The Fake Girlfriend

Chapter 12

Nick and I didn't really talk except for the cameras when we arrived back to New York. I found myself running a high temperture when I finally got to my apartment. Crashing in my over fluffed bed, I let out a sigh of relief feeling sweat trickle down my forehead.

The next morning, Ruby came in periodically while she got ready for school, pushing wet cloths on my head and giving me assorted pills to help with my headache. We had both deemed- via Google- that I had come down with a common cold that had been going around this year and, as Ruby said, "will only last a couple days." Which really was a lie, because on day three I felt like I had gotten hit by a bus.

I had to tell Scarlett that I was sick with a fever and I really had to cancel on a date for me and Nick. After an arguement, and forced coughing on my behalf, she finally agreed that I would need to get better soon and would be back in full swing with Nick.

The thought made my stomach sick.

But that day after- or maybe before- Ruby had left for school, I was laying in my bed with a cold rag on my forehead, drifting in and out of sleep, when I heard my bedroom door creak open- because let's face it, the apartment maintence hasn't come yet to fix a squeaky hinge. They never do.

I assumed it was Ruby checking in on me, so I didn't say anything. Until at last I heard, "Rayne?" in a low voice- not feminine, and definetely not Ruby's high pitched vocals.

I peeked an eye open to see Nick standing in the doorway looking completely flawless. His hands were shoved into his dark jean pockets and his white v-neck was clinging to his toned chest. I almost wanted to shove the comforter over my paled face.

"Nick?" I asked, now really confused- maybe I was getting delirious. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes glanced around my room and I really hoped my bras weren't draped across my desk chair. His eyes finally made their way back to me when he said, "I heard you were sick still and I just..." He swallowed and shrugged his thick shoulders.

Pushing myself up with my elbows, I leaned my back against the head board to look at him straight.

He continued. "I felt bad, because it's my fault you're sick. If it wasn't for me then you wouldn't have had to fly out to L.A."

I was about to reply when a cough arose in my throat, racking my rib cage. After my hacking fit was finished, I said, "It's not your fault. I never looked at it that way. How did you get in?"

"Your roommate let me in when she was leaving- I caught her right in time. I just wanted to come and say I'm sorry and... I cleared my schedule today," he said and did his non-chalant shoulder shrug again. "So I could come here and help you get better, I assumed you would be alone."

My heart pinched with warmness. I thought he hated me. This must have just been his way to say he's sorry for griping at me about Anna. Even though he wasn't saying it, the unspoken words vibrated between us like a fog. He was sorry and I forgave him.

I nodded. "Thank you but, if I would have known my fake boyfriend was coming over, I would have at least tried to look decent," I replied with a weak laugh.

He shook his head at me, letting out a small chuckle.

I've never really seen this side of Nick before. He was acting like completely different person as he paced around me, adjusting pillows and periodically checking my temperture. I drifted in and out of sleep, each time to find Nick in a different place around my room: in my desk chair, standing in the doorway, and then the most recent as I opened my eyes, he was stretched out beside me on the bed, his eyes glued to the television screen.

I watched the lights of the show dance across his face, highlighting his cheekbones- illuminating his brown eyes. I didn't know if it was the fever talking but, gosh, he WAS beautiful.

Feeling the whisper of my eyes, Nick turned his head to look down me, a blush burning on his face. "Sorry, I didn't want to leave you in here alone- and the bed looked really comfortable..." he stuttered, looking ashamed that he would have even thought of sitting next to me on my bed.

I lightly chuckled, running my fingers through my unkempt hair. "You're fine," I assured him. "you ARE my boyfriend."

He looked down to me again, giving me his signature glare, which only resulted in a light smile playing on his lips. "Let's check your temperture again," he said, shaking his head of my continuing giggles.

He tried to stick the thermometer in my mouth, but I quickly shoved his hand away. "Don't treat me like a baby," I told him, my tone serious but underlining with a hint of playfullness- and I stuck the thermometer between my chapped lips.

After a silence of thirty seconds, the beeping sounded and he hurridedly grabbed the stick out of my mouth before my hand could reach up. With a smile of satisfaction, Nick said, "99.6. It's going down. Man, I should quit this music carreer and be a doctor."

I laughed, playfully nudging him.

For lunch, Nick had brought over chicken noodle soup, bringing me the bowl in my bed and watching me eat it with a whimsical look on face. It was pretty good soup, I couldn't deny that. Between my frequent naps, we watched Lifetime movies together, Nick finally admitting that they were very addicting.

He left at the end of the day while I was sleeping. When I turned over looking for him, my back cracking and neck achy, I noticed a note sitting neatly folded on the pillow beside me.

"Had a good day. Get better soon. -Nick." it read.

I sighed, my heart fluttering a little from his generosity and my head ache subsiding.