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Title: "I hate that I need you."
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! That means so much and I’m so happy you’re enjoying them. I hope you enjoy this one as well 🥹 it’s a lil long
Like a train hit her. And didn’t stop moving.
She couldn’t leave bed which meant she couldn’t work.
Not that she was actually planning on it.
She laid in bed, shivering as the chills ran through her, her nose was stuffy and sore. She was cursing the snot nosed child that passed this illness onto her.
Still she reluctantly sent a text to Janine to relay the message that she wouldn’t be there. She was met with a bunch of questions that she left ignore and went back to sleep.
When Ava opened her eyes next, it was to a loud banging at her front door.
Who the hell? Ava thought as she struggled to get up, her body still achy even though her fever had gone down. She threw on her robe and grabbed her mace as she went to open her door.
She looked through the peephole and was annoyed when she saw no one there. She opened the door and nearly jumped when she saw Janine there with a smile and a bag on her arm.
“Why are you here?” Ava coughed as Janine looked at her with a sympathetic smile.
“Well, since you covered my class, I thought I should return the favor,”
“I’m fine Janine. I know how to take care of myself,”
“Yeah but you shouldn’t have to do it yourself,” Janine smiled and before Ava could say anything else, Janine was inside.
The shorter woman looked around, taking in every part of Ava’s home. The pictures of herself with a few family members. The sleek furniture that looked like it cost more than her rent. Everything about her screamed confidence, something that intimidated the shit out of Janine. She didn’t event think Ava could get sick.
Janine followed Ava into her kitchen that looked just as expensive as her living room. Janine walked over to the island and quickly set down her bag, quickly taking out everything she brought over.
“Damn Janine, It’s a cold, not surgery,”
“I just wanted to make sure you have everything you needed,” Ava stopped in place, her hand gripping the counter tight. Not only was she in physical pain as a new ache came over her lower back but now she’s having those thoughts about Janine again.
She didn’t ask her to come over but she did anyway. Janine was like fly that just wouldn’t leave her alone, always flying too close to your ear. She came with medicine (that couldn’t have been cheap) and food to help Ava get better.
She felt like she should’ve said a joke unlike Janine, she can read a room.
“Thank you,” the words sounded strained leaving her mouth yet Janine smiled brighter at her anyway.
The two women awkwardly shuffle around each other as Janine insisted on heating up the chicken noodle soup she brought. Ava sighed as she told her where the pots were and not to burn down her kitchen. Of course, Janine assured that she wouldn’t do so and told her to relax.
“Don’t tell me-“ a cough interrupted her comeback and Janine paused what she was doing to hand her the cough syrup. “what to do,” Ava finished.
“Will you at least take the medicine,” Ava stared down the bottle in her hand, thinking of sweet relief and a normal body temperature. She took off the cup and opened the bottle. Janine watched as she poured a little too much into the cup and swallowed it all like it was water.
Janine silently rinsed the cup out before placing back onto the bottle.
“As much as I’d like it, you did not have to clean up for me,” Ava is joking but there’s this hint of seriousness there that makes Janine straighten her back.
“I’m well aware that I don’t have to but I wanted to. It sucks to be sick and alone.”
“I didn’t do this for you,”
“Why are you doing all of this?” Ava couldn’t stop her frustration from showing, a sneeze following her outburst. Janine can’t help herself as she picked up the fresh box of tissues, opening it before handing it to Ava.
“I don’t know. I wanted to so I did,” Janine looked like she was in an interrogation, wide eyes frightened just enough to answer every question.
“Why do you care so much anyways? I thought you loved having people serve you,” Janine stirred the pot, literally and figuratively, facing away from Ava for the fear the she might crumble.
“I don’t,” Ava’s scratchy voice was quick to reply and Janine snorted.
Nothing else was said as Janine turned off the stove and Ava pointed to where her dishes were. Janine silently put the soup in the bowl and gave it to Ava with a spoon.
They sat in their awkward silence for what felt like hours as Ava took small spoonfuls of the soup, blowing obnoxiously loud to cool it off. This went on until the bowl was empty and Ava let the spoon hit the side of the bowl.
“It’s like you don’t want me to like you,”
“Fine. Feel better soon or whatever,”
Ava watched as Janine moved around the island, walking towards her living room. She sighed, sucking in air through her mouth as cursed herself.
She couldn’t stand the dork but she did not want her to leave.
“Janine, stop,” she did her best to call out. Her voice was still hoarse and her throat burned when she talked but she did it anyway.
She could see Janine, stuck in her place as if she was contemplating her options. Relief filled Ava when Janine turned around, walking back into the kitchen.
“I- I’m-“ the words I’m sorry refused to leave her lips, it would probably kill her in her current state. “Don’t go, I do appreciate what you’re doing for me,” saying thank you was way lighter on her chest than saying sorry.
So she spent the rest of her sick day, with Janine, in her house. Curled up on the couch with a box of tissues while Janine sat way too close for someone who didn’t want to get sick again. It made her absolutely sick to her stomach and yet, reached over to show Janine another TikTok.
Ava hated (loved) every minute of it.
