"Wow. I thought Wellington-Lloyd's never got sick?"

Rhonda had been in bed all day with a cold. She'd even missed school which was one thing she'd never do if at all possible.
Her head hurt, her eyes were hot, she had body aches, her nose kept running and she kept sneezing. She couldn't eat, she felt weak and all she wanted was to sleep and her mother.
Her parent's, unfortunately, were out of town and she was home alone…well, as alone as one could be with housekeepers and kitchen staff.
She was miserable, she was lonely, she was feeling sorry for herself and the last thing she wanted was anyone to see her in this state.
So of course, that means the one person she most didn't want to see was the one person currently standing in her bedroom.
"What do you want Thaddeus?"
Shoe couldn't even sound mean because her nose was all stuffed up and making her voice sound weird. The tall dark haired teen shut the door behind him and walked across her room. He pulled out the chair by her desk and plopped her books and homework onto the desk before taking a seat.
"Ah cupcake, is that any way to treat someone who brings you your homework and today's gossip?'
Tad was tall and lanky, with tussled black hair and chiseled features. He'd grown into his looks since grade school and the change of eyewear had landed him on the unofficial high school's Instagram page under the hashtag #hotguysinglasses.
But he was still weird, still dedicated and still hers. Which made him almost perfect.
Despite all of that, she looked and felt like the undercarriage of a taxi and the idea of anyone seeing her like this did not appeal to her at all.
"I look horrible." She whined. "Go away."
"Nope. And you look sick, Rhonda. You can never look horrible."
She groaned, throwing an arm across her eyes. "Why are you tormenting me? I'm sick, I haven't been able to get any rest, I feel horrible. My parents are gone and I'm just miserable."
"Awww, my poor, sick goddess." She heard a noise and then her blankets were moved. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Scooch. I'm keeping you company. Trust me, I got this."
"You certainly do not. Get out of my bed you goof! I'm sweaty and icky and I'm still in my pajamas."
"So?" he threw the covers back over her and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. "When I was little and was sick, my mom would climb into bed, wrap her arms around me and sing softly until I fell asleep. When you feel achy and miserable there's something comforting about knowing someone is watching over you when you're sick."
"You're going to get sick." She pushed at his chest, her heart beating fast. Tad that close to her hadn't happened in a long while. She could still remember when it had.
His hand came up, stroking her hair. "Quit complaining. I've already had my shots. Go to sleep Rhonda."
She tried to fight it but the cold medicine combined with the rhythmic stroking of her hair and the nonsensical whispering against her temple, Rhonda quickly relaxed and fell asleep.

It was dark when she woke up. The small light on her desk was on and Tad was sitting at her desk doing homework. There was a tray sitting next to him on the desk.
She sat up, covering her mouth as she yawned. She felt much better than she had that morning although her nose was still red.
"I made you some soup and tea. Mrs. Steven's said you hadn't eaten anything all day and you have more medicine to take."
He stood up and brought the tray to her as she sat up in bed, resting against her pillows. Her stomach growled at the smell of the soup.
"What are you still doing here?"
"You're still sick. Although you look a little healthier."
"I feel a bit better." She took a spoonful of soup, the warm broth soothing her throat. "I didn't know how hungry I was."
"Thank Mrs. Stevens. She's the one who made it, I just brought it up."
She finished the soup and tea while he sat back down and finished homework, the silence between them comfortable. She watched him work as she finished her tea.
"How did you know I was sick?"
"Nadine." He said by way of explanation. "But don't get mad at her. She came to me this afternoon after she got your text and asked me if I could drop off your homework. Her parent's had an emergency and she had to leave school early. "
Nadine was the only one who knew about her…interactions with Tad. So it would've had to have been an emergency if she had asked him to drop off her homework. She swallowed the pills with the last of the tea and moved the tray. He looked up as she swung her legs out of bed.
"Where are you going?"
"I need a shower. I feel gross."
He watched her for a long moment. "Be careful. You're still sick and I don't want to have to pull you out of the shower because you fell."
"You wish." She said as she walked past him and into her bathroom.

The steam from the shower cleared up her sinuses and her chest, making it easier to breath. She felt cleaner and more like herself. She changed her pajamas to fresh and cuter ones, being sick was no reason to not look cute.
When she walked back into her room, she noticed her sheets had been changed. Fresh sheets and blankets were on her bed, tidily made.
"Mrs. Steven's came in while you were in the shower." Tad explained. "She changed the linens and made the bed."
Rhonda smiled. At least someone was looking out for her while she was sick. Tad was picking up his book bag and standing up.
"Are you leaving?"
"I figured you wanted to get some sleep. I didn't want to bother you."
"Do you…"she hesitated. "Will you get into trouble if you're out past curfew?"
"I can call my mom and tell her I'll be late. Why?"
"I was wondering…could you…would you mind staying for a little longer? I mean, you were right, I slept better, you know, earlier."
He stood there for a moment and then smiled, and dropping his book bag next to the desk.
"I could probably stay a bit longer."
She climbed back into bed as he toed his shoes off again and climbed in next to her.
"Your hair smells better," he said as she got comfortable. She pushed against his chest as his arms wrapped around her.
"Don't be mean."
"Never," His hand stroked her hair as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. She felt the light pressure of his lips against her temple. "Go to sleep, cupcake."
The warmth of the covers coupled with the rhythmic stroking of her hair and the steady sound of his heartbeat against her hand made her feel safe and comforted. With his breath steady against her cheek and soft words whispered in her ear, she fell asleep.

AN: This story is dedicated to Pointy Objects. She was having a bad day and not feeling well and I wrote her this little fluff piece to make her feel better.

If you haven't (and honestly, who hasn't?) go read her fic "Avalanche" In fact, just go read all of Pointy's work, she's a bloody genius!