I opened my eyes to the sun peeking through my closed curtains, the birds tweeting their sweet melody, and a sore throat. What? How can I be sick already? I swallowed and sure enough my throat felt rough and icky.
I coughed into my elbow and picked up my phone from my nightstand, pulling out the charger. The first thing I thought about was calling Dan and that's what I did. After a few rings I checked the time and was surprised to see that it was actually only nine thirty.
He picked up on the next ring with a deep voice, which made me think k that I had just woken him up. "Hey Char. What's up?" Dan yawned.
I tried to talk but my voice was failing me, and I had to clear my throat which probably wasn't very attractive. "Hi. I feel sick, do you think you could come over?"
I heard the sound of sheets rustling and he grunted a yes. I smiled to myself and repositioned to snuggle in the covers. "Mbye." I mumbled and hit the end call button.
I drifted in and out of consciousness until I heard my bedroom door open and a person entering. My eyes fluttered open to watch Dan shuffle over in a loose t-shirt and sweatpants. I closed my eyes again when I saw him climbing into bed next to me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and hugged me to his body like I was a snuggly teddy bear.
I've longed for moments like this most of my life. Laying in bed with my boyfriend, or whatever we are. Everything was alright and I felt serene in his arms. Dan sighed contentedly and I fell back into a dream filled unconsciousness.
***
I awoke to an empty bed, just me, alone. My eyes wandered to the door, wondering if I had dreamed Dan or it was real. I got up and fixed my hair in the mirror by the window and opened the door. I walked down the hall towards the living room and looked around. Nobody was to be seen, but there was a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen.
My mouth watered and I walked in a dream-like state to open the kitchen door. Brooke, Dan, and Phil were preparing food. Brooke was filling glasses with orange juice and milk, Phil was handing out plates, and Dan was flipping thin pancakes.
Brooke and Phil saw me enter but Dan's back was to me so he didn't notice. He was adding chocolate chips to the pancake batter and I licked my lips, having not eaten since last night's dinner.
"Oh, you're finally up! Are you feeling any better?" Brooke asked me with a smile. Dan must have told her about my call this morning, also the fact that she answered the door for Dan to get in when I invited him. I nodded my head and made my way over to Dan, who had turned around when he heard Brooke talking.
Dan dipped a chocolate chip in the batter and stuck it on the end of my nose, causing me to giggle a lot. I wiped it off and popped the chocolate into my mouth, grinning at the taste.
I walked out to get my phone and by the time I got back, the breakfast was ready. My three friends had made pancakes, prepared orange wedges, and had drinks ready. I smiled at the scene in front of me and took my seat. Everyone else sat down with me and we dug in.
All the food that they made tasted amazing and Dan stuck close to me the entire time, sneaking oranges off of my plate every once in a while, resulting me in smacking his hand to get it back. It was all in good fun.
"So, how about that weather?" Phil asked. I laughed into my arm and glanced out the window behind him at the cloudless sky.
***
We all ended up going to the boy's place by the end of my fabulous breakfast, where we sat around Dan's piano. He was playing away, his fingers playing the keys by heart.
I owed my eyes and felt the melody take me away, I always loved soft ballads on piano. Dan's piano playing skills were better than mine will ever be, even if he taught me himself it would be a very diluted form of his.
As the song ended I opened my eyes and looked at Dan in a whole new light. This man that I didn't really know before had a lot more depth than he shows. He really cares for his friends, and I hope that I can have a chance to repay him.
Everyone cleared out of the room except for Dan and I, so we sat on the end of his bed in peaceful silence. I yawned for about the millionth time this afternoon.
"Why don't we take a nap? You look tired." Dan suggested. I was happy to oblige, but one thing nagged at the back of my mind.
"You're going to get sick if we keep being so close. You know that."
"Yeah, I do but it would be worth a cold to make you feel better."
I smiled and followed Dan's lead, laying down under the covers with him on his blue bedsheets. We faced each other and our heads were too close for him to not have caught my sickness already.
Just as I was drifting off, Dan lifted his head to kiss my forehead, and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. I had not one care in the world and as of that moment, everything was calm.
