“What’s the matter with you? You’re looking a tad pale,”Crispin asked, glancing at her skeptically.
It was true,thought Kell, she did suddenly look as though she was about to passout.
“I… don’t know,” she said, placing her half-eaten piece oftoast down.
“I’ll bet she’s caught a cold,” Dorian said, slightly shakinghis head.
“Great…” muttered Crispin. “Jolly good show, sweetheart. Winany Oscars lately?”
“Falling asleep outside on a cold porch will do that to you, nodoubt,” Kell said, ignoring Crispin’s sarcasm. She was perspiringnow, her forehead, slick with sweat.
“Wow, she doesn’t look good at all,” Dorianobserved.
“Looks like the flu to me,” Kell said, watching herthoughtfully.
“No… I’m f-fine.” Sweaty one moment, freezing the next, shesuddenly realized that she was indeed coming down with somethinghorrible. No, this couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t afford to besick. She’d be leaving soon. To where she didn’t evenknow.
“Yup, here it is,” Dorian said, pointing to the front page ofthe newspaper. “Flu virus hits local college dorms.”
“Wonderful…” Crispin muttered, rolling his eyes. “Justperfect!”
“S-sorry…" Becky said, feeling completely miserable and out ofsorts with herself.
“Never mind,” Kell said, taking her gently by the arm andleading her back upstairs. “You’ll feel better soonenough.”
“I’ll call the taxi, shall I?” Crispin said, following closebehind.
“Give it a rest, would you?” Kell hissed over hisshoulder.
***
“So that’s it then?” Crispin asked accusingly when Kell joinedhim just outside Becky’s door. “We’re stuck with her?”
Kell frowned athim. “What would you have me do, set her out on the front porch andlet her ride out the flu by herself? Since when have you becomesuch a heartless bastard?”
Crispinflinched at the accusation. He was not heartless. He merelypreferred that people saw him that way. It was a defence mechanism,put in place to protect himself from getting too attached toanyone. He had a reputation to uphold. He was Goth, after all.
“Fine, she can stay until she gets better,” he bit back atKell. “In the meantime, I’ll take it upon myself to find her moresuitable lodgings.”
“What is she to you? Nothing more than a stray cat?” Dorianasked, passing by with a glass of water for Becky.
Chapter 4
The next fewdays went by in a blur. With headaches and muscle pain throughouther feverish body, Becky came in and out of consciousness only longenough to use the bathroom, drink some water and take aspirins thathad been kindly placed on the night table.
During thosetimes of relative lucidity, she was aware of Kelley or Dorian’spresence in her room, Kelley’s most of all. She was pretty sure, hehad even slept in there one night on the rickety chair by hermattress.
Somebody musthave changed her sweaty sheets, at least, a couple of times. Shevaguely recalled being carried and placed on a larger bed at onepoint. When she had woken up later, she was back in her recentlyrefreshed bed.
Peeking underthe top sheet, she realized in dismay that she was no longerwearing her original set of pyjamas. In fact, she was wearing arather long, unfamiliar black t-shirt and nothing else!
Before shecould get too upset over the unsettling fact, Becky fell backasleep. Once again, she forgot all her concerns.
***
“Just where do you think you two are going?” Crispin asked in apanic as Kell and Dorian made a break for the back door.
“We’re going out for supplies. We’re out of aspirin andtissues,” Dorian explained, zipping up his knee-high blackboots.
“Both of you? Together?” he asked, aghast. “Who’s going to lookafter sleeping beauty while you’re out galavanting?”
“Come on, man. I’m sure you can handle it. With any luck, shewon’t need anything for a while,” Kelley said with an impatientfrown. “Besides, Dorian and I need some air.”
It was thehonest truth. They had both been cooped up in the house all week,taking turns looking after their sickly houseguest.
Not that he had minded, really. In fact, he had gotten quiteattached to the poor little thing, as sick as she was. There’d beentimes, during the seemingly unending malady when she hadunconsciously cuddled into him, burrowed into his embrace withsuch… or never mind, he must be losingit. That’s why he needed to get away for alittle while. To clear his head.
“She better not need anything. For I haven’t the time orpatience for such matters,” Crispin huffed.
“Don't be an ass, Crisp,” Dorian lamented. “It's not that hard,really.”
“Absolutely not! Not bloody likely!” Crispin scoffed defiantlyas his housemates ignored him and clambered out the back door. Notacceptable! He would not play nursemaid. That particular role wasnot in his nature. She had better not want anything, or she wouldhave to fend for herself!
Slowlygravitating towards the bottom of the stairs, he reluctantlylistened for signs of life.
She had beensick long enough, he thought with a frustrated frown. A full weekto be exact. She would have to get better soon. He had a mile longlist of available lodgings lined up for her.
He held ontothe banister, listening. Nothing, not a peep. Perhaps he shouldjust check on her. If she was up, maybe it would be a good time togo over the list with her.
Hesitating, he took a step back and glanced at his reflectionin the hallway mirror. Handsome,he thought to himself as he ran his manicuredhands over his long dark mane. Too handsome to be locked up here athome, looking after a sickly mundane girl. He adjusted the ruffledcuffs of his black vintage dress shirt and did a little turn. Itwasn’t his fault that she couldn’t appreciate his uniqueappearance.
Oh, yes, he hadnoticed the way she flinched in his presence. So what if he wasn’texactly the boy next door? Neither was Dorian or Kell for thatmatter yet she didn’t flinch quite so much with them.
Indeed, he haddefinitely noticed the way she looked at him the other day at thediner. Before he could even open his mouth to say hello, she’dtaken off like a shot! She’d taken one look at him, and run offlike he was the angel of death in the flesh!
The heck withher. She could take her prejudices and stuff them for all he
