Devlyn never got sick.

And yet here she was lying in her bed with a virus she had never had before.

It was kind of like a fever, but also had symptoms of a cold and a flu bug. Gwen had taken her to the doctors and they discovered that it wasn't contagious and it was a virus that only Osmosians could contract. Of course she had her father's genes to thank for this!

Fortunately, it would only last a couple of days then she would be back on her feet going to school again. But, for the time being, Devlyn was left lying in bed, hugging one of her blue cased pillows and clinging to a tissue.

The only upside to this was that it was picture day at school so she would kind of have to skip out on it. Not that she would get away from it for long, but, she could bide her time for a few more days. She never liked how her pictures turned out, she looking enough like a ghost in photographs.

She suddenly heard a rap in her doorway.

She opened her eyes and found Ken standing there holding two brown paper bags. She never failed to think that his black leather jacket, red tee shirt and blue jeans made him look so handsome with his red hair and green eyes. All the girls who had never given him a second glance before had to have noticed him today.

"Hey, Dev," he said with the smile she had long since fallen for, "how you doing?"

She sat up letting go with her pillow.

"So-so." she knew she sounded way worse than so-so, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"It's lunch time and I thought I could sneak out, buy two lunches and eat with my best friend today. It helps that you're not contagious."

"No kidding," she agreed crossing her legs, "What have you got?" the virus hadn't taken away her appetite.

"Two bacon cheeseburgers from the gourmet burger place that you like, a large fries, and a diet root beer since you can't have sugar at the moment."

"Sounds great," she reached for the bag, "thanks."

"I wonder at times how you stay a rail the way you eat." Ken sat down beside her pulling out his own burger.

"I sometimes wonder myself," she took a sip of the root beer.

"I mean, where do you put it all?"

"Beats me," she clicked her cup against his, "Here's to hoping I can taste this."

"Cheers." he did the same and they both drank.

"So…Brady sends his love." Ken smiled and took a fry our of his bag.

Devlyn rolled her eyes.

Brady Roche was one of the most popular boys in school. He also fell into that category of "bad boys" that she tried to stay away from. Even more to the point, he reminded her of a blond hair blue eyed version of her father. Not in looks per se, but in every other way possible. It was scary on how they were so much alike. They both had bad tempers, a love for cars and alien tech, and a nasty habit of conning people. He even had a deep voice to match! She didn't just get red flags from him, he was a big red flag. And yet, he never got the hint that she wanted nothing to do with him. If anything, he had gotten more aggressive in his approaches. Ken might have been smiling now, but he was, in fact, worried about this guy just as much as Devlyn was. If he didn't stop soon, they planned on telling the principle about him.

"What should I tell him, blue?" Ken took a sip of his soda.

Trying to figure out the meaning of her new nickname, Devlyn rolled her eyes again.

"You can tell him to go Null Void and get drained by Darkstar."

"Ouch." Ken laughed, "you really do hate him."

"He just won't leave me alone! I've tried hints, then I tried to be straightforward, and he still thinks I'm on the market to be his one and only!"

"Yeah, well, if that invitation doesn't tell him to leave you alone, I don't know what will. I think I would get the hint if a girl told that to me."

"Not that any girl would."

Ken tilted his head.

"I'd be wondering what I did so wrong to deserve it, buy I'd leave her alone."

"Yes, you would. Ben and Gwen trained you to be a gentleman. Brady on the other hand, I don't know."

"His parents are some of the nicest people in the galaxy."

"You're kidding me."

"Nope; I've met them both."

"Then he's got no excuse."

"Not really, though you of all people know that upbringing doesn't define who you are as you get older."

"True." she grew thoughtful.

"Something on your mind besides your two viruses? Namely your cold and Brady?"

Devlyn laughed at his depiction of her evil wannabe-boyfriend.

"Nope."

Ken suppressed the urge to raise an eyebrow.

Nope? She must not have heard yet. Or, if she did, she didn't want to talk about it, which, in that case, Ken wouldn't press her.

"So…any guy you don't mind being called someone's one and only?"

Devlyn laughed nervously.

"Since when did you become a chic?"

"Ah-ha," Ken gestured his cup in her direction, "so there is someone."

"Who says there is?"

"Your actions," Ken polished off his burger, "You've never been that subtle with me. I've wondered over the last six months if there was someone you were interested in; I'm just glad it's not Brady."

"No kidding." Well, at least she had been subtle in whom she was interested in.

Ken crumpled his wrapper into a ball and shoved it into his bag.

"Well, I've got to get back to school before the next class starts." he stood up, "Feel better soon." he tugged a strand of her black hair, "See you after school."

"Okay. Thanks again for lunch."

"No problem."

"Do I have to pay you?"

Ken reached the door way and turned around.

"Nope. You weren't expecting it and your company is enough. See you later."

"Alright. See you later."

Ken waved and walked out of the door. Despite the fact she had a cold and Brady was breathing down her neck, Devlyn seemed to be her usual self. She must not have heard the news or she'd be uncharacteristically paranoid. She would find out soon enough for herself, whether it would be from his mom or dad or from the man himself.

Her father had been released from the Null Void.