My Sicktember 2022 contribution for the prompt : 'Great. Now I Have Your Germs All Over Me.'.
I'm sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer : That '70s Show belongs to Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and Mark Brazill.
Great Now I Have Your Germs All Over Me
Steven went down to the Formans' basement. He was late and he wondered if his friends were still there. They were supposed to meet to have lunch together, but when he arrived at the Formans, he had met Kitty who had asked him to eat with her. Since he was living with his father, he missed Kitty's cooking and he did not want to hurt her feelings by refusing her invitation. She had always behaved like a mother to him, much more than his own mother.
As he went down the stairs, he told himself that if the group had left, he could dawdle in the basement for a moment. Loneliness had never frightened him and he would find something to keep himself busy. He heard a sneeze, meaning that someone was still there. He saw Jackie sitting on the couch, blowing her nose loudly.
"Didn't you go with the others ?" he asked.
She jumped, not having noticed his presence, and hid her handkerchief. She was ashamed that someone had caught her doing something so inelegant. Steven stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Whatever happens, Jackie always wanted to be perfect.
"And you ?" she asked him.
"Mrs. Forman wanted me to have lunch with her."
"I didn't really want to go with them."
Seeing her bright eyes, her red cheeks and her red nose, Steven knew that she was too sick to go out.
"You are sick Jackie. Go home."
She rose from the couch to show him that she was fine and patted his chest with her perfectly manicured finger, to prove him he was wrong.
"I am not sick."
Without having time to turn her head, she sneezed. Steven closed his eyes and sighed.
"Great. Now I have your germs all over me."
Jackie suddenly felt very tired and she put her head on Steven's shoulder.
"Steven, I don't feel well."
"Alright, I'll drive you home."
He put his arm around her shoulders and they walked out of the basement. Luckily he had come by car, he thought. He sat her next to him and drive her home. On the way, he saw that she had fallen asleep.Once they arrived, he woke her up and went with her to the door. He was about to leave when Jackie grabbed his arm.
"My head is spinning," she said in a small voice. "Would you mind carrying me to my bedroom."
Steven sighed. Today, she made him do anything. But he could not leave her alone, she could faint while going up to her bedroom. He took her in his arms. Jackie put her arms around his neck. He climbed the stairs, trying not to fall. Despite her small size, she was heavier than she looked. He pushed her bedroom door open with his foot and put her on her bed. Jackie took off her shoes and lay down, without taking the time to change her clothes. Steven put the blankets over her and when he wanted to leave, Jackie gave his t-shirt a tug.
"Can you stay with me until I fall asleep ? I don't want to be alone."
Her parents had gone on a voyage. Steven realized he had more in common with Jackie than he thought. She had got used to the absence of her parents. But being sick and vulnerable, she was afraid of being alone. Steven sat on the edge of her bed and put his hand over hers to give her some comfort.
"Okay, I'm staying."
His reaction surprised him. He did not give his comfort. To no one. But since the Fourth of July they had spent together and their kiss, his feelings for Jackie were different. He felt a kind of affection for her. It could not be love, he told himself. He could never fall in love, he was not like Eric, but it was more than friendship. One thing was sure, he did not find her as annoying as before and he had a constant urge to protect her.
Maybe he had fallen in love and he refused to admit it. Jackie closed her eyes and fell asleep. He told her he would stay until she fell asleep, but he thought he was going to stay a little longer. Just to make sure she was okay.
The end