SORRY! For my late update! I'm sure this chapter has a more satisfying story-line though my writing is kind of...lop-sided, if you will. It just doesn't feel right. BUT I'm posting it anyway! Enjoy!

Sick. Snot filled nostrils, throbbing head ache, turning stomach: Hayley was not feeling the least bit okay. And the worst part? It would be the day Paramore was going to perform live for all their fans on the TODAY show at Rockefeller Center. She couldn't be sick for this, yet she was coughing and sneezing and hurling every five minutes.

"Maybe she can't sing today." Josh said, despondently. He crossed his built arms over his ripped chest and sighed, looking down at Hayley who lay miserably on the couch.

She tried to protest, to show that she could indeed sing today. But she couldn't find her voice to speak out. Oh, the irony.

"Should I call in and cancel?" Zac asked. He stood a few feet away in the compact kitchen area of the "The Hotel in Times Square."

"It's not like a dentist appointment, you guys!" Taylor griped, "You can't just call in and cancel on the TODAY show!"

"Sure you can!" Jeremy piped up. He entered the living room where everyone was standing around Hayley with his bass (contained by the case) in hand. "I don't think we'll need to though. Hayles is strong! She can do it, right Hayley?" he looked over at his friend as she began to cough something up from her throat. She made a face of misery when she was done.

"I…I…" she tried to verbalize just one simple sentence. I don't think I can do it or I don't feel well at all but her coughs, sneezes, hurls just kept interrupting her. Besides, her throat felt as if it was closing in on her. She couldn't speak without severe pain.

"This isn't a good idea." Josh disagreed with Jeremy.

Josh of all people would know how strong of a person Hayley was. This wouldn't be the first time Hayley couldn't sing with the band and they somehow had to call it off. But this would be the first performance since the Honda Civic tour and loads of fans had spent the night in Rockefeller center to get good seats just to watch them play today. It was a hard decision. Let obsessive fans down and ruin an innocent person's day or watch Hayley suffer while hitting the high notes in All We Know and Fences. He hated to see his best friend hurting like this. Maybe we should call it off. He thought.

Hayley knew drinking beer that one night would take a toll on her. As much as she loved letting loose every once in a while, she hated the possibility that doing any kind of drug or drinking any kind of alcoholic beverage would mess with her vocal ability. She should've known what it would do to her. Bad luck, maybe. But this was a way bigger explanation for why she felt so bad.

Hayley finally found her voice and motioned for the guys to come closer so she wouldn't have to strain.

"You guys go. I'll rest up for a couple of hours…"

"Take an Advil!" Zac chimed in, cutting off Hayley mid sentence.

Hayley smiled a non-toothy smile and nodded. "Yeah, take an Advil. I'll meet ya'll there in a couple hours and be ready to play."

The guys exchanged looks. Josh looking more concerned than the others.

"You're sure you'll be ready to go by the time we're ready to perform?" Josh said, doubtfully.

"Are you kidding? Hells yeah! Hayley will be fine." Jeremy said, answering for the sickly girl on the manila couch.

Hayley just nodded.

Taylor held up a fist. "Hayley, you are strong. I don't know anyone who's so sure they can get well in three hours."

Hayley bumped her knuckles to his in a fist bump. "Thanks, T." she said, her voice hoarse.

The rest of the band gathered their things and began to load them up into the bus. Their load-in time was seven fifty and it was almost seven thirty according to the digital clock in one of the hotel bedrooms. When all the equipment was loaded, the guys began to leave.

"Hayley. Get well." Zac said, on his way out the hotel room door.

Hayley coughed up something from her throat. Zac made a disgusted face. This made Hayley want to laugh, but she couldn't do so without hurting herself.

Josh was the last one out of the hotel room.

"I guess this is it." He said, throwing on his jacket-over-hoodie. It was still cold outside.

"I'll be fine." Hayley persisted.

"You know the performance time, right?" Josh asked.

Hayley cocked her head to look up at her friend standing above her. This particular action hurt her neck.

"Isn't it nine fifty?"

Josh nodded, his lips pursed. "Yep."

Hayley made herself comfortable on the crisp, clean, manila couch. She tried pulling her blanket over her body, but it ended it up lying above her feet. She tried curling up into a ball, but then her head hung off the side of the couch.

"Umph." Hayley groaned abruptly.

Without thinking, Josh leaned down and scooped Hayley up in his strong, muscle-built arms and carried her to the bedroom.

"Josh…" she whispered, almost as if trying to protest, but her voice was going again, so she couldn't quite say what she wanted to say.

Josh set the woman down on the messy bed that he used as his own. He hadn't made it yet, but the comforters were soft and squished together. Hayley felt as if the bed completely swallowed her up. It was almost as comfy as her Tempur Pedic mattress in the 'mansion.' He settled her in, fluffing her pillows and pulling the covers over her pajama worn body. The bed was warm, for Josh had only been peacefully sleeping in that same bed a little time ago.

Hayley's bloodshot eyes fluttered as the bed brushed her with a need for sleep.

"Better?" Josh asked.

She nodded faintly and closed her eyes. Her red-orange hair was scraggly on the pillow, her bangs sticking to her un-clean face. Josh brushed the stray hair back from her face and out of the way.

"I'll be fine." She said, her voice fading in and out of use. She felt like she had to reassure her friend. She felt like he was worrying too much. So sleepy.

Before Hayley drifted in to a nice comfortable sick-person nap, she felt the brush of lips on her pale forehead. She stirred in her sub-consciousness.

"Mmmm." She moaned.

"Sleep well, Hayles." Josh whispered to the woman he secretly loved before ducking out. "See you later."

Eh? Ehh? mmk. So i'm gonna try to post really soon! Comments are appreciated. Once again, Thanks to the few people who take the time to read and review! It makes me so happy that people actually like my writings and ideas. Ya'll are awesome!:)