𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓘𝓷𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓜𝓮𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓽...

Chapter 77

Remington's POV

About a week later after the first two weeks of the semester, I noticed one day that Carina was starting to seem weaker than usual and more tired. Her eyes were getting more droopy and she seemed to be eating less. When I was in our class, she kept sneezing and it wouldn't stop. She ended up exiting the class to go to the restroom. I waited a minute after she left and exited as well, and then I waited outside of the girls' restroom until she came out. When she finally came out, her nose seemed red and her eyes were almost watery. "Carina, are you okay?", I asked in concern. She just nodded and replied while wiping her eyes with a paper towel, "I'm fine, its just allergies. Its nothing, I just hope it doesn't get any worse because I don't want to miss school." She seemed to make it look like it was nothing, but I was starting to get worried she might get sick and make herself worse if she doesn't take it easy.

Nina's POV

I had Music Theory with Carina today and its been really nice to have her with me in one of my classes since I'm always so lonely. The class is a bit challenging, but when it comes to music, I'm always excited to learn something new. While we were in the middle of a lecture, I heard someone coughing uncontrollably and I turned to see it was Carina. It sounded like something inside her was making her hack so horribly, and I was getting scared. "Miss Wisteria", our professor asked, "Do you need to be excused from the class?" Carina managed to muffle her coughs until she suddenly stopped and then she responded in a somewhat weak voice, "No, Mrs. Elizabeth. I'm okay, just need some water, that's all." She nodded and went back to where she left off, I glanced at Carina and she shook her head as if to tell me not to worry so much, yet I still was. Very.

Delilah's POV

When I joined my friends after all our classes were finished for the day, we were talking about how our semester was so far until Carina had a look on her face that scared the shit out of me and then she suddenly got out of her seat and ran toward a trash can. The sounds and smell were not pleasant to anyone after she let everything out of her system, and then I walked over and rubbed her back to help her feel better. "Carina, how long have you been feeling this shitty?", I asked as she tried to relax. "Since this morning", she answered shakily. "You mean you've been sick for almost a day and didn't think maybe you should recover first before it gets any worse?", I cried in frustration of how careless she was about her health. The others joined me and then Carina stood back up from leaning over the trash can and moved hair from her face, "I would've taken the day off, I just didn't want any missing days on my record." I shook my head and then Emerson walked over and draped his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, we're gonna take you home", he told her. "But I have work later", Carina tried to argue shaking her head. "We'll tell your boss you're unable to work today", Nina said to her. She looked at all of us and was silent for a long time before hanging her head in defeat, "Alright, you guys win. I can't drive in my state though." Em was already on it, "Don't worry, I will."

Emerson's POV

Carina handed me her keys and got into the passenger seat while I got into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. I knew how to drive, its just been a while. So, I took my time getting out of the school parking lot and drove carefully through the streets until we got to her apartment. She opened the door for us, and then we got inside. "I'll make you some tea and soup", I told her while she looked like she would collapse, "You should go ahead and rest up in bed." Carina rolled her eyes and replied with, "Okay, Mom." I chuckled at her joke and then she walked to her bedroom. I put on the kettle and turned on the stove and found some ingredients I could use to make soup. When everything was ready, I walked into her room with the tea and soup in my hands to see her almost looking dead under a blanket and her face was red. I set the soup on a desk near her bed and handed her the tea. She blew on it lightly sipped it, and then she managed to smile and thank me. I smiled back and said, "You're welcome. I'll check on you later to take your temperature and see what I can do." I was about to walk out when I heard, "Emerson", then I turned back around and saw her smiling and tell me, "Thank you for everything." I nodded and walked out.

Carina's POV

I must have dozed off after I finished the soup that Emerson made me last night, because when I opened my eyes, I realized it was already the next day and I slept in. I was almost bewildered because my body felt so weak, but I looked around to see I was still in my apartment. I turned to see a glass jar full of gorgeous black roses in it, and smiled to know Remington was thinking of me. "Oh, Rem", I mumbled while admiring the flowers. "What is it, ma chérie?", I was startled when I heard his voice clear as day and turned to see he was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. "Remington? What are you doing in my apartment? Where's Emerson?", I was honestly surprised to see him in here again, and then Emerson peeked out and stood next to Remington, "I'm still here. What's wrong?" I shook my head briefly and then changed the subject, "Why did you let me sleep in? I have school and work." They both shook their heads sternly and then Rem declared, "You're not going anywhere with a temperature of 103."

I covered my face in shock and was scared, "I didn't expect to get worse." Rem walked over to me and sat close to me on the edge of the bed. "Don't stress yourself out, Carina", he said in a soothing voice while tucking my hair behind my ear, "We're all here to take care of you and help you get better. If you'll let us." I looked deeply into his eyes and wished I wasn't so sick so I could kiss him over and over again to show how much I care about him and love him more than anything in the world. I nodded and smiled, and he grinned and kissed my forehead sweetly, lingering there for almost a minute. "I'll make you some breakfast, ma chérie. I can finally pay back the favor and help you recover." I laughed slightly at his joke, but stopped after I started coughing. He stood up and kissed my hand before walking out of the bedroom with Emerson.

The rest of the day, Delilah and Nina joined and helped out by helping my fever go down and they took turns to notify my classes and job that I was unavailable for the day and to also pick up assignments I might need to do when I am able to. I won't lie that it was hard for me to be positive since I felt like death was drawing nearer, but deep in my heart, I was never more grateful to have such a beautiful group of people in my life to take care of me and make me feel cherished for the first time. The attention and care I was getting in my weak state started getting a little overwhelming for me. When we were having dinner in my room and I was staring at my soup, I blurted out without thinking, "Why are you guys helping me?"

They all turned to me and it fell deadly quiet. I still didn't look at them and then continued speaking, "I'm not saying I don't appreciate what you're doing for me, but I honestly don't believe I deserve this treatment from people like you who are so kind and selfless and could be continuing doing what you always do and living your lives normally. Why waste your time on an out-of-town, nerdy, insecure girl like me?" I kept staring at my soup instantly regretting my harsh words for being so insecure about finally having people who care about me. Then I felt a hand firmly grasp one of mine and I turned to see it was Remington who looked intently at me and state simply, "Because we love you so much, my angel, and you're a part of our family. I hope one day I can make you a part of mine."

My face was already red from the fever, but I felt my cheeks heat up from Rem's bold answer and I felt myself start to cry. "I wish I could kiss you, but I don't want to make you sick", I said as tears fell down my face. He chuckled and then took my blanket and pulled it over half of my face and kissed me though the thick fabric. I could barely feel his lips on mine, but I kissed back anyway and felt myself melt in his close presence. He pulled away and dropped the blanket, and then I turned to everyone else who was blushing and giggling at our moment and told them, "I love you guys so much. I wish I had grown up in this town instead so I could have known you all longer." Nina got up and hugged me tightly on my bed and they all blew kisses at me. My physical state didn't change much, but I was already feeling better.

AWWW!!! Wasn't this so wholesome? I had this idea for a while and finally used it to made a feel-good chapter that reminds you that family doesn't always exist through blood. I'm not sure why I always found this interesting, but I think it was after joining the Royal Council and seeing how a fanbase could act more like a huge, extended family. Thank you all again for your support and I love 👏EVERY👏SINGLE👏ONE👏OF👏YOU!!!👏