The Romantic Art of Bitchcraft

Sick Day

   "Madison," Zoe murmured, kissing her girlfriend gently on the head. It was three minutes until Morning Mass, and Zoe had yet to succeed in getting the former movie star out of bed. "Madison!"
   "Hmm?" the blonde mumbled, not even opening an eye.
   "We have to get up," Zoe insisted.
   "Hmphf," Madison grumbled, turning away so that her back was facing the brunette.
   "What is going on with you?" Zoe asked, arching an eyebrow. "You were in bed by ten, and you didn't even have any alcohol last night!"
   "Fuck off!" Madison hissed, her voice muffled by the giant comforter.
   "Come on," Zoe huffed, standing and tugging on Madison's arm. "It's time to get up."
   "No," Madison growled, flicking her wrist to send Zoe sailing into the wall so hard she brought a painting down with her.
   Zoe stayed on the floor for a moment, stunned. Then her shock quickly turned to anger.
   "That's how you want to play?" she demanded, leaping to her feet.
   The younger witch transmutated back to where Madison lay in the bed, still oblivious to the world around her. Zoe ripped the comforter off with one hand while using the other to direct her magic at the curtain, which obeyed her silent command, opening up to allow the morning light to stream in directly into the blonde's eyes.
   "The fuck?" Madison cursed, sitting up to use the full force of her glare on Zoe.
   Zoe stood her ground, though her gaze did soften considerably when she took in the state of her girlfriend.
   Madison's nose was red and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, much more than they usually were in the mornings. Her lips were extremely chapped--and probably dry, given how often Madison was licking them this morning-- while the rest of her face was slick with sweat. Most notably, Madison's eyes did not hold the same anger her voice did, which could only mean one thing.
   "You're sick," Zoe observed.
   Madison narrowed her eyes at the girl. "I'm fine."
   "No, you're not," Zoe soothed, sitting down on the mattress next to her girlfriend. She placed a gentle hand against Madison's forehead. "You're burning up."
   "I said I'm fine!" Madison snapped.
   To prove her point, she forced herself into a sitting position. She winced and placed a hand on her temple.
   "You have a headache," Zoe noted, looking her over. "What about your stomach? Do you feel like you need to throw up?"
   Madison glared for another moment, but finally she shook her head.
   "How's your throat?" Zoe continued. "Is it sore? Do you want a cough drop or anything?"
   "No," Madison sighed, her voice soft at the compassion and worry her girlfriend was displaying. "I told you, I'm fine. Really."
   "I'll go tell Cordelia you're going to miss Morning and Afternoon Gathering," Zoe said, already on her feet. "I can bring you some toast if you want; I think that's what you're supposed to have for breakfast when you're sick."
   "Babe, wait!" Madison called, a small smile playing at her lips. It was sort of adorable to see Zoe so concerned, her nose all scrunched up as she considered how best to help her patient.
   Zoe, who was by now at the door, stopped and turned back to face Madison. "Yes?"
   "Can you... hold me?"
   Zoe's face dropped like she just saw a ghost.
   "Oh, no," she whispered to herself, rushing back to Madison's side. "Shit, Madison, are you dying?"
   "Don't be so dramatic," Madison snapped, adding in an eye roll for effect. "The only thing I'm dying of is a terminal illness called feelings, which you were kind enough to give me, dumbass."
   Zoe bit her lip, obviously still worried.
   "Fine," Madison huffed. "You're right; I don't feel good. In fact, I feel like absolute shit, so if you could, please just stay here with me and hold onto me a little bit and... you know, just make me feel better. Please."
   Zoe managed a smirk at that.
   "Madison Montgomery wants me to cuddle her," she teased, climbing into bed with her.
   "And if you dare tell anyone, ever, I will saw your arm off and shove it up your ass," Madison warned.
   "There's the Madison I fell in love with," Zoe smiled, wrapping her arms around the blonde from behind.
   Madison settled into her, enjoying the feeling of Zoe's heart beat against her back. She just felt so safe.
   So loved.
   "I love you, Madison Montgomery," Zoe sighed into her hair, as if she had been reading the blonde's mind.
   "I know," Madison replied, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. "I love you, too."