I was vaguely aware of the banging coming from downstairs as I turned lazily onto my side and wondered who the hell it could be. With Jen and Andy away for the weekend, it could only be one other person. Brie. But I’d already told her I didn’t need a babysitter. I just wanted to sleep.

Apparently that wasn’t allowed, though.

Placing a weak hand to my forehead, I groaned. The knocking continued downstairs, and it felt as though tiny lemmings were pounding away inside my head with brutal mini hammers. I knew the only way I could make them shut up was to go down there and make them, so that’s what I did. Each movement I made hurt like hell, and my chest ached from the endless coughing I’d endured most of the day and night before. I was pretty certain I no longer had a nose because I couldn’t breathe through the damn thing.

As I reached the bottom step, I quickly glanced at my reflection in the hallway mirror and cursed. My nose was red, my eyes swollen and puffy, and I looked as though I had been crying. My throat felt scratchy, like I’d swallowed a tonne of razor blades. I tried to clear it, ready to answer the door. Just as I reached for the handle and pulled it open, I coughed again.

“Hey, sorry. Brie said you were sick, and…”

Great.

Just great.

I silently cursed my best friend as I glanced up at a worried looking Taylor. He appeared out of breath, his chest rising and falling impossibly fast. His face was bright red as if he’d been running or doing something…

I wouldn’t think about the other thing. Instead, I shrank inside the thick neck of my hoodie and rubbed my throat through the material. “Flu. Don’t come too close,” I added, and lifted my hand.

“Brie said your parents were away and that you told her not to come by. I guess I just…”

“I told her I’m fine. I just need to sleep it off. Thanks for worrying, though,” I said, and went to close the door.

Before I could close it fully, Taylor threw a hand out and stopped it. “You don’t look fine.”

Well, thanks for that. What a way to make a girl feel better.

When he didn’t say anything else and continued to stare at me, I groaned. “Taylor, what is it? I’m tired, I’m a mess, and I don’t have the patience or energy for this.”

“When you didn’t show up today, I thought it was because of me. The other night we—”

I lifted a hand again. “Don’t. Please don’t. It’s embarrassing enough to be standing here speaking to you looking like this. Let’s not rehash that night. Just forget it. I have.”

“Well, I haven’t,” he mumbled.

I stared up at him and saw the determination in his eyes. It was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Taylor, it’s cold. I just want my warm bed. If you’re coming in then come in, but no mentioning what didn’t happen that night or how shit I look, okay?”

I didn’t wait for his reply. I wrapped the blanket around me and continued back up the stairs and into my room. I heard the door click shut, followed by Taylor’s footsteps coming up the stairs. Climbing under the covers with the blanket still wrapped around me, I snuggled down, resting my aching head on the pillow.

“Holy fuck,” I heard him say as he entered my room. I opened my eyes feebly and gazed over at him. “When was the last time you cleaned your room?”

“Sick,” I managed to say, and Taylor chuckled.

I wasn’t fussed about the cleanliness of my room. If Taylor didn’t like it, he could leave. It wasn’t like I wanted him here anyway. Not really. Especially after the other night.

“I’m sorry you’re sick,” he apologised, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. “I’ll give you a free pass to kick my arse when you’re back fighting fit.”

“Why would I do that?” I said through a cough that felt like death was stabbing me.

“It’s my fault you’re in this state. I practically made you get naked…”

“Shut up. We’re not talking about it, remember?”

“Yeah, right. Anyway, I figured you might need some supplies,” he said sheepishly as he dumped a plastic bag on the bed and began emptying the contents. “I didn’t know what to get so I just brought…”

“Everything. Holy shit, are you trying to kill me?” I asked with wide eyes as I took in all the medication.

“I already told you, I didn’t know what to get.” He picked up a container and began to pull out a brown bottle and a white plastic spoon. “You only need a little bit of this. It’s…”

Before he could finish what he was saying, I swiped the bottle from his hand and started to pour the liquid into my mouth. I could hardly taste the first few mouthfuls, but gradually my senses began to kick in and I clamped my mouth shut, afraid it would come back up.

“Shit!” he yelled, and pulled the bottle away. “Now who’s trying to kill who?”

I tried to answer him but the foul tasting liquid refused to slide down my throat. Instead, it collected in my mouth and I coughed and spluttered, needing rid of the disgusting stuff. He really was trying to kill me.

Taylor handed me a tissue. I took it and began to wipe my mouth, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He watched my every move and I could feel my cheeks begin to heat under the intense stare, blushing for a whole new reason.

Taylor shook his head as if he was pushing away whatever thoughts he was having. I wondered if he regretted coming here. If he did, I would understand. As I continued to worry over how he was feeling, he reached forward and placed a hand to my forehead. “Shit. You’re burning up.”

Well, duh, I thought to myself. I have some stupidly hot guy in my bedroom with his hands all over me. Well, maybe not all over me, but they may as well have been.

“I have a headache. Some arsehole woke me up banging my door down.”

“Sorry.” He grimaced. “When Brie said you were alone and sick, I rushed to the chemist before they closed and came straight here. I guess I didn’t think that you might be sleeping.”

Ah, so I was right. Taylor had been running. That didn’t answer the question of why he was here, though. Last time I saw Taylor, he was crazy angry with me for kissing his face off. Now he was here trying to look after me. Not only that, he had gone to the store and brought medicine and a whole bunch of other stuff. It made my heart swell a little.

I sighed. “Don’t be sorry. I needed to wake up or I won’t sleep through the night. You actually did me a favour.”

“I made you sick. I shouldn’t have…”

“Stop,” I croaked out.

“I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “If you want to make it up to me, you can start by switching on the TV. I can’t find the remote anywhere.”

Taylor looked around the room, his nose firmly scrunched. “Is it any wonder? I mean, aren’t chicks meant to be all domesticated and shit?”

I smacked his arm playfully and reminded him that I was, indeed, sick. The moment my hand met his body, I instantly regretted it. Every touch felt like a fresh bruise.

Holy hell, I was actually dying.

Taylor looked down at me, concerned. “Are you in pain?”

“Everything hurts.” I groaned.

Especially my heart.

Why are you here?

Taylor moved off of the bed and began rummaging around on the floor. “Want me to call someone? Your parents?”

I wanted to remind him that I was nineteen, not twelve. Not that I was actually acting my age. Instead, I just waved him off. I wanted Jen and Andy to enjoy their time away. I’d been putting a huge strain on their relationship since the accident. They deserved this weekend.

“Found it!” he said a little too loudly, causing me to wince and grip my head.

Taylor held the remote high in the air, and although it hurt, I laughed anyway. I guess all the medication I’d taken had sent me loopy because instead of laughing, I should really have been mortified.

He continued to hold the remote in the air, only this time he was staring at me like I was crazy. Unbeknownst to him, a wet, snotty tissue was caught on the remote only inches from touching his hand. He was blissfully unaware of why I was unleashing uncontrollable bouts of laugher until I managed to point and apologise. “There’s a tiss—”

“Eww. That…” he said, tossing the remote on the bed, “is fucking disgusting.”

“I’m sick!”

“There’s a bin right next to you,” he pointed out and shook his head. I could see a ghost of a smile lost amongst the shocked and disgusted face he was currently pulling. I really shouldn’t have laughed. Once I was better and drug free, I would remember how unfunny this whole situation really was, and I wouldn’t be able to face him again.