I decided I'm going to stop apologizing for the delays in my updates. I'm a busy mom - what can I say? LOL
As always - a million thanks to shabbyapple for her beta skills. And much praise to Stephenie Meyer for creating these wonderful characters that get to date a lot in my story!
The song for this chapter is One I Love by Coldplay. I have added a link in my profile. This song fits with Bella & Edward's conversation in this chapter...especially as it foreshadows what will occur in New Moon.
The flu? No way!
I hadn't been this sick since middle school! It was as if the Arizona sun killed all viruses around me and nothing wanted to exist in that heat. But here in Forks, it must have been a breeding ground for germs. I couldn't believe I had the flu!
Since I had slept so soundly, I had no idea what time Edward had left...or what time he would be back. I hoped he hadn't gone far to hunt. His body would be a much better fever reducer than a cool compress on my forehead.
I looked at the clock again. 5:02am. This was going to be a long day. I struggled to sit up, moaning out loud when my limbs wouldn't cooperate.
"Bella?" Charlie called.
"Dad?" I replied.
Charlie carefully opened the door and poked his head into my room.
"Did I wake you? Sorry," he apologized. "Are you OK?"
"No. I think I have the flu," I told him.
A look of horror flickered across his features. Then he put on his "cop face" to deal with the problem. He marched over to me and put his hand on my forehead.
"You're burning up, Bells," he announced.
"I know, dad. Could you bring me some Tylenol or something?" I asked, not sure what I really wanted, except to go back to sleep.
"I'll be right back," Charlie said on his way out the door.
This was not good. I wasn't sure what kind of cold medication Charlie had on hand, but I figured he had to have Tylenol for the occasional headache. He was back quicker than I had anticipated.
"Here. I have Tylenol and some cold & flu capsules," he said. "Try taking some of this stuff. I think it's still good..." he trailed off, probably looking for an expiration date on the silver foil package.
"Thanks, dad," I said, reaching for the Tylenol.
"Do you need me to stay home from work today?" he asked. I could tell he was asking because it was the "fatherly" thing to do - not because he really wanted to.
"No. I'll just stay in bed and sleep it off," I told him. I knew Edward would be back later and I would enjoy his company more than my father's.
"Do you want me to call Carlisle?" Charlie asked.
"No. Thanks, Dad. If I start feeling worse, I'll call Alice or Edward," I reassured him. I knew Alice would have already seen me, lying in my bed, sick as a dog. She was probably on her way over with a pharmacy full of drugs in her purse.
"OK, Bella. But be sure to call me if you need me." Charlie leaned over and patted my cheek. He looked like he was fighting the urge to wipe his hand on his pants. I was sure he would go straight to the bathroom and wash his hands as soon as he left my room.
I swallowed 2 Tylenol, forcing them down my swollen throat as best I could.
"Bye dad. Thanks," I said, rolling over.
"Feel better, Bells," he said, gently shutting my door.
Several hours, I woke up to Alice fluttering around my room.
"Alice," I said.
She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around, giving me a sheepish grin.
"Morning, Bella," Alice said. "How are you feeling?"
"Like crap," I told her.
"Just as I suspected. I already called Edward. He'll be back soon."
"OK," I said. Edward's cool skin would feel great on my sweaty brow. Then again, I wasn't sure if I wanted Edward touching me when I was sweaty. "Um, Alice...," I began, "what are you doing?"
I hadn't really paid attention to what she was doing before. She had brought a hospital beside tray up to my room and was arranging supplies on it.
"Alice," I said firmly, "I have the FLU. I didn't have my appendix removed."
"Bella, I live by the Boy Scout motto - Be Prepared," she retorted. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't take care of you in your time of need, especially while Edward is gone?"
I tried sitting up to see what she meant by 'prepared', but my head and stomach were against the idea.
"Ohhhhh," I moaned, lying back down.
Alice was instantly at my side.
"What can I get you?" she asked, her brow creased with worry.
"More Tylenol, I guess."
"Have you eaten anything yet?"
"No, nothing. But my stomach is a little queasy. Maybe I'd better hold off for now," I informed her.
Alice brought me 2 more Tylenol and a cup of Gatorade. Behind her, there was a stash of salt crackers and applesauce.
"Remember, little sips. Don't take big gulps if your tummy hurts," she instructed me.
I tried to roll my eyes at her, but that hurt my head too. "Alice, my mother lives in Florida. I know not to take big gulps and my STOMACH doesn't hurt. It's just a little queasy," I said.
"If you have a headache and are vomiting when Edward gets here, he's going to be very upset with me."
"Yeah? Well, so am I!" I said, wincing at my sore throat.
Alice took the cup and set it on the table. I also noticed a little DVD player with several of my favorite DVD's and various fashion magazines. Puh-leaze...who was she kidding?
"Fashion magazines? Alice, I do not read fashion magazines," I said, incredulously.
"Don't I know it! I thought maybe you could broaden your horizons," she said, fingering the top cover with a gentle touch.
"What, no books?"
"Edward was stopping at a bookstore on his way here," she said. "I thought the magazines might hold you over until he arrived."
Oh. OK. "That's sweet of him," I said, looking at the clock. It was a little after 10am. "When will he be here?"
"Soon - within an hour or so," Alice answered.
"Wonderful," I said, stifling a yawn.
"Go back to sleep, Bella," Alice instructed. "It looks like this flu is going to last a couple days."
"ARGH! Two days?" This was awful!
"Shhhh. Sleep, Bella."
I kicked the covers down towards my feet and pulled the sheet up under my chin. I was still feverish and I couldn't stand having any blankets on me. At least it wasn't 110 degrees outside. The gloomy, dreary Forks weather matched my mood perfectly. Two days with the flu...yuck.
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"Bella, love?"
I woke to Edward caressing my cheek with his hand. The coolness of his skin felt great. My fever had risen again and I was feeling awfully hot and sweaty. On second thought...
"Eww - Edward. Don't touch me! I'm all sweaty," I exclaimed.
Edward was sitting in the rocking chair, but he had it pulled over to the side of my bed. His eyes had a deep golden hue. The hunting trip must have gone well. I began to get lost in his gaze, but he made the mistake of stroking my cheek again.
"Stop! Doesn't my sweat gross you out?" I asked.
"Nothing about you is gross, Bella," Edward replied.
I tried to sit up, but my body would not cooperate. Rolling over onto my side, I let out a moan.
"Are you ok?" Edward asked.
I closed my eyes and answered.
"Other than having the flu, I'm just peachy," I told him. "My body aches, my stomach hurts, I have a fever, and Alice brought me fashion magazines!"
I heard Edward chuckle.
"It's not funny, Edward."
I opened my eyes again to look at him. He was trying to rearrange his expression into one of sympathy.
"I'm sorry, Bella. You're right. It's not funny," he said, seriously.
"Oh crap, Edward. I need to throw up!"
I tried to jump out of the bed and run to the bathroom, but as soon as I stood up, the room began spinning and I fell back on the bed. Edward was right there with a huge stainless steel bowl. He grabbed my hair out of the way so it didn't get vomit in it. When I was done, I made a mental note to throw that bowl away.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I said, feeling horrible and humiliated.
"Bella, don't apologize. I'm here to help," Edward said.
"Oh, right. Nothing says love like holding your girlfriend's throw up bowl for her," I whimpered.
"Don't cry, Bella," he pleaded.
"I'm sweaty and smell like vomit!" I cried, tears streaming down my face.
Edward took the bowl out of the room and returned with a cool washcloth before I could register what he had done. He wiped my forehead and cheeks, then handed me my toothbrush, loaded with toothpaste, and a glass of water.
"See, even you think I smell," I said, frowning at him.
"No, I don't. But I know it bothers you. Like I said, I'm here to help," he reminded me.
I brushed my teeth as best I could and handed everything back to him. My stomach had stopped churning. A wave of exhaustion swept over me and I decided to drift off into oblivion. I was going to pretend Edward never saw me throw up. That was just too much for one relationship to handle.
The next time I woke up, the grayness of the sky had changed. I wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep. Edward was still sitting next to my bed. Although he enjoyed watching me sleep, I felt bad he had to spend his day here in the sick room. I knew he wouldn't leave, even if I insisted, so I didn't bother trying.
"How are you feeling?" Edward asked.
"Hmmm. Maybe a little better," I answered.
"Charlie called a little bit ago. He wanted to see how you were feeling. I offered to make him something for dinner, but he said he would just pick something up on the way home."
"You offered to cook him dinner?" I asked.
"Yes. I do know how to cook," Edward reminded me.
"I know. I just think that's awfully nice of you."
"I'm a very nice guy," he said with a smirk.
I grinned in response and reached my hand out towards him. Edward took my hand and lifted it to his lips. His eyes bore into mine as he kissed the back of my hand. When I began to feel lightheaded, I realized I had stopped breathing. I sucked in a huge gasp of air.
"Sorry, Bella," he said.
"You really shouldn't dazzle me when I'm sick, you know," I told him.
Edward smiled his beautiful, crooked smile and kissed my hand again; quickly, this time. I pulled him next to me on the bed. Although I wasn't feeling very feverish, his cold body still felt good next to mine. I snuggled closer to him and sighed contentedly.
"You are feeling better," he mused.
"I'm always better when you're here next to me," I admitted.
"Then I will never leave," Edward said, kissing the top of my head.
I was awakened, this time, by Edward gently trying to extricate himself from my grasp.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Charlie is almost home. I thought it would be better if he didn't arrive while I was still in bed with his daughter," Edward told me.
"Oh. Good idea," I murmured.
Edward sat back down in the rocking chair. He closed his eyes, rocking back and forth.
"Edward," I began, "what do you think about when you watch me sleep?"
He slowly opened his eyes and a grin began to erupt onto his perfect features.
"You," he replied simply.
"And?"
"I look at your beautiful face and wonder how you ever could have chosen someone like me. I listen to your sleep talking and wish that I could know what you are thinking or dreaming about. And I hope that nothing ever happens that could take you away from me," he finished.
"I will never willingly leave you, Edward. You must know that by now. But I do hope that nothing ever causes you to leave me," I said.
Edward tried to interrupt, but I put my hand up to silence him.
"I'm human, Edward. I'm not graceful like Alice or drop dead gorgeous like Rosalie...and I know that my scent still causes you pain. I wouldn't blame you if you felt you had to move on."
Edward face twisted into an expression of horror.
"Bella, how can you say that? I love you. You are the center of my existence. There is not a moment that goes by that I do not think of you...your touch on my skin, your beautiful brown eyes, the precious blush on your cheeks...you are my everything," Edward said.
I knew that I loved Edward. And I knew that Edward loved me. However, I remembered the conversation we'd had in the hospital in Phoenix and I couldn't shake the feeling that Edward would leave me if he had a good enough reason. I decided that now was not the time to have this conversation. It would inevitably leave us both anxious and worried, so I decided to drop the subject for now.
"You are my everything as well. Life would not be the same for me if you were not in my life," I said, reaching out to him again. He leaned forward and kissed my lips tenderly.
"I love you," he said.
I nodded in agreement, and then lay back down on the bed. Charlie's headlights flashed outside. Edward got up to greet Charlie as he came in the house, then came up to kiss me good-bye again before leaving.
"I'll be back once Charlie's asleep," he whispered.
"I love you," I told him as he closed my bedroom door.
The night was a little better. When Edward came back, he brought something from Carlisle that would help me sleep, and keep the fever and nausea away. It must have worked because I didn't wake up once during the night feeling feverish or to vomit. I call that a success.
When I woke the next morning, I was feeling much improved. I could actually sit up without feeling dizzy. The true test would be whether or not I could make it to the bathroom and back on my own. I glanced at the clock. It was just after 8am. Charlie had left me a note.
Bella,
You were sleeping & I didn't want to wake you. I called Alice. She & Edward said they would take care of you again today.
Feel better.
Love,
Dad
I smiled at the thought of my father arranging "babysitters" for me. He was trying very hard to be a good father and I sincerely appreciated his efforts. Charlie wasn't good with the emotional stuff and I think he was a little afraid of the nursing stuff as well. But he tried and that was all I could ask.
OK - bathroom. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The room stayed put, so I tried standing up. Excellent. If I moved very slowly, I thought I could make it to the bathroom all on my own. I might even be back by lunchtime. However, before I could get to the door, the knob turned on its own.
"Bella!" Edward yelled.
"I'm fine, Edward. I'm just going to the bathroom for a human moment," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, reaching for me.
"No, I do not."
Instead, he wrapped his marble arms around my waist and gently guided me to the bathroom. I thought I could make it on my own, but I enjoyed having Edward's arms around me, so I didn't say anything more. He opened the door and guided me inside.
"Thank you, Edward. I can manage from here," I said.
"I'll be right outside if you need me," he said.
Wonderful, I thought. Nothing like having your boyfriend hear you pee...even without his super vampire hearing. I took care of all the "necessary" things and was feeling somewhat better, but I thought a shower sounded heavenly.
"Edward, could you grab me some more clothes? I think I'm going to take a shower," I told him.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. What if you need to throw up, or you get dizzy?" he asked.
"Well, if I need to throw up, I'm right next to the toilet. And if I get dizzy...you'll just have to come in and save me," I offered.
Silence from the other side of the door.
"Edward?"
I heard a gentle knock and the door opened.
"Yes, Edward?"
"Here are your clothes. Are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked again.
"I'll be fine. Give me 10 minutes, OK?"
I took my clothes and shut the door. As I undressed, I was very careful not to move too quickly so I didn't get light-headed. The water was tepid and felt good on my skin. The fever hadn't returned since last night, but my muscles were very sore. I felt like I'd been run over by a truck. After a few minutes, I heard knocking on the bathroom door.
"Occupied! Find another bathroom," I yelled at the door.
"Bella, are you OK?" Edward asked.
"Yes, Edward. I'm not dizzy or puking. You don't need to come in and rescue me," I yelled back, although I probably didn't need to yell for him to hear me.
I smelled my shampoo carefully, making sure the aroma didn't make me sick. Then I gently washed my hair, working up a foamy lather. After rinsing my hair, I looked around for the soap. Charlie was a big fan of Irish Spring soap, but I preferred not to smell like my father. That was just a little creepy. I had a floral liquid soap that I squirted into the mesh sponge. Thankfully, this smell didn't bother me either. Just as I was turning off the water, I hear Edward knocking again.
"What, Edward?" I was getting annoyed now.
"Just making sure you weren't asleep in there," he said.
"I'm just getting out. I'll be done in a few minutes," I answered.
After I dried off, I looked at the clothes Edward brought me. T-shirt, cut-off sweats, and...underwear. Great. I did a mental head slap. Edward had been in my underwear drawer! My cheeks flushed and I sighed inwardly. At least I wasn't a thong wearer. That would have been utterly humiliating. I quickly got dressed, gathered up my dirty "sick" clothes, and opened the door.
"Hi," I said to Edward.
"Are you ready to go back to bed?" he asked.
"I'm not sleepy, but I'm ready to go back...yes," I answered.
Edward helped me back to my room. I ditched the dirty clothes in the laundry basket and climbed into bed. Edward had changed my sheets while I was in the shower. I'm sure they smelled awful, but I was grateful to slide into clean bedding.
"Thanks for changing my sheets, Edward," I said, getting comfortable.
"I thought that you might enjoy it after showering," he said, lying down next to me. "I enjoy pampering you, love. You deserved it more than anyone I know." He was silent for a minute, then said, "I would have come in there, you know."
"Come in where?" I asked.
"The shower - to rescue you if you had fainted," he answered softly.
My cheeks grew warm again and I kept my head down.
"I know. And I appreciate that. Of course, you were in my underwear drawer today. How did that work out for you?" I asked, now smiling at him.
"Yes, well..." Edward stammered, "I just took the pair off the top. I wasn't on a fishing expedition, Bella."
"Always the gentleman," I murmured.
Edward leaned down and gently kissed my lips. He took my chin in his hand and caressed my lips with his thumb. Edward then climbed on the bed and wrapped his arms around me. I curled myself into his chest. The trip to the bathroom must have worn me out because I immediately began to feel sleepy. Edward stroked my cheek...my back...my waist. He hummed my lullaby and I was out like a light.
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4 days later...
I had completely recovered from my bout with the flu. Alice had been right. It lasted almost exactly 48 hours. The rest of that day, I slept, ate a little bit, and slept some more. Thankfully, I never vomited again! Charlie was very grateful to Edward and Alice for their help...as was I.
However, I now had more pressing things to worry about. Namely, my next date with Edward. This date would be the high point of my side of the bet. The event was only 2 days away. I had the tickets in my desk drawer. Edward didn't know what we were doing, and since I was about the only person who could actually surprise him, he wouldn't find out until Friday night. I had 2 tickets to see Muse in concert!
Ah yes - a Muse concert! I realize that Muse was not really touring in the Pacific Northwest during the summer of 2005. But they are in my story!!
