(Jin) 

I had been hitting the books pretty hard for several days that I forgot what day it was. I had been having trouble concentrating all day today, and I'd begun to feel lightheaded. I thought it was because I'd not eaten, but by the time I reached my apartment, I was sure that I was sick. My clothes suddenly felt hot and itchy, and it was difficult to unlock the door because my hands were shaking, and I kept hitting the wrong numbers on the keypad.

I had barely made it to the couch to sit down, pulling off my shirt, when I heard a knock at the door. I tried to get up, but the room began to spin. The knocking seemed to be reverberating inside my head. "Uh...uh...it's open," I wheezed, then louder: "It's open!" I closed my eyes from the effort.

"Hi!" Bella walked in. "I saw you get home and....oh!" Her eyes became round, and she half-turned away. "I'm sorry."

I took a ragged breath. "N-No, it's okay. I'm just...I'm not feeling too..." I couldn't seem to finish my sentences. As I struggled to speak, I felt her hand on my forehead. It felt so cool. I wanted to grab her hand and place it against my cheek, but I could not find the strength to move.

"Oh, my God, you're burning up!" she exclaimed. "Do you have a thermometer?"

"C-Cabinet," I managed to say. I heard her opening and closing several cabinets in the kitchen, then all of a sudden, she was back. She familiarized herself with the device then stuck it in my mouth.

"Don't move," she said softly, but my body was shaking with sudden chills. She put my shirt over me like a blanket. The thermometer beeped, and she took it and peered at it. "It's bad. It's one hundred and one. I should call a doctor."

I tried to hold up my hand, but only managed to move my fingers. "N-No. I'll be...okay. I just need...something...Tylenol...you...I just need..." I wanted to say that I needed her to stay with me, but the words came out jumbled.

She rushed back into the kitchen. Next thing I knew she was handing me two pills and a glass of water. "Are you sure we shouldn't take you to a clinic or to the emergency room?" She steadied the glass for me.

I took the pills and handed the glass back to her. "It's just a... minor fever. I just need ..."

"Let me help you into bed," she said. "You need to rest."

I nodded and sat up, but the shirt slipped, and I was sitting shirtless in front of her. She was so beautiful. I wanted to pull her closer to me, but I had trouble lifting my arms. I had a sudden urge to hug her and kiss her.

She helped me to my feet. "Never mind the shirt. Let's just get you to bed." She seemed unsure about whether to touch me or not.

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. "I won't break. We can..."

"Okay," she said quickly. She held my arm tighter and led me through the door to my bedroom. She pulled the covers back and helped me sit on the bed. "Can you...take it from here or do you need help with your, uh, pants?" She was not meeting my eyes.

"If you could just ...," I said slowly and brought my hands to the waistband of my jeans. I wanted her with me. My body was burning for her. Just stay, I wanted to say, but nothing came out.

"I'll go get you more water. Just take off your pants," she said, glancing at me then looking away. "Then get into bed." She left.

I struggled with the zipper before I was able to slide it down. I feebly kicked the confining garment down below my knees then used my feet to pull them off. It felt so good to be rid of them.

It seemed she wasn't going to return, but I finally heard her knock on the bedroom door before entering the room. She seemed relieved to find me under the covers. "Here. Take one more drink." She held the glass to my lips.

"Thank you," I sighed. "You showed up... just in time." I inhaled and exhaled with effort. "I'll be fine, really. If you ..."

She took the glass from my hand. "Jin, how long have you been feeling ill? Do you know what it might be?"

"You called me Jin." I reached out for her hand feebly.

She tucked it back under the sheet. "How long have you been feeling ill?"

I closed my eyes. "I felt a little off yesterday, but today I felt worse. Someone in class was coughing last week. I think. And one girl...Probably something going around." I sighed again. "I don't...want you to get sick."

She shook her head. "I'll be fine. I'm pretty sure that I won't catch it. Don't we have to exchange bodily fluids or something like that?"

I smiled at her. "Yeah? If you want," I said. I felt my head spinning.

She pursed her lips. "It must be the fever talking," she muttered. "Well, I can't leave you like this. I'll just wait until your fever goes down, okay?" She placed her hand on my forehead again. "That is if you don't mind."

I closed my eyes. "I don't... mind at all, beautiful." I don't know why I said that. I must really be sick because even though she was simply being helpful, my mind was racing, picturing her taking off her clothes and joining me in bed. But I knew I couldn't muster up the energy to do anything. At some point I must have fallen asleep.

Her body is pliant in my arms. Her cool skin is welcome against my own burning flesh. I run my lips down her body, finding the hidden nooks in her beautiful form. For some reason I can only touch her with my lips. I can't move my hands. Bella. Bella. Touch me, I plead, craving her cool hands on me. You are the only medicine I need to feel better. Please. I feel her body hover over mine. I want to pull her closer to me, but I can't move my hands. Bella. Stay with me. Don't go. My heart is breaking. My heart is heavy. I am on fire. Her body is on top of mine, and I throw my head back in ecstasy. Bella.