The second I got home, Rio came into my room to watch the movie.

I told him to make us popcorn so that I could freak out in my room alone. In a good way. Once he left my room, I shut my door and excitedly spun around in circles.

I had sex with Nico. And I'm dating him now.

I can't wipe this smile off of my face.

"Elle! You want a drink, too?" Rio yelled from downstairs, making me stop spinning.

I opened the door again and yelled back, "No thanks!"

I tried to get the smile off of my face as I smelt the popcorn and heard him walking up the stairs, but I couldn't. I felt as if I had injected myself with pure happiness.

Plus, Nico said that he would help me paint tomorrow. He's tall, so he'll be useful to paint the top part of the walls.

"What's that smile from? I know it's not because you're dying to watch this movie," Rio questioned, handing me the bowl that he made for me.

Since he shut the door when he entered, so I knew my parents couldn't hear, I told him, "Nico and I are together now."

"Weren't you guys already together?" his eyebrows lowered.

"No," I said as if it were obvious. "But we are now."

"He's still gonna give me a tattoo, right?" he asked me.

"As long as it's not stupid."

"It's not. I have a picture of it, but I don't have my phone with me right now. I'll show you next time you come into my room," he said while munching on his popcorn. Loudly. Aggressively loud.

I nudged his arm, "Can you chew with your mouth closed?"

"Why? Did it make you mad how I chewed with my mouth open?" he raised his eyebrows at me. He picked up more popcorn and chewed it with his mouth open again. "Does this make you mad?"

"Shut up," I laughed, grabbing the remote and starting the movie.

Thankfully, Rio stopped chewing with his mouth open. I would've shown him what Nicos' taught me if he didn't.

I ate my entire bowl of popcorn within the first 10 minutes of the movie, but that's okay because Nico likes me for me and doesn't seem to care about how much I eat.

Halfway through the movie, my throat started to feel scratchy. I'd cough every here and there, but every time that I would, Rio would tell me to shut up.

By the time the movie came to an end, my skin started to feel warm and clamy. Rio said goodnight to me before going back to his room, and I decided that I'd take a quick bath since my skin was a little sweaty.

I ran the warm water, pulling my clothes off as the tub filled up. I grabbed my phone to play some music, and when I picked it up, I had a text from Nico.

'You feeling okay? Wish you could've stayed so that I could make sure you were good.'

I typed back, 'Aches a little, but I'll survive. Unless I don't, and then I die. I'm taking a bath then going to bed.'

'Why are you taking a bath when you showered here?'

'Feeling a little bit sick.'

'Are you okay? What's wrong? Want me to drop anything off?'

I smiled at the fact that he cared. I replied, 'I'm okay. You can see for yourself in the morning.'

'Okay, goodnight. I'll bring you breakfast.'

So sweet. It better be from McDonald's or else I'll jump off a bridge.

I got into the water, but tied my hair up so that it didn't get wet. I sniffled as I sat in the warm water, leaning my head against the side of the tub. I sat there until I started yawning, and decided that I should get out before I drown.

I unplugged the tub, sending the water down the drain. I wrapped a towel around myself after and got into my bed, feeling too lazy to change.

I shut my eyes, and the sick feeling that filled my body made me fall asleep quickly.

-------

I'm dying. I've come to terms with the fact that I am dying.

My waterbottle is empty now, and I feel too tired to get out of bed. Coughs and sneezes come out of me every so often, and even though it's just a cold, I'm already planning my funeral.

My phone buzzed on my bed, 'Coming. You're up, right?'

'Yes, but I'm dying.'

'Coming right now. Try not to die within the next 5 minutes.'

I glare at the can of paint, knowing that I won't be able to paint today. Both of my parents are at work, and Romeo and Rio already know about Nico.

I hear the front door open downstairs, followed by the sound of Nico and Rio talking. I pushed myself up to be in a sitting position, but still kept my butt in bed.

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and I knew they were Nicos' because they were heavier than Romeos' and Rios'.

He slowly opens my door and I quickly gasp at how much of an idiot I am for not getting ready. My hair was in a ponytail, and my skin was hot and slightly sweaty. I also only wore shorts and a t-shirt, but since Nico apparently likes when I bend over, I didn't mind the clothes I had on.

The door was fully open now, but I was stumbling over to my bathroom with my blanket covering my head. I spoke from underneath it, "Don't look at me, Nico!"

Because he never listens, he pulled the blanket off of me and tossed it back onto the bed. A smile formed on my face seeing that he got breakfast from McDonalds, and I was so distracted by it that I didn't even notice Nico picking me up.

He held me close to him, and I complained even though I liked it, "Nico."

He put me down in the bed, and pulled the blanket over me. He ordered, "You look beautiful, and you need rest. Here."

He handed me the bag of food, which made a huge smile form on my face. As I grabbed the food out of the bag, he looked at me with concern while he pressed his hand to the side of my face, "Do you need anything? Do you think it's the flu? I can take you to the doctors."

I shook my head, "It's just a cold, I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" he scanned over me as if he were looking for something else to be wrong.

I nodded while biting into my breakfast, and he never took his worried eyes off of me.

He put his hand on my back while I ate, moving it up and down. As I ate, I went to lean back in the bed when he told me, "There's more."

I look in the bag, a laugh coming from my sore throat.

"Nico, there's no way you think that I can eat all of this," I laughed while looking at all of the food that he had in here.

"I'll put it in your fridge then," he said with the faintest smile. "Hand me your waterbottle, I'll fill it up."

I handed it to him, and thanked him as I watched him exit the room.

I heard him talk to Rio in the kitchen quickly before heading back up the stairs, waterbottle in hand. He handed it to me, and I took a gracious sip.

"Come here," he said gently, laying down on the bed beside me.

He was motioning for me to lay on him, but I paused, "If I didn't already get you sick yesterday, then I definitely will today."

"I'll be fine," he grumbled. "Bring your ass over here before I pull you over here myself."

I sniffled before smiling, but made my way across the bed. I lay on top of him, my cheek pressing against his chest. His fingertips gently ran along my back, sending a feeling of comfort over my body. I slowly shut my eyes, knowing that I was safe in Nicos' arms.

♦ ♦

Her breathing softened, telling me that she was asleep. I had a tattoo to do later, but I was going to cancel it and stay here. I didn't even care if she was asleep the entire day; I wanted to be here in case she needed anything.

Even though she was asleep, I still moved my hand up and down her back.

Rio paused in the doorway on the way to his room. He looked at Elle, then me, then Elle again.

"You know she's not gonna die, right?" he sort of whispered. "Like it's just a cold, not cancer."

"Your sister is a very aggressive person, Rio. If I leave, I'm scared she'll kill me," I lied, wanting to stay so that I could make sure she was okay.

He nodded, "I know, right. One of my teeth are fake cause she knocked it out."

My eyebrows lowered and he raised his hands, "To be fair, I deserved it a little. I was fake fighting with her and I tickled her, and her elbow hit my mouth."

A smile formed on my face while I looked down at her.

Rio kept walking, and I stayed completely still, not wanting to wake her. I didn't mind that I could get sick, all I cared about was her being okay. Something shifted in my heart seeing her fall asleep on me. She trusts me enough to know that I'll take care of her.

And I'm never going to break her trust.

I carefully pulled my phone out of my pocket, and sent a text to Sin, asking him to cover my client later.

Once I sent the text, I laid my head back on the pillow. I shut my eyes, letting myself sleep with her.

---------

I nearly fuckin' jumped out of my skin when I woke up and saw Elle staring at me with her eyes as wide as she could make them.

She laughed at my reaction while snuggling herself into my chest. I rolled my eyes, but still kissed the top of her head.

"We're gonna have to paint some other time," she said through the material of my shirt.

"That's fine," I said while she lifted her head back up.

She smiled, leaning forward and kissing the tip of my nose. I tried to pull her face into mine, but she stayed where he was, "Not while I'm sick."

"I don't care," I said truthfully.

"Well, I do," she poked my cheek.

I put my hand on the side of her warm cheek, brushing my thumb up and down, "Are you feeling any better?"

"A little," she nodded, but her brown eyes widened hearing her front door open.

She snapped her head in the direction of her clock.

She looks beautiful.

"Get out of my room now," she orders.

My eyebrows lower. The fuck?

"Why-"

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs makes her shoot up and cut me off, "Get under my bed now. My parents are home, and they'll kill me if they see I have a boy over."

"I'm your boyfriend. Of course I'm gonna come over," I grumble.

"I know, and I love that," she spoke sweetly before her tone switched to be dead serious. "But my parents would literally never let me leave my house ever again."

I scowl at the thought. As the footsteps get closer, she smacks my shoulder, "Under. Now."

I went under the bed. Shamefully.

I'm a 24 year old grown man hiding under my fucking girlfriends bed.

She sat on the edge of her bed as her door opened. I lay on my stomach, only able to see Elle's feet and her moms shoes. My eyebrows lower as I noticed Elle is wearing socks that look like a dogs paws.

"Elle," her mom said in a tone that I didn't like. "Care to tell me where you went that night?"

None of her fuckin' business after telling her daughter to walk home.

"I just went to my friends house," she lied, and I felt an anger form in my chest.

Not at her. But at her parents. She's 19, and she shouldn't have to feel afraid to tell them that she's in a relationship.

"I see. Well, Rio explained it, so I guess I'm sorry," her mom said, making me roll my eyes. What a fucking bullshit apology.

"It's okay," Elle's sweet but congested voice spoke.

"Whose car is in the driveway?" her mom asked.

I could see Elle freeze for a second. She responded, "Probably one of the neighbors friends that got the wrong house."

It was a terrible answer, but her mom didn't seem to actually care too much, since she didn't see anybody else in the house.

"You sound sick," her mom said, but more in a grossed out tone than a concerned one.

As Elle answered her, I look around under her bed. My eyebrows lowered seeing the most random shit under here. Socks, a rubik's cube, and a stuffed animal that had been decapitated.

I moved my eyes back to look in front of me. She still talked to her mom, and I poked the back of her foot. Her foot jumped for a second, and a small smirk formed on my face.

I started to tickle it, making her laugh while lifting both of her feet up so that I couldn't any longer. Her mom spoke sternly, "Did I say something funny?"

"No mom, it's just the sickness getting to me. I'm just gonna take a nap."

Her mom didn't even bother replying, and just shut the door behind her. I pulled myself out from under her bed and stood up to my feet, and she was crossing her arms at me, "She could've seen you!"

"I'm not scared of your mom, Elle," I said while sitting down beside her. My hands went around her, wanting to fucking touch her again even though it had only been a few minutes. "Why is there a decapitated stuffed animal under your bed?"

She did a dramatic sigh, "Mr. Waddles pissed me off as a kid."

"So you ripped his fuckin' head off?" the corners of my mouth turned up.

She nodded, "Yes."

I laughed, and she joined in with me. She sighed slightly, "You should probably go now before my mom comes back."

"I don't wanna leave you," I said against her skin, getting on top of her so that she couldn't move.

She smiled, "You could sleep under my bed if you want?"

"Why don't you sleep in mine?"

She turned her head to look at me. I told her, "You can tell your parents you went to Winters' house if they ask."

"I'm going to get you sick-"

"I don't care," I cut her off.

She tried to get me off of her, but let out a grunt once she realized that she couldn't. She tried to hide her smile, "Fine. Once I feel better, can we have another training session?"

"Sure," I said in between kisses against her cheek.

I stood up, and held onto her hands to pull her to her feet. She stretched slightly and walked over to her closet, grabbing a few clothes and tossing them into a bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder and complained, "My body hurts."

"Come here," I said, even though I was the one walking towards her.

I lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I moved my hand up and down on her lower back as I slowly opened her door. Once I was positive her parents couldn't see, I silently walked down the stairs.

I opened and closed the front door, and Elle sneeezed the second it shut. She sniffled, "Holding that in was so hard. Can I wipe my nose on your shirt?"

"No."

"Okay well too bad because I'm gonna do it anyway."

I set her down in the passengers seat before she could, and I pulled some tissues out of my centre consol. She thanked me, and I shook my head. I hate when she thanks me.

I got into the drivers side, making sure she was comfortable before staring to drive.

"Nico?"

"Yes?"

"You're sweet."

I reached for her hand, taking it in mine. I gave it a small squeeze, trying to fight back the smile that wanted to form on my face.

Elle goddamn Russo thinks I'm sweet. And even though I'll never admit it,

That's what I'm most proud of in my entire life.