This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Stage Front.

"Tender Love & Care"

2. Plus One

Tina had not gotten much sleep. By the time she'd gotten home, spoken with her parents, changed, and gone to bed, it was already nearing on one in the morning. She was afraid she wouldn't even manage to sleep, but maybe between the exhaustion of the day and the knowledge she wanted to drop by Mike's place before school started, sleep had apparently taken mercy on her.

When morning came she hurried to get ready and then she was off to the Changs'. Mrs. Chang had let her in, and there Tina had learned sleep had not been as kind to Mike. He'd been slipping in and out of slumber all night. When she'd arrived he was back to 'in slumber' and she was about to leave, but then he woke up, like he'd sensed her there.

"Tina?" he mumbled. So she went back near him, like she'd been the night before, and she took his hand.

"I'm here, hey…" she smiled. "Morning…"

"Is it morning already?" he asked, tempting to open his eyes. The instant they met daylight they shut.

"Go back to sleep," she insisted. "I'll come back this afternoon, okay?"

"No, wait," he tugged at her hand so she wouldn't go. "Not yet," he begged. "Just… can you shut the curtains?"

"Can I get my hand back?"

"Only if you swear to give it back," he yawned.

"I make no promises."

"Well, you have an honest face." She smirked, getting up to shut the curtains. As she returned, rather than sitting on the edge of the table again she sat on the ground in front of the couch, now at eye level with him as she took up his hand again.

"So how are you feeling?"

"Like I got run into a wall."

"You did get run into a wall."

"Then that all works out," he smiled at her. "My pillows could use a fluff…" he threw pleading eyes on her.

"Humoring me?" she smirked, he acted innocent. "Isn't that my job today?" she asked as she fluffed the pillows. "So what are you going to do today? You know, besides sleep. You will sleep, right?"

"I'll give it a try."

"Try hard," she begged. "Count sheep if you have to."

"What about counting… frogs?' he asked.

"Whatever works," she smiled. "So besides sleep…"

"Probably just watch TV. I asked my mother if I could move to the basement to play video games and she almost lost it."

"Video games are not relaxing," she agreed.

"What if I get bored though? What if I get hypnotized into liking soap operas?"

"Then don't watch them," she laughed. "It'll only be for a few hours, and I'll be here right after school, I promise. Then I'll have your homework, so that should keep you busy." He frowned. "Okay, bad joke."

"She says I'm staying home all week, and I heard her and my dad talking about getting me a tutor while I'm here. I'd rather go to school."

"It'll be fine. Also I could be your tutor, you know?" He smiled.

"Can I see your credentials?"

"I'm sorry, who kicked your butt in that quiz last week?" she squinted.

"You got lucky on that last question," he 'accused.'

"Just shut up and say thank you," she laughed. "Or, well, say thank you, then shut up."

"Thank you," he spoke honestly, then pressed his lips together for a symbolic 'shutting up.'

"And you know, if your mother doesn't think texting is too strenuous, I'll have my phone with me… I'll make sure not to get caught. That should keep you entertained, too."

"Good… when I'm not sleeping, of course."

"Of course," she 'commanded' him on remembering. "Have you had breakfast?" she asked.

"My mother's waiting until I'm a little more awake, which I hope is soon, I'm starving…"

"Want me to go tell her?"

"No, stay," he begged, holding on to her hand.

"I'm going to have to leave soon," she reminded.

"All the more reason for you to stay as long as possible."

"Alright then, staying," she nodded. "What about a book?" she suggested. "Not a big effort, keep your arms in, minimal work to turn the pages…"

"I think I can swing that," he nodded.

"No swinging," she pointed at him. "I'll go get you a book," she got up. "Anything in particular?"

"By my bed," he directed.

"Okay," she hurried up the stairs and into his room. It still took her a moment to not smirk at being in his room. Moving to the side table she found the book and, picking it up, she spotted the pictures stuck to the side of his dresser. She could imagine that, lying down in bed he could turn on his side and look at them… There were three pictures on their own: one was of Mike and her on the football field in their respective uniforms, the second was from their Valentine's Day dinner at Breadstix, and the other one was just her, when she'd jumped in front of the camera and high jacked the shot. She'd said the picture looked weird, but he loved it and wouldn't delete it. Now she was kind of glad he'd kept it.

"Here, got the book…" she came back downstairs and into the living room and… he was asleep.

She smiled, putting the book on the coffee table. She grabbed at the blanket to cover him up again, leaned in to kiss at the side of his head, glad to see he was relaxing.

With the book, the phone, and the remote left within arm's reach, she got up and went to say goodbye to Mrs. Chang before leaving for school. She was going to miss having him at school with her, too, but she was glad to know he'd be relaxing, getting better. Now she just needed afternoon to come already…

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)