Chapter 5: Sick and Happy

I sniffed the flowers that the delivery man just delivered to me. Or at least I tried to; my nose is really stuffy from my cold. I sniffled and smiled at the little note attached to the flowers.

Hope you feel better soon – Brandon

He was so sweet. Always thinking about me. We've been talking constantly for a couple of weeks now. Ever since that kiss, things have definitely changed between us. Something I would say that was for the better. I touch my lips slightly and grinned as I remembered that night.

Flashback

Brandon pulled back after five seconds to gauge my reaction. I was pretty dizzy from the world wind of emotions that his kiss gave me. All I wanted to do right now was kiss him again.

"Was that...okay?" Brandon asked softly. I rest my forehead back against his and breathed out shakily.

"It was more than okay," I said and looked him in the eyes. He searched mine as if to see that I was speaking the truth. He must have found what he was looking for because he smiled broadly and asked, "Well, do you mind me going in for seconds?"

I grinned back. "I don't mind at all."

End of Flashback

We stayed in the alleyway for a while just laughing and kissing. We aren't dating...exactly. At least I don't think so. Brandon's been pretty busy lately so we only really communicated with each other over the phone. We did have plans to meet today, but I got sick Thursday and had to take off today because I couldn't exactly contaminate the entire Diner. Roxy understood just fine. So did Brandon, even though I still felt incredibly guilty for cancelling on him. Damn immune system.

The doorbell rang and I almost immediately heard Bloom yell, "I got it!" Soon after, she came rushing into the room, pulling the hem of the knee length blood red dress down. Oh, yeah. I almost forgot Sky was taking her out tonight. Those two hit it off almost immediately and I'm pretty sure they're official. All Bloom will say is, "I don't kiss and tell..."

Bloom opened the door to welcome Sky in. "Well, hello handsome," she flirted. Sky kissed her cheek tenderly.

"Hey, beautiful. How are you Stella?" Sky waved at me and I was about to grin back but I sneezed instead.

Bloom gave me a sympathetic look. "She's a bit under the weather as you see. "

"Don't worry about me, you guys have a good time tonight!" I say moving towards the door to shove them out. Bloom gave me a small glare before I closed the door behind them. I sighed. Alone at last.

Maybe I can watch some movies. And eat some soup. Yeah, soup sounds good right now. I dragged my feet into the kitchen only sneezing once on the way. That seems to be an accomplishment for me today. I was just about to pull out the chicken noodle soup can when the doorbell rang once again. Bloom must have forgotten something, I thought, but to my pleasant surprise it wasn't Bloom.

It was Brandon.

In one hand he was holding a brown paper bag and in the other hand he had a few movies. His hair was a tousled mess on the top of his head but he never looked hotter to me.

"Hi," He said with a lopsided grin.

"What are you doing here?" Not that I wasn't glad to see him. I just wasn't looking very nice right now.

"Thought you could use some company. Plus, I haven't seen you all week. Sue me if I didn't like that very much. Now, are you going to let me in or let me freeze out here all night?" He asked sarcastically. I didn't even know that Brandon had a sarcastic side to him until about three days ago. I guess the kiss just opened a door for both of us.

I shook my head as though to clear it from my inner rambling. "Sure, sure. Come on..." I turned my face away and into my arm so I could sneeze. When I turned back to Brandon, he had his eyebrows raised. "In," I finished weakly. He smiled and walked past me, into the apartment.

He stood at the opening of the apartment just looking around. I stepped in front of him. "Uh...the kitchen is right over there," I pointed towards the right direction. "I'm just going to grab something really fast out of my room. Just...sit down and get comfortable, okay?" He nodded and went to the kitchen while I ran to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I hurried to my dresser for my brush and went to work on my hair. What is he doing here? I mean, I know what he said, but that couldn't possibly be the reason, could it? Maybe I'm just being paranoid; maybe he really is here to keep me company. Or maybe not. Whatever the reason, I'm ecstatic that he's here now.

I still didn't look so great, but it was the best I could do on short notice. I went back out into the den to see Brandon sitting down on the couch, flipping through the TV channels. "This is probably the first time I've ever seen you not in a suit before."

Brandon looked up at me as I walked in. "You said that you wanted to see more of who I am. This," He gestured to his jeans and white tee shirt, "is more me. Unless you prefer the suits."

"Nope. Not that you don't look sexy in that, too. But you look more...comfortable in this." I blurted out. Brandon slowly grinned.

"I look sexy in my suits?" He asked. I blushed and sneezed at the same time. Someone should really control my word vomit. Brandon chuckled and stood up to walk up to me. "Thanks. And just so you know, I think you look pretty hot in your uniform too." He muttered. I blushed even harder and hit his chest weakly.

"Shut up," I said looking away. He laughed and kissed my forehead.

"I'll go make you some soup. You should lie down. Pick out a movie we can watch. Please don't make it a chick-flick though." I nod and he walked into the kitchen.

I sat down and picked up his movie selections. The Dark Night, Taken, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Two action movies and a horror. Definitely not watching any of them. I'll wait until Brandon comes back out and suggest Twilight or something along those lines.

He eventually came out of the kitchen five minutes later, soup and spoon in hand. "Here, this should get you feeling a little better." I thanked him as he sat down next to me.

"So did you choose one yet?"

"Uh, all these movies aren't my types of movies," I said.

"What's wrong with them?"

I sneezed and looked at him. "I don't like guy-flicks."

"Guy-flicks? Never heard of that one, but okay... what do you suggest then?" I shrugged. In the end we decided to just channel surf. After I finished my soup, Brandon put his arm around my shoulders loosely, as if to invite my head to his shoulder. I happily snuggle up on his shoulder. Brandon tightened his arm around me. Every time I started drifting out of consciousness, I snapped my head up to stay awake. I didn't want to miss this time with Brandon. When he noticed this, however, he rubbed up and down my arm soothingly, leaving a fiery sensation in its quake.

"Go to sleep, Stell. You've had a long day I'm sure."

I tightened my hand on his shirt. "Don't leave," I mumble. Brandon paused before I felt his lips brush my forehead.

"I wouldn't think of it," he whispered. I yawned and then smiled. That soup seemed to do the trick for my cold.

"Thanks, Brandon."

"No problem sweet cheeks," he teased. I pinched his arm. "Ow!"

"Never call me that again."

Brandon rubbed his arm. "Alright, alright. "

I yawned again. "Brandon?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't hurt me," I whisper tiredly. I know he understands what I mean. There's no way he couldn't. Brandon shifts so my head comes of his shoulder and then turns my face towards him.

"I plan on making you the happiest woman on earth, Stella. I don't think I have it in my power to hurt you." He swiped my cheek with his thumb.

I sniffled. "What about when we first met?"

Brandon rolled his eyes playfully. "Okay, that one doesn't count."

"Yes it does."

"No it doesn't."

"I think it does."

"I don't."

I smiled sleepily. "Fine. We can agree to disagree."

"I guess so. Now go to sleep, Stell. You sound like your about to pass out now," He said softly.

"Okay." I yawned again. Just before I dozed off, I said, "Brandon?"

"Yes?"

"Goodnight."

He chuckled. "Goodnight, Stella."

A/N: First of all, like always, I want to quadruple thank everyone who read, reviewed, and liked last chapter. I loved it all! You guys are awesome.

Second of all, I'm sooooooooooo sorry for this late update. Hope you enjoyed it! Your continued support gave me the start to finish this chapter up.

Did Brandon loosen up enough for you? This is going to be a side of him that maybe Stella will exclusively see only. Who knows? Anything can happen. Next Chapter a little drama will begin. Beware...

Okay, excuse time. School, television, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Awesome movie by the way!) all contributed in this late update. Blame them! Lol. I'm not sure when I'll update next but hopefully it won't be as long as this interval was. Of course, I have to know if you guys even want me to do more...

So...Review!