One Fine Day

Delicious Hallucinations

The next day at work started out like any other normal work day. Except only worse than normal. 

A bus of junior high school girls picked this day, my shift, and my tables to have a celebratory lunch after what must have been some field hockey game. You'd think these teenage girls would want to watch their figure. But oh no, they all wanted chicken tenders and burgers. Eighteen caeser salads would have been a lot lighter to deliver, just saying. Fatties.

I tried to blame my bad behaviour on the impatient adolescents and lack of sleep but I knew what was really eating me up. Ian. I really didn't enjoy my thoughts being at the mercy of some guy I hardly knew. I wasn't used to being this pathetic, and I didn't like it.

Lance was stepping in for one of the deadbeat waitresses who claimed she had "come down with something." It's called coke you whore. Wow I really needed an attitude adjustment. 

Anyways, because Lance and I were working together, he seemed to notice something was up. Good Ol' Lance, he really did have a kind heart. 

"You know, Nora, you look like you're coming down with something also," He remarked.

As if on cue, I noticed how my head seemed to weigh twice as much as it should and my throat starting to hurt. 

"I didn't notice it until you said anything. Thanks for that," I mumbled. I realized that I hurt his feelings so I quickly apologized,"I'm sorry, Lance, I guess I'm just not in a great mood today."

My boss looked down, studying my half closing, watery eyes for a moment and then sighed, "Well I can't have you here getting the customers sick. Go home, sweetie."

"No way, Lance! This place is packed and you only have Valerie here and which basically means you'll be left alone. I'll be fine," I assured him, even as I felt as if I was going to pass out on the floor.

He looked as if he was battling something inside. Finally he said, "I'm sorry but policy says you have to go home. I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

And with that I made my way home. Not that I really remember much of the trip. I could literally feel my fever rising and all the cars, people, and buildings turned into some dizzying blur.

I stumbled into the apartment and made my way into my room. Thankfully it was nice and dark. Without even removing my jacket or shoes, I collapsed onto my awaiting bed and suddenly became unconscious.

~~*~~

A stirring sound, like someone shifting their position awakened me some time later. At first I was completely delirious. I had no idea how I got in my bed or why I was laying in it. I took a moment to recollect my thoughts and looked down at my clothes. My shoes and jacket were missing. Funny, I could have sworn I kept those on. Then I remembered that sound that woke me up. I looked around the dark room in search of Alyssa.

"Hey you're awake!" That was not not my roommate's voice. 

I nearly shrieked when I saw that a six foot man with messy brown hair and piercing blue eyes was stretched out on my bedroom floor, calmly looking up from what looked like a novel. Ian.

"What are you doing in my house!?" This time I did shriek. Was this just a fever induced hallucination? 

Ian looked slightly embarrassed when he said, "Well, I sort of made a trip to the diner today, just to say hello. But your boss told me you went home sick and, well, he told me where you lived and said that I should check up on you, because you looked pretty sick. So I stopped by and your roommate let me in and said I could wait in your room and, well, three hours later here we are. Sorry I scared you."

I let Ian's rushed explanation sink in. 1.) I was going to have to yell at Lance tomorrow. 2.) Same for Alyssa, and 3.) Ian Burns was sitting on my bedroom floor, leaning against my bed like he did this every Saturday.

"Wait, did you say three hours?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't have slept that long. I feel like I hardly had any rest.

"Yepp," Stated Ian, stretching so his muscular arms were only inches from my face. Focus Nora! He yawned and said, "You must have been pretty tired."

I had a million questions I wanted to ask him then. Why did he stay once he learned that Alyssa was already here. What book was he reading. Why did he come to the diner just to say "hi." Those questions would have to wait though, as I suddenly sprang up from the bed, which made my head spin. I ran to the bathroom as quick as I could and, to put it lightly, barfed my guts out.

After I had brushed my teeth and made an attempt at brushing my hair, I slowly made my way back to my room, using the hall's walls as support. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alyssa in the kitchen. She whispered something along the lines of "Why didn't you tell me he was so hot!?" before I shrugged her off and crashed into bed again. 

I didn't even have the energy to apologize to Ian or even be embarrassed. Something told me he wouldn't be grossed out or anything. He turned so he was sitting toward me and looked sympathetically into my glassy eyes. Ian then lifted his hand and placed it on my forehead. Oh, it was deliciously cool. I closed my eyes, my heart beat speeding up.

The last thing I remember hearing before I passed out again was, "Man, what a second date huh?" I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

~~~*~~~

So there it is! I had fun writing this last part :) I gave me all the warm romantic feelings and crap like that. I should seriously stop writing so late though, because I end up making so many mistakes >.< sorry if there are any that I missed while proof reading!