even more, but it started to get late and Jessica feels exhausted and decided to go home. Also, for them to catch up about the college days, as most of them went to the same college and have been knowing each other for a long time and to talk more freely without a woman around.

"All right, I think I will go home for the night." Looking at her Taylor says that the night is still young and that they don't have school the next day.

"Yeah, I don't want to be tiered tomorrow." Standing up, she takes her bag and was ready to leave.

"Wait. I am going too, Miss Hower." Just like her he stands up, just to get teased by his friends Luke and Simon.

"Ooh, what a gentleman, Nathan."

"I bet you two did do something at night during the camp." Not even bothering to say something about teasing, Jessica just rolled her eyes and walks to the door, followed by a Nathan who glared at them.

A few minutes after they left the restaurant they arrived in the building, which felt like forever because Nathan won't say anything. Not thinking too much about it, they arrived at her apartment.

"Thanks, you everything again. I learned a lot thanks to you, and I am glad we got to do the camp... well anyway, good night." Before she knows what is happing, he leans forward and his head lands with a thump on her shoulder, supporting himself he puts one hand on the wall. Not knowing what to do, Jessica stood still and feels his breath on her when he talks. Something comes up to her mind, and she touches his shoulders, pushing him away from her to take a better look at his face.

"Let me touch your head, okay? Oh my! You are burning up!"

"My head hurts so bad it feels like it's going to explode..."

"You got a terrible fever! Why didn't you say anything!? Lean on me. Can you walk? Where are your keys?" taking the keys out of his pocket with shaky hands, he gives it to her.

"Come on, let's get you to lay down." Somehow managing to open the door while holding him, Jessica leads him inside noticing how messy it is again, thinking about how messed up his bedroom is going to be, she guides him to his bedroom, feeling his weight even more on her and she finally get him in bed, totally exhausted

"Do you feel better now that you are lying down?" looking at him, Nathan looks so weak and how he acted in school now makes sense. Taking of her jacket Jessica prepares a bowl with cold water and a washcloth, squeezing out the water, she rests it on his forehead. Looking around, again she can't believe how he got such a problem with keeping his apartment clean. Making her own decision she makes up her mind to clean his place, standing up she rolls up her sleeves, but just then he grabs her hand and asks with a weak voice.

"Are you leaving already? Please stay a little longer..." she is frozen when she sees how helpless he looks right now with his eyes barely open.