A+ Romance

four

You rubbed a hand over your face, knocking your hat over by accident. "I think I'm delirious so I'll just take a raincheck on that invite."

He grabbed your hat and used both hands to set it on your head, lingering for a bit and then stepping back. "Gonna head into the showers but we'll be at Tony's if you change your mind. Greasy burgers always seem to hit after a win." With a salute, he broke into a jog back onto the field, leaving you standing there analyzing every bit of the conversation.

Apparently breaking routine and staying out late was too much of a shock to your body as you woke up the next day, sweat covering your body and throat on fire. Shit. You couldn't remember the last time you were this sick so you had no meds or anything in your dorm. A cough that sounded more like an old car trying to start shook your entire body, a groan escaping your lips when your ribs protested. With a glance at the clock, you realized it was time to go.

There was an important quiz today and the prof had said he was not letting anyone take it again, no matter the excuse. You got out of bed, which took embarrassingly long, and got ready. It took you a while to actually make it out of your dorm as everything hurt and thus the mundane tasks you breezed through every morning took twice as long. Pulling your hat over your head, you made your way to the campus store to grab some flu meds and a bottle of water. You downed it as you walked to your class, taking a few breaks to cough.

You finally made it, and your knees nearly buckled when you picked a desk, dropping down on it. A few breaths later, the room stopped spinning and the quiz started. The words on the page were blurry as a piercing headache made it hard to focus on anything let alone words on a paper. Regardless, you tried your best and finished the quiz in record time, dragging yourself to the front to drop it in the basket before making a quick exit.

You will yourself to stay strong long enough to make it back to your dorm but you had started sweating again, your body shaking with chills. You kept to the walls, avoiding anyone who could potentially bump into you and send you sprawling to the ground. You almost jumped in happiness when the resident building came into view. You pulled your card out and slapped it against the reader, slipping inside and going as fast as you cold manage because you could feel your strength wearing out by the second.

You made it to your door but groaned when you saw him standing there. Why today of all days? To make matters worse, he was wearing a white henley and it looked so good on him. Like really good. You stood straight as you walked, pulling your hat even lower so he wouldn't see your face as you were sure you looked like death. "What are you doing here?" You croaked, wincing when you heard how bad your voice sounded.

"My quiz. I got an 85." He held out the paper for you to see. He did good.

"See? I told you it was possible for you to learn economics." You coughed. "I'm kind of busy now but I'll catch you later so we could go over your mistakes."

You tried to move around him but it turned out all your energy was gone as your knees buckled and you fell to the ground. "Teach!" He moved fast and caught you. His arms slipped underneath yours as he helped you stand. "You're burning up, I can feel the heat through your clothes. You been wandering around campus like this?"

"I'm fine," you tried to say as firmly as you could manage. "Just go."

He sighed, sounding really frustrated before he bent down and placed an arm behind your knees and lifted you. "Open your door." It was an order, one you didn't have the energy to fight. You tapped the card and he took you inside, laying you on your bed, then slipped off your shoes. "How'd you know which bed was mine?"

He ignored your question, asking one of his own instead. "Did you take any medication?" He sounded so serious and unlike the playful guy you've grown to know.

"An hour ago."

"Eat anything?"

You shook your head no, wanting the bed to swallow you whole when his brows came together, clearly unimpressed. "I'll go grab you some soup from the cafeteria, try to get some rest while I'm gone." He pulled the covers over you, then reached for your keycard and slipped it into his back pocket. "It's not a bad thing to have others take care of you." Those were his last words before he left, the door slamming shut behind him.

Your eyes were locked on the door for a while. You wondered if you should stick your chair underneath the door handle but you pathetically wanted him to come back and take care of you even though it was a completely foreign experience.

He returned an hour later, could've been less or more but you've been drifting in and out of sleep since he left so your understanding of the time that passed was very warped. He set a brown paper bag on the floor and slowly approached you, checking your temperature with his hand on your forehead again. His touch was cool and you wanted his hand to stay there permanently. What a weird thing to think. Much to your dismay, he removed his hand. "Feels like your fever is breaking."

He removed some containers from the bag. "I had to sweet talk the ladies at the cafeteria to make some soup quickly."

"Lucky me," you croaked. "You don't have to do any of this."

He shook his head. "Like I said, it's not a bad thing to allow others to take care of you." He helped you sit up and then handed you the spoon, which fell to the floor as you had no strength in your arms. He wordlessly picked up the spoon, wiped it with a napkin, and then started feeding you. You could hardly taste the soup but you eagerly drank it all in, ignoring the fact that this guy who you barely knew, was here playing doctor.

Finally, the soup was done and you felt satiated enough to lie back down. "Thanks for that. I'll probably just be passing out soon so feel free to leave or whatever."

"Nuh uh, this floor is gonna be my home until you don't look like you're dying."

"What about my roomate?" It was a lie, your roomie was out of town for a bit but as much as you wanted to bask in his attention, it also felt unbearable to have him focus solely on you.

He leaned back against said roommate's bed, an arm resting on the edge of the mattress. "She'll probably be cool with it. I mean, not many can say I've been in their dorm."

You laughed but it sounded more like a wheeze. "Fine but don't complain when I snore." You yawned and shortly after, you must've passed out as it was night when you woke. Your mouth felt like sandpaper but most of the pain was gone. You looked around your dorm, and paused when you saw he was still here. He had moved from the floor to your roommate's bed, deeply asleep. The small lamp on your desk was on, basking everything in a warm yellow light. You faced him, about a meter separated you. The light casted shadows on his face, long lashes almost meeting his cheeks.

It surprised you that he was even here, gently tending to you in a way no one ever has before. All of those people that were outside your dorm had no idea he was even in here so it felt like a little secret was shared between you. That thought made you smile. A secret.

He shifted and you instantly closed your eyes, not wanting to get caught admiring the guy. You could hear him wandering around as he came over to you, checking over for a fever. "She's good," he whispered and then you heard some shuffling as he probably was getting ready to leave.

His phone rang and he cursed, answering it quickly. "I'll be right there," he hissed before you heard the soft click of your door closing. Once you felt like it was safe enough, you opened your eyes and sat up, eying the rumpled cover he slept on top of.

Maybe...maybe having these feelings weren't so bad after all.