"Nita, I dunno…" Kit grimaced. He did not like the idea of her skipping prom for him. "Come on, you bought a dress already. You can't just hang out here, not just because I have the flu."
"Kit, you're my date. I don't want to go alone!" She looked at him desperately. "I'll make you chicken soup or something. Please!" She gave him that big-eyed puppy look. Kit had never been able to deny her anything when she gave him that puppy-dog look. It was way too cute.
"That's not cool Neets. I'm too weak to argue." He sighed, and lay back down. "Stick around, but don't be surprised if I sleep the whole time." He tried one last time to convince her to go. "Neets, please… I really wish you'd go." He gave her a pleading look, but she wasn't looking.
"Too bad, Kit, you need me, even if you won't admit it," she confidently. "Now I'm going downstairs to make you something to eat." She walked away toward the door, then turned back, leaning softly on the doorframe. "Thanks. I couldn't have gone in there alone." Then, without another word, she turned and left the room.
Kit smiled and began to drift off into a half-slumber. His parents were out of town, and his sister was at the prom. The nurse had sent Kit home with the flu a few days before, and Nita insisted on babying him. Not that he minded. But she shouldn't have to miss prom for him.
0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0
Nita added fresh chicken chunks, left over from dinner the night before, to a pot of broth and began to stir, humming to herself. She remembered how her mother had danced as she cooked. Nita didn't quite have the grace, but her movements made a particular rhythm. She smiled lightly, and took some pre-made egg noodles from the fridge. She shook parsley and poultry seasoning into the broth, and then dropped in a bay leaf. It smelled wonderful. Nita pulled a bowl from the upper left cupboard, filled it halfway with egg noodles, and poured broth over them. She slid a spoon into the bowl, and climbed back up the stairs.
Kit was dreaming of Nita. Again. This happened quite frequently, to tell the truth. What Kit didn't know was that he talked in his sleep. And right when Nita walked in the room with her soup, he mumbled her name. Now, in his defense, it was nothing dirty. But dreaming about your best friend, who just happens to be a girl, is awkward.
"Nita…" he mumbled.
"Kit?" she asked softly, setting the soup on Kit's nightstand. "You alright?" He didn't answer, obviously.
"Mmmphf…mmmmhhh…" Kit's sleep talk was incomprehensible after that.
"Did he just say my name in his sleep?" she wondered, and sat down on the side of the bed. Unfortunately, Kit's manual was sitting on the side of his bed too, and it hit the floor with a bang.
Kit awoke with a start. "Whawuzzat?" he asked blearily, sitting straight up. Nita stood immediately.
"I'm so sorry I woke you," she said, "I'm such an idiot."
"S'cool Neets," he said, leaning back on his headboard. "Hey, soup!" He picked up the bowl and began to eat. It was incredible, and he told her so.
Nita blushed. "Thanks," she said with a grin, before sitting back down. "Hey Kit," she began cautiously.
"Yeah?" he asked with his mouth full.
"What were you dreaming about?"
He blushed. "Uh, why do you ask?"
Then Nita blushed. "Oh, no reason. You just sort of said my name."
"Oh," was all Kit could muster, then he started to cough. Nita wrapped her arm around his shoulders. Once the coughing stopped, they just sat like that. Nita heard Kit's breathing even out, and she realized that he had fallen asleep on her shoulder. She put her head on his lightly, and closed her eyes.
"Nita," he sighed in his sleep, "I love you."
'Tomorrow morning.' Nita vowed to herself, 'I'll get to the bottom of this. But for now,' she yawned, leaning back down, 'For now I'm gonna enjoy it.' She sighed happily and fell asleep.
