Secret Lesson

Chapter 7: The Vampire Flu

Alex's POV

The first Wednesday of the holidays, right before Thanksgiving. I thought I'd get to sleep in today, but... How on earth did this happen?! The holidays have just begun, and somehow, I'm already busy being a nurse. And not just any nurse, but a nurse taking care of...sick vampires.

"Cough, cough...!" Jay started coughing.

"Are you alright? Do you want some water?" I ask him. His answer is polite as usual,

"If it's not too much trouble..."

"Okay, hold on- Theo! Why are you out of your bed?" I look over at Theo who is walking away from his bed.

"To change the towel..."

"It's over here. Let me!"

"Ugh...it's cold..." I look over at Andrew, he's shivering in his bed.

"A blanket? Is that what you need, Andrew? Everyone, just...hold on for a second!" My goodness, this is crazy! How could all three of them get sick at once?! I start talking to myself.

"Phew...Okay, calm down, Alex. The first thing I have to do is...get a glass of water for Jay." I pour a glass full of cold water and bring it to Jay.

"Thank you, Ms Alex." He definitely looks paler. And his lips are all chapped...

"I thought vampires were supposed to be immortal. But look at you all, getting sick after Andrew...Are you sure about this whole immortal thing? It's like you're weaker than the average human!"

"Haha...Well, it's only natural. Since we're all making the same mistake."

"The same mistake?" When I ask him back, Andrew jumps into the conversation with a pout on his face.

"It's the voluntary fasting. Why else would a vampire get sick? Even the strongest human would fall ill if he goes starving for weeks."

"Well...! Well, you still can't drink blood...! I mean, drinking the blood of someone who can't even think straight... That's just unfair!" I insist. This comment just confused Andrew.

"Unfair? How?"

"W-well, it's inhumane... You can't call it consent when they are practically unconscious."

"I know. That's why we're all trying to hold back. We don't want you to hate us."

"Andrew..." I'm moved by his sweet words, but not for long.

"But... You've heard of quid pro quo, right? Since we're suffering so much, trying to suppress our greatest desires as vampires... Won't you kindly help us apply this fever-reducing cream, my lady?" I thought he said he wasn't feeling well... Andrew quickly takes off his clothes and hands me the cream.

"Y-you want me to rub this on you? Like how mothers do it for their babies...? Directly...on your chest?"

"You see how I'm burning up? At this rate, I feel like my fever's gonna go straight to my head... So, will you help me go to sleep?" Well...I can tell he's burning up... But does VapoRub even work on vampires? Or is he just trying to get me to do things?

"Fine...Come lie down." I pat the bed next to me

"Wait- You're really gonna do it for me?"

"It's not even a big deal. I just have to rub it on you, right? It's the least I can do for my sick boyfriend." I quickly take the cream from Andrew, "Right then, make yourself comfortable!" I stand in front of Andrew's bed and scoop up the cold cream from the tub. I then drop the cold, sticky liquid on Andrew's toned chest...