A/N: Ok, this is something completely different from my other fanfic. It's just something I thought of the other day when I was sick and I kept thinking, how much more fun it would be to be sick if I was Bella...
It had been the longest of days. My entire body seemed to droop, no longer supported by my mind, which had exceeded all its capacities in keeping me sane for the past twelve hours. I welcomed the exhaustion that engulfed me now, knowing that the next time I regained awareness, the ordeal that I so often had to endure as the burden of loving a vampire would be nearly over.
Despite the tiredness that weighed me down, I did not lose consciousness immediately as I sank back into the soft bedding and closed my eyes. The small bed was uncharacteristically spacious tonight and the absence of its other regular occupant was a hollow void beside me.
"He needs this," I reminded myself constantly, "It will be easier for him to be close once he's not thirsty."
This didn't help. It was stifling under the thick duvet and I couldn't tell whether that was real or simply a reaction to the missing cold arms encircling my body. My head pounded and ached, begging me to go to sleep so it could rest but I was unable to comply. I threw off the burden of my covers irritably and rolled onto my back, closing my eyes and concentrating very hard on nothing. Somehow Edward always managed to find his way back into my thoughts.
I gave in to my throbbing headache and stumbled to the bathroom where I quickly downed two painkillers then found my way painfully back to bed. I marveled at how my crashing around never once interrupted the steady rhythm of Charlie's snores, just barely audible from down the hall.
I finally slept, uncomfortably at first, but more deeply as the painkillers took effect. Now that I had finally escaped into my dreams, I was no longer tormented by missing Edward. He was there, as always, in my dreams, not quite as beautiful as in reality, but even my dream-Edward's smile was enough to keep my sleep peaceful and contented.
I awoke the next morning and instantly regretted it. This was not a normal reaction for me, anxious as I always was to get through the morning's routine as hastily as humanly possible to arrive at the part of the morning where Edward would be waiting for me outside in his car. Today, however, even the incentive of seeing Edward was not enough to distract me from the headache, which had not relented overnight as I had expected. It was now accompanied by several other symptoms. My throat burned as I tried to swallow away the bitter taste in my mouth. I tried to breathe in through my nose, but found the air passages useless. When I stood, I fell over almost immediately, disoriented by the rushing in my head. My vision swam slightly and each sound was muffled as though someone had stuffed cotton in my ears.
None of this was enough to affect my burning desire to see Edward, so I deliberately went through the motions of preparing for school, forcing mouthfuls of cereal down my throat uncomfortably, combing through the tangled mess that had accumulated on top of my head during the night. Charlie had already left, so I didn't have to fake being happy and healthy. If he were here, he would surely order my to stay home and rest but I would not miss school if it meant another day without Edward.
I was just finishing cleaning my breakfast dishes, relieved that I had finished forcing down the meal, when I heard the quiet purr of a Volvo engine idling in the driveway. My ears had become so attuned to the subtle hum that I would recognize it amidst an entire parking lot full of different cars. I snatched a package of tissues out of the cupboard under the sink as I skipped towards the door, unable to contain my excitement. I stumbled slightly on my way, but persevered towards the gleaming brass door handle that would open the portal into my own personal heaven.
When I opened the door, he was there in front of me, his eyes flickering with what looked like annoyance. I was shocked to see him there; usually he waited for me in the car.
"Hi Edward," I greeted him, surprise creeping into my tone. The words came out slightly muffled, or perhaps it was just my impaired hearing.
""What do you think you're doing?" he asked me quietly, as he caught my wrist to keep me from moving towards the car.
"I'm going to school," I replied innocently, knowing that my angelic tone could not disguise my plugged sinuses.
"No you're not," he told me firmly, glaring at me disapprovingly. I glared right back.
"Since when do you get to decide what I can and can't do?" I fumed, my defiance marred by a sneezing fit.
"Alice predicts that you will have a very bad day if you go to school," he warned.
"Too bad. I'll have a worse day if I stay here," I retorted angrily. I was seized by another sneezing fit that subsided into loud barking coughs that shook my whole body so that I had to sit down on the steps.
"No you won't. You'll be asleep the whole time. Come on, I'll carry you up to your room," he offered gently, but still managing to convey that he was not going to let me argue my point any further. I was out of breath from coughing and the spell had left me so lightheaded and disoriented that I couldn't find the words to fight back.
My will to fight dissipated greatly once he had lifted me up and brought me back upstairs, but I knew that it was only a matter of minutes until he left to go to school. Without me. I tried to draw out the moment longer by asking him to bring me things and distracting him with small talk about his trip and my weekend alone. Unfortunately, time refused to stop for us, and as I glanced at my alarm clock, I let out a sigh of disappointment.
"You should go," I advised him, "You're going to be late."
"It's all right. I'm not going to school," he replied gazing intently at my face.
"You're not?" I asked, surprised, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to stay here and take care of you," he explained slowly as though I were incredibly unintelligent for not realizing it.
"Oh. Ok," I smiled, relieved that I wouldn't have to spend the day alone and bored after all.
I quickly fell asleep with Edward beside me, amazed by the difference his presence made. When I woke up several hours later, he was holding one of his icy hands against my sweltering forehead, with his other arm clenched tightly around me, trying to bring my temperature down. His thumb rubbed soothingly back and forth across my temple, somehow numbing the headache that refused to subside for any other treatment. He held glasses of water to my trembling lips and brushed away the moisture from my watering eyes. He distracted me from the pain in my throat by singing soft melodies in my ear until I was able to fall asleep again.
The day passed much more quickly than the one that had preceded it. When the sunlight that shone through my window began to dim, I felt my energy slipping away again. As I drifted off into slumber, I heard an angelic voice whisper in my ear
"I hope you're feeling better tomorrow, my love."
I hoped I wasn't. The worst cold in the world would not be too much to endure for another day of this.
A/N: I have a few more things like this that I've thought of, so if people like this, I might write some other unrelated scenes. I know there are other stories like that on here, but if you guys want me to, I'll keep going.
