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Chapter 34

When I woke up the next day, Lana had already left the room. I climbed out of bed and quickly noticed my feet had socks on them and that hoodie had been laid over me while I slept.

As I got out of the covers, I instantly knew why. The house was freezing. I slipped on the hoodie that I was sure, like my t-shirt, was pilfered from Robbie's room. It had the Trinity soccer insignia stitched on it; I was quite the detective.

I walked downstairs to see Lana sitting on the kitchen counter, eating toast with Robbie.

"Why is it so cold?" I asked, rubbing my arms.

"I think Maria put down the temperature in the middle of the night," Lana said, putting some slices of toast in the oven for me.

I shivered and rubbed my arms. Lana had already gone by the bathroom, where she changed and put on the leggings, she wore the day before. She had on her tennis sweater that she lent me that day at the museum.

"Thank you for the socks," I said, pointing at my feet.

"Yeah, I woke up, and your feet were sticking out of the blanket. They were cold, so I put some socks on you. I couldn't find your clothes from the day before, so I told Robbie to lend you a jacket."

"Aww," I said, giving her a hug from behind.

Robbie rolled his eyes at us as he took another bite from his toast.

"Hey," he said, suddenly looking at my feet, "Those are my socks. You said you were going to Maria's room for socks."

"She was sleeping, and I didn't want to wake her up. Relax, I didn't look at anything in your hovel," Lana said, sticking her tongue at him.

Lana and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"You guys are bullies," He said, pointing at us with the toast in his hand. Lana grabbed his hand and took a bite out of it. He looked at her, upset, and I took the chance to swipe the untouched toast on his plate.

He grabbed my wrist as I stepped back. I felt his touch burn.

"Witches." He said and then paused to look at me. I felt myself blush under his scrutiny, and he brought his face close to mine.

"Lia," he started, his breath fanning my face. I gulped. "Is that my shirt?" He said as he wrapped his long fingers around the pull and slid down the zipper of the hoodie. His green eyes bore into mine, and I felt my heart skip a beat. The toaster oven dinged, and the toast Lana had set for us popped up. I put my hand over his and pried his fingers off my wrist, pretending to have a sudden urgency for buttered toast.

Lana took me home soon after, and I decided I would use the rest of Sunday to organize myself. Maria was still really sick and slept for most of the day. She did a video call with us after dinner and fell asleep five minutes into it.

Lana and I took her absence as an opportunity to do our calculus homework together. She had the same teacher in a different period.

The next day marked the start of the second week of school. Things were a lot easier, and I was able to find my way around with no problems. Maria was out on Monday. She said she was coming down with a cold and not feeling well, so I spent my lunch period with Lana and Damien.

To give them some credit, they put in a valiant effort to keep the PDA to a minimum. Even then, it was still really awkward. Thankfully Chris joined us the last few minutes and saved me from feeling like the third wheel. On Wednesday, Maria was still sick. I texted her to see what was up.

"I just feel like poo."

"Aww, I'm sorry," I texted back.

"Pretty sure it's a cold no more fever...but it's hitting me hard."

"Do you want me to get you anything?"

"No. Don't worry about it. Darla is taking good care of me."

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Thursday came around, and was still out. After track practice, I texted her while I waited for the bus.

"Are you okay? I thought it was just cold and it would be over by now. How are you feeling."

"Like death."

"Geez, how did it get so bad?"

"I don't know. I get bronchitis pretty easily. It's been like that since I was a kid. I'll be fine in a few days. Just need to rest and then use my inhaler before practice for a few weeks. This same thing happened last year. I think it's the change in temperature."

"Alright. Feel better."

"Thank you, girlie, love you."

"Love you too."

I noticed I had a text from Liam asking me if I wanted to get something to eat after school. I debated whether it was wise to do so. I had a test this Friday and did not want to slack. Still, I felt guilty about the way we left things last time we hung out together.

"Sure, but quickly I can only hang out 30 minutes max." I texted back.

"We can get some kababs from a street cart."

"Okay, sounds good," I said.

During art history, Lana and I did our calculus homework unbeknownst to our slumbering teacher.

"Man, Maria is so sick. Poor baby." Lana said.

"You were able to see her? She told me she was doing better."

"Haven't seen her but I know it's bad. She didn't text me about the Gala or about getting started with the next event and she was super sick yesterday. She just likes to downplay everything. Her asthma can be rough when she gets anything in her lungs."

"Oh, wow," I said, feeling concerned.

I decided to go home and make a giant pot of chicken noodle soup as soon as school ended. My dad can take some for lunch, and I'll take some to Maria to make her feel better. Using my phone in my lap in case Mr. Nielson decided to be an adult and notice what his students are doing.

I looked up a route home that would have a grocery store on the way to pick up ingredients. The cool thing about Mr. Nielson is he let us out early. I ran to my bus stop and could catch the one that came before my usual ride. On the bus ride, I received a text from Liam.

"Hey. you still want to get something to eat?"

Oh, shoot! I completely forgot.

"I'm so sorry. I can't. I have to visit a friend who's sick." I texted back.

"Alright. That's nice of you. I hope your friend feels better."

He seemed alright with me breaking plans, but for some reason, I still felt as if he were upset, and it bothered me.

After getting home, showering, and making my famous chicken noodle soup, I packed my books so I could study on the way there and back, as well as a large portion of soup. I decided to text my dad and ask him if I borrow his credit card to take an uber. It was dark, and I didn't want to take buses. He gave me the green light to use his card and wished me a safe trip.

I arrived at her house as the sun was going down. The Uber left me on the driveway.

"Thanks," I said and got out with the heavy pot of soup. I rang the doorbell with my forehead since my hands held the giant soup pot and waited for someone to open the door. Finally, a maid opened up.

"Ms. Gomez, how are you? Is Ms. Bennet expecting you?" "

"She isn't. I'm just bringing her soup," I said, holding up the pot as evidence.

"Ah, okay, sweetheart, come in. I will tell her you are here."

"Thank you, tell her I'll be right up; I'm going to put the soup in a bowl and heat it up a bit."

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and a ladle from a drawer. I scooped some soup into the bowl and went to find a spoon.

"Second drawer."

"What?"

I turned to find Robbie leaning against the door frame.

"Thanks," I said, opening the drawer and finding a spoon.

"You know we have cooks that make us food," He said with a slightly arrogant tone.

"I know, but my chicken soup is famous and known to work magic."

He looked at me as if I had grown a second head.

"Don't you have a history test this Friday?" He asked abruptly.

"We are in the same class, so you know I do."

"That's just two days away. You aren't going to study? Her tests are brutal. I had her last year."

"Yeah, but I'll study on the way home, and I'll stay up a little bit later tonight and tomorrow."

He nodded and eyed the pot of soup.

"Robbie, do you want to try the soup?" I asked.

It looked like he had an internal argument on whether to be a complete snob or be a normal person and just have some soup.

"Thanks. I'll pass. I don't like soup," He said.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Alright, well, if you change your mind, I'm leaving the pot here. I made the soup for you guys. No need to be shy," I said, walking past him to go upstairs and see Maria.

She was in her bed with several blankets piled over her. Her nose was a bright red color, and her eyes were watery.

"You didn't have to come."

"I brought you soup," I said, displaying the bowl.

"Noo, Lia, you didn't have to."

"According to many, my soup is magical, and it is my civic duty to make it whenever I know someone is very sick."

She snorted. "Thanks," she said, taking it from me.

I put my hand on her forehead; she seemed a normal temperature.

"It's not a fever anymore. I get a cold or the flu, and it turns to bronchitis quickly then it's just a waiting game until I get my ability to breathe through my nose and my lungs back."

"So, it's not contagious?" I asked.

"No, I don't think so." She said.

"Alright, sweet," I said, climbing into bed with her.

"I never got to talk to you about the party, how was your booth experience?" She asked a knowing look in her eyes. 

Thanks, Lana.

"You know how it was."

She laughed softly, "Yeah, Lana told me anything. From the top of my head, Lia there are only three boys that match that description," She said smiling.

"Why is that so funny?"

"Because one of them is my brother."

"Robbie?"

"No, my other secret brother," She said, teasing me.

"Hmm. No. He's with Abigail. I don't think he would. Also, why wouldn't he say anything?"

"You know he's not exclusive with her," she said pursing her lips at me and giving me a look, "and I don't know maybe he's shy?"

"Robbie is not shy," I said, frowning.

She shrugged.

"So, how was school? Anything interesting?" She asked changing the subject while blowing on the soup.

"Well, Jesse asks about you all the time. He keeps asking Lana for updates on how you are doing."

She blushed. Then her eyes widened, "Lia, this soup is amazing!"

"Glad you like it," I said.

"You're such a good friend," She said, leaning her head on my shoulder. She finished her soup, and we talked about school and until she started to get sleepy.

"Alright, I'm going to go," I said and kissed her forehead goodbye.

She squeezed my hand.

"Call me when you get home, so I know you're safe." I nodded and headed downstairs.

Robbie was in the kitchen, eating a bowl of soup.

"I thought you didn't like soup?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugged.

"Okay then, well, I'll see you tomorrow, enjoy," I said, grabbing the bag I left on a kitchen stool.

"Wait, I can drive you home if you want." He said, wiping his mouth with a napkin and pushing his chair back.

"No, finish eating, I already called a cab, I wouldn't bother you with that. It actually should be here already." 

I wasn't sure if the cab was there, but I suddenly felt nervous at the idea of being in a vehicle with him. Alone.

"It's not bothering me if I want to take you," he said stirring the soup in his bowl. "Thank you, by the way," he added.

"For the soup?"

"Well yeah, and for taking care of my sister," He said, shrugging.

"That's what friends do," I said and pressed my lips together.

"Hey, can we talk about—"

"Well, my uber is waiting—" We said at the same time.

"Sorry," I said. "What were you going to say?"

"Nothing, the soup is good, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow." He said and went back to eating his soup.

I shook my head. "Bye Robbie," I said and left to catch my ride home.

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A/N

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