Sick

Underneath a mass of navy and red bed sheets a massive sneeze followed a sickly groan. It had been a really stupid idea to hang around Trent yesterday when he'd had the flu. Now here he was sick in the summer. Nick rolled around in his bed to face the ceiling.

A sharp pain ran up his spine and to his head when his phone seemed to screech, alerting him of a new text. With sore arms he reached over to his night stand to grab it.

Hey, are we still on for the water park today? – J

Darn it, he'd forgotten all about that. He usually...actually he never forgot arrangements with Jeff and not because he'd just realised his best friend was the most attractive person he'd ever met (of course that wasn't the reason).

Sorry, I can't make it. I think Trent gave me whatever bug he has. – N

The reply was instantaneous.

Aw, really? What do you need? I'm coming over! x – J

I smiled. He was such a worry wart, to the point where it was kind of endearing. Then my bleary eyes focused on the small x in the text. Kisses? I felt my face heat up and it had nothing to do with my fever. It must have been a mistake. His finger accidentally hit that button.

"NICKY!" Jeff shouted as he burst through the door.

"Ugh, you're so loud," I complained, although I was really happy to see him. Just his presence seemed to take away the pain a little no matter how clichéd that sounded. I looked up and saw him walked over towards me, smiling of course. But in his eyes was the slightest fleck of worry.

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick sooner Nicky?" he pouted sitting on my bed. I flushed at his use of nick name. At least I could blame it on my sickness. But honestly, when had that started up? Last time he'd called me Nicky he was half asleep so I looked it over...but now?

Well I couldn't say that I disliked it...in fact I really loved it, probably way more than I should.

"I only started feeling this way when I woke up this morning," I provided, trying to get the frown off his face. A sad Jeff was something I could never have. Seeing him upset made me sad too.

"Have you taken any medicine for it?" I nodded my head slowly. "Don't lie to me Nicky. You know you're horrible at it. I can read you like a book."

Hopefully not, I thought, or else you'd be able to tell that I've developed a not so little crush on you. "Here," he said, reaching into his pocket, "I brought you some Advil it should help."

Before I had time to react he leaned forwards. It would be a total lie if I said I didn't kind of freak out. He wasn't allowed to be that close that me! I felt his calloused hand lay on my for-head.

"You're really hot Nicky," he said smiling, as I felt myself blush furiously, "and a bit red in the face too. I'm going to run and get you some ice from downstairs."

As soon as he left I bolted up into a sitting position, my breathing ragged. What the hell was he playing at? Calling me Nicky, adding an x to the end of his text and saying I was hot (well I did have a fever and that's probably what he meant but still!) I thought Jeff was straight! Well...I'd never really asked him.

A few minutes later he came back, smile on his face, perfect as ever. I needed to calm down my distressed state wasn't helping anyone here.

"Here, put this on your head and go to sleep."

"I'm not tired," I complained like a child. He raised a light blond eyebrow at me.

"Of course you're not Nicky," he came over and brought the blankets up to my shoulders. "Now, be a good boy and go to bed. When you wake up we can watch a movie or something." I stretched my arms up and yawned, my shirt riding up a little. Darn him, he always knew how I was feeling. I looked up to see Jeff's face go red.

"What?" I asked curiously and oblivious to the fact that me stretching had just given him quite a nice show of my stomach.

"Nothing," he said too quickly, "go to sleep," he ordered. A small battle took place in his eyes before he leaned forward and lightly kissed the top of my head. I stopped breathing for a second as he pulled away then and walked out of the room. The door shut before I had the chance to shout, "Don't go!"

I was struck hard by the realisation that I wanted him here, I wanted him to kiss me again and again and I wanted his lips not on my head but on mine. I groaned in frustration and rolled on my side. I wanted my best friend and not in a way most people would. I'd fallen in love with him.