We sat in bed all morning watching cartoons together on his laptop.

Sitting side by side under his covers we ate our breakfast (he took the oatmeal with brown sugar), and when we were done with that I made some tea with honey for him and coffee with cream for me, and climbed back into his bed so we could drink those together too.

The pile of used tissues in his wastebasket grew into a mountain, but he didn't shiver even once as we talked and joked around for a few hours.

We mostly talked about random, safe topics: our classes, the weather, at one point a debate regarding whether Spongebob was really a kids show with the amount of adult humor thrown in.

We touched on talking about our families, but it seemed like a sore spot for us both. I told him how my parents got divorced when I was young, how dad tried to keep in touch and support me from a distance, that he's the one helping to put me through college— which is more than I can say my mom did even though I lived with her.

I learned his parents are still together and very much in love, and that he had a sister a year older. But he seemed reluctant to talk about them so I didn't push... I was happy to get off that topic as well. Too heavy for a day like today.

I was really enjoying the quiet morning with him. It was relaxed and easy, so when Ronan had sent a message to say he was on his way back, I was sure to tell him that he should take his time. He messaged back with a winky face and to say he stopped to visit Aster and Jas at the flower shop.

Eventually though, I did have to get up to shower and change clothes. Not before Kal snuck a quick kiss on my cheek though.

Yeah.

I had just gotten out of bed and leaned back in a bit to put my hand on his forehead so I could feel for a fever. He was thanking me again for the night before and for sitting with him when he pointed suddenly to his computer. So I turned my head to look, only to feel him peck my cheek!

Yeah.

When I whipped my head back, wide-eyed, he didn't even have the decency to look ashamed... He had a big proud grin on his cute idiot face and just said, "Thanks, I'm glad you were here... I've decided not to kill Ronan."

Yeah.

So I booked it to the bathroom only to see my bright red cheeks mocking me in the mirror.

After I was done with my cool shower and got ready for the day, I popped back in to check on him again to find him passed out cold.

Maybe that's not the best phrase to use...

I found him slouched over and snoozing with a tissue still loosely held in his hand. His head looked like it was super uncomfortable so I propped a pillow under him gently before texting Ronan and regretfully leaving for class.

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Sitting through my classes that afternoon should've been classified as cruel and unusual punishment.

I sat in the back row in each class, with my hand holding up my chin. My knee continually bobbed up and down, my nerves getting the better of me as I stared blankly at the chalkboard. The pen I held loosely in my hand was a mere decoration while my professors rambled on and on, the clock in the corner slowly teasing me with its minute hand.

I'll have to put in some extra study time this weekend to make up for it, since I think I only took like a page's worth of notes from each class, jotting down some things during the rare times I was tuned in. Most of the time my mind was elsewhere—at home, still sitting in Kal's bed.

I knew Ronan made it back just after I left and Kal was doing perfectly fine, thanks to the couple of texts I'd received. I just couldn't shake my fidgety anxiousness for my classes to be finished.

I was only mildly worried about his fever and weaving since it wasn't bad when I left and they told me it only gets bad like that at night. Mostly my mind just kept drifting to my hands on his stomach, his nose pressed into my neck, his lips against my cheek, and how insanely, irrationally good it feels to finally, finally be able to touch someone without constantly worrying about burning them on contact.

For once in my life, I used my weaving to help someone, and since his own temperature counteracts mine I didn't even come close to overheating after using my heat.

I'm also painfully aware of the butterflies I get around Kal, I just can't pinpoint exactly why...

Is it just a physical thing—the anticipation and trepidation that comes from these new doors being opened? Sexual tension and the possibility of easing it?

Is it him specifically—a crush, or lust? Or just the joy of a new friend who I can relate to?

Is it some combination—would I still get these feelings if it was with someone other than Kal?

I don't know. It's a lot to wrap my head around.

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I sling my backpack up onto my shoulder as our professor announces our homework. "Read chapter 39: Redundancies in Atomic-Level Weaving for next week! See you all then."

The classroom is a flurry of motion as students tuck away notebooks, push in chairs, or hang back to chat with friends. I'm the first one out the door though since I was already packed up and I practically float down the stairs in the center of the room.

I vaguely process meandering the crowded hallways, exiting through the heavy main doors, and speed walking through the grounds. I'm on autopilot mode, and with a destination in mind everything else blurs by in the background. A car flys by me, too close for comfort, just as I'm about to cross the street. The crosswalk sign is still blinking red, and I realize I almost stepped out into the road without even looking first.

I peer around, noting I'm at a main intersection. I go straight to head home, or if I turn right...

My stomach growls.

If I turn right, Jimbo's Diner is a few blocks down.

For a split second I'm torn between my impatience to get home and the promise of a delicious burger. My rumbling stomach makes up my mind, but a thought nags on me, so I pull my phone out of my rear pocket as I turn the corner.

I hit the call button and wait for an answer...

Riiiinggg, riiiinggg, riiiinggg...

"Hello?"

"Hey Sniffles, you sound a little better."

"Oh, Aiden, sorry I didn't look at the ID... yeah I'm alright at the moment, thanks for checking on me."

"I'm actually on my way home, but I was gonna stop at Jimbo's for some food since I haven't eaten since this morning... did you want anything? I wasn't sure if you'd eaten or—"

"Yes please! Food sounds good! Could you get me some waffles?"

He reminds me of an excited little kid, and I chuckle to myself.

"Sure, anything els—"

"Oh! And a side of tater tots with their spicy ranch! Pretty please."

"Alright, waffles and tat... wait you want waffles with tater tots?? You weirdo."

"Well not like, together! They both just sound good!"

"Fine, fine, whatever... they're both good. Just an odd combination. But sure! Is Ronan there, will you ask him if he wants something too?"

"He's downstairs, but he said something earlier about making lunch for himself, so he's probably fine. Maybe text him?"

He's downstairs? I thought he was hanging with Kal?

"Nah, his loss. More for us. I'll be back soon, see you then."

"Mmkay. Thanks Hotstuff, you da best!"

Beep.

I tuck my phone away as I push open the glass doors to Jimbo's.

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"Hey Aiden, how was class?" Ronan calls from the couch.

Jasper sits on the other end, with Ronan's feet pushing against his side. Ronan holds the tv remote in his hand above his head, which leads me to think they were probably fighting over it. Looks like Ronan's winning... or Jasper gave up, more likely.

I push the door closed with my hip and hang my keys on the hook along the wall.

"Long and boring," I sigh. "Do anything fun while I was gone? How's Kal?"

"Fine last time I checked, we've just been watching tv."

I glance at the coffee table, specifically the empty plates and bowls, and various wrappers sitting on it.

"And how long have you been down here? Did you eat yet?"

"Yeah we ate a little bit ago, I came down around... 2ish?" He looks the Jasper to confirm, but Jas just looks the other way—probably sensing my displeasure and not wanting to get involved.

"Ronan. It's like 5... has Kal been up there by himself? Did you even offer him food??" My voice is rising despite my efforts to stay calm, and I'm forced to squeeze my fists as a flicker of heat sizzles through me.

"Woah, chill. He's fine, dude. I offered to stay up there, he said I didn't have to. I told him to come down and join us, but he said no to that too. And yes, I offered food about an hour ago, he said he wasn't hungry. Ok?" He looks at me earnestly, as though he really wants to make sure I understand he wasn't trying to skip out on his sick best friend.

I take a deep, calming breath. There's fire in my palms threatening to break free, and that's the last thing I want to happen. Seeing Kal so vulnerable last night had hit a nerve and I'm in overprotective mode for no good reason... Ronan's right, I need to check myself.

"Yeah. Sorry. I just... feel bad I guess. It's gotta be boring up there, he just has his laptop, and I called to find out if he wanted food," I hold up the to-go bag in my hand, "and he sounded starved. I.. sorry, I've been distracted, I didn't mean to overreact about it."

"It's cool, I get it, you're worried about him. I was freaked the first time too, but aside from the whole nighttime freeze-ups thing, it is just a normal cold. He's been totally himself other than a few sniffles and he was just having a relaxing day, watching stuff on his laptop."

I nod, relieved enough to no longer feel the lick of flames. "Cool, I should head up there before our food gets too cold. Have fun... don't kill each other."

Just as I turn to the stairs I see Jasper lunge at the remote. "Give it!" "No! I like this!" "Ew, why?! I hate this romance crap! You're worse than my girlfriend!" "Is she still your girlfriend??" A thump that sounded like someone getting hit. "Give it!!"

I head upstairs, leaving them to duke it out, and head to Kal's room. I knock and wait for him to respond before going in.

He's still lounging in bed with the laptop on his legs, and he gives me a wide grin. "Hey! Welcome back!" Then he spots the food bag and his eyes widen comically.

"Oh thank the gods, I'm starving! It just hit me all of the sudden, right before you called, good timing!"

His enthusiasm is just like a little kid, I swear. "You want to go downstairs to eat?"

He purses his lips. "No, not really... I'd rather stay up here so I don't get anyone else sick."

"Ah, alright. You're not bored in here though? I at least have a tv in my room, do you want to go in there? I can steal the Switch from downstairs too."

His eyes light up. "Sure! I'll totally beat your ass in Mario kart!"

"Ha! Riiiight, good luck with that, I'm the Mario kart master!... Here, take the food and head in, I'll grab the Switch and be there in a second."

He whips his comforter off and greedily takes the bag before jetting off across the hall. I take that as my cue to head back down, only to find Ronan now pinning Jasper by literally sitting atop him, King of the Remote Throne.

I just shake my head and ignore them as best as I can while unplugging and retrieving the game system. Of course, they still tease me about bringing it upstairs to play with Kal, but they're mostly preoccupied with fighting. Ronan swipes a finger in the condensation of a water glass and sends droplets flying onto Jaspers face, who then fights his way out from under Ronan.

"I'm gonna throw dirt in your hair while your sleeping tonight if you don't give me that remote!" I hear Jasper muffle-shout as I make my quiet retreat.

As entertaining as they probably would be, I'm happy to not deal with their shenanigans... and looking forward to some Mario kart ass-whooping.