Chapter 7
"Okay, Brian, you owe me thirty George Washington's," Kevin stated taking a seat beside his cousin.
Brian lifted his head from his fluffy white pillow. "Excuse me?"
"Our bet, B-Rok."
"Hold on," he sighed sitting up. "The bet was thirty dollars if you don't get sick."
Kevin nodded. "Exactly. And I'm not sick pay up."
"This thing isn't over yet."
"Oh, really?"
"Really."
Howie shook his head turning away from Nick's lesson. "You two are ricidulous. Brian, shouldn't you be focusing on resting and forget the silly bet?"
"What's the fun in that?"
Howie rolled his eyes. "What fun is there in the flu?"
Brian relaxed his body. "I hate it when you're right."
"ACHOO!" AJ sounded bringing a tissue to his nose.
"This place looks a nurse's office," Kevin chuckled.
"How would you know? I thought you didn't get sick, Superman?" Brian asked.
"I don't. But I hated class like any other kid and faked sick when I didn't have my homework done or I wanted to sleep through a period. And the nurse was a hot blonde."
Nick lifted his head from his studies. "You did?"
"Of course I did."
"Oooh." Nick mumbled clutching his stomach. "Howie, I don't feel so-"
"Nick, do your homework."
"But-"
"DO IT!" Kevin and Howie demanded.
"Fine!" the young blonde pouted.
AJ clutched a bottle of Tynelol. "God bless drugs!"
"Spoken by a future druggie," Kevin smirked.
"Shut up, Train."
"Just speaking the truth, AJ."
Brian massaged his temples. "How long does the flu last?"
"Anywhere from three to five days," Howie replied glancing over Nick's assignment.
"That's too many days," the patient moaned.
"I think it would be great," Nick bellowed.
Kevin sighed. "You mean to tell me you want a fever and chills?"
He shrugged. "Sure. Anything is better than alegbra."
"It can't be that bad."
Brian shrugged. "I dunno, Kev. I know Harold and I use to love missing school and staying home sick."
"You've got to be kidding me," Howie laughed.
Brian placed a damp cloth over his eyes. "Nah. Anytime one of us got sick the other would deliberately hang around him to catch it."
Howie shook his head. "I am surrounded by morons!"
AJ tugged at his blanket. "Oh, come on you know you love us."
Kevin sipped his soda. "I feel kinda' bad not practicing."
"Oh, come on, Kev. Lou doesn't do anything and he gets paid plenty."
"That's beside the point, AJ. Unlike Lou we work for our money."
"Don't worry about it, Kev," Howie said standing. "With AJ and Brian sick it's pointless."
"How are you guys feeling anyway?"
AJ moaned. "Congested."
"Sore," Brian coughed.
Kevin nodded. "Sounds like fun."
Howie faced the weakened men. "Are you guys ready for dinner?"
AJ twisted about on the couch. "Is Kevin cooking?"
"No, I am."
"YES!" AJ and Brian beamed.
Kevin crossed his arms. "What was so wrong with my cooking?"
AJ grimaced. "Nothing-if you like eating burnt shoe leather."
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"Mmmm.....Howie, this soup is great," AJ commented.
"Is it helping your throat?"
"Yeah a lot."
"Good."
Brian picked at his food. "I'm not very hungry. You want the rest of mine, Nick?"
"Sure!"
Kevin set down his spoon as Nick inhaled the food. "Take time to chew. Nicky." He shook his head. "What's up, Brian? You look a little paler than before."
"I'm feeling a little worse. I just don't feel like eating."
Kevin rested a hand to his forehead. "Your temperature's up a little."
Howie frowned. "Are you gonna' be okay?"
"Of course, I am, D," he chuckled. "Everyone gets the flu."
"Not everyone," Nick snorted pointing at Kevin.
"I can't help it if I am in perfect health," Kevin responded standing.
"Everyone has their hardships," Howie added.
Kevin handed Brian a thremother. "I've never been sick a day in my life."
Brian frowned. "Oh, come on, Kev. I'm not that sick to need temperature checks."
"Put in your mouth or I'll shove up your ass."
Howie sighed. "Well, Kevin, do you always take the mild-mannered approach?"
Nick looked up from his soup bowl. "Is there any more?"
"More?" Howie answered. "Nick, you had your own bowl and finished Brian's."
"So? I'm a growing boy!"
"All right. Here," Howie replied passing his own bowl to the teen.
"That boy is eating like a horse," Kevin commented as he retrieved the thremother. "100.6. Well, Brian, that might explain why you're weren't feeling well."
Brian groaned. "I hate the flu."
Kevin nodded. "Well, why don't you go 'hate the flu' inside the bedroom laying down?"
"Kevin, you sound like my mother."
"All I'm doing is trying to get this thing under control before I'm taking care of all four you," he explained rinsing the thermometer.
Brian smiled deviously. "So, you're taking care of us, now?"
"I guess so." He handed AJ the thermother. "Take your temperature."
"Nuh-uh."
"AJ!"
"Argh! Fine, Superass!"
Brian shivered walking to the bedroom. "Kev, I'm kind of cold. Can I borrow your sweatshirt?"
"Yes, Brian."
"Will you bring it to me?"
"Yes, Brian."
"And make me some tea?"
"Yes, Brian."
Kevin bit his lip. "What am I? Your slave?"
Brian smirked. "I thought you were taking care of me and AJ?"
"Yes, Brian."
Brian exited. "Just making sure.'"
Howie sipped his tea. "You do realize those two are going to use you for everything you're worth?"
"Yes," the man whispered through his teeth removing AJ's thermometer. "99.9."
He sighed stroking his forehead. "Go join, Brian, although, I know I'm going to live to regret this."
Nick wrapped his hands around Kevin's soup bowl dragging it toward himself.
Kevin snarled. "Don't even think it!"