"Are you sure you're okay?" Taylor asked Christina, feeling her forehead.
"I've just got a little case of the flu." She insisted, sniffing.
"Are you positive?" He asked.
"Yes, Taylor." SHe said. He looked at her skeptically. For the past few days, Christina had been feeling sick and under the weather. She had a temperature of 101, and her cheeks were constantly flushed, and she had a runny nose and a sore throat. Taylor was not convinced.
"I could stay home today." He said.
"No, you can't. You have that review today for the spanish final, and you need to go to it." She said.
"Yes mommy." He joked. He reached over and felt her head. "You're still so warm."
"I'm okay. Just sick." She said. She was in her bedroom on a Thursday morning, trying to convince Taylor to go to class.
"Well, I'll come home around five between some of my classes. I have like, a forty five minute break then." He said.
"Okay." She said.
"You're sure?"
"Yes, now go, you're going to be late for English." She prodded. She felt absolutely terrible, but Taylor couldnt' afford to miss any more classes. Since he was homeschooled, he wasn't used to the idea that classes would start, whether he was there or not. Therefor, Taylor was getting bad about skipping.
"Alright. I'll be back though." He said, picking up his coat. He went into the bathroom and re-filled her water glass and brought it to her.
"Thanks." She said.
"Bye." He said, pausing in the doorway to blow her a kiss.
"Bye." She said with a smile. She heard him walk down the short hallway and through the TV room, and out the door. She sighed and pulled her covers up. She had never felt so miserable in her life. She was hoping that this was the last day she would be sick, for she had been this way since Tuesday. She had gone to classes Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday, halfway throught the day she had come home. She suddenly threw back the covers to run the the bathroom before emptying the few contents of her stomach.
"So, you up for it?" Chris asked. "It's at Jake's. It's gonna be wild, kegs and everything." he said.
"I dunno." Taylor said. "Christina is sick, and I don't know how's she's gonna feel by then."
"Oh." Chris said. "Well think about it. You'll have fun."
"Alright."
"You up for pizza?"
"Now?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, me and a few other guys were gonna go and get some."
"Nah, I wanna go home and check on her." Taylor said, pulling his car keys out of his pocket.
Chris just smiled.
"What?" Taylor asked, opening the door.
"You are so pussy whipped." He said with a laugh, leaning on the front of Taylor's car.
"What?" Taylor asked, looking around to see if anyone had heard. His cheeks flushed with embarassment.
"You heard me. She's got cha. Dude, it's not even second semester yet. Sheesh." Chris said.
"Whatever." Taylor said with a laugh.
"Okay. See you Friday?"
"We'll see." Taylor said, climbing into his car.
"Bye."
"See ya man." He said before pulling out of his parking space. Could he help it if he was attached to Christina? She was his best friend, even better that Chris or David....she was special. Ever since that night at Thanksgiving, he felt even more connected with her than ever. He had become obsessed with her, in fact. Being separated from her caused him to constantly think about her, and even become a little jumpy. It had been a very special experience to him, and he valued his relationship with her, especially the 'friends' aspect. It wasn't like anything he had ever experienced, and he decided that everything positive he had heard about sex was true; it was good.
It was true, however, that Christina was using sex as an excuse to boss him around a little, but it was fine with him. If she wanted to watch a chick flick and he wanted to watch basketball, she would give him a certain look, and he would automatically shut his mouth and watch the movie without a word. They didn't have sex all the time....just....often.
He pulled up and parked his car in the parking lot of the apartment, and rushed inside and up the steps. Outside the door he stopped himself. What if she was asleep or resting? He quietly unlocked the door and swung it open. He set his keyes down on the table, and went into the kitchen for a drink. He was just taking his coat off and entering the kitchen when he got the shock of his life. There was Drew, leaning against the counter.
She looked over at him and jumped.
"Oh Taylor! Hi!" She said.
"Hi." He said. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Nice to see you too." She said, opening the cabinets.
"What are you doing?" He repeated.
"What?"
"Does Christina know you're here?" He asked.
"Yes, of course. I just was dropping off some homework for her. Trying to do something nice for my sick friend, thank you." She snapped. "You know, what did I ever do to you? WHy are you so mean to me?" She asked, grabbing a stack of saltines out of the box.
Taylor was taken back. He had been rather snippy towards her whenever she was over. He didnt realize that she even noticed.
"I'm...sorry." he said, looking at his feet. Drew didn't say anything. "I just...You took me by surprise, that's all." He said.
She sighed and looked at him. Taylor backed up against the counter, not knowing what do say. She seemed to want him to feel uncomfortable.
"That's okay...I just....you don't like me very much, do you?"
"Well...."
"That's okay. I wouldn't like me either." She said.
"No, that's not what I meant-"
"No, it's okay. I don't blame you." She said, her eyes welling up.
"Gosh Drew, I didn't mean to sound mean. I just...wasn't sure how I felt about you..." Taylor said. He hadn't wanted her to cry. "I'm sorry." He said.
"That's okay." She said. "I do come on rather strong, don't ?" She said, wiping her eyes.
"Um, sometimes, yeah." Taylor said with an awkward smile.
"Sorry."
"That's okay."
They stood in the kitchen in silence for a few moments, neither one of them knowing what to say.
"I think we just got off on the wrong foot." Taylor said.
Drew looked up at him. "Yeah, I think we did too." She said.
Taylor felt very awkward, but he wanted her to feel better. She was Christina's friend, after all. She wasn't really that bad...just annoying.
"Well, I'd better go take these to Chris." She said, walking out of the kitchen.
"Okay." Taylor said.
"Thanks Taylor." She added with a smile as she left.
"No problem." He said. She walked out of sight, and Taylor exhaled Drew's musky perfume, which was stuck in the kitchen. Maybe she wasn't that bad...just odd.