65 - The chapter where Rose gets sick

Christian Davis

I shifted in bed as I awoke the next morning, turning over, seeing Harry asleep in the bed next to mine. I sat up, running both hands over my face as I remembered the whole mess of last night. I slept in before he got back from the party, and from the looks of things, things didn't get any easier for him.

My roommate, even in his sleep, had a downcast expression on his face, and the purple spots under his eyes from the nose punch Rose had hit him made his appearance even worse.

" What have you gotten yourself into, man? " I muttered to myself before getting up, deciding to get out of there before he woke up.

Harry was my roommate, and in the last few months he has become my friend. What he did was some pretty big shit, but I couldn't just ignore him. At least, not without giving him a chance to explain himself. But I didn't want to have that conversation right now, I had more important things to take care of, like checking on Skyller and Rose.

I left the room after getting dressed, brushing my teeth and washing my face, going downstairs to Rose's room.

I ran into Liam still in the hallway, he was carrying a paper bag that looked full and two cups of coffee.

" Hey, are you going to see the girls? " I asked, wondering why he woke up so early on a Saturday.

" I put together a hangover kit for Sky, I think I have a little more experience than she does in this subject," he explained.

" A little? You have a lot more experience than she does in this subject.”

I picked up the coffee cups to help him, walking beside him down the hall.

" That is true. Then I know exactly what will help her cure her hangover," he added.

" You cure your hangover with tequila, Liam," I returned.

" That is also true. But I have other options for Baker," he shrugged.

We stopped in front of Rose's bedroom door, and I was about to knock, but Liam took the spare key from his pocket, unlocking the door without any ceremony.

Skyller was in a pitiful state, practically hanging on the bed with her hair that had always been so neatly aligned, totally messed up, covering parts of her face. As for Rose, I was getting used to the way she slept. She was lying on her stomach as usual, sleeping peacefully, not moving a muscle.

But still, I approached the bed, bending down to check if she was breathing.

" Is she okay? " Liam whispered.

" She's breathing. I've slept with her several times already, and every time I wake up first, I look over and think, 'That little freak’s dead, she must be.” I returned, without taking my eyes off Rose's peaceful face.

" Seriously, I'd better wake her up," Liam insisted.

" First of all, little freak is your mother, Christian. Secondly, it's impossible not to wake up with you two talking non stop," Rose murmured before opening her eyes that looked brighter than usual.

" I came to bring Baker a hangover kit, and Davis seems to have come to offend you while you sleep," Liam explained.

Rose mumbled something unintelligible, then closed her eyes again. I frowned at her expression and brought my hand up to her face, brushing a strand of hair out of the way to look at her more closely, my eyes widening as I felt her temperature.

" What the hell, Rose. You're hot! " I put my hand on her forehead. She definitely has a fever!

She lay on her back on the bed, letting out an agonized groan as Liam bent down beside me, putting his hand on her forehead.

" What are you feeling, my little Romero Brito? " he stroked her head.

" My head hurts, my body ..." she sighed, "Maybe running in shorts in the snow wasn't such a good idea.”

" Do you think so? " I stared at her.

" Hey, you promised to take care of me when I get sick," she complained.

That was when a grunt came from the next bed, reminding us of Skyller. She had sat up, looking around confused.

" Why am I not in my room? Why does my head hurt so much? " she whined, putting her hand on her forehead, "Remind me never to drink again in my life!”

Liam alternated his gaze between the two of them, going to the edge of Skyller's bed and sitting there before he began to empty the bag he had brought with him.

" Okay, that's a lot of people getting sick in such a small environment," Liam sighed, "I brought you both some coffee. And Baker, I put together a little hangover kit for you. I have aspirin, antacids, something for your liver.”

Rose had closed her eyes again, covering them with her arm. I watched her cheeks flush as her temperature rose and her breathing gasped.

" I don't want any coffee, you can have mine," she whined.

" Okay, Rose, why don't you try to go back to sleep? I'll get you some painkillers," I sighed, watching as Liam helped Skyller take the pills he had brought.

Looks like our Saturday won't be a very exciting one.

" Go with Brigitte," she murmured without moving.

" Van Derr Waal…”

" Go on, I'll keep an eye on her," he assured me, while Skyller sipped her coffee, leaning against the wall, seeming to have difficulty opening her eyes.

I grabbed the car key and document from his desk before I left, leaving my friends behind. I tried to get to and from the pharmacy as quickly as possible, taking the opportunity to stop at the coffee shop to buy Rose some hot tea. She needs to recover.

That's when some other options caught my attention in the cafeteria. Reminding me of her parents' tradition of bringing a special breakfast for those who are sick.  After some thought, I chose a few more items, trying not to forget any details.