Noah & Navid

Chapter 36- Made for Me

"Noah, you want to eat downstairs with them instead of up here with just us? Soup is finished its warming," Navid popped in to the bedroom with my medicine. 

"Yeah I want to watch them flirt," I laughed. 

I started to slide out of bed, and Navid helped me.

He gave me the pills and some water before helping me walk downstairs.

We found Erik and Aram downstairs making drinks at the kitchen bar. 

Aram was showing him some cocktail he invented and they made three so Navid could have one. This was turning into a party.

Navid sat me on the barstool next to the wall so I could lean against it for support. He had laid out a placemat on the bar along with the food he'd prepared for me.

He'd warmed the soup and next to it there was a piece of pita bread on a small plate with a smear of yogurt and drizzle of honey. Erik poured me a glass of cold orange juice and set it down next to a little folded index card with my name written in his flowery cursive.

Navid dished a few slices of pizza for himself and joined me at the bar while the other two flirted on the kitchen side of it as though they were our entertainment for the night.

My dad showed up with a yellow smiley balloon that said "Get Well Soon." He hugged me and tied it to the barstool I was sitting on so everyone would know who the sick guy was. 

He checked that I was taking medicine and still didn't have much of a fever. Navid walked him through the entire thing to assure him I was being well taken care of. He ate some pizza and caught up with Navid while I finished my soup and pita.

It made me so happy to see how they got along so well, at least until my dad agreed with Navid that the doctor didn't inject me with a live flu virus. 

He always took Navid's side on these things. Then he told an embarrassing story of me throwing a fit in the doctor's office when I had to get a tetanus shot. I was six and apparently it took my dad and a nurse holding me while the doctor did it.

"Noah is so delicate. The poor baby," Navid laughed.

"He's always been that way. But he's mine. I kept the receipt," dad laughed.

Everyone laughed at dad's joke and then Navid filled him in about the doctor saying I needed to gain weight. I looked down at my bowl as he told my dad all about it.

"I know. He was such a picky eater as a kid, especially after his mom... well that made things worse. I used to make him sit at the table until he ate at least half of what I got for him... He's gotten better though," dad assured.

"He's gay. We're supposed to be thin. He looks great," Erik interjected and got glares from both Navid and my dad.

"Let's leave them some privacy," Aram said and grabbed his plate of pizza. 

He pulled Erik out to the backyard with him.

"I worry for you, Noah. I want you healthy," Navid said.

"I don't feel good... I'm going back to bed," I said softly not wanting anymore to do with this conversation.

"I help you," Navid said and jumped up.

"No, dad... can you?" I leaned against my father. He turned to hug me and helped me walk up the stairs.

"Why do you have to tell him things like that?" I admonished him when we got up to my bedroom. "He already worries too much about me."

"Maybe he should, Noah. How many doctors need to tell you to take better care of yourself? If you won't do it, maybe Navid can," dad was not the type to pacify me.