Unnecessary Words

Fever

I woke up shivering. I looked around to find I had fallen asleep on the floor. I stood up shakily and looked at the time. 2:41. I wanted so bad to text Aiden but I knew he wouldn't respond. He hadn't since Monday.

I rubbed my arms. Goodness it was freezing. I felt the need to take a shower. I stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the hot water. I didn't even feel like taking my clothes off and got in the steaming water.

It felt good for a moment but started burning. Fire. It felt like fire. I let out a moan. It hurt. I reached to turn off the shower. I was soaked. I stepped out of the tub and crashed to the floor. I looked around and spotted my phone on the counter. I reached up to grab it and dial Aiden's number.

He didn't respond. It went to voicemail.

"Aiden," My voice shook. "I need help. I can't-" I gasped as a wave of cold washed over me, Causing me to curl in on myself. "It's so cold. I'm sorry for everything and I know you probably won't get this until morning but please!"

I ended it there. I tried standing. I got up. I tried to smile at that accomplishment But it came crashing down when I collapsed in the doorway.

I didn't know how to help myself. It didn't seem bad enough to concern the ambulance with.

Texting. I could text Aiden.

I pulled up his contact and sent him a barrage of texts. He probably wouldn't even see them. He probably hated me now.

A sob came loose from my throat. It ripped through and came with more. My eyes were blurry. I couldn't read properly. I couldn't function.

A wave of heat washed over me and sent me screaming into darkness.

CHAPTER ______

AIDEN

I was woken up by a barrage of notifications from my phone. I hadn't turned them off. I sat up sleepily and a little annoyed at the noise. I checked the time as I unlocked the phone. 3:07.

I checked the notifications.

Nika had texted.

And called.

And left a voicemail.

That couldn't be good.

I quickly opened the messages.

Help. That was the message. Over and over in different words and phrases.

I listened to the voicemail.

"Aiden, I need help. I can't-" She gasped "It's so cold. I'm sorry for everything and I know you probably won't get this until morning but please!"

The blood drained from my face. I shot up, ran out of my room and out to the car. I drove as fast as I could down the neighborhood streets until I reached the highway. I went way over the speed limit.

When I got to her house I ran straight in. She was collapsed in the hall, halfway in the bathroom.

"No no no no no!" I ran over and gingerly turned her over. She was burning. I laid her on the floor in a better position. I ran to the freezer and grabbed the ice tray and all the surrounding ice packs.

I laid the ice packs on her. They didn't work. They immediately melted. She wasn't responding.

I growled in frustration and ran into the bathroom. I started a bath with the coldest water I could and dumped the rest of the ice in. I rushed back over to Nika and gently carried her over to the tub and set her in. She wouldn't wake up.

"You jerk." I cried out in frustration. I stepped in behind her and held her close to my chest, rubbing at her skin, trying to wake her up.

She wouldn't move.

No sound escaped at all.

I couldn't take her to the hospital. They kept records there. Flynn would know.

I could only hold her close and pray she would get better.