How did I get myself in this position? Oh yeah, I wanted water! And yet here I am in his room with him telling me to drink? I scrunch my eyebrows together and look down to see a glass with what appears to be water in one hand and two little red pills in the other. What kinda fool did he take me for? I look back up to his and shake my head and he frowns in response.
    “You need to take this. You are burning up and we can’t risk you getting sick.” He states as if I’m supposed to trust him. I continue to stare until he speaks up again. “You have a fever, this is an anti-inflammatory. It’ll help bring the fever down and you’ll feel better. Plus you look dehydrated so the water will help as well.” 
    I knew he was right and that pissed me off for some reason. I didn’t know why I was so defensive about accepting the help but I was. I didn’t need his help, I could manage on my own. Who was he to think that I needed his help. Yeah I’ll go back to the kitchen and get water on my own. 
    I was determined so I swung my feet off the bed earning a confused look from Elijah but I just ignored him. I quickly stood up and went to dart towards the door only for my head to suddenly feel so heavy and my legs collapsed under me. And of course before I could make it to the floor there he was again looking at me like I was a child once again. Why does he always look at me like that? He carried me back to the bed and I could have thanked him but I’m too stubborn for my own good. 
    “I don’t need your help.” I groan as I say. And he just rolls his eyes as he sets me back on the bed. Speaking of which, how is this man so strong? I’m about 125 but he doesn’t feel like he is struggling at all!
    “You say that but you collapsed twice tonight in the past hour.” He retorts while interrupting my thought process. And I look away while groaning and crossing my arms. He was right. 
    “Bastard.” I whisper under by breath and he must have heard because he simply laughed in response. Why was he so determined to help me? He could have just let me go back to the room but no, he is helping me. Now I felt a tang of guilt about how I’ve acted for a second. Keyword, a second.
    I looked back at him and once more he held out the medicine and water to me. I knew I needed it and I hated that. I always felt guilty accepting help, like I was a burden. Shoving my pride and guilt to the side I reached out and grabbed the medicine and water, staring at it for a moment before taking it. The coolness of the water was soothing to my sore throat and I gulped down every drop that I could. I gently held the now empty cup in front of me and looked to the floor while I muttered a thank you. 
    “What was that?” he asked. Bastard, I wasn’t saying it again. Instead I went to stand up to go back to the guest room only for him to push me gently back down on the bed.
“You need to rest. Just lay down and relax.” I would have fought but I knew he was right. My muscles still ached and I was so tired. Elijah then pulls the sheets up to my chest and reaches over to the bedside table and grabs a damp towel and proceeds to place it on my forehead. Cool. It felt so nice. I could feel my eyes fighting to close and I gave in. Slowly closing my eyes I felt myself fall slowly into darkness to the feeling of him playing with my hair and the smell of pine surrounding me.
    “Goodnight.” He whispers.

    BANG! BANG! BANG! I groaned at the sound and rolled over. Who the hell was being so damn loud. I hear voices but I am still not awake enough to understand any of it. I just wanted to go back to sleep. I was exhausted. I reach out and find something warm and pull myself closer to it soaking it all in. I started to fall back to my slumber until yet another bang. 
    “Fuck off.” I mumbled to whatever was making the sound and cling more to the heat source. BANG! BANG! I groan and slowly open my eyes to see skin, a stomach to be more exact.And if you want to be even more exact, a muscular stomach. My eyes travel up to meet with Elijah's green ones and I feel my face heat up as I realize what my heat source was. 
             He smiles at me and holds out my contact lenses case. I give him a confused look til I hear another bang. 
            "Is Oliver in there with you?!" A voice that sounds like Jessica's yells. Ahh I see they came looking for me. I sit up and take the lense case from him and yell back, "Yeah I'm here, just give me a minute to wake up." 
             I pop in my contacts without a mirror and Elijah seemed impressed. What can I say, I've been doing this for years now. Once I'm done I hand him the case and law back down pulling a pillow to me to try and get a few more minutes of sleep. I hear him tell them to come on in while I fall back into my slumber. 
              I heard more voices talking back and forth along with a deep chuckle. Why couldn’t they let me sleep? I was so comfortable. It was so nice, the unconsciousness. Keyword, was. It was nice until I suddenly felt fingers grabbing my side and ticking me. I immediately sat up swatting my arms at the attacker. 
    “What the fuck!?” I exclaim and look to see Kim standing behind Jessica with a smirk on her face. “Did anyone ever tell you that you are a devil in disguise?” I asked her not to expect a response but I got one from Jessica.
    “Well the devil was an angel, so it’d make sense.” She states while staring into Kim’s eyes making her face go red. It's too early to deal with these lesbains. I groan and lay back down and pull the covers over me attempting to go back to sleep.
            "Are you really going back to sleep?" Kim asks and I groan in response. I was tired and I felt like I hadn't slept all night. Which was kinda true, waking up to a fever wasn't the best. I open my eyes looking back up at Elijah remembering how he took care of me.
           He smiles at me before turning to look at Kim, "He had a rough night. Was wandering around last night with a fever." He explains before looking back down at me, "But he is better now. I stayed up til his fever broke and so far it hasn't returned".
              He stayed up til my fever broke? He could have gone to sleep but he didn't. I really appreciated it but I also felt guilty. He has been nothing but kind to me and I feel like I've been a rude ass to him this entire time. All because of this gut feeling. Maybe I should ignore it, maybe I was wrong about him.
             "You had a fever?" A familiar asks me and I turn over to see Shawn with Jackson next to him looking around the room. It looks like I'm the only one who had plans of sleeping in. What a shame. 

            Later on we all decided to get semi dressed and go to the best breakfast place for broke teens like ourselves. Waffle House. God I love waffles. I was in the car with Kim and Jessica. Shawn, Jackson and Elijah were in the other car.  
             "So what college do you plan on going to? Going to escape this town?" Jessica asks me. 
            "Oh I'm going to the local community college to get my starter classes done and then move on from there." I respond. To be honest I wasn't ready to leave Sandra. While I wanted to travel and live my life the fear was also there. So many uncertainties. I also worry for Sandra. I wouldn't want to be far away if something happened, she meant so much to me. She has helped me with so much I just want to be able to return all the support.
            "Oh cool! Elijah plans on going as well! He took a year off to work to save up some money. What about you babe?" She continues the conversation. 
            Kim explains her plans to travel and see the world a bit to find herself before she makes any big decisions. I smiled. She had been saving up since freshman year doing any side jobs that she could. Once she is done explaining Jessica asks me what I planned on studying.
             "Psychology. I want to study to be a psychiatrist and help those with mental illnesses and trauma." I explained. I had seen many psychiatrists over the years and learning so much through all of it I found myself seeing if I could help others as well.
            "That's so cool! I personally want to go into religious studies. My family was somewhat religious so I kinda wanna follow in my parents footsteps. We don't follow any particular religion, but we do have our own sorta faith that we all follow." Jessica smiles as she explains. That was so interesting, definitely didn't expect that was her but to be fair this is our first real conversation. I see why Kim is smitten to be honest. 
             Suddenly the music stopped, instead a ringtone played through the speakers and I looked up to see her screen. Call from Dad. 
             "Oh! It's my dad! Let me get this right quick!" She exclaims with excitement. Apparently her parents had been out of the country for the past 2 months so it made since. 
            "Hey dad!" she says into the speaker above her. 
            "Hey love! I have some gre- wait, something must be wrong with this phone. It sounds weird on my end." He seemed confused. I smiled, nothing like parents learning and not understanding technology.
             "Haha no dad you're just on my Bluetooth speaker. I'm in the car with Kim and her friend Oliver! We are heading to Waffle House with everyone!" She explains holding back a laugh. "You were saying something?" She remembers.
             "Oh yes! I wanted to let you know that your uncle will be able to visit for your graduation!" Jessica gasps. "And your mother and I may be able to visit as well!" He tells her.
            "Wait really?! I didn't expect him to be able to visit so soon!" She sequels. I guess she was excited to see her uncle. At her graduation, hmm, that's only a few months away. Graduation and then summer and then off to really start our lives. Kinda scary once you think about it. I look over to Kim and frown. So many things will be changing soon and what if we lose touch. I know it's a part of life but I guess I have abandonment issues. I'm scared of losing people.
              "Yeah sweetheart! We were also thinking we could schedule that trip you always wanted this summer instead of waiting a year because your uncle wants to join us so we would have to do it while he's in town." Her dad continued interrupting my thoughts.
            "That sounds amazing! I'll be sure to update Elijah! Well be going to the place in North Carolina right?" Jessica questions.
           "North Carolina?" I ask without thinking. Fuck. 
          "Wait who was that?" Her dad asks. Could I just disappear, please and thank you? 
           "Oh it was just Oliver!" She responds. "We have a place up in the mountains there. Why'd you ask?" 
           "Oh it's just where I'm from. Sorry for interrupting your conversation. " I apologize. Her dad chuckles and tells me it's fine before they finish up their conversation and say their goodbyes. 
            Once the phone call with her dad ends, Kim and her go start talking about anime and I internally cry wishing to be at the restaurant already. 
             "Hey Oliver do you watch anime?" She asks me as I sink further into the seat.