Rose

It had been the third day since I had been watching Zayn, to make sure everything was going well and no things would happen to him while having his high fever. He was sleeping almost all the time and Caroline helped him with eating, drinking, washing, urinating and defecation the moments he was awake, if you could call it awake. He was still really weak and slow and barely reacting to what was happening around him.

The moment Caroline would be doing those things, I would leave his room in order to give him some privacy as they were doing that in his bed. I didn't think he realised I was with him the whole time when Caroline wasn't there, though. He was still too sick to notice.

The antibiotics seemed to do their job, though. He wasn't sweating and shivering at the same time anymore and his red cheeks turned into the lightest shade of pink. Still warm, but not too warm. His temperature had dropped to a neat thirty- eight and a half, which was still too high, but much better than it was before.

He was sleeping quietly now too, no groans or the humming in pain, just soft and deep breaths leaving through his mouth and his natural full lips. He was able to control the sounds.

However, despite the fact that he wasn't sweating as much as before, Caroline asked me to change his pajamas as he had worn them the days he was sick and she thought a fresh one would do him good. I was slightly nervous to do so as I thought it was kind of intimate, but it was my job, in that case- I had to stop my insecure thoughts and stay professional.

Grabbing the the pajama Caroline had given me, I unfolded it, revealing a blue and white striped blouse and loose, matching, pants. The sight of it made me smile, perhaps because I hadn't thought that there were guys that slept in pajamas like these, as my brothers always said they were uncomfortable- boxers were just fine.

Walking over to his bed, I wondered if I had to wake him or not, as I didn't want to disturb the much needed sleep. Deciding not to- I gently grabbed his arms and held my other hand to the back of his neck. He was either too deep in his sleep or too weak, but his head hung back, pressing it to my waist to hold him up.

I took off his worn pajama shirt and quietly but gently put on the fresh blouse as I didn't want him to feel cold. I tried my best to ignore the tumor, which was harder than I thought as it looked extremely awful. I tried to slowly lay him back down again, but he was kinda heavy for me to hold up like that so I accidentally laid him down faster than I wanted to, making me flinch slightly as it startled him. He didn't wake up, I figured it didn't matter.

Staring at his pajama pants for a while, I couldn't help but sigh. This was the part I hated the most but I had to try and act professional in my job. It wasn't like it gave me any feelings, it was simply the fact that he was my age, and I didn't know if he quite appreciated the fact that I did this.

I removed the sheets off his lap and legs and laid the pants beside his body. I untied the small strings of the pajama pants he was wearing and gently pushed Zayn over on his side so I could slide the pants off his left hip. After that I softly pushed him on the other side and slid the pants off his right hip, laying him back down and taking them off completely.

"Rose." He woke up. His eyes fluttered open and my heart started beating extremely fast as he startled me. "What are you doing?" His voice sounded hoarse, like he hadn't talked for days, which I knew, basically, was true.

Blood made its way to my cheeks, causing me to blush because it felt like I was caught doing something bad. I shook my head. I had to leave those thoughts behind. Stay professional, Rose. He's just a patient. This is just your job.

I coughed, "Stripping you, obviously." I joked, mentally slapping myself right after for being so funny.

He frowned slowly, "Oh.. why?" I could tell he was still slow from the fever so he didn't notice I was joking and he probably didn't even get what I was saying, based on his reaction. Great, I was always so good at making things even more awkward.

"I'm just kidding.." I chuckled carefully.

To my relief, a sleepy smile appeared on his face and he slowly licked his lips before speaking up, "Whatever it is.. my legs are cold."

I grabbed his fresh pajama pants and slipped them over his feet, "I'm sorry. Caroline told me to change your pajamas. I hope you don't mind me doing it.." I hesitated a little.

It stayed quiet for a little while, making me nervous. But then he finally spoke, "For as long as you dress me again afterwards, you can do anything you want." A soft chuckle was heard after that and it made me smile. His humor was coming back and that was a good sign.

I continued to help him into his pants, with a small smile on my face, and when I reached his thighs I felt his hands brushing against mine. The touch was quick but soft. Tingling was felt on the place our skin just touched.

"I will help." He stared at me as he pulled up his pants himself and tied a small bow in it, stretching his fingers after that. I looked into his eyes and was relieved that he didn't look so absent anymore. Instead the small twinkling made its way back into the both of them.

I smiled, "Thanks." I grabbed the sheets and covered him up till a little over his belly button. I took the pajama he wore before from the bed and walked over to a laundry basket he had in his room and threw it in so it could be washed.

When I turned around I noticed he was still staring at me. It made me feel a little uneasy for reasons I didn't really understand.

I walked back over to him and sat down on the chair. He was still staring at me so I gave him a smile, which he returned sweetly. After that his eyelids started to close again, slowly. He tried to keep them open but they were closing right after. It didn't take him long to fall back asleep and soft breaths were heard from his nose. I couldn't help but smile again and quietly grabbed my laptop to do some school work.

I leaned back into my chair and waited for my laptop to start up while staring at Zayn for a while. They had given him painkillers and to me it was noticeable. He was now sleeping peacefully instead of so restless like yesterday and the days before. I was feeling so relieved that he was getting better as he had been really sick.

I sat my laptop aside and stood up, getting closer to Zayn. I draped the covers over his shoulders while he was sleeping so he wasn't getting colder and stayed warm. He was sleeping on his side and he was facing me, so I had a good view of him if something was wrong and honestly, to secretly stare at him so now and then.

Now that I had time to stare without him noticing it, I could admire his facial features. His long and thick black eyelashes and his perfect shaped nose, small lines visible from there to his pink lips. His sharp jawline and his visible cheekbones.. it all made me realise that he was really attractive. I noticed it on the first day I saw him, but most of the times when you start staring at attractive boys they get less attractive with the minute. He was only getting more attractive the longer I was staring at him.

After minutes of staring at the sleeping boy, I focused back on my school work, realising I had something to finish.

About an hour and finishing two assignments later, he woke up. His facial expression stood uncomfortable when he slowly turned onto his back and I wondered why.

"Hey. Are you okay?" I asked, glancing at his sleepy face.

He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and turned his face to me, his eyebrows furrowing, "Oh, hey. My bones and muscles hurt, but it's fine."

"Your bones?" I closed my laptop and carefully placed it back into my bag, looking back up at him.

He nodded. "Bones because of the fever. And I think I slept in a wrong position, that's probably why my muscles hurt, but I'm fine." He gave me a warm smile and turned his face back to the ceiling, tiredly blinking and staring up at it.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" I noticed him trying to sit up but his muscles were still too weak so he gave up and laid back down again.

"I'm thirsty." He sighed softly and I nodded while standing up. I stretched my arms and grabbed the glass from his nightstand, walking over to the sink after that. I let the water run and rinsed the glass a few times before filling it up with fresh water. I walked back over to Zayn and set up his bed in the sitting position.

I brought the glass to his lips as I noticed his hands shaking, I knew he wouldn't be able to hold the glass properly. Zayn leaned his head slightly forward and took a sip as I carefully poured a little bit of water into his mouth. He was swallowing it weirdly as he accidentally choked, causing him to cough.

I bit my lip, scared that I hurt him in anyway because he was coughing really hard. "Oh goodness, I'm so sorry."

He coughed a little more then spoke, "Are you trying to drown me again, Rose?" A playful smile was playing on his lips and I was more than relieved that he was coping this with humour. I didn't even care that it was another joke about the Titanic. I usually hated it, but he made me like it.

"Sorry." I mumbled again, letting out a chuckle.

I brought the glass back to his lips and his shaky hands covered mine so he could drink more easily. I tried to ignore the touch of his warm, soft and big hands but it was just so hard for some reasons. I looked away and waited for him to finish the glass. I wasn't allowed to think this way. He was a patient, after all.

When he finished he let go of my hands and laid back down. "Thanks, Rose. I'm sorry you have to do this. I'll be better soon."

For some reasons I thought his words were sweet, though, they also made me rather sad. How selfless could someone be? "Don't worry about it. It's my job, once again."

He fell into his deep slumber again and not long after, Caroline came to tell me my workday was over.