Chapter 32: Chapter 32

The fifth sneeze ricocheted off my body, giving me a massive head ache, my eyes watered, and I felt hot. The tissue was far from my reach as I was cocooned in many blankets.

"This is serious." Dad said passing me the tissue, worry lines decorated his forehead, his mouth pulled in to a tight frown.

I flashed him a watery smile. And blew in to the tissue.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Mom asked as she entered with the hot soup.

Dad helped me sit up straight.

"Yes I'm sure, I am way stronger than going to the hospital. Plus this is common cold, I'm sure I'll be fine by noon." I say optimistically. I wasn't so sure I'd be fine by noon, but I didn't want to go to the hospital because I was deathly scared of needles.

I took a spoon full of the soup, it was terrible but I couldn't complain or I'll go straight to the hospital. Dad sighed before getting up,

"I'll be late for work, I have to go now." He said before kissing me on my forehead and kissing mom on the mouth.

"Get better kid." He said looking really concerned. I nodded. He gave me one last look before leaving.

"Why did you have to be under the rain for that long?" Mom asked looking frustrated.

I didn't respond, I just focused on finishing the terrible soup. Because I loved yesterday, I didn't regret any second of it, even if I was under the rain, and lost and cold. Those things meant nothing, because I got to meet him, and he was out under the rain looking for me.

"Why do you have that creepy smile on your face?" Sophie asked entering my room, Andrina closely behind her. I was startled.

"How are you guys here?" I asked in confusion.

"I called them over, so they help turn in your assignment." Mom said before getting up.

"Good morning Mrs Anderson." Andrina greeted.

"Morning girls, I'll be downstairs if you need anything." Was the only thing she said before leaving.

"You do know you'll miss school right? For the second time in a row" Sophie said pointedly.

I didn't realize, but now that I did, I was kind of worried, but the thought of staying back when everyone else leaves for school was... Intriguing.

I shrugged casually,

"It can't be helped now, can it?"

They looked at me with wide eyes and open jaws.

"What?"

"Who are you and what have you done with Carrie? Carrie would never miss school, much less two times in a week!" Andrina exclaimed.

"Well, Carrie is still here, just sick." I tell her.

"What happened yesterday Carolyn?" Sophie asked, looking at me through suspicious eyes. I shied away from her gaze.

"You are definitely telling us the details when we get back." She said looking like she won the lottery.

"Give us your assignment, we'll help you turn it in."

It was my turn to widen my eyes, I totally forgot about the assignment.

"You didn't do it?" They asked in unison, shock written all over their faces.

I shook my head "no" sheepishly.

"Wow, I thought I'd never see the day that Carolyn Anderson didn't do her assignments... This is a new development." Sophie commented, looking proud.

"Whatever happened yesterday must have been the real thing if you completely forgot about your assignment."

"We have to go now, we are coming here immediately after school, and we want the details!" Sophie said dragging Andrina out with her.

"What about my assignment?!" I shouted after them.

"You are Carolyn Anderson, you'll never get in trouble for not doing your assignment for the first time in your life!" Sophie popped her head in to say before leaving.

I laid back down, they made sense.

"Hey honey, I have to go now. Sure you can stay on your own?" Mom asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, I can handle myself."

She looked a bit worried but she kissed my head before leaving anyway.

I laid in the quietness of the house, feeling bored, the headache had gone down but my nose was still running. I counted the ceiling, before my eyes dropped shut.

I heard a noise, like something was hitting my subconscious, which is weird. It came again. This time more aggressive. My lids flew open. My ears listened for the sound, because I was certain it wasn't coming from my dream.

It came again, from my window. I got down from the bed, cold breeze caressed my thighs, I looked down, I was in nothing but my pink knee length sweater. I was going to wear a leggings but the noise came again, this time, I had to check what was going on.

I pushed the window open, my eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. Joseph Wilson was throwing pebbles from his window to mine, like a child.

He literally lit up as he saw me, I blushed.

"Finally, I thought I was going to break through the window before you responded."

"You didn't go to school." Was what I could say. I almost face palmed.

He chuckled,

"I already dressed for school, until I heard someone sneezing. I knew I couldn't go until I made sure she was fine."

I think I was a puddle at that moment.

"I think you are just looking for an excuse to skip school." I say, immediately I wanted to take it back.

He looked shocked but I think something on my expression made him laugh. I blinked in surprise.

"Can I come in?" He asked.

"Uhm.. yeah.. I'll go open the front door for you." I say starting to move towards the door. But before I could move, he swung his legs into my room, and hoisted himself off the window, in literal two seconds, he was standing in front of me. In my personal space.

"Hi." He breathed, smiling widely.

And my heart nearly ran out of my chest.

He placed his hand on my forehead, and frowned,

"You are boiling." He gently guided back to bed.

I blushed as his hands brushed my bare legs, he didn't seem to notice though, because he was seriously tucking me in.

"I'll get you some medicine, where are they?" He asked already going through my cabinet.

Before I could respond, he entered my bathroom and came out with the medicine.

"You are really the candy lady. Your bathroom is pink too." He said laughing. I blushed.

He fed me the medicine and gently put me back in the bed.

"Thank you." I whispered. My heart was hammering away in my chest. I was almost sure it would dig it's way out soon.

"Did you have anything to eat?" He asked.

I shook my head no.

"I'm no chef, but I'll try my best." He said smiling.

And I think that's where my heart finally dug out and was free of my chest.