"How ya feeling Ni?" I asked once he started to stir next to me.
The sun had started to peak through the clouds. Something we had seen while we had been in Ireland.
"I've been better," he mumbled. "What time is it?"
"Almost two."
"You seem to be fine." Slowly he pushed himself up on his elbows. His hair a mess with the left over product from last night now causing it to stick in all directions.
"That's because I stopped drinking and switched to water. You on the other hand did not."
"Being responsible isn't fun though."
"And how is that fun feeling the next morning?"
"Like shit," He answered defeated.
"That's what I thought." I jeered. "Why don't you get up and I'll make you some food?"
"Okay, I'll be right down."
We had been staying at his dad's house for the last two days. My family had never been one for holiday celebrations, in part because they couldn't be together for more than an hour without getting into a fight, so Niall invited me to tag along with him. He didn't want me staying in London alone, instead insisting I come with him to spend a week in Mullingar. His plan, spending every night leading up to Christmas in a pub with his friends and then Christmas with his family. It sounded amazing because maybe for once I would have an enjoyable holiday.
*
Niall entered the kitchen while I was rifling through the refrigerator. Looking at him I was confused when he was sitting at the counter with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
"Niall what are you doing?"
"I'm freezing." He pulled it tighter.
"It's not even that cold." A small cough escaped from him. "Niall are you sick?"
"No!"
Not believing him, I approached him to place my hand on his forehead. "You're warm."
"I'm not sick!"
"Why don't you go lay down on the couch and I'll bring you some food and a cup of tea."
"Okay," He replied weakly. Shuffling into the living room, I heard him flop down on the sofa.
*
Once everything was finished, I carried my things to Niall. However I found him passed out on the couch. Gently I shock his shoulder. "Niall do you want to wake up?" He coughed again as he sat up. "I think you are getting sick." Handing him the tea, he readily took it and sipped the steaming liquid.
"But I can't. We're supposed to go out tonight."
"Maybe we take tonight off and if you are feeling better we'll go out tomorrow. Now finish your tea and eat something and get some rest."
He ate a small amount of the food I prepared but wasn't really interested in it. When he finished he wrapped himself in his blanket before laying across the couch with his head resting in my lap. He grabbed my hand and placed it on his head, a telltale sign he wanted me to rub it. He hummed in satisfaction as my fingers began to work over his scalp.
He tried to rest but was constantly woken by his own coughing. He couldn't even go five minutes without one. It was even keeping me awake. I would just start dozing off, then be shocked awake with another one of his coughs.
"Niall why don't you get some cough medicine so you can maybe get some sleep?" I suggested.
"Will you get it for me, please? I'm sick."
