SEBASTIAN
I woke up to a humming in my ears, the blood rushed to my head. I grunted in agony as I sit up, the pain overwhelming. This is what usually happens after you stay out in the rain and wind for an hour Sebastian, don't be stupid.
I did my best to stand. My best actually means that I stood and wobbled (like someone on an ice rink for the first time) and then fell miserably like a looser. I reach up to my bedside table from my place on the floor and call the secretary at the university to tell them I won't be in today. With an 'I understand' and a 'get well soon', the phone call ended.
I struggled to stand, but I kept pushing, and then I failed miserably. I settled for crawling over to the kitchen with my mobile in hand, leaning on my knees to try and open the fridge and slumping back down. I felt tired, no, exhausted. In my weariness, I fumbled around, I don't know what I'm doing. I hear a soft voice around me, it's faint but I can hear it. I give into the exhaustion and I feel my eyelids droop closed.
I'm awoken to a knocking at the door followed by a "Sebastian, open up!"
I once again, settle for crawling. I try my best to open the door, pulling open whilst avoiding the swinging door. I glance up at the woman in front of me, her hair is in a braid, she's wearing her uniform and the worry flows off her in waves.
"Are you alright?" She panted, barging in and slinging one of my arms around her and pulling me up to the sofa.
She drapes a blanket around me as I shiver. I watch her as she returns with a tray, a glass of water, a cup of tea and two painkillers are placed on it.
"Oh my go- yeah I don't know what to do right now so bear with it for a little while, I'm calling your girlfriend." She panics, her hands are shaking as she dials a number.
"How'd you get her number?" I ask, my voice is quiet and weak.
She answers with a pointed look and waits for an answer on the phone. "Audrey? It's me, Rachel, something's wrong with Sebastian, I can't look after him right now but I know that you are free until after noon so get your butt over here now." She hangs up without waiting for an answer.
I look at her questionably, confused but at the same time relieved.
"Look, I have a presentation to give and then I'm meeting with my mother so I can't be here right now. I'm sorry, but Audrey should be on her way over." She leans over, pecking my forehead, my stomach churns with discomfort, whether it's from the cold or her kiss I don't know.
Seconds later, a knock is heard at the door. Rachel runs over with her bag on her shoulder and swings it open.
"Look after him, okay?" She requested, before rushing out.
Audrey stood at the door, confused and slightly surprised. She shut the door and walked to the kitchen counter as I watched her in silence. She motioned for me to turn on the TV and then went back to her festivities.
As the weather man began waving his hand across the map behind him, Audrey sauntered over with a plate in one hand and a mug in the other. She sat the plate in my lap and the mug on the table in front of me.
"You have a cold I'm guessing. What did you do after you left mine last night?" I chuckled weakly.
"I'm sick." She arched her eyebrow and waited for me to continue. "Feed me?"
"Sebastian, you are nineteen, you have a cold, you can feed yourself." She remarked, glancing over to the table and frowning at Rachel's attempt. "At least she tried." She shrugged.
"Please? I'll feel better if you do it." I coaxed. She rolled her eyes and reluctantly lifted up the spoon, bringing it closer to my mouth. I see she found the box of honey flavoured porridge my mother sent me, I thought I had hidden it away forever.
"It's not that bad, actually this flavour is the best, along with the apple and cinnamon one." She claimed, noticing that I wouldn't eat it. "Come on, just one spoon." She cooed, treating me like a baby.
Going along with it, I hesitantly ate it and hummed in surprise. I eagerly waited for another spoonful.
"See, it's good, both in taste and for you." She smiled. "Now, how did you get this cold."
"I stood on the rooftop for over an hour while it rained," I replied, it sounded more like a question.
"Well, that's just... Wow. That's what usually happens when you expose yourself to rain and the wind for long periods of time. Sorry, but you brought this on yourself." She mocked.
I observed her as she continued feeding me. She wore a navy and white striped top with jeans and white shoes. Her dark brown locks were pulled into a ponytail, some loose hair framing her face. She looked so simple, but she looked beautiful in a way I hadn't seen before.
As she turned to place the bowl down on the table, I noticed something on the back of her neck.
"You have a tattoo? That's awesome." I gasped, stroking it. She brought her hand up to cover it and shivered.
"Yeah, all the cupids have one." She replies, lifting the glass of water and a tablet, handing them to me.
I took the tablet and went right back to looking at her tattoo. It was a human heart made up of an assortment of flowers, even though it was small it was full of detail.
"Libby has one too, hers is three lilies in the shape of a heart. In some countries, especially Victorian England, lilies were used in funerals and were a symbol of death. So, her tattoo actually means 'death to love' or 'death to the heart'." She added.
"Every cupid has one?" I asked, feeling intrigued.
"Yeah. Libby, me, my mother, my aunt and uncle and all those in between." She shrugged, "We each have a unique tattoo that we designed ourselves."
"Ah, that's awesome so di-"
"Stop stalling and eat the rest of your porridge Sebastian King or your illness will be the reason the Citadel falls." She reaches over and puts a hand on my forehead and tuts.
I laugh sarcastically, "Ha, ha, ha. I see what you did there, very funny." I retort, watching her rummage through her bag to pull out a thermometer. She turns back to me and throws me a sly but victorious smirk.
The thermometer is ice cold on my tongue, causing me to shiver and suffer until a high-pitch beep resounds. "How hot am I?" I jokingly ask.
"Too hot, you should lie down and try to get some rest, I'll make you some lunch that'll be light on the stomach. I suggest you take a bath before your nap if you have one." She walks over to the bathroom and I hear running water. She quickly sprints back to her bag and begins to pull out some things before deciding to take the bag instead.
I throw her a strange look, to which she replies, "What? Libby would get sick all the time so I have a backpack ready with a few things to make her feel better." She shrugs and runs back to the bathroom.
I feel a small smile creeping onto my face as I sit and continue to watch the show that was currently on.
"Okay, it's ready." She comes over and waits for me to stand, guiding me over and making sure I don't fall. "In the bath are bath salts with relaxing and soothing properties, I personally find these enjoyable, and both lavender and tea tree oils in it. Prepare for heaven Sebastian."
"You know I'm a man, right?"
"Yes, and you'll be a man that smells amazing and will feel better after this bath. Well, on you go, hop in your majesty." She retorts, beaming with pride.
"I'm sick, can't you at least tone the jokes down a bit?" I begin to shed my clothes.
"I believe I must decline his Highness' request. If you need anything I will be outside." She ruffles my hair, picks up the blanket and leaves.
I step into the bath, hissing at the boiling temperature, and I begin slowly easing my way in. After a few minutes, I get used to the water.
Pure bliss.
AUDREY
To say that I was shocked to receive a call from Rachel was an understatement. Not only does she have my personal phone's number but she could've called anyone. I guess it makes sense since she believes I'm his girlfriend. Luckily his professor was very understanding when I called in for him.
I make my way to the kitchen and begin preparing his meal, mentally chuckling when I hear multiple sighs. By the time he was finished I had quickly cleaned his apartment and yes, he did take that long.
"Audrey? I have a problem." His voice rang out, followed by the sound of splashing water.
"What is it?" I ask, nearing the door.
"Uh, I can't. I can't get out." He responds.
I open the cautiously open door, peeping my head around the corner to see Sebastian scrambling to get out.
"Okay, first of all, where is the towel?" He points behind me where there is a rack of them, "Oh. I did not notice that." I mutter, reaching for one.
Once I'm successful, I walk over to the bathtub, where a defeated Sebastian sits with his hands covering something. I already know what it is and I'm sure you do too. I take hold of one of his arms and drape it behind my neck.
"Alright, I'm going to pull you up with my eyes closed. From there on can you step out of the tub?" I ask, receiving a nervous nod.
I close my eyes and begin to pull him up, the sound of splashing water bounced off the bathroom walls. I could feel him step over the edge but he must have slipped as before I knew it I was holding him in my arms.
I look up to the ceiling abruptly, "Sebastian, if you could, please try to stand." I requested calmly.
Something about my tone of voice must have surprised him as he quickly stood tall and wrapped the towel around his waist. His cheeks were painted with a dark hue of pink and he smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry. Hey, at least we had a bonding moment now Rachel has nothing to be suspicious of." He comments.
I stare at him for a while, multiple thoughts running through my head, the one that stood out to me most was that... he is still naked.
"Sebastian, bonding moment or not you need to put on some clothes. I have placed a new set of pyjamas on your bad as your other set were gross. Go get changed into that and then lie down." I instruct. He listens and begins to get dressed as I walk over to the kitchen.
"Would like your lunch now?" I ask once he's finished and settled in the bed.
"Yes please." He whispers. I bring his lunch over to him and notice his cheeks are pink.
"What are you blushing for?" I queried, taking a place at the end of his bed.
He's silent and tries to avoid the question by eating. He notices that I won't let him dodge it so he hesitantly replies, "You saw me... naked. I don't think I've recovered yet." He chuckles, hiding his face with his hands.
"I didn't see your private part but it's not like I haven't seen one. Well, I've seen them in textbooks, I guess." I admitted, glancing out the large window beside his bed. Curious as to why I hadn't received a reply I look back at him. Instead of pink, his cheeks have progressed to a ripe shade of red, like a tomato.
"That... That's not the same thing." He confessed, looking anywhere but at me.
I reach over and ruffle his hair, "I'm sure it isn't. Now, get some sleep, you look like you need it." I take his empty bowl and I take it with me to the kitchen where I begin preparing his dinner.
Halfway through I hear soft breathing. I glance over to see him engulfed in the duvet, causing me to smile. Luckily, I can stay with him for the whole day, our lecturer fell ill so the lecture was cancelled (coincidence, I know.)
I made a cup of tea for myself and I brought my laptop over to the window where I began to work on my assignments. I would occasionally glance out the window, watching the world beyond it. A few hours passed and the sky began to darken, at this moment, Sebastian felt the need to let out a loud groan and sat up. He reached over and grabbed the glass of water I place the shortly after he fell asleep and began drinking it all at once.
He looked around the room, groggily and confused. "Audrey?" He croaked, his eyes landing on me.
"Hey. Are you hungry?" He shook his head no. He threw the covers aside and began walking towards where I sat, leaning my back against the kitchen counter. He plopped beside me and leaned his head on my shoulder, watching my screen. The smell of the bath was still there.
"How was your sleep? I ask quietly, running my hands through his hair. He closed his eyes at the gesture and sighed. He nodded his head and peered up at me, curiosity written on his face.
"I'm doing my assignments; my lecture was cancelled but I was still given assignments to do." I explain.
We stay like this for a few minutes, but it could have easily been half an hour to an hour. At one point, his stomach released an angry growl, causing me to quietly chuckle.
"Hungry now?" I mock. He nods his head, I take this as my cue to heat up his dinner. "Can you get to the sofa?" He nods his head again and stands up. He wobbles a little but, slowly, he makes his way to the sofa and waits patiently.
By the time we finished dinner, Sebastian was feeling sleepy, again. I left after he fell asleep, making sure all the lights were off and shutting the door quietly.