Celia

The sky on Tuesday is cloudy and gray, the air humid and cold, meaning my hair is a chaotic frizz. But it's sweater weather and that's just the best thing in the world.

As the storms thunder, I amble to Gio's while reading my book, distracted by the occasional barks and chirps. The sleeves of my green sweater reach my knuckles as I grip the pages the wind is determined to flip.

Fucking Alex slows his red BMW by my side.

"Hop in, I'll give you a ride," he smiles with eye-contact that lasts uncomfortably long. I don't know whether to cringe or pity him.

"I have an exam tomorrow, I need to study." I continue my walk.

"Oh, come on. You don't really care about school." He smirks, shrugging at my scowl. "You don't need it, I make enough money for you to do whatever you wish."

"And what would that be? Talk about the chicken on sale with every other housewife? What a fulfilling concept, can't wait."

"No, you could open a dance studio." He says and my heart drops. Whatever pleasure was tingling inside a minute ago vanishes.

"I got to study," I mutter, but he still continues to drive next to me. "Alex, please! Just leave me alone."

His smile drops as he looks away. "Jesus, alright. I was just saying it for your mom—"

"If you ever dare to talk about my mom to convince me again, it'll be the last time you talk to me. Is that clear?"

"Okay. See you later, then." he rolls his eyes before driving off.

~

"You're sick as a dog," I gasp when Gio opens the door with Luna leaning against his feet.

"Is that another dirty book?" he asks, voice so congested it sounds like he can't breathe. Not to mention he's pale and his eyes are glossy.

"Yes..." I say sarcastically, lifting the cover to show him. "It's an erotic novel between bad bitch Aristotle and kinky dom Plato."

"So a student-teacher porn with a forty-year age gap." Gio raises his brows, unamused.

"Forty-four, actually..." My mouth opens with a surprised smile, to which Gio rolls his eyes before stepping away for me to enter.

"Did you go to school?" I follow him as he moseys towards his bedroom.

"Nope."

A black shirt hugs his wide upper back, outlining the ridges under. My gaze lowers on his faded, inked arms, large hands, then his firm tooshie in his charcoal sweats.

"Um, do you need anything?" I sheepishly look up at him when he stops by his door and turns.

"What do you mean?" His eyes are hooded with exhaustion. Luna meows on her way in, telling him to cut the conversation short.

"I mean do you need medicine or food? Have you taken care of yourself?"

He chuckles, closing the door. "You're funny..."

"He's so weird..." I mutter under my breath.

"Why is your dad so weird?" I ask Ariana when she gets off the bus and we go inside. "He's dying sick, but he'd rather snuggle an animal than do something about it."

"He stays in his room to not get me infected," Ari sighs as she plops down on the couch with her back pack. "I've tried to offer help, but it's impossible, he's so stubborn."

I cross my arms, glaring at his door down the hallway.

"Why do you care anyway?" Ari looks at me suspiciously, a little amused.

"Because if he's sick then he can't work and if he can't work then I don't get paid."

"And here I thought you like me or something," Ari sarcastically says, looking down at her book to cover her smirk.

"Do you mind if I go somewhere while you do your homework? It'll only take thirty minutes."

"And she's already slacking off..." she sighs, shaking her head.

"I'm going to get your dad medicine!"

"Sure, sure... whatever makes you feel better."

The only way I can make the trip short is if I take his truck, which means I need to enter his room to grab the keys. Ari's been there before, so I'm not worried about him being naked.

I'm disappointed to report that his room is plain and boring. Nothing except a large, king-sized bed with night-blue sheets and a wooden headboard with a matching nightstand. The left side has a sliding closet with mirrors. The right side has a window with black curtains.

Gio's asleep on his stomach without a shirt on, sheets tossed by his feet. He has one arm under a pillow while the other is hugging a second pillow to his chest.

Luna— who's lying down on his lower back— narrows her green eyes as I tip-toe towards the nightstand by his bed. She gets on all fours and slowly paces up his spine.

"Good kitty..." I whisper, carefully opening the top drawer.

Along with a bunch of paperwork, wallet and car keys, there are three pre-paid phones. I frown, wondering what he needs them for when he already has a smartphone.

But I don't have time to dwell as Luna meows and sways her tail with a snake-like grace. I narrow my eyes and she narrows hers while I reach my hand inside to grab the keys.

She hops off his back and I barely make it out before she attacks.

~

"Here kitty, kitty..." I call her an hour later, after coming back from running some errands. I gave Ari a basket to pick oranges and lemons from the backyard, now I'm on my knees by Gio's door, trying to get Luna out.

"Don't you want to do some drugs?" I wave the jar of catnip I bought. "Look, all the cool cats are doing it." I show her a TikTok of other cats rubbing their faces in it.

A few minutes later this cat is high as a kite, pupils dilated, lying on her back with her head off the couch. Ari is next to her, doing the same as the two watch Totoro.

"Gio..." I knock on his open door, nervous now that he's on his back. "Wake up, Gio."

His long legs reach the edges of the bed, arms resting by his sides. Jaw wide, lashes dark, brows thick and defined. Even in his sleep, worry is etching his forehead.

Well, it's his fault that I'm coming in. He's not waking up.

I set the tray on the nightstand and sit beside him. His neck is glistening with sweat and his breaths are labored. I rest my hand on his forearm, brushing my thumb across his hair-peppered skin to stir him awake.

Just because I can, I trace my fingertip down one of his veins then inside his calloused palm, mesmerized. Screw you, Luna.

He sucks in a sharp breath, almost giving me a heart attack, then rolls his head to the side where I'm at and sighs back into sleep.

"Stop having dirty dreams about me," I dryly say, scratching my nails up his forearm, but he doesn't budge at all. "Fine, you leave me no choice."

I pull his arm hair and he flinches awake.

He jerks his arm away, eyes half-closed. "What, what are you doing here?"

"Taking advantage of you," I smirk, then point my chin at the tray. "Get up."

He sinks back into the mattress, closing his eyes. "Leave me alone..."

I grab his stubbled chin to turn him to me, he smacks my hand, but I just rest it on his forehead, growing concerned at how hot he is.

"Do I have to tell you again?" He gives me a cold look, tone deadly serious.

My lips part, but I don't look away. "Sit up."

He lifts an eyebrow. "Are you dumb?"

"Do I look dumb? Sit the fuck up, now." I grab the tray from the nightstand and turn towards him, tucking my feet under me. "Now, Gio. Or I'll pour this hot tea all over you."

Slowly, he lifts on his palms, arms flexing as he sits back and leans his head on the headboard, chest falling with a gruff sigh.

I gently place the tray on his lap. "Drink this, it'll help."

"It smells like shit."

"That's just you."

He opens one eye, but I just shrug, "Ari picked those oranges and lemons, you're going to finish those too."

"Don't tell me what to do," he grumbles.

"It's okay to need help, you know? You're not made out of stone."

When he doesn't respond, I try to lighten the mood. "Or maybe you are, I felt you up a little bit while you were sleeping."

"You're crazy..." he opens his eyes, staring at the ceiling then down at the tea. "Is this poisoned?"

"Of course, it's a special potion made with horse spit, poop and semen. Your favorite."

"Nope." Gio pushes the tray off and slides down, turning his back towards me.

"Come on!" I laugh, trying to pull him back by his shoulders. "I'm kidding, it's from my grandma's garden. I even hand picked and dried the herbs myself. It's really good."

"I don't want it."

"Don't be a baby, it's not about what you want. It's about what you need."

"No."

I don't know why I'm still touching his shoulder, but it's just so solid and smooth. "Don't you want to feel better? I even boiled a peppermint steam for you to decongest."

"No one asked you to, I don't know why you'd do that. It's not your job." Yeah, then why aren't you telling me to stop touching you.

"You'll get Ari sick too, is that what you want? It's her first week at school."

"That's why I'm not getting out of the room."

With a dejected sigh, I drop my hand and lower my voice. "Fine... I'll leave you alone. But please drink the tea, I promise it'll help."

I begin to get up but he turns, making me stop.

He props on his forearm, frowning at the tray between us. "What's in it?"

My voice comes out more small and timid. "It's uh, rosemary with honey... rosemary helps with congestion and fever, honey will sooth your throat."

"Why were you reading a Philosophy book?" he asks, voice so deep and low it makes my spine want to curve. Does he know how hot he is?

He wraps his fingers around the delicate handle and lifts the rim to his lips, blowing the steam before taking a sip. I can't tell whether he likes it or not, which is so unnerving.

"I, uh... have an exam tomorrow. If the flavor's too strong, chase it with an orange."

"Shouldn't you be studying?" He unravels the round orange slice into triangles, wrapping his lips around one and sucking the juices.

"I took your truck when you were asleep," I murmur, tensing when he flits his gaze at me, serious under his lashes. "Sorry..."

"You came into my room?"

"And I drugged your pet."

"Excuse me?"

"On catnip, she's high as hell."

Gio stares without blinking, features stern. A little bit of fear makes me hold my breath while I remain still.

Then he chuckles. His eyes crinkle and a roguish smirk tugs his lips as he looks away.

"What?" I drawl with a smile of my own.

"You're just so fucking crazy..." He shakes his head before going for another sip.

~ A/N ~
Awww, someone's growing fond of crazy, hehe.