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Chapter 2

A/N: I make references to some T.V. shows that were not on in the 60's. This story is set in modern times. Please review and tell me what you think! Thank you to my reviewer. Your kind words mean the world to me! Thanks to everyone reading this story!

Sure enough, Johnny stayed home from school the next day. I went in, took my math quiz, and it was actually okay. I was really glad it was Friday, especially since Johnny was sick. Despite being a tough greaser and everything, Johnny always got really clingy with me when he was sick. Honestly, I didn't mind. This was odd because I was a normally bad and germ phobic with people when they were sick, just not Johnny.

I figured we could spend the weekend watching Scrubs, Welcome Back Kotter, and Parks and Recreation. At 2:30 I hurried to meet my dad, eager to get home to my boyfriend. In the car I asked, "How's Johnny doing?" Dad buckled his seatbelt and started heading home.

"I didn't see him much. Most of the day he just stayed in your room, sleeping, I guess. I only talked to him once, when I went in there to take his temperature. He seemed pretty out of it and wanted to know how soon you were going to be home."

"Was he running a fever?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't too bad. 100.2, I think. You know-" He started to say something, but then stopped. This was unusual for my dad, who was usually keen to share his opinions, whether anyone wanted to hear them or not.

"What?" I asked, suspiciously. We had reached a red light. Dad looked over at me, and I was surprised to see a very concerned look etched on his face. Sure, Dad loved Johnny just as much as Mom did, but wasn't too eager to show it. After all, Johnny was his youngest daughter's boyfriend, who shared a bed with her. That would be enough for any dad to want to load up a shotgun.

Dad finally spoke. "He's been getting sick a lot lately, Johnny." He said this slowly, glancing at me out of the corner of his squinty blue eye, trying to gauge my reaction.

"He's not faking it to get out of school, if that's what you're implying," I snapped defensively. Johnny had been sick really often lately. Just when we had thought he was completely recovered from this awful cold he had last week, he came down with this new virus.

"That's not what I'm saying," Dad replied. "Just because he's dating my daughter, and I automatically want to break his neck for that sometimes, doesn't mean that I don't know he's a good kid. I know he is. I just don't think it's normal for people to get sick that often."

When we entered the house, I set my backpack down near the door, kicked off my sneakers, and padded down to my room to check on Johnny. He was fast asleep, so I decided to take a shower.

After the shower, I had just changed into pajamas and was back in my room when I heard a soft "Hey." Turning to face the bed, I saw Johnny sitting upright, looking at me. He seemed out of it, just like Dad had said. His eyes were glassy and dazed, and it looked like he was having trouble focusing on me. I walked over to the bunk bed and climbed the ladder to the top. "Hey you," I said, pushing a stray piece of hair out of his face. It wasn't greased today; the only time he left it alone was when he was sick, so it had gone without grease a lot lately. I actually preferred it this way; it was much softer."How are you feeling?" I asked, settling down next to him.

"Lousy," he croaked. His voice sounded so groggy. I laid the back of my hand on his forehead. The boy was as hot as a stove! On closer inspection, I observed that he was drenched in sweat. How could I have not noticed that when I first came in? I grabbed the thermometer on the dresser next to the bed and stuck it under his tongue.

102.6. Crap. "Okay, Johnnycake," I said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the worry out of my voice. Like I said, I didn't mind taking care of him when he was sick, but 102 was a high fever. I wished my mom wasn't at work. "We need to cool you down. Here , let's get these clothes off." I stripped him of his sweatshirt, tee shirt, plaid pajama pants, and socks, so that he was only wearing his grey boxers. He hardly even seemed to notice what I was doing. Normally the sight of his bare skin would've caused my heart to do a total cheerleading routine, but now all I could focus on was how sick he was… and how skinny.

Johnny had always been small, both short and thin. It had never been something that bothered me. In fact, I had sort of a skinny guy fetish. Plus his height was really convenient. I'm pretty short, maybe one or two measly inches over five feet, thanks to my mom. My first boyfriend, the one I'd had before Johnny, had been well over six feet, even though he was only two years older than me. He had always had to pick me up, or bend down, whenever we wanted to kiss. After an extremely short time period, that loses its charm.

Now, though, Johnny looked emaciated. His ribs looked ready to pop out, and his stomach appeared to be going concave. His spine was practically popping out as well. Everywhere you looked, his bones were visible.

I'd known he had lost weight, but I thought it had been only a little. It's not too uncommon to lose a bit of weight when you're sick. I mean, you feel too crummy to eat much, so it only makes sense. But this wasn't a bit of weight lost from a few colds. This was something much more, much worse, eating away at Johnny.

A/N: I know it's a little slow, but I promise I'll pick it up very soon. Thank you again for reading! Please, please, please review!