Shadow Beings

49. Smile

I opened my eyes to see Trina pace back and forth, carefully shaking the thermometer in her hand.

Why does she need a thermometer? I thought, my mind a feeling fuzzy. Does she want to measure the temperature outside? Or maybe a drink?

My vision cleared. I slowly sat up, trying not to laugh, which was clearly mission impossible for me. My head felt a bit heavy and my entire body felt weak.

I excel at achieving the impossible, apparently.

I grinned at Trina's anxious posture and her wrinkled face. She looked like a businesswoman who was shaking her phone, hoping to knock some sense into her employees. Her eyes were filled with worry, though. That made me sad.

Wait, I thought, stopping all my thoughts with an imaginary traffic signal. If my thoughts are this ridiculous, that means...

I touched my forehead carefully. Just as I thought, it was hot. Quite hot, actually. I wondered if I could cook on it.

I couldn't hold it anymore and burst into mad laughter. Trina turned towards me, her eyes wide with worry.

"Dummy. Oh, you Dummy! I knew it! I should never have let you heal me. Now I'm sure you have a fever. Take this!"

Trina stretched her hand forward, giving the thermometer to me, the stern tone of her voice being enough for me to snap out of my dazed thoughts. I slowly took the thermometer and placed it on my neck, holding it firmly with my chin.

My hands laid on my lap, tapping my fingers to a piece I knew by heart. Trina looked at me with a disapproving look on her face, her skin looking as if they wanted to hug the floor.

Geez, Trina, I thought. Serious much?

Oh my god, I thought again. I never use the word 'Geez'! And neither do I use 'Oh my god'.

I controlled my laughter, taking deep breaths to stop my face from inflating and my cheeks from turning red. Trina stared at me as if I were an interesting piece of science that was troubling her.

An interesting piece of science? Wow. That is some terminology.

Trina gently took the thermometer, not giving me a chance to read the numbers. Her eyes widened even more as if they were about to take over her face.

"Eighty-two celsius? Eighty-two? You have got to be kidding me. Forty above.." Trina furiously walked towards the sink, but she was careful about the way she handled things with her hands.

I frowned, scrunching my nose and lifting my cheeks.

"How can a thermometer kid? That would be funny," I laughed lightly, my head sinking back into my pillow with an almost inaudible thud.

"Oh no, not this again." Trina's eyes remained on the work at hand, and despite her tired tone I had a feeling she was enjoying this, at least a little. She took a plain and small brown cup and poured water into it before finally looking at me, finally narrowing her eyes.

I scoffed. If only she could listen to my thoughts. My thoughts were hilarious. My best buddy. Yep.

I casually raised my hand in the air, waving it to brush off her concerns as she approached me with the cup in her hand.

"You're taking this, no excuses."

"Yeah okay whatever, miss serious shadow." I gave her a cheeky grin as she extended her hand towards me with a boring, disapproving look.

I blew on the fluid inside, drinking it slowly. "Hot! Hot!" I exclaimed, exhaling rapidly. Trina merely folded her arms and wore an unimpressed look. Even though the five senses of Shadow-trappers weren't as sensitive as that of humans, that water did a number on my tongue.