A/N: Just to let everyone know, the next chapter will be continuing pretty much straight after this one.

Chapter 9: Of Duvets and Chickens (part 1)

No. No way. This can not be happening.

"Bronte." Rhys' voice came from the doorway. I pulled the covers tighter over my head.

"Go away." I whined, my voice slightly muffled by the blankets.

"Take the covers down Bronte." His voice was stern. Great. He's using his cop voice on me. You know, the ones they use to make you do something.

"I'm dying." I moaned, still under the duvet. The bed squeaked when Rhys sat down.

"You are overreacting."

"Not this time."

"Just take away the covers." He said reaching up to try and pull them down. I squirmed away from him. "Bronte."

I heard footsteps coming up he hall. "Rhys?"

"Yes Luke?"

"The doctor said he'll be here in about ten minutes." I groaned. I hate doctors.

"Thanks Luke."

The footsteps faded away. Rhys didn't say anything. Despite the distressing situation, it was quite peaceful in here.

"Bron, please take down the covers, before I throw you out of the bed, no matter what your condition is."

Reluctantly, I pulled the duvet down, 'cause I knew he wasn't joking. I looked up and met Rhys' eyes. He smiled. What kind of time is this to be smiling?

"It isn't that bad."

I tried to pull the covers back over my head but Rhys stopped me. "Go away. I'm contagious." I moaned.

"I have had them before Bron."

"Yeah well I have too, but I have them now don't I? So much for that stupid myth."

He reached up and felt my forehead with the back of his hand. "You have a temperature too."

"And a sore tummy." I informed him.

"Usual symptoms of the chicken pox." A voice said from the door. I tried to sit up to see who it was but winced when I fell back down. Too fast. I felt so weak, like I had no energy and all I wanted to do was sleep.

"Dr. Jones." Rhys said, getting up from the bed and going over to greet the man. The two then mad their way over to me.

"How are you feeling Bronte?" He asked, taking a thermometer from his bag.

"How do you think I feel? I have the chicken pox."

He chuckled. Funnily enough, I don't think this is a laughing matter, but obviously I'm wrong.

"And where do you think you picked them up?"

I thought for a second. "I don't…." And then I remembered. I had gone to Matthew's on Monday to go over some Maths homework and his three year old brother had had them. But I have already had them! And I didn't even see him!

"I didn't know you could them twice doctor." Rhys said, reading my mind.

"Oh yes I'm afraid you can but it is quite rare to get them a second time. Everybody else in the house has had them before, yes?"

"Yes. I gave it to her and the other two when I was twelve, if I remember right."

"Then I would say it will have no effect on you. You on the other hand," he said to me. "You will be contagious to at least Monday or Tuesday, so I would forget about school next week full stop."

I buried my head in my pillows. A week off school? Normally I would have been delighted but not today. Why couldn't they have come last week or next week or the week after? It just had to be today. Just my luck. Seth was gonna hate me…

"I'll leave you with some camomile lotion to put on them when they start to itch. Try not to itch any because you will just infect or spread them and you could be left with scarring."

He packed up his stuff and left, Rhys following after him. That was what we were paying him fifty dollars for? Bloody ridiculous.

I lay in the bed and looked up at the ceiling in my room. Did you know there's six cracks and two cobwebs on it?

"Bron?"

Rhys had came back. "The lotion's on the table in the kitchen if you want it. I have to go to work but I'll be home around five. The boys are gone too. If you need anything, you have the station's number okay?"

"Okay. Thanks Rhys." And then he did something that I couldn't remember him doing since I was a little kid; he kissed me on the forehead.

"Have fun at work officer." I murmured as I watched him leave my room for like the millionth time today.

*****

Sleeping is so overrated when your sick. I mean it's twelve o'clock in the day. How am I supposed to sleep?

I picked up the house phone and the phone book and carried them into the sitting room. Curling my feet beneath me, I opened the phone book and started looking. I couldn't just do nothing.

I ran my fingers down the column that had Clearwater in it. There was only two families living in La Push under the name; Sue and Jack. I remembered Seth telling me that his dad had died so I picked Sue.

I dialed the number and waited for someone to answer. They picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?" Came the deep voice I had become familiar with over the last few weeks.

"Seth?"

"Bronte? Is that you? Geez, what happened to your voice? You sound horrible."

"Thanks. That's what I was calling about. I'm kinda sick."

"Kinda?"

"I have the chicken pox."

I heard him try to smother a laugh. "Why is that so funny to everyone? First Rhys, then the doctor and now you!"

"I'm sorry. So I guess you won't be coming today then."

"No, I'm sorry."

"Nah, don't be. Are you on your own?"

"Yep. Rhys is at work, Luke went to Seattle and Heath is….somewhere."

"Would you like some company then?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear for a second and stared at it. What?

"Eh, no. I believe you have a party to go to."

"I can blow it off."

"You can't do that to Embry."

"Embry won't mind. He'll understand."

"Seth you should go to the party." I told him, but he ignored me.

"I'll see you in a little while."

"Fine." I sighed. "Wait how do you-" and he hung up on me. He hung up on me! "Know where I live? But I guess that doesn't matter 'cause you'll somehow magically find your way here!"

A/N: I'm not totally sure if i liked this chapter...oh well. Thanks to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and adding me. You guys rock. Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!

The Pen Fatalle: Seth is 18. In my little Twilight world, he only turned 18 two months ago and as Bronte will be 17 in about five months, he's about a year and a half older than her. And i made it Embry's 20th party incase some future plans i have ever work out....

xXPassion11Xx: I like it too. And funnily enough she's an aussie. Thanks.

GurlCullen17: I'll try.

EmmettLaughedAtMe: Sorry to disappoint you. Hmmm. Have you seriously been reading my mind? Though i think the distance might be making it hard to read.... Let's just say that Matthew isn't the jealous kind but Seth won't exactly get the blessing from everyone....hint hint. She doesn't go to the party but i compromised! You actually gave me the idea of him going to her so thanks. Sadly, it will just be Bronte's pov. I don't like writing in two people's povs 'cause it confuses me to read it. I'm always "curious" too. :)

Eskimo Baby: Thanks.