Everything I Wanted

Feeling Better - 25

The first rays of sunlight filtered into the hotel room, the golden warmth brushing against Story's cheeks. She blinked slowly, the remnants of sleep still heavy on her eyelids. As she rubbed her eyes, she noticed a figure perched on the edge of her bed.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Billie said softly, her voice warm and teasing.

Story blinked again, her vision clearing. Billie was sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through her phone. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she wore one of her oversized hoodies, looking cozy and casual.

"Morning," Story croaked, her voice scratchy from sleep but no longer as rough as it had been the day before. She sat up slowly, pushing her hair out of her face. Her gaze flickered around the room, and she realized something was different.

"Wait... did you clean the room?" Story asked, her eyes widening as she took in the neatly folded clothes, the empty nightstand, and the perfectly packed bags.

Billie looked up from her phone and smiled. "Yeah. You needed the rest, so I figured I'd take care of it."

"You didn't have to do that," Story said, touched but slightly embarrassed.

Billie waved her off with a shrug. "It's no big deal. Besides, I couldn't just sit around doing nothing while you slept. And now everything's ready for the trip."

Story's heart swelled at Billie's thoughtfulness. She shook her head, smiling softly. "Thank you."

After a few more minutes of slow waking, Story swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stretched. "Alright, I'm going to shower," she said, grabbing her toiletry bag and some fresh clothes.

As she was about to head to the bathroom, Billie called out, "How're you feeling today? Any better?"

Story paused, considering. "Yeah, actually," she said, her voice lighter. "My throat doesn't hurt as much, and I think my fever's gone."

Billie's face lit up with relief. "Good. I was worried about you."

Story's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Billie's voice. She gave a small smile before disappearing into the bathroom.

The hot water felt amazing against Story's skin, washing away the remnants of sickness and sleep. She let herself relax for a moment, breathing in the steam and feeling more like herself again. After finishing up, she got dressed in comfortable travel clothes—a pair of joggers and a loose sweater—and stepped back into the room.

Billie was by the window, staring out at the cityscape, but she turned as soon as she heard Story's footsteps. "Feeling even better now?" she asked, her eyes scanning Story's face for any signs of discomfort.

"Much better," Story said with a grin. "I'm ready for today."

"Good, because we've got a long one ahead," Billie said, smiling back.

The two of them grabbed their bags and headed down to the lobby. The hotel was bustling with activity, but their group was easy to spot near the entrance. Finneas and Claudia were deep in conversation, while Maggie was organizing some of the luggage with the tour staff.

"Hey, how's the patient?" Maggie asked, her tone light but concerned.

"Better," Story said. "Thanks for everything yesterday, by the way."

"Of course," Maggie said, giving her a warm smile.

The usual routine of getting everyone organized and loaded into the vans began. Story found herself feeling grateful for the structure of it all—there was something comforting about the familiarity of their travel days.