Ocean Eyes

Math Homework

Ryder had never gotten a cold before. Sure she'd gotten the flu, stomach bugs and various other illnesses. Crack houses weren't exactly a sanitary environment for a kid. But through all the years of her life, she'd never fallen prey to a cold.

Until now.

Ryder let out an angry moan, the normally threatening sound marred by her stuffy nose. She sat wrapped in a huge mess of blankets, bundled up tightly despite the abnormally warm day. Her body was wracked by a near constant bought of sneezes.

"This is what you get for trying to be so independent." Sue sniffed as she sat down next to Ryder. She had been teasing the girl all week, finding quite a bit of amusement in Ryder's irritability. Harry had quoted Ryder on 'never getting sick' and now the whole Clearwater family used it as a joke.

"You're taking way too much enjoyment from this, Sue." Ryder sipped her hot tea. "One might start to think you like seeing me in pain."

"Don't be ridiculous." Sue shook her head with a small smile. She reached her hand out, patting Ryder's shoulder. "It's giving you some much needed rest. It's a good think Jim wouldn't let you come in today."

Work yesterday had been catastrophic. Ryder had sneezed on customers, accidentally wiped a runny nose on merchandise and turned the heat up much too high. Sarah had drove her home, giving her a strict talking too about working her ass off. Ryder hadn't listened but Sarah had given her some herbal tea and a smile anyway.

"I feel so useless." Ryder croaked. She had relegated her to bed rest after Sue diagnosing her with a head cold. Harry had pulled Jackson, Violet and Seth down to the stream to fish and Leah was out with her friends. Sue had decided to stay with her and was making good use of her time cleaning the house.

"You're not use-" Sue paused as the doorbell rang. Well, rang may have been a bit of an overstatement. Their doorbell basically screeched. "Who could that be?"

Ryder threw off her blankets, happy to finally have an excuse to get up. Though when she opened the door, she wished she had stayed in her chair.

Paul Lahote stood awkwardly in her porch, his head brushing against the top of the door frame. He had been coming by the shop every day for almost two weeks now, carrying all of Ryder's homework with him. She was touched, but throughly confused. She didn't know why he was being so nice to her and she didnt want him to be.

It made her like him more and that was dangerous territory.

Paul grinned when he saw her. The 24 hours he hadn't been with her had been full of thoughts of Ryder. Yesterday when he stopped by the store she was about to leave and hadn't said much other than goodbye. Today, the shop owner Jim had said she was sick at home.

Paul had to admit, he wasn't sure if this was an actual house when he pulled up. But now seeing the interior, he was struck by an intense homey feel. The small kitchen was painted a sunny yellow, with a counter that opened up into a small dining room. There was an older looking table, scattered with old tissues and mugs. Looking down, he realized who had been using them.

Ryder's hair was pulled up into a messy bun, several strands stuck to her face. Her nose was red and raw and he could hear her sniffles. All in all, he still thought she looked like the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Hey, Ryder." He grinned, happy to be near his imprint again. Her scent enveloped him, vanilla, sawdust and nutmeg, a warm scent that made him want to curl up and hold her tight.