After the movie ended, Declan showed me to the guest room. I realized it was the same room I had woke up in a while back. It made me curious as to what Declan's room looked like. After I got myself settled into bed, my mind kept traveling to our conversations today. It had been such a long day; the funeral, the walk, dinner, washing dishes and the movie. I was exhausted from it all and yet when I laid my head on the pillow, I couldn't fall asleep. I stared up at the ceiling for what felt like hours, trying to convince my body to relax and close my eyes. Nothing worked though. My mind kept wandering back to Declan and I wondered if he was still awake. I wanted to go see him but if I did, I wasn't sure I would be able to resist him. So I stayed in bed and laid there, wide awake, despite my exhaustion. I grabbed my phone off of the nightstand and looked at the time.

11:56pm

Jeez, I really needed to get to sleep. I put my phone back and closed my eyes tightly, trying to will myself to drift off. After a few minutes I gave up and sighed. I pulled the blankets off and walked out of the room. I looked down the hallway towards Declan's room. I really shouldn't...but I just couldn't help myself. My feet moved of their own accord and I found myself softly knocking on his bedroom door. After a few moments, it opened to reveal a smirking Declan.

"You can't sleep either?" He asked and I nodded. He opened the door fully and stepped to the side so I could walk in. I looked around the room to see burgundy walls lined with plaques and other awards. I read one of them and quickly realized they were all from boxing.

"A little full of yourself, are you?" I asked, gesturing to the walls. He chuckled as he walked over to his bed and sat down.

"I thought you already knew that." He stated with a cocky grin on his face. I smiled and then sat down beside him on the bed. I looked at his nightstand and saw two pictures. One was of him and his dad and the other was of a younger looking Declan and a beautiful woman with the same colored hair as him. I picked up the second picture and touched the woman's face with the tips of my fingers. Her long brown hair draped over her shoulders and down to her waist as her arm wrapped around the small Declan. She was looking at the camera with soft golden brown eyes.

"Is this your mom?" I asked quietly as I kept examining the picture. Declan looked so happy in it, he was laughing as he clung to his mother's waist.

"Yeah." He whispered as I felt his arm wrap around my shoulders and pulled me to him. We looked at the picture together for a while before he took it from my hands and laid it back on the nightstand. I watched his face as he turned his attention to me.

"She was beautiful." I said and gave him a small smile. He returned it and cupped my cheek with his hand.

"Goldi, can I ask you something?" His voice was hesitant and nervous.

"What is it?" I asked, becoming concerned for him. He put his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.

"Stay here and sleep beside me, please." My heart jumped at his words.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I said, my voice quivering slightly.

"You're right." He responded quietly, his voice filled with disappointment. It made me heart ache for him.

"But..." I said it before my mind had a chance to process it. Declan opened his eyes and they widened in shock.

"What?" He asked as if he hadn't heard me.

"I trust you." I whispered to him, smiling slightly. I did trust him. The fact that he stopped himself from kissing me earlier proved to me he wouldn't do anything until I was ready.

"Are you sure?" He seemed worried and not confident at all which made me laugh a little.

"Yes, I'm sure. You have done more than enough to prove that I can trust you, Declan." I reassured him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was staring at my lips and I felt lust rise up in me. I wanted to kiss him so badly but I didn't want to make things more difficult for him than I already was. I moved my face and buried it into his shoulder so our lips weren't so close to doing what we both wanted to. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid down, pulling me with him. Our legs entangled together as we pulled the comforter over ourselves. I cuddled into him further and felt my eyelids become heavy for the first time that night. I closed them and let myself drift off to sleep in his arms.

-The Next Morning-

I turned over to feel something warm and I found myself gravitated towards it. I wrapped my arm and leg around it and cuddled myself into the heat. My throat felt really scratchy and I realized quickly that it wasn't going away. I coughed into the blanket and then sniffed and felt that my nose was stuffed up. I felt the warmth beside me leave and I whimpered from the cold.

"Goldi, are you feeling ok?" Declan's voice made me open my eyes. He was standing beside the bed, staring at me. He reached his hand to my forehead and after a moment pulled it back. I felt a prickle in my nose and sneezed in response.

Damn it. I'm sick.

I sighed and sat up, sniffling again. My head started to throb as I looked up at Declan. He was watching me intently as I struggled with my cold symptoms.

"I'll go make you some breakfast and get some medicine. I'll be right back, just lay down and rest." He instructed and then walked out the door. I looked around for my phone but remembered that I left it in the guest room.

I had slept the whole night in Declan's bed. I blushed at this thought but then felt the urge to cough again. I stood up and walked out the door and down the hallway to the guest room. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time.

9:47am

Crap! I need to get to class! I quickly changed into my school clothes that I had brought with me. I sneezed and coughed as I got ready and just as I was about the reach for the front door, I heard Declan yell my name.

"Goldilocks! You are not going to class! You're sick, you idiot!" I whipped around to see him standing there with a plate of food and a glass of orange juice.

"I'm not an idiot! You're an idiot! I missed two days of classes already and three days of work. I can't miss anymore!" I yelled in annoyance but I felt my throat start to give out and I realized that I was losing my voice. Declan glared at me until I sighed and gave in. I dropped my bags and walked over to him and took the food and drink. He had a triumphant smile plastered on his face while I made my way to the kitchen table. I sat down and started eating the omelet he made me. I took a drink of the juice and almost spit it out from the taste.

"What the hell is this?!" I asked as I narrowed my eyes at the drink. Declan laughed beside me as he sat down.

"It's Airborne, it'll help you feel better." He said simply.

"Do I have to drink it?" I whined.

"Only if you want to get better faster." He replied simply and started eating from his own plate. I stared at the orange liquid in disgust but then chugged it quickly, trying to get it over with as fast as I could. I took a big breath after I finished it and set the glass down.

"So dramatic." He commented and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"So dramatic." I mocked him and he looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. I stuck my tongue out at him because I didn't know what else to do and that caused him to laugh.

"Quit laughing at me." I demanded becoming more annoyed with him by the second.

"I can't help it, you're always so sassy, even when you're sick." He explained as he took another bite of food.

"Yeah, well, I'll probably never lose my attitude." I shrugged and looked down at what was left of my omelet. I wasn't hungry anymore after that nasty drink. I picked up my plate, tossed the rest of my food in the trash and then placed my dish in the sink. I looked over to see Declan's back as he focused on his food. I slowly and quietly stepped out of the kitchen and looked down the hallway at the front door. I tiptoed towards it and then picked up my bags as soundlessly as I could. I wrapped my hand around the doorknob and started to turn it.

"Goldilocks, are you kidding me?!" I whipped around to see Declan, hands on hips, giving me a disapproving look.

"Declan, you don't understand, I can't let my grades slip!" I yelled. He walked straight up to me, before wrapping his arms around my waist and slinging me over his shoulder.

"You are not going anywhere today so just give it up." He said as he walked me into his bedroom. I pounded on his back but I quickly got dizzy and my headache started throbbing. He set me down lightly on the bed and put his hand to my forehead again. I narrowed my eyes at him but he just kept smirking.

"Jerk." I said under my breath but I knew he could hear me.

"Settle down, sassy pants." He snipped back. I pouted for a moment but then he pushed on my shoulders to lay down. He pulled the blankets over me and smiled down at my dropping eyelids.

"That's it. Just rest for today." He said and then leaned down at kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes as I heard his footsteps disappear out of the room.

I wished I could just tell Declan how I really feel. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him and how much I appreciated all of the concern he showed for me. No one had ever done that for me. I remember always sucking it up and going to school when I was sick. Everyone always depended on me so I was never taken care of like that. He had no idea how much it meant to me that he was making me stay with him and take care of me. If only my pride would let me tell him all of this. I always pretended to be so strong but in reality, I was the weakest person I knew. It was like Declan could see past my facade and had the kindness to step in and be the man I never knew I needed. I felt tears prick my eyes and slide down my cheeks onto the pillow.

"Thank you, Declan." I whispered into the air before letting myself fall asleep.