Unfortunately, Mandy’s cold wasn’t as quick to leave as Shane’s was. If anything, the plane ride home made it worse. Mandy arrived back in L.A. with the flu.
“How’re you feeling?” Shane asked as they searched for his car. It was 1:30 in the afternoon on Tuesday, seeing as how they left Australia mid-morning Sunday. The jet lag was horrendous, but other than that, Shane couldn’t have been better.
“Sick,” Mandy groaned, burying her head in his shoulder. He pulled her hat tighter over her head as he noticed a couple of teenage girls whispering and discreetly pointing in their direction. One major difference from Australia to L.A. was the fan base. Ten people wanting to get autographs and take pictures had already stopped them, and this was with both of them in “disguise”—hats and sunglasses, mainly. Shane took it onto himself to steer Mandy out of the way. Not only was she sick, she was tired and cranky, understandably so. He didn’t exactly want her to get a bad rep as the diva singer who bitches out her fans, because nothing could be further from the truth, but she was only human, and she had only so much patience and tolerance as the next person.
Shane quickly found his car and helped Mandy get in, before putting their suitcases in the trunk. He sat in the front and noticed she had fallen asleep. Smiling gently, he took her hand and even in her sleep she squeezed it back.
*
“Oh, my poor, poor baby!”
Shane and Mandy had arrived at Mandy’s parent’s house, where a welcome party was there to greet them. Jon was there, as well as both Mandy and Shane’s parents. Mandy’s best friend Bonnie had shown up, and Shane’s band mates decided to make an appearance. The first one to say anything was Mandy’s mom, and it was the exclamation they heard as soon as they walked in.
“Hi mum,” Mandy greeted hoarsely, attempting to smile. Mrs. Moore, with tears in her eyes, went to hug her daughter.
“Oh sweetie, Shane told us you were sick, but we didn’t know how bad! Oh!” She hugged her tighter. Mandy gave Shane a ‘You called my mom?’ look, to which he replied with a shrug.
“MANDY!” Mandy turned to see her best friend Bonnie running over to her with her arms wide open. Mandy visibly brightened.
“Hey!” she rasped, returning the hug. “I tried calling you once, but your line was busy.”
“Ugh, Gary was probably on the Internet,” Bonnie said, rolling her eyes. Gary was her 11-year-old brother. “But you only called once!?” She pouted.
“Honestly, Bon, I was so friggin busy, it wasn’t even funny. Ask Shane. We barely had, like, two seconds to breathe.” Bonnie looked over at Shane, who nodded in confirmation.
Discreetly, Bonnie pulled Mandy aside as Shane went to talk to his friends. “So?” she squealed, questioningly.
“So…?” Mandy’s foggy mind tried to register what her friend was saying.
“So what’s going on between you and Shane!? I was on lookout, I saw him help you out of his car. Spill!” Mandy just blushed. Bonnie squealed again. “How many times did you kiss him?” Mandy looked at her friend incredulously.
“Why do you think I kissed him?” she asked.
Bonnie just looked at her as if it were obvious. “Because…you’re doing the cheek blush. The cheeky blush is the one you have when you’re getting into a relationship. If it was just a meaningless crush, you’d have the ear blush.”
Mandy just looked at her in disbelief. “You know me too well.”
Bonnie grinned and slung her arm over her shoulder. “I pride myself on it, babe,” she teased.
*
After the passing out of souvenirs and little knick-knacks that had been bought, Bonnie, Ben, Jerry, and Jon had eventually left, leaving Mandy, Shane, and their respective parents still in the house. Mandy was feeling worse by the minute, seeing as how it was getting later and she was not only jetlagged, but also extremely sick. Shane tried to discreetly ease her pain by getting her pillows or drinks, but not in a way that would seem obvious to their parents. The last thing they both needed was squealing and marriage preparations.
Maybe it was a dad thing…maybe it was a Mandy’s dad thing, but Mr. Moore noticed. He noticed the looks his daughter gave Shane when he ever so graciously delivered a pillow or a glass of water to her, and the looks he returned back. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say his daughter was hiding a little something…
“So Mandy,” Mr. Moore spoke up after the eighth exchange of these ‘Looks’, “what did you and Shane do in Australia?” Oh? What was that? he thought, looking amused as he caught his daughter blush.
“Um, just some site-seeing, then we went to the premiere, and then I got sick!” Mandy summarized. “That’s really about it.” Why is he looking at me like that? she thought nervously. He couldn’t possibly know what’s going on between me and Shane…could he?
“How was the premiere, sweetie?” Mrs. Moore asked, oblivious to the exchange between Mandy and her father.
“Oh, it was great mom,” Mandy said smiling, as she stole a glance at her father. He still looked at her with a knowing smirk on his face.
Shane watched this whole exchange with a bemused look on his face. He knew some sort of silent exchange was going on between Mandy and her father. He just didn’t know what it meant.
They continued idle chitchat for a little while longer, Shane’s parents getting to know Mandy’s and vice-versa. The only thing that bugged Shane a bit was that his dad didn’t bother to show up.
Must be busy with the baby he thought reasonably, although it didn’t exactly soften the blow. Shane, man, geez… The guy’s been separated from your mom for how long now? You think you’d be used to absences. Plus, his step dad was a good guy. He was there for most of the birthdays and skinned knees…all that good stuff. Abruptly, Shane once more became aware of his surroundings: in Mandy’s parent’s house, with Mandy, her parents, and his parents. Whoa…not exactly the best time for reflection…
Mandy looked at Shane worriedly. He seemed to be deep in thought. She’d have to ask him about that later…Looking up, she caught her dad looking at her again, with that knowing, fatherly stare. Okay, that’s it. “Anyway, it’s getting late, I should be heading home.”
“Yeah, you should get your sleep honey, you’ve had a long flight,” Mrs. Moore agreed. “Don, drive her home.”
“No, Mrs. Moore, it’s okay, I can drive Mandy home. Her place is on the way to mine,” Shane offered politely, “it would be no problem.”
“Oh Shane, that’s very nice of you, thank you!” Mrs. Moore said, impressed. Shane’s mom looked a little suspicious of her son’s generosity, but said nothing. Mr. Moore still looked amused, like he had a secret nobody else knew. Shane’s step dad looked tired.
They said their goodbyes—Mandy to her parents, Shane to his—with promises to call.
“Thank you for having me,” Shane said graciously to Mandy’s parents.
“Oh, Shane, it was our pleasure,” Mandy’s mom said, delighted at the courteousness of this young man. Even Mandy’s dad was impressed.
“Okay, bye mom, daddy,” Mandy gave her parents one last hug. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye Mandy. Get some sleep!” Mrs. Moore instructed. Mandy just rolled her eyes and promised she would.
Shane’s parents had said their own goodbyes and left minutes before Shane and Mandy, so when they walked out, they saw his parents pulling out. Mandy waved, and Shane’s mom rolled down the window and called out, “It was nice meeting you, honey!”
“You too!” Mandy called back, giggling. Shane just waved them off. “Be nice,” Mandy admonished. He just gave her a Look. She giggled again then started coughing. Shane rubbed her back in circles until it passed. “Ohhh, my throat,” she moaned when it was over.
“Okay. Let’s get you home.” Shane helped her into the car, then got into the driver’s seat and left.
*
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?” Shane looked around her condo worriedly. He had his arms around her waist and her arms were around his neck.
“Shane,” Mandy looked him in the eye and gave him a squeeze, “I’m a big girl, okay?” He looked unconvinced. “Right now, all I’m going to do is check my messages `cause I can see the machine’s light blinking from here, get into my PJs, and fall fast asleep, not to wake up until at least sixteen hours from now.”
Shane laughed. “You won’t even unpack?”
She shook her head. “Not for a couple of days anyway!” Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest. “You should probably go now…” she mumbled, sleepily.
“Yeah…” he agreed, not moving.
“Shane…”
“Okay, okay.” He pulled away from her. “Drink lots of fluids.” She smiled at him tiredly.
“I will,” she assured him.
“Okay. Bye.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead, then narrowed his eyes. “Baby, you’re burning up.” He laid his palm on her forehead.
“Shane!” Mandy pushed his arm away, chuckling. “I’m okay. I just need some sleep is all.” She had to admit, it was pretty damn cute how concerned he was about it, but enough was enough!
Shane was unsure of what to do. Should he go against his instinct and leave her here, or should he annoy her by staying? One looked at her narrowed eyes and hands on her hips, caused him to decide that he should probably go.
“Alright, I’m leaving, I’m leaving,” he said, with a bit of reluctance.
Mandy smiled at him. “Get some sleep,” she demanded.
He grinned back at her. “Yes ma’am,” he replied, before leaning in. She stopped him by placing one finger between their two lips. He looked surprised.
“I’m sick, remember?” she reminded him.
“So?” He leaned in again. This time, she stopped him by placing her hand against his chest.
“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t wanna get you sick again.”
He looked at her disbelievingly. “You’re serious?” She nodded. He just laughed. “You’re too good to me, Mandy,” he said sarcastically, although he wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. She just smiled back at him, crinkling up her nose. Shaking his head, he leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “Go to sleep,” he instructed.
“Sir, yes sir,” she replied, mock-commando.
“Bye Mandy.” He opened the door. She wiggled her fingers at him in a goodbye wave. He waved back at her the same way, making fun of her. She just giggled and ‘helped’ him shut the door.
“Hey!” She heard him cry out in protest at the other end of the door, after having it shut in his face. She laughed.
“Bye Shane!” she called out, pointedly.
“Yeah, yeah…”
She looked out the peephole at his retreating figure. Sighing, she slid down the door and held her head. It was positively throbbing. The answering machine’s blinking light caught her attention again, and she groaned, getting up. She tossed her keys on the counter and pressed the button.
“You have three new messages.” Mandy was greeted by the sound of the monotonous recorder machine.
“Hey Mandy, it’s Bonnie. I thought you were supposed to be home already, but I guess not. JERKFACE!” Mandy laughed. “Haha, I’m kidding, love you. Call me when you get home.” *beep*
“Hey sweetie, it’s mommy.” Mandy rolled her eyes affectionately and went to get the Brita water filter from the fridge. “If you came straight here from the airport, this message is to tell you to stop by the house to see your dad and me. Okay honey? Bye for now.” *beep*
“Hey…Mandy…” Mandy stopped mid-pour, and stared at the machine. “It’s, it’s me. Wilmer.” As if she didn’t know. “Listen, uh…[sigh]…I’m just calling to, ya know, check up on you, see how you’re doing. I, um…I miss you Mands. I just—you were a good person, and I, I, I miss that in my life, ya know? I just…anyway, gimme a call back sometime if you want. But, uh, I’d really like to hear from you. If, like, you can…or whatever. I’ll, uh, I’ll talk to you later. Bye…” She heard him sigh again, as if he wanted to say something else, then the click of the phone hanging up. *beep*
“End of messages,” the recorded voice informed her. All Mandy could do was stare at the machine, tears filling her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and she picked up the phone, angrily punching in his number.
Someone picked up on the third ring. “`Ello?” the voice mumbled sleepily.
“Wilmer?” Mandy asked, unsure.
“Yeah…?”
“It’s Mandy.”
“Mandy!” She heard the change in his voice and the rustling of covers as he sat up. “Hey, how are you? It’s, uh, it’s late eh?”
Mandy glanced at the clock. “Yeah. Listen, why’d you call me?”
“Well, I, I told you. I missed you. You were a good part of my life.” He sounded taken aback.
“Now wasn’t a good time, okay? I was just starting to get back into my life, to get over you, and all of a sudden, I get this call. And all these memories come rushing back, and it’s not something I can handle right now.” The tears that filled her eyes were starting to run down her cheeks.
“I’m, I don’t know what to…Are you sick?” The concern in his voice made her wince.
“Yeah, it’s just a cold. But don’t change the subject.”
“Mands…” That damn nickname. “What was the subject?”
“I…I…” Mandy was at a loss for words. “The subject was for you to…I don’t know!” She broke down.
“Mandy, Mandy, baby, don’t cry…” Baby. Shane called her baby.
“No! Wilmer, no. Don’t start this…I’m already starting to get involved with someone else…” She didn’t know what she was saying anymore.
“Someone else?” Wilmer repeated angrily. “Who? Is it Shane?”
“Wilmer…”
“Mandy, is it Shane?” he asked again, louder and angrier this time.
“You leave him out of this!” Mandy shouted back, still crying, except it was angry, frustrated tears that flooded her cheeks now. “You have no say about who I associate with anymore, alright? It’s none of your damn business!”
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, sounding sincere.
“I don’t care if you’re sorry, I’m sick of this. It ends here, you understand?” Wilmer had never heard her angrier. And it killed him that she was like this because of him.
“Mands, sweetie, calm down, I—”
“I’m not your ‘sweetie’, or your ‘baby’, or ‘Mands’, got it? We’re through, this is over,” she hissed. “Don’t call. Stop making me feel guilty. You dumped me, remember? YOU deal with it.” With that, she hung up the phone and dropped it on the floor. Mandy looked at the long-forgotten water glass in her hand. In her extreme frustration, she hurled it against the counter, where it smashed into a thousand pieces and dented the counter. Her knees gave way and she sat on the cold linoleum. She cried out of anger, shock, weariness, and sorrow. It was too much for her to deal with. Eventually, exhausted, she dragged herself to her bed and flopped down on it, fully clothed, before falling into a fitful sleep.
The Next Afternoon
Shane knocked on Mandy’s door for the third time, impatiently. She had left her jacket in his car and he came to return it. Or at least he was trying to, if she would—
“Answer the door!” Shane called, pressing his face against it. “Alright, that’s it…” Sick of being courteous, he dug into his pocket for her spare key and just let himself in. The first thing he noticed were the suitcases still scattered in the front area. The second thing he noticed was the shattered glass and the phone on the floor. Panicked, he dropped the jacket and ran to her room.
He found her, fully dressed and entangled in the covers. Her hair was matted against her neck and forehead and she was twisting and turning in her sleep. It was two o’clock in the afternoon. Even he didn’t sleep in that late. Worried, he shook her. She jolted awake.
“NO!” She sat straight up, wide-eyed and panting.
“Mandy! Mandy, Mandy, hey, it’s me, it’s Shane.” She looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. Gripping her arms, he tried to get her to focus on him. Her face was flushed, her pupils dilated. Her eyes were darting back and forth between his. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against her forehead. She was still burning up, hotter than she was last night. “Sweetie, you could fry an egg on your forehead,” he whispered, teasingly, looking for some sort of reaction. She just looked at him, curious and panicked.
Mandy knew Shane was here. She knew he was talking to her; she just couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge him.
Shane tried again. “What happened in the kitchen?”
Mandy found her voice. “Wilmer called last night,” she mumbled, dazedly. Her eyelids felt so heavy. The dizziness that had resulted in her sitting up abruptly had not gone away as it normally should have. “He…I was mad.”
Something was wrong, and Shane knew it. She was mumbling practically incoherently and seemed to be trying to keep her eyes open. Wilmer must have really set her off he though angrily. She ended up exhausting herself and, in essence, making herself sicker. “What did he say to you?”
“He wanted to be friends with me…and then he got angry because I told him about you…he kept calling me ‘sweetie’ and ‘baby’…you call me ‘baby’…” her answers were coming out in short gasps. Shane found himself getting angrier and angrier, although he didn’t want to let it show for her sake. He was sure she wouldn’t benefit from it. “Shane…” she said suddenly, paling. “I don’t feel well.”
“I can see that, baby. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“My head…and my chest…but mostly my head.” Her voice was getting fainter. “I feel like…tired…but my heart’s beating so fast.” To emphasize her point, she put her hand over her chest. Her head felt like it was detaching from her neck. The dizziness was getting so bad the room was spinning. “Shane…” She tried to remain calm because she knew what was coming. “Shane, I’m…probably about…to pass out. Stay calm…call the doctor…” Then everything went black.
Shane did exactly what she told him not to do: he panicked. He tried shaking her, he tried yelling in her ear—nothing worked. Finally, in a fit of alarm, not knowing what else to do, he called 911.
“Hi, yeah,” he replied when someone answered. “I have—my friend, she just passed out. She was really sick, and she seemed like she had a high fever, and now she fainted.”
“Okay sir, calm down. Is she breathing?” Shane took the portable phone into Mandy’s bedroom and checked on her.
“Yeah, yeah she is.”
“Okay. Make sure all air ways are open, and keep her head tilted upwards.” Shane tilted her head.
“Okay.”
“Do you know exactly what temperature she has?”
“No, no I don’t.”
“Do you know where she keeps the thermometers?”
“Uh…” He jogged to her bathroom, and started looking in all the cabinets. “Found one!” he said, triumphantly, holding it up as if the person on the other end could see it.
“Okay, insert it in her mouth, under her tongue.” Shane did so. After about thirty seconds, it beeped.
“She has a fever of 103 degrees!” he exclaimed, frightened.
“Okay sir, please remain calm. How comfortable are you with this young lady?”
“Very.”
“Comfortable enough to put her in a bath tub with limited clothing?”
Shane hesitated. “Yes,” he answered, figuring it was for her own safety.
“Okay, fill the tub with cold water, and put her in there, wearing very loose-fitting clothing or simply in her undergarments.”
Shane ran to fill the tub, and then searched in her drawers for a big t-shirt or something loose-fitting. Not finding anything, he put the phone down, took off his t-shirt and respectfully undressed her, avoiding unnecessary glances, before putting his t-shirt over her. It went down to almost mid-thigh. (But of course, he wasn’t thinking about that). He picked up the phone again, confirmed that the person was still on the other line, and carried Mandy to the quickly filling tub. Deciding it was full enough, he turned off the taps, and gently put her in. The white shirt tented out, but eventually settled down.
“She’s in.”
“Okay, her temperature should go down. Don’t leave her in there for very long, just five to ten minutes should do it. After you take her out, keep her in cool, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, and keep a cold compress to her forehead. Her temperature should be back to normal, or near normal, within a few hours. After that, treat it like a normal cold—lots of fluids and lots of sleep.”
“That’s it?” Shane asked, one arm around Mandy’s waist to keep her afloat.
“That’s it. Anything else?”
“No…no, I think I got it from here. Thank you very, very much.”
“It’s not a problem, sir. Goodbye.”
“`Bye.” He hung up and looked at Mandy. Her face wasn’t so flushed anymore. Sighing, he wearily brushed her bangs out of her face. All this just for returning a jacket he thought, too tense to be amused by it. After a few minutes, he lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. Placing her gently on her bed, he searched her doors for the loose-fitting clothes he couldn’t find in his earlier haste. Finally, he found a light sundress. Peeling off the soaked t-shirt, still trying his hardest not to see anything he shouldn’t, he put the sundress on over her wet under garments. He positioned her on top of the covers, and opened the window to the balcony ever so slightly. He placed his palm on her forehead and, sure enough, it had cooled down. Sighing in relief, he felt as though a burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Deciding it was okay to leave her, he went to clean up the mess in the kitchen.
This…was interesting