Miriam was struggling with her homework, specifically her math homework. She didn't understand what changed, she knew she wasn't the greatest at math but she's always managed to get by with a passing grade. But as time went on, she's noticed the numbers declining on her papers. It was draining and majorly discouraging.

"You girls got anything to do this weekend?" Priya asked while walking down the hallway with her friends.

"No, OooOo how about we go over to Mei's place and listen to 4*town!" Abby suggested, moving aside for some students to get by. Priya nodded and the two girls eyed Mei with grins on their faces.

"Ok ok, I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind," Mei said, giggling at first.

"There she is!" Abby pointed at Miriam who was digging through her locker for her stuff. The group moved towards their friend and Miriam noticed them almost immediately.

"Hey girls!" Miriam greeted, stuffing papers into her bag and taking her skateboard out of her locker.

"Hey, Mir,"

"Sup!" Abby said, flashing peace signs.

"Yo, so we're heading to Mei's tomorrow. Wanna come?"

"Sure! Depends on what time though,"

"You think we thought that through?" Abby deadpanned causing Miriam to laugh a bit.

"If you can't hang it's ok," Mei put her hand on Miriam's shoulder and smiled in a forgiving way. Miriam frowned but shook her head and smiled.

"It's cool Mei, I can come," Mei grinned at Miriam's confirmation as her eyes darted to the inside of Miriam's locker. Her eyes slightly widened when she saw the 68 circled on one of her math quizzes they took two classes ago. However, her line of sight was disrupted when Miriam closed her locker and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"I'm ready, let's bounce," The girls split up as they left the school because of where their homes were. Abby and Priya went in one direction while Mei and Miriam went the other direction. While they walked, Mei shot occasional glances at Miriam who didn't seem to notice too much. What bothered Mei is why Miriam didn't ask her for help if she was struggling. Miriam knew Mei's prowess in math, it wasn't a secret.

"Hey Mir, can I ask you something?" Mei asked as the two of them turned the corner of the sidewalk. Miriam turned her head and hummed, signaling Mei to ask.

"I noticed in your locker that-" Suddenly Miriam froze and facepalmed, causing Mei to raise an eyebrow.

"Ah shoot! Sorry, Mei, I forgot my mom wanted me home earlier today. She said we should bake for some family bonding," Miriam used quotations when saying, family bonding, as she rolled her eyes. Mei held back a laugh as Miriam groaned. Mei knew Miriam was an awful baker and the last time the two tried to make something the kitchen almost blew up in flames.

From cookies.

"Haha, uh oh! I'll see you tomorrow then!" Mei waved to Mei as she took off on her skateboard. She sighed as she walked past the markets around her, pondering whether asking Miriam was even a good idea, to begin with. It wasn't any of her business anyway, but she couldn't get the feeling to help out of her heart. Mei crossed the street after looking both ways and walked into the temple.

"Hello, Mei Mei!" Mei waved to her mother as she ran into the store, grabbing her name tag. She joined her mother outside and her temple duties began.

Mei was doodling on a Saturday morning, specifically Robaire holding her Tamagotchi. She's been working on it ever since breakfast and she wanted to perfect it for when her friends come over. She was humming along to 4*Town when she saw her phone buzz against the table. Letting go of her pencil, she reached over and grabbed it, flipping it open.

Hey girl, sorry to cancel last minute but I'm not feeling too well so I can't go. Sorry again

Mei frowned at Miriam's text but her brain immediately went to the math homework. Could she be lying to study? No, Miriam would've just told her, she doesn't lie especially over simple things like that. But if she is sick, Mei felt responsible to take care of her. That's what she decided on, taking care of her best friend.

Mei closed her notebook and grabbed her phone, backpack, and put her math folder and notebook in there just in case. She slung her bag over her shoulders and walked out of her bedroom.

"Where are you going?"

"To Miriam's! That's ok right?" Mei asked carefully after seeing the uncertainty on Ming's face. Ming thought about it for a moment which caused Mei to panic.

"I guess, but don't eat up all of her food. It's impolite," Mei ran over and hugged her mom to show her appreciation before running out the door. She made her way to Miriam's place, transforming into her panda to get there quicker. Mei ran across buildings, occasionally looking down to spot the street names so she was going in the right direction. She jumped off a building and poofed out of her panda right outside Miriam's house. She walked up to the front door and went to knock as the door swung open.

"Your medicine is on your dresser and- oh hello Mei," Miriam's mother stopped walking so she didn't run Mei over. Mei smiled and waved at Miriam's mother.

"Hey Mrs. Mendelsohn, can I go inside?" Mei asked, letting herself relax. Around most adults, Mei greeted them with respect and chose her words carefully but Miriam's mom was different. She's been friends with Miriam since 5th grade and grew a good relationship with Miriam's mother. And her mother's made sure that Mei didn't keep her politeness to the roof with her. That doesn't mean Mei didn't treat her respectfully, though she used more slang than formal words.

"Is it for Mir?" Mei nodded.

"Well, she's sick at the moment-"

"I know! I came to take care of her," Mei took her bag off of her shoulder and zipped it open for her mother. Mrs. Mendelsohn peaked inside and nodded approvingly.

"Ok, just don't get yourself sick and don't let her outside. Her allergies will act up and she might complain that she's dying," Both girls laughed and Miriam's mother turned back to the door.

"Don't go outside!" Her mother shouted to Miriam before saying goodbye to Mei and going into her car. Mei waved to Miriam's mother as she pulled out of the driveway and drove away. Once she was gone, Mei entered the house and locked the door behind her.

"Hey, Mir! It's Mei!" Mei said, taking her shoes off and setting them on the floor by the door. After getting no answer, Mei grabbed some water from the fridge and walked towards Miriam's bedroom.

"Mir?" Mei pushed open Miriam's already cracked open door and smiled when she saw Miriam listening to music on her CD player. She put the door back to where it was previously and slid her bag off her shoulders. She tapped Miriam's shoulder causing her to turn around.

"Mei!? What are you doing here?" Miriam took her headphones off and put them on the table, swinging around on her spinning chair.

"You said you were sick! I wanted to take care of you since your mom left," Mei said as Miriam stood up off of her chair and sat on her bed, watching Mei take out everything she brought for her. Ice packs, medicine, thermometer, and more.

"Woah, uh look girl it's ok. I can take care of myself, see!" Miriam leaned over and held up the medicine her mother left for her. Mei sighed and joined Miriam on the bed causing Miriam to scooch away.

"Don't need you getting sick trying to help me," Miriam stated but Mei ignored her. Mei took out her thermometer and held it up to Miriam's mouth.

"Open,"

"Mei,"

"Open up Mir," Reluctantly, Miriam opened her mouth and watched the temperature rise. She took the thermometer out of her mouth and looked at it.

"Low-grade fever," Mei commented.

"I know, and my allergies as well. So now that you know you can just lea-"

"Since we aren't going outside today, I thought we can study for our math quiz!" Mei exclaimed, going through her backpack and taking out her notebook.

"Seriously girl? I'm sick and you're trying to make me study for math? Math!"

"Yes, now come on," Mei made a little set up on Miriam's bed so they could work on the practice problems Mr. Kieslowski gave them to study. The setup consisted of two notebooks, one folder with notes, two pencils, and a big eraser. At first, Miriam refused to work on math homework but then claimed that she didn't want Mei to get sick. In the end, she agreed to study with her, much to Mei's delight.

Miriam was silently thanking herself for agreeing because she began to notice how clueless she was to the material. She ended up multiplying when it said to add in the directions somehow.

"Mir, how do you multiply when it says to add?!" Mei asked, her jaw dropped at Miriam's decision. She could only chuckle nervously.

"Testing you?"

"Nice try," Miriam sighed defeatedly before Mei put her hand on Miriam's. Miriam looked at Mei, eyes widened from the sudden move.

"You're doing good so far! Maybe a little behind but still good!" Mei quickly added after seeing Miriam grimace. When she finished, Miriam smiled softly before jerking her hand away from Mei's.

"You can get sick!"

"It's fine, oh by the way you should be drinking more water. I'll grab that for you," Mei slid off the bed and walked out of Miriam's room to retrieve the bottle.

Miriam sighed through her nose and leaned against her wall. She rubbed her eyes and sniffled. Why did Mei suddenly want to do math homework, on the say they were supposed to hang out? Does she know about the grades?

"Hey, Mir I-" Miriam sneezed as Mei entered her bedroom. Mei jumped and poofed into her panda from the sudden sound causing Miriam to start laughing. Mei patted her fur and sputtered out a stop as she poofed out of her panda.

"Not funny Miriam!" No matter how much Mei tried to argue that it wasn't funny, Miriam couldn't stop laughing. Eventually, Mei giggled too but once Miriam started coughing she stopped to grab some cough drops.

"Thanks, and why did you want to do math? I thought we could listen to 4*Town or something," Miriam said, taking the cough drop Mei offered her. She unwrapped it and popped it in her mouth as Mei played with her fingers.

"I may or may not have noticed your math grades were going down," Miriam stood shocked.

"How?! It's all in my locker!"

"I got a peek yesterday," Mei whispered as she held her hands together and rose up and down on her tippy toes.

"Oh..." Miriam said, deflating a bit.

"I just want to help,"

"I know, but I just don't want you worrying about me," Miriam smiled and reached out for her but pulled her arm back, coughing.

"I don't mind! My mom said it's good to help people!"

"Of course she would, you're Meilin Lee after all," Miriam said in a joking way. Mei laughed and motioned for Miriam to join her on the bed. Miriam accepted her offer and the two were back on Miriam's bed, flipping through Mei's notebook.

"Woah wait!" Miriam suddenly said causing Mei to stop flipping through. She gazed at Miriam quizingly as Miriam flipped back a page, revealing her drawing of Robaire and the Tamagotchi.

"Aw, Mei," Mei blushed and shrugged her shoulder.

"Just something in my spare time,"

"Do you think you can draw one for me!?" Miriam asked, shoving the notebook in Mei's face. Mei flinched and took the notebook out of Miriam's hands, smiling nervously at her.

"S-Sure? Aaron T?" Mei asked and Miriam nodded quickly.

"Ok ok, I'll start it when I finish Robaire," Miriam squealed and hugged Mei tightly, forgetting about her sickness for a moment. After remembering, she pulled away and hugged her knees to her chest.

"Sorry,"

"No, it's fine. You're actually pretty warm," Miriam rubbed her nose and glanced at Mei who was sitting crisscrossed on her bed. She shrugged and awkwardly looked at the math notebook.

"So uh, finish this maybe-" She heard her phone buzz on the bed and picked it up.

"Abby and Priya are asking if we're still down to hang out today,"

"Oh, tell them you're sick,"

"I did, this is your phone," Mei blushed from embarrassment and Miriam started laughing as she handed Mei her phone.

"Stop laughing Mir!"

"That's twice today!" Miriam wheezed out as she fell on her back laughing. Mei rolled her eyes but couldn't stop herself from smiling at Miriam's bubbly laugh.

I'm taking care of Miriam today, how about tomorrow if she's feeling better? - Mei

Awww that's so cute! Let me know when the first date is happening - Abby

You girls are adorable - Priya

Woah, Priya that's a big word - Abby

Yeah, big word for big love - Priya

Guys don't start this is a group chat - Mei

"Doing this shipping thing again," Miriam commented from her phone. Mei sighed and nodded, closing her phone and letting it fall on the bed.

"So, math?"

"Ugh, seriously?" Miriam asked while rubbing her eyes and sniffling.

"You're getting better, look," Mei pulled up the worksheet and the graded version of it. All of Miriam's answers were correct except for two but it was out of twenty.

"Aw, two wrong,"

"It's an improvement!" Mei nudged Miriam's shoulder causing the sick girl to cough a bit. She drank some water and analyzed the two sheets, comparing her start to finish.

"Huh," A smile rose to her face as she stated at the 18/20 Mei wrote on the top of her page.

"I guess I did get better,"

"And while being sick!" Mei said. Miriam smiled before sneezing again, which caused Mei to jump into her panda again.

"Seriously!?" She whined as Miriam started laughing again. It didn't take long for Mei to start laughing along with her best friend. The embarrassment was overpowered with happiness as she laughed along with Miriam.

The two sat together, huddled up on Miriam's bed, humming 4*Town together as nightfall darkened the previous light outside the curtains.