The Apple of My Eye: A Collection Of Short Stories

A Sick Day

Apple incessantly tapped her pencil on her book, each loud tap surprising her with its resilience. The thronework for Professor Rumpelstiltskin was incredibly stressful, yet Apple kept a positive outlook that she could get it done. With a sudden jolt, she hummed the verse of her chosen ringtone, as her MirrorPhone rang.

"I still fall for you like suns do for skies," she sang softly.

A text from Kyle popped up, reminding her of their library meetup. Apple, smiling, collected her books and notes. She hoped Kyle would help her study; last time, they were constantly interrupted by Cartman's endless bickering with Kyle.

As Apple swung her room's door open, a sudden dizziness overtook her. She steadied herself, but a throbbing headache ensued.

"Get it together, Apple. Kyle's waiting for you," she murmured, encouraging herself.

***

Kyle faced the library window, his leg bouncing with a touch of impatience. It wasn't the wait for Apple that had him on edge. It was the anticipation of the surprise he had planned for after their thronework.

He was eager to dazzle her with a starlit picnic and to show off his cooking skills—whipping up some incredible sliders.

And how did he know they were awesome?

Well, he'd conducted a little taste test with the guys, and the verdict was unanimous—they were a hit. Even Cartman came back for more, much to Kyle's amazement.

The door creaked open as Apple stumbled in, looking extremely fatigued and barely able to stand on her own.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Darkstar," she wheezed out.

Kyle leapt from his chair, rushing to her side to offer support as she leaned on him.

"You don't look so good. I mean you look beautiful it's just you look weak," Kyle said, immediately regretting his choice of words. "It's not that you're weak, it's just... you look ill. Are you okay?" His words tumbled out awkwardly.

Apple nodded slowly, snuggling closer to him. She was shivering despite the heat radiating from her body. It appeared she had caught a bug, which was surprising to Kyle; he had always believed fairy tales couldn't get sick due to their perfectionism.

Kyle lifted her into his arms and opened a portal with his looking glass, ensuring they were unseen. Once they reached his dorm, he gently placed her in the spare bed, taking care to make her comfortable.

"I'm so sorry, Kyle. I didn't mean for things to end up like this," she said.

Kyle shook his head and offered her some tissues.

"Don't worry about it. You can't control when you get sick. Plus, there's always another day," he reassured her.

Apple gave Kyle a puzzled look.

"What do you mean? We were just going to work on our thronework," she said, perplexed.

Realizing he had revealed too much, Kyle quickly corrected himself.

"Exactly, that's what I meant. I'll let Professor Rumpelstiltskin know that you'll be absent for some time. Meanwhile, I'll make sure you're well taken care of. Now, try to get some rest."

Kyle planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, allowing her weariness to guide her into a profound sleep. He then turned off the lights and tiptoed out of the room.

"Hey Kyle! How was the date?" Kenny inquired.

Kyle pressed a finger to his lips, signaling Kenny to shut up.