Someone Like Hugh -Draft Complete And EDITING-

Chapter Twenty:

Hugh's POV:

I looked up at her and her eyes were glistening as if she was going to start crying at any moment. "Thank you. I really appreciate it. This was sweet, but you two shouldn't have done this," she smiled sadly.

"Why not? Everyone deserves to have a day for themselves," I smiled stroking her hair. She looked down at the charm bracelet and I gently took it from her and put it on her.

"If she ever finds these, she will destroy them," she whispered. "I appreciate what you two were trying to do, but I don't deserve these."

She fumbled with the clasps on the bracelets but her hands were shaking. "I'll be right back," she whispered standing and rushing to the bathroom. I could hear her coughing hard, and running water.

"Are you alright?" I called out and recieved a mumbled "I'm fine" in response.

She could have been dying and she would still tell us all she was fine. I heard the water shut off and she made her way into the bedroom. She looked a little pale as she braced herself against the doorframe. "What's wrong?" I asked her.

"I'm alright, I just feel a little dizzy and out of it," she replied softly. Something was wrong, but I had to trust that she would tell me if it was something serious. "I just need to sleep a bit and then I'll be fine."

I gently moved the book to her nightstand. Then I stood and made my way over to her. I pulled her against my chest and lifted her slightly. "What are you doing?" she asked slightly frightened.

"I'm helping you into bed. Let me help you," I smiled softly.

"I'm supposed to be helping you, instead I got myself stuck in here," she spoke weakly. I set her down on her feet, keeping her against my chest as I pulled her blankets back. I carefully laid her onto the bed and covered her back up.

I touched her forehead and it was warm, really warm. "It will pass in a few hours with sleep," she whispered, taking my hand gently.

"Do you have a cold?" I asked her, laying down beside her.

She shook her head no. "You're brave for climbing in next to me before hearing my answer," she laughed painfully. "This is a symptom of something else I'm not ready to discuss yet," she spoke softly.

I pulled her against my chest and stroked her hair. I looked across the room at her dresser, the scalloped trim was just the right size to hide her book. I gently removed her new bracelets. "Do you need any medicine?"

"As long as I continue to take mine I'll be fine for now. Thank you," she spoke faintly. She was drifting off.

"I'll put your book and your bracelets under your dresser for safe keeping before I leave," I whispered to her. She nodded softly.

"Thank you Hugh," she whispered as she drifted off. As she slept against my chest I pulled out my phone and texted James.

"You asked if your sister was acting off at all. I think she's sick, I'm just not sure how sick. We need to keep an eye on her," I sent. I turned off my volume and watched my phone.

A few moments later it lit up. "I know. I don't know what it is either, but about a year ago, I first noticed her taking those pills. She has them three times a day as far as I can tell. I'll go check on her in a bit if I can sneak past mother."

"I'm with her now, she has a fever. She loved the gifts, though she's worried Deliah will destroy them," I sent back.

"I didn't even think of that. Once when we were kids, we drew her pictures at school. Mom tore them up and forced her to watch as she burned them," James responded.

"That's terrible," I replied, sliding out of bed. I quickly hid her new gifts as I heard Delilah approach the door. I slipped out onto the balcony, closing the door behind me just as Delilah entered, making sure to pick up the empty bags along the way.

She made her way into the room as I began climbing across. "My dear daughter,  the things you make me do," I heard Delilah say as I heard a resounding slap.