"this is all very thoughtful of you girls but really I'm sure ill be fine on my own" Riot made a move to get up to politely escort the two out but when he sat up the room started spinning.
He was overcome by a feeling of dizziness that was quite disorienting.
"Ohhh! My head" Riot moaned as his hand went to to his temple. Minx gently eased him down again in bed. And tucked him neatly under the comforter.
"There , there! She said in what she hoped were soothing tones "You need to stay in bed"
"That never happen before" Riot said in his defense looking quite sheepish.
"Were here to help you Ok? So just relax. We have everything under control" Rapture explained and then went to the hall way and brought back two giant brown paper bags. She set them on the counter in the kitchen. Minx joined her and soon they were playing show and tell with all the stuff they had bought for Riot.
"Apple juice!" Minx announced and got out a glass from the cupboard and poured the amber liquid in. Placing a straw inside She went down the hall to his room and stood by Riots bedside.
"I thought your supposed to have orange juice when your sick?"
"Ha" Minx spat bitterly " Stupid American customs. The acid in the oranges will only burn your throat if it's irritated and there is just as much vitamin C in apple juice.. She held the glass level to Riot's head and urged him to take the straw. His eyes were like daggers but he complied. It tasted wonderful. And she was right Orange juice did always seem to burn when his throat was sore.
"Thank you Minx. That was very refreshing"
"See I told you!" Minx left the room and Rapture stepped in "We brought you chicken soup too" she said showing Riot the can. Have you had anything to eat at all today?"
"I haven't been very hungry" He admitted
"Well at least your drinking liquids. If you do get hungry let me know. I make the best canned soup you ever tasted"
Riot smiled "Will do". He coughed softly and cleared is throat a couple of times.
"A-ha!" Rapture announced. She got up and left and when she returned she came back with three different types of throat lozenges. "we didn't know what kind you wanted so we got menthol, honey lemon and cherry."
Riot was about to answer but stopped. Rapture could see he was about to sneeze. He sniffed a few time and his lips parted expectantly. His face wore a desperate expression. his brow furrowing all the while. He gasped for a breath and then another. His eyes snapped shut and he surrendered to the unstoppable force. "Heeyaahh ...HEH Choo!!" He grabbed a tissue
"Bless you!"
"Th-th thank..." Riot tired but failed to get out the words as another sneeze was there just seconds behind the first "Hinxt"
he stifled it painfully against his wrist. Again he was about to speak when he obviously felt the seemingly endless tickle "Oh doe!" He manged "Dot again" This time he exploded with a full cascade of sneezes. "Ugh!! Excuse Be! I'b so sick of sdneezing" Riot complained his voice thick with congestion. He sighed and blew his nose.
"Oh Riot you really do sound awful!" Rapture looked at him with pity.
"Thanks alot" He said his voice muffled behind the tissue
"I'm serious. Maybe we should call them and cancel the show"
"But what about Jem. I gave her my word. No! We cannot cancel the show. We still have a few days. Im sure ill be better by then. I have to do this. I must do this for Jem" He paused thoughtfully. "You know" He said smiling that charismatic smile of his. " I'm wondering just how good the best can of soup ive ever had will taste?"
Rapture smiled. "you got it!" Rapture got up and left and Minx came in holding a box of tissues. "I figured you could use these as well"
"Really? I wonder where you got that idea" Riot said playfully
"I also got you this" MInx said and took out a stuffed toy of a bumble bee from behind her back. "it was so cute I couldn't resist and after all we are The Stingers"
Riot chucked "Thank you Minx. Its very...fitting"
Rapture joined both of them in the room. " The soups on the stove but in the meantime I thought you may want to try this"
Rapture pulled an old fashioned looking bottle out of her purse. " This special medicine has ancient medicinal herbs and was passed down from my great aunt who was a gypsy."
"Rapture cut it out. Im really not in the mood"
"No Riot it's true" Minx said backing up her friend. "Once I had this horrible flu and I thought the same thing. But it really worked. I told her to bring it"
"Alright" He said. He took the bottle and lifted out the cork. He took an experimentle sniff. "Oh my god that's foul" He said wrinkling his nose in disgust.
" I know it smells bad but it really works"
"You better be right" He took a macho swig and gagged. It was the most horrid concoction he had ever tasted. He grabbed the apple juice off the night stand to wash it down.
" Your soup better be as good as this stuff is bad