Chapter 14 - "Grudge..."

Clara's PoV

When Lilly came back, I was asleep after much tossing and turning, so I never got a chance to talk to her - not that I wanted too anyway.

I woke up the following morning and had a headache that felt just as bad as the previous evening, but I got up and went to lessons anyway.

It wasn't really feeling like a headache anymore, it was much closer to being a bloody nightmare of a migraine.

So I sat at my desk and tried to keep drinking water but it wasn't really helping for me.

'Wow. Clara you should not be here' Richard said when they walked into the classroom that morning.

It was just the three of us in maths now since Lilly had been demoted to the lower set because she literally couldn't work anything out.

M'fine'

'Not what it looks like'

'I'll be fine' I insisted, in a scoff just wanting to stop talking and be left alone right now.

I was lying when I said that I was going to be okay.

The lesson was fine at first, and I really thought that I might be okay, and pull through the day, but I was just fooling myself, especially when the words on the board became surprisingly blurry, and every part of me started to ache more and more.

My throat and chest were hurting like crazy that it was actually hurting to bloody breathe in and out.

I shifted my position at my desk as Mr White told us to sit in our groups.

I turned around to be with them, but placed my head on the table. They didn't say anything but I knew they were just biding there time.

- - -

I left the classroom in a real rush after maths wanting to find the nearest bathroom and vomit in there.

I wasn't sure I needed to vomit until it sat in my stomach not very well, so I knew it was coming.

I haven't felt this sick in a long time.

I was afraid when I was in the bathroom, and glad at the same time because I had literally just made it to the girls bathroom on time, before I vomited in front of the whole class.

I left the bathroom with every intention of going to the next lesson, when I found a picture of perfection waiting outside.

'You look rough' he smirked.

'And so would you if you felt this shit'

'Come on. Let's get you to the nurses office' he smiled.

'I don't need the nurse. I need the next lesson' I said through weak joints.

'You need sleep and hydration but first you need to go and see the nurse because otherwise you won't know what is wrong with you' he scoffed.

'Fine. But when it turns out that I'm completely okay your explaining to my teacher.

'Agreed' he chuckled.

- - -

'Now. Drink the water and sleep' Matt instructed when we got to my room and he had helped me up onto my bed. 'I would stay with you but I have work to do' he mumbled.

'I'll be fine'

'You keep saying that but I'm not getting any confirmation from the way your sweating and closing your eyes. Just take these then sleep' he smiled, kissing me gently on the mouth god the first time since we kissed on the field, which did comfort me more than I had expected, and heard the door close.

I didn't even have time to question it before he was completely gone.

I didn't realise he had scribbled down on some paper that I was sick to Lilly so she knew but she seemed to know when she came in.

I woke up to the feeling of a hand on my forehead, and looked up at Lilly's concerned frown.

'Is it still Monday?' I croaked and Lilly nodded laughing.

'Listen Clara, I'm sorry about yesterday and the sketchbook.' She said.

I hadn't forgotten about that - and want going to let it go. I can hold a grudge when I want too.

'It's fine' I said and she smiled, crawling into her own bed.

- - -

The following day I was awful, literally couldn't say a word, so stayed in bed practically all day.

I hadn't realised how much having a throat infection hurts but I was having serious difficulty swallowing even water.

I was writing responses to all Lilly's questions on post it notes so it looked weird and there was hundred of them everywhere, but by Wednesday I was doing a little better and my voice had started to come back a little.

I didn't go to lessons on Wednesday though so just flicked on the Tv, browsing through some really dull channels for the morning.

Strangely though, at 12 o clock, someone came to my dorm.

I figured it was the nurse come to check up on me, but when I opened the door it was Richard.

'Hey Clara, how's it going?' He smirked.

'Good actually. Much better today' I croaked.

'Here. Bought you some ice cream'

'Why?'

He came in the dorm, but kept his distance. 'Shouldn't you be in lessons?' I asked curiously.

'No got a double free, just here by demand of your boyfriend' he grinned.

'He's not actually my boyfriend' I mumbled punching his shoulder.

'Might as well be. He has me running errands like he is' Richard muttered a bit sourly.

'Why didn't he come himself?' I asked confused.

'Oh I'm just the messenger' He said. I was still confused. 'Don't look so confused. Throat infections and flu are only catching really through mouth to mouth contact' he smiled.

I didn't understand at first but then I caught on.

'Oh my god our kissing' I gasped, but it sounded so horse from my voice.

'Now your getting it Clara. He's not here because he's got whatever it is you have' he laughed.

'God this is all my fault'

'Well if you two hadn't been playing tonsil tennis, neither of you would be in this mess' he laughed not able to contain it.

Our secret relationship will be all over campus by tomorrow.