Disclaimer: I do not own The O.C. or any of its characters. All of that belongs to FOX.
Ryan's POV
I laid there on the bed. I didn't even bother to get under the covers as my body ached too much to move. I kept going in and out of sleep. It might have subconsciously been because I was also worried of either Kirsten or Sandy coming home early and finding me. Though, it probably was in too much pain—and I was also uncomfortable—to stay asleep.
One minute it'd be 11:10 and then I'd wake up and it would be 11:49.
I don't know what's worse: Not being able to stay asleep when you feel like crap or having to listen to a chemistry lecture when you feel like crap.
Seth left me alone in here to suffer; he went back to school when lunch was over. I had managed to convince him from telling his parents, luckily. So now I just had the task of actually keeping this from them. But that can't be too hard, right?
Seth came back into the pool house after school ended, waking me up.
"Feeling any better?" Seth asked.
"No." I replied, annoyed—mostly because I couldn't seem to be able to get any rest. "I feel like crap."
"Well, yeah, I assumed that because when you are sick, you don't feel exactly great—you feel the exact opposite of great—which is what you said…" Seth trailed off as he noticed the glare I was giving him to shut up. His blabbering was making my head spin—more than usual.
I was in pain everywhere. I was uncomfortable. I felt like crap. Though, that felt like an understatement.
"You feel like crap?" Seth asked—well wasn't that a stupid question to ask a sick person?
"I thought we established that?"
"Well if only there was something that you could help with that. Oh right, it's called medicine, which my parents could easily offer if you'd tell them you're sick." Seth says and I groan into my pillow before turning back to him.
"I'm not sick." I said.
"I thought we established you were." Seth comments with a sarcastic gasp. "My bad."
"Seth!" I said, trying to sit up. I coughed and then winced as my body ached with every movement.
"Sorry, I'm not sneaking you medicine or anything. If you want to take care of yourself, you're free to do that." Seth replied.
"I was going to ask you to turn out the light." I said. I would do it, but I wasn't going to attempt moving especially since he was standing right next to light switch.
There was a moment of silence before the room was darker.
I let myself slip into consciousness.
Seth's POV
I shook my head as I left the pool house. I didn't understand why Ryan was just going to suffer in silence alone. I guess he didn't realize how awesome being sick could be. Whenever I get sick, it's paradise. No school and my parents at my beck in call, getting and doing pretty much whatever I ask them to.
Ryan was seriously missing out.
He could at least feel less-crappy if he told my parents about it.
I didn't see what the whole 'being sick denial' point was.
I went into my room for a while. I found myself, constantly wondering about Ryan. I was concerned for his well-being and I was also curious to how long he would last before my parents would figure it out. He hasn't been here long and my mom—well—she could spot me sick from a mile away and that was before I even would have the chance to tell her.
I don't think he'll last through dinner without them figuring it out.
About an hour later, my parents were home with dinner. Apparently, they had decided to bring some Thai food home. I wasn't complaining. My mom didn't cook it, so I was satisfied; I don't know how Ryan is going to be.
"Where's Ryan?" My dad asks as he takes the food out of the bags and puts it on the table while my mom gets the plates and utensils.
"Asleep, in the pool house." I said.
"Is okay?" My mom asks.
She didn't normally do that, for Ryan. I swear, it's like she subconsciously just knows. It's like some weird physic power or something.
"Just exhausted. He was up late studying last night. Big test." I lied for him; it was least I could do. He made me swear not to tell and I was going to honor that; though I thought it was stupid.
"Well dinner's here, so you should go get him." My mom told me and I nodded, going out to the pool house; dinner should be interesting.
Ryan's POV
I shot up awake at hearing Seth's voice and also by him shaking me.
"What?" I asked.
"They brought dinner." Seth said.
I sat up, moving so my legs were hanging off the bed. I took a breath. I didn't want to go in there. I wasn't even hungry. But I knew if I didn't go in there and act like I'm completely fine, they would know something was up.
"It's Thai food." Seth added before leaving the pool house.
"Oh. Great." I said sarcastically as I stood up; just the kind of food I needed right now.
I left the pool house and went into the kitchen. I glanced up at Sandy and Kirsten and put on the 'I'm okay' façade so they thought I was fine. They didn't need to know that I didn't feel a bit unwell. They had done enough for me. They didn't need to worry about me. I was used to taking care of myself and I'd probably be better by morning.
"Hey Ryan, long day?" Sandy asks me as I sit down.
"Yeah." I managed to say, normally.
"How was the test?" Kirsten asks me, casually. I was confused at first, but then I realized that Seth must have come up with an excuse to why I was sleeping. At least one good thing came out of him knowing.
"Fine." I said.
Everything was fine.
I put some food on plate. I wasn't hungry, especially not for this. I wasn't sure my stomach could handle much of anything. I barely ate this morning because I had been feeling so bad. The thought of food made me sick. But I knew I couldn't say I wasn't very hungry as I knew they'd find that odd as I didn't eat this morning.
I knew I needed to eat something; at least a little. As far as they knew, I was fine. I need to keep it that way.
I put forkfuls of food into my mouth and forced myself to eat it while I seemed to be fine. Though I felt sick just looking at the food on my plate. I didn't eat more than maybe five forkfuls of food before I ended up just pushing the food around on my plate.
"Ryan, you okay?" Sandy asks and I nod.
"Just not very hungry."
"You barely ate this morning." Kirsten pointed out.
"I had a big lunch." I said; though I didn't eat anything.
Luckily, after that point, they lost interest in speaking to me as Seth started a conversation about Summer, which of course, didn't seem to ever end. For once, it was a blessing—in a way—as it took the attention off me. Something I didn't need.
After dinner, I stood up.
"I can clean up." I said and took the plates to sink. I felt tired, but I knew I needed to help out. It was the least I could do since they let me stay in their home.
I went to the sink to the put the dishes in them. I started to wash them by-hand like I normally do, when I suddenly felt a bit dizzy. My head felt like it was going to explode. I grabbed onto the sink to keep my balance in case my body wanted to fall over.
"Ryan, are you alright?" Kirsten asks me. I blinked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I lied. I was starting to feel worse. My head was throbbing—I could hear the pain in beats, if that made sense—and my stomach didn't feel so good either.
"You don't look so good." She said.
"No, I'm fine." I insisted.
Maybe, I should get back to the pool house.
"Sandy." Kirsten looks at him and then back to me.
"Ryan, are you feeling alright?" Sandy asks.
"I have homework to do." I say trying to get out of the kitchen, but Sandy stands in front of me and puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me from going anywhere.
"Hold on a second." Sandy said and then put his hand on my forehead.
"Is he sick?" Kirsten asked, directed to Sandy.
"He's really warm."
"I'm not—" I started to argue, but stopped at feeling my stomach lunge. I quickly moved past Sandy and Kirsten as I quickly made my way to the bathroom. I got there in time; I started throwing up.
I guess the Thai food wasn't a good idea.
It felt like I was there for hours, when really it was more like five minutes. Then it became dry heaving. I turned back at feeling someone starting to rub my back; it was Sandy. But I didn't say anything I started to vomit again.
Once, I was sure I was done—at least for now—I made a move to push myself up. Sandy wrapped an arm around me and helped me up.
"Come on, let's get you to bed." Sandy said and I shook my head.
"I didn't finish…the dishes…"
"We have a dishwasher, Ryan. It'll do its job." He told me as we went back through the kitchen and then down the hallway, instead of outside to the pool house. "Right now, the only job you need to worry about is getting into bed."
"Pool house…"
"You're staying in here while you're sick." Sandy said.
"I'm not sick." I tried to claim, though it was useless at this point.
"I beg to differ, Ryan." Sandy as he open the door to the guest room. I got into the bed when Sandy lifted the covers. I think he said something else, but I didn't even hear it. I felt too crappy to care. I just need to sleep; I'd probably be better by tomorrow.
A/N: The Cohens know, but Ryan won't be better that soon. Where would the fun be in that? I hope you enjoyed chapter two.
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