I jerk my head up, trying to pay attention to Chiron. My eyes start to close, the idea of sleep like a lollipop to toddler.
"Malcolm?" My eyes fly open, and I see Chiron looking worriedly at me.
"Yes Sir?" I ask, trying to sound like I've been paying attention and I wasn't just falling asleep in his class. Chiron's wise eyes look over me carefully.
"Why don't you go back to your cabin and get some rest?"
I nod my head gratefully, packing up my books and exiting the room where my Greek lessons were. The walk to my cabin seemed longer than usual, though it might have been because I had to wake myself up every few minutes. When I finally made it to Cabin 6, I was exhausted. A nauseous feeling washed over to me, but I ignored it. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
I feel someone shaking me, trying to wake me up.
I don't want to wake up! I thought I feel horrible.
I groan, rolling over in the bed and pulling the covers closer to me. Why is it so freaking cold?
"Malcolm?" asks Atty, who was most likely the one shaking me. I open my mouth to reply, but a nauseous feeling sends me running for the toilet to puke my guts up. As I continued to upchuck, I feel a hand rub my back soothingly. I'm immediately reminded of what my stepmom used to do whenever I threw up. I sit back on my legs, groaning and to tired to try and move. A hand reaches around me flushing the toilet, and I realize that it is Atty because of her owl charm bracelet.
"Come on Malcolm." She says, helping me up off the bathroom floor and over to my bed. I wish I could say I was manly and tried to fight her off, but I would be lying. What actually happened was I let my younger sister lay me down and tuck me in like a baby. I was cold and sick; I couldn't help it.
Atty sits down on my bed, placing her cold hand on my forehead.
"Gods Malcolm! You're burning up!" She tries to stand up, but I weakly wrap my arms around her waist.
"Don't leave," I croak out, feeling completely pathetic. She sighs, pulling out her A-phone (Apollo phone) and dialing a number.
"Hey Will? Ya, this is Atty. Could you do me a favor and tell Annabeth that Malcolm and I our in our cabin. Why? Malcolm is sick. Ok, Thanks Will."
She closes the phone and places it back in her purse.
"Will is going to tell Annabeth where we are. He also said that he'd give her some medicine for you."
Another wave of nausea washed over me, and I must have made a face because Atty ran over to the bathroom, grabbing a trashcan.
After I finish spewing my guts, again, Atty takes the can from me and goes into the bathroom.
She comes back out with a towel, a washcloth, a new trashcan, a bucket of water, and a set of my pajamas. She places the towel on the floor next to my bed and puts the trashcan on top of it. Next, she places the washcloth in the water.
"Do you need help getting dressed?" I sigh, nodding my head shamefully. I hate being dependent on anyone, especially Atty. I'm supposed to be the tough older brother, and not a weakling she has to take care of.
"Malcolm, don't be embarrassed because you are sick! It happens to everyone. At least you haven't barfed on me yet, like Percy did to Annabeth." I smile lightly at that. Percy got the flu a few months ago, and the way everyone found out was that he got sick in the sword-fighting arena. Atty helps me sit up and gently takes my polo off, replacing it with a t-shirt. She handed me some pj pants and turned around while I struggled into them.
"I'm done." I whisper, feeling to sick to speak loudly. Atty turns around and helps me back into my bed, putting the now warm washcloth on my forehead. She lies down next to me, wrapping her arms around me lightly. I'm reminded of when we were little kids, and we'd hold each other whenever we were sick or hurt. I fall asleep quickly; enjoying the security my sister brought me.
"How long has he been asleep?"
"A few hours. His fever has been escalating within the past hour, and I've had to change the washcloth on his head pretty often."
I open my eyes slowly, trying to prevent another headache. Though I no that it is still light outside, the cabin had been made dark by drawing all the curtains.
"Hey Malcolm" says Annabeth, holding a sprite and a bottle of pills.
I waved at her half-heartedly, wishing I was still asleep.
"Annabeth is going to stay with you while I go get dinner" says Atty from her place beside the bed.
"You don't have to get babysitters Atty, I don't need any help. I sit up, trying to prove my point, but instead I just show how much I do need help by barfing, again, this is getting really old.
"Yep, you definitely don't need a babysitter" says Annabeth smirking slightly. I lay down, grumbling about being sick, and watch as Atty leaves the cabin for dinner.
Annabeth sits down at the foot of my bed, looking concerned.
"You know you don't have to be manly all the time, it's easier to let people take care of you every once in a while." This statement shocked me, Annabeth never wants people to help her, none of us Athenians do. It was a family trait.
"Your wrong, if I am weak, then Atty gets scared. I can't let that happen to her. She's been through… a lot." Atty had been bullied at camp for a few years, and it escalated till she almost died. Only me and our other siblings know who hurt her, and none of us like to talk about it.
"Malcolm, I understand that you feel like you need to protect her from Drew, but that is over now! Chiron took care of it. You can be sick; it's not a crime. She's more worried about you trying to hide it then she would be if you just told people what you felt." I lowered my eyes, thinking quietly about what she just said.
"My stomach" I finally said.
"What?"
"My stomach, I feel like I'm going to throw up again. My head hurts as well, and my throat."
Annabeth smiles slightly, glad that I am finally opening up.
"Take two of these and drink some sprite" she says, handing me two small blue pills and the sprite can.
"We talked to Will Solace, he thinks you have the flu. We also worked out a schedule to take care of you and make sure you don't pass out." I nod my head slightly, resisting the urge to decline the offer.
"Also, I was instructed by Atty to make sure you sleep, and she is tiny but mighty. So, please try to sleep some." I laugh lightly before turning on my side and falling asleep.
I wake up when some arms wrap around me tightly. I roll over to see Atty with her face buried in my chest.
"Thank you" she says, not looking up.
"For what?"
"For finally letting someone else take care of you, I know how hard it must be for you. Thank you."
I bury my face into her hair.
You know, being sick might not be that bad.
Hello! So, was this better then the chapter I posted last night? I'm hoping this one is better.
Ok, so I would like 5 reviews before I continue. Can you do that for me? PWEASE!