The day after Nicole's confrontation with Eva, she felt sick, not just emotionally but physically. When her mother came in that morning to wake her for school Nicole simply turned, groaning. Julinana put her hands to her daughter's forehead, only to feel that she was abnormally warm. She went to grab the thermometer, running quickly back to her daughters side when she heard violent coughing. She put the thermometer to Nicole's forehead.
"Oh, god Nicole you're burning up. Give me a second, I'm getting you a wet cloth." She dropped the thermometer and rushed to her bathroom to grab a washcloth and wet it. By the time she had gotten back to Nicole she was climbing out of bed, sniffling, and attempting to put on some clothes. "Nicole, get back in bed, you're sick."
"But I have track today."
"And you'll have track tomorrow, now go back to bed." She guided Nicky back into her bed and tucked her into it. "I'll bring some water in here so you can dampen the cloth on your own, alright?" Nicole groaned, already dozing off again. "Honey I wish I could stay home with you, but I have a meeting. Do you think you can take care of yourself?" Nicole had already fallen back asleep, thoughts of track and Eva rushing through her head. "Alright, I have to go now. I love you. I'll call Amy over later and see if she can tend to you for a bit."
Where am I? This must be a dream, it's far too bright and vibrant here. Nicole was trapped in her dreams, forced to face what she was hiding from. Eva likes you, and you can do nothing about it. Whispers surrounded her and she saw Eva in the distance staring at her. The wind in her dream surrounded her the way it did when she was running. It made her feel calm, until she realized she couldn't move and Eva was approaching her. 'Why do you try to run from me?'. Because you hurt me, you make me uncomfortable and unhappy, can't you just leave me be. 'But that's not the only reason, is it, it's because deep down you know you like me.' No! That's not what this is about, can't you just leave. 'Fine, you asked for it.' The wind around her became cloudy as Eva faded out.
"Nicole, wake up. I'm here to play nurse, per the request of your mom." Amy was beside her bed wetting her washcloth.
"But it's a school day, you need to go back to school!" Amy shook her head and placed the cloth over Nicole's head.
"It's three fourty-five, school ended. Are you okay?" Nicole tried to answer, but as she began speaking her nose began twitching and she let out a sneeze. "No then, here take the tissue box." She gave it to Nicole and began walking out of the room. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving, even though you're gross and snotty. I'm just going to cook you some soup."
"Alright, make it spicy. That way I can smell."
"How spicy? Are we talking spicy for me or you?"
"Who do you think? Obviously me, the red pepper flakes and chili powder are in the cupboard under 'Nicole'."
"I find it hilarious that you get your own selection of spices. Ramen sounds good." Amy peaked her head back in the door to get Nicole's answer.
"Yeah. sounds good. Thanks Amy." Amy smiled at her and winked.
"Anything for you hun." She left the room leaving Nicole to her own devices.
"I'm gonna take a shower Amy, is that okay." Amy called back giving her permission and saying that if she needed help to call her. The bathroom floor felt cold against Nicole's feet, she quickly undressed and turned on the shower. She made sure it was cold, even if it would make her feel worse later it felt nice in the present. She poured her shampoo into her hand, lathering it before massaging it into her scalp. The water felt nice flowing over her body, cooling the fever. The door opened suddenly and Amy came in.
"Shower feel okay? Hey, why isn't there steam in here? You should be taking a hot shower." Nicole pursed her lips.
"It's too hot, just let it slide." She rolled her eyes and went back to relaxing.
"Absolutely not, you idiot, you're going to get more sick." Amy came closer to the shower and stuck her hand in around the curtains. "Jesus, that's freezing. I'm not leaving until you turn on the hot water." Nicole sighed and moved to turn the hot water on. "How did you manage to get water all over the floor?" Amy had decided to lean against the wall next to the shower and stepped in a puddle of the water.
"It kinda flies out like that sometimes, yaknow since the curtain isn't air tight. Suddenly Amy squealed from outside the shower, she had slipped on the water and was now falling into the shower curtain. Nicole heard the clinking of the hooks unhinging from the rail as Amy fell into the shower. "Oh my god Amy are you okay?" Nicole tried rapping the curtain around herself.
"Yeah I'm fin- ah! I'm sorry." Amy covered her eyes and tried pulling herself up from the tub. Because she couldn't see, she kept sliding around in the tub. Nicole looked down realizing the curtain had fallen from around her. She scrambled to bring it back up to her chest.
"It's fine, you can uncover your eyes now. Sorry." Nicole was blushing more than she had since Eva's advances. "Here let me get the water." Amy was drenched and her clothes had begun sticking to her. Amy lowered her hands once Nicole turned the water off, and pulled her hair in front of her face to hide her embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry." Nicole looked at her best friend who was shrinking in on herself.
"Hey, it's alright. You were just worried, come on. I was done with the shower anyway. Let me go find you some clothes." Amy hadn't noticed how wet her clothes had become. She whispered a thanks to Nicole as she brushed her hair out of her face. "No problem, is the ramen done?" Eva nodded at Nicole as she was leaving to get some spare clothes.
Wow, she's so nice, I hope she isn't hurt, or embarrassed. Amy thought as she stood up and grabbed a towel from the rack.