Finding Jaime

Chapter 106

Marvel was sick for a couple of days and then was running around like she hadn't just spent two days on the couch watching movies.

A couple of days later, I started feeling off.

"You have a fever, Jaime," Dad said, when he'd come into my room to see why I hadn't gotten up yet.

"I feel like shit," I mumbled.

Dad sighed.

"I have to go do some work, but Mom's going to check in on you. If your fever goes any higher, you're going to the hospital. Got it?" He said.

"Yeah," I groaned. I'd have nodded but it just made my head hurt more.

Marvel may have only been sick for a couple of days, but I was down the better part of a week. Dad started worrying I'd have to go to the hospital because my fever wouldn't break. It never went much over 103°, but it wouldn't break either.

When it finally did, Mom and Dad both had to help me change and take a shower because I was so weak and out of it. Mom changed my sheets while Dad helped me in the shower.

"Sorry, Dad," I groaned as he rinsed soap off my back.

"Don't be. I'm your dad. This is what I'm here for," he said.

"I'm sure showering your sixteen year old was on your bingo card this year," I said, putting my head down on my knees. I was sitting in my shower because I didn't have the strength to stand.

"It wasn't, but that's what parenting is all about. Doing things for your kids," he said. I grunted.

Once I'd rinsed off, Dad helped me up and out of the shower, helped me towel off and helped me get into dry pyjamas.

"Alright you, back to bed," Mom said, as we came out of my bathroom. She took my towel and towel dried my hair.

"You're going to need a haircut soon," she smiled at me. I smiled weakly back.

I crawled back into bed, grateful that the aches in my joints had stopped and other than feeling really tired and out of sorts, I actually felt a bit better.

By the end of the week, I was feeling better and was in the pool with Dad and my brothers, Marvel and Mom were sitting on the stairs into the pool. For once I really felt normal. Like this was normal. Like this was my family. I smiled.

After we'd hung out in the pool for a while, we got out and were laying on lounge chairs or whatever. Dad ordered pizza and when it came, he asked me to go to the door to grab it. I was surprised to see who the delivery boy was. Justin.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"This is your house?" He asked, looking at the house.

"It's my dad's house, yeah. What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like? I'm delivering your fucking pizza you dick," Justin frowned. "No wonder you stopped talking to us."

Justin whistled as he looked at the house.

"I didn't talk to anyone over the summer because I was busy trying not to die, asshole," I frowned.

Justin smirked at me.

"I'm yanking your chain. Look, Frank's sorry he never checked in on you. But you know Frank. He's not one to admit when he messes up. But know that he does actually feel bad that you were sick and he didn't check in. He wants to make it up to you," Justin said.

"He could have texted any time," I said, my arms crossed.

Justin shrugged.

"I dunno, man. It's Frank. You know what he can be like. I'll talk to him. Try to get him to at least text you. Maybe next week we can meet up? I'm serious when I say Frank wants to make it up to you," Justin said.