Complicated Miracle

Sick Day Chapter 25

" You're sick. You'll have to stay in bed today and keep warm. " Bruce takes his warm hand off of my forehead. I brought this cold onto myself. 

Last night I was being a genius and I wore shorts and a t-shirt to bed, leaving the window open as I fell asleep, without blankets. I got myself sick. Yay. 

At least I don't have to go to school today. I nod and lean back into my pillows as Bruce smiles softly at me. " I'll go get you something for your throat and get you some food. " 

" Thanks. " I say hoarsely. 

Bruce nods and goes off to get me the stuff. I look out the window, into the sky. I wonder where my dad is. I wonder if they're treating him kindly. Are they hurting him? Does he miss me? Does he think of me? I think of him all the time. 

" Here you go. " I take some medicine Bruce gives me and eats the warm soup prepared for me. I hear yelling down the hall that I ignore. There is never quiet here. There's always chaos and loud noises. 

" I'll be back to check on you later. I have to get to work. " Bruce says as he leaves, closing my door. I sigh, happy to finally get some time to myself. 

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" Here's your work. I got it from your teachers. " I look at Chase in shock. Did he get me my work from school? That's new. No one ever gets me my work when I'm sick. 

" Thanks. " I say softly as I take the stack of papers from him. I dig through the papers. " Math. Ugh. " I grumble as I pull out a packet with problems circled. 

" I don't like math either. " Chase chuckles as he looks at my work. " I hated learning this stuff last year. " 

" It's no fun. " I grab a pencil off my nightstand and write my name in the corner of the page along with the date. 

" What's your favorite subject? " Chase asks sitting down in a chair across from me. 

" Honestly, English. " 

" That's cool. I like science. " Chase nods. His dark hair falls over his eyes as he looks around my room. 

" Why do teachers hate me? " I ask as I write down a problem. " I swear, they give me the hardest math out of everyone. " 

Chase chuckles. " I know how you feel. " 

" Sometimes I want to not do my work. But, I know Uncle Thor will get on my case and talk to me about school work. Again. " I roll my eyes. 

" He loves you. That's why he's talking to you about your schoolwork. He wants you to succeed and get a good job. " 

" Well, I'm not interested in this stuff. I know he loves me, but I hate school. I want to explore. Visit different places and meet different people. Not work in some stuffy office building with men and women in suits who have your career in the palm of their hand. A career where they can make your career, or break it. " 

" You don't have to just sit in a ' stuffy office building '. There are plenty of jobs out there. You can be a contractor or a doctor. " 

" I hate blood. And I don't like building things. " 

" Well, there's more to do out there. " Chase says gesturing to my window. 

I shrug.

Why is he talking to me?