We got an A for our group project, and we were pretty happy. I and my group members all hang out at (f/n)'s house, sharing a box of chocolate cupcakes I made.

It was raining that day as well, so (y/n) had to quickly go home to pick up her sister from her playdate. Unfortunately, she forgot her umbrella again.

Now I would've given it to her but she left in such a hurry that I didn't even have time to offer it. She just zoomed out into the pouring rain like the Flash.

At least she got home safely.

"(y/n)'s not coming to school today," Emma stated, after receiving a call from the office. The rain kept going all night and still to right now. "Apparently she got sick and caught a cold so she had to stay in."

"She really needs to remember to bring her umbrella," (f/n) said as she made a house of cards. It kept falling and I watched her get visibly frustrated every time it collapsed.

"Can I go to visit her?" I asked. Emma and Norman all looked at me in confusion. Usually I never even try to send a text. "To deliver her homework, of course."

"Oh, well in that case, sure," Norman agreed. "I believe her homeroom teacher has her work."

"Cool, thanks. (f/n), can you get (y/n)'s stuff since your in the same homeroom as her?" I inquired. She groaned when her structure settled to the rosewood coffee table once more. She then shoved them forcefully in the container. I think I've never seen her get upset over something.

"Yeah, sure whatever," she answered. "These stupid cards don't want to work with me."

We all got ready for our classes and started our day.

(f/n) seemed to cheer up after the entire house-of-cards incident. After I got (y/n)'s homework, I parted ways with (f/n) and I was on our way to visit (y/n).

The rain stopped as well, but I could see distant clouds so it might shower again.

I then remembered to pick up Lily. Since her teacher now knows me, so I sometimes pick her up if (y/n) is busy.

Lily waved. "Hi, Ray. My sister's sick right now so you can't flirt with her at the moment," she stated.

The kid's so clever it sometimes scares me. She's a miniature Norman in the making.

"I know, I've heard. That's why I volunteered to visit her," I explained. I'm just gonna forget she said that. It's not like I flirt with her everytime I see her. It's an unconscious habit, so you can't blame me.

I quickly traveled to my house, which was also a walking distance, greeted my mother and put some soup in a thermos. When I came out, Lily stood waiting for me next to a tree.

We then talked about our days as we walked to her house.

Lily nodded contemplatively and I watched as she ran to her front door and instead of calling for (y/n), she went around one of the flower bushes and overturned a rock. Under it was a spare house key. Lily then unlocked the door and we went inside.

"(y/n)'s upstairs, and I think she's sleeping," Lily said before going to the living room to watch a movie.

"Make sure you do your homework, okay?" I told her as I walked upstairs. She exclaimed "Okay!" as I remembered Lily said that (y/n)'s room was down the middle hall and it was behind the second door on the left.

I knocked and waited. A minute passed and I realized that the door was actually open, so I quietly walked in. (y/n) was sleeping and she was completely buried in blankets. I sat in her desk chair and waited.

I heard (y/n) sit up and stir. I was on my phone the whole time. She rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked tiredly. She was wearing sleepwear.

"4:46 pm," I stated. Her face became more alert and she turned to me instantly when she heard my voice. "Nice room."

"Ray what are you doing here?!" (y/n) asked. She tried getting up but her cold made her a little bit weaker so she had to stay sitting. "Aren't you gonna get sick?!"

"You're worried over me? How sweet," I said as I looked around her room. "Also I have a strong immune system so I'll be fine."

I handed her her science and history worksheets. "By the way, your teachers told me to give them to you."

"So are you gonna leave now?" she asked.

I laughed. "Someone's a little cranky. I waited here for thirty minutes, I'm not just gonna leave now," I said as she rolled her eyes.

"Well, what are you gonna do then?" she asked as she laid back down again. She looked at the ceiling of her bedroom. I clasped my arms.

"I don't know, take care of you for the time being?" I answered. She immediately sat up again. "You should really be more cautious. You forgot your umbrella again."

"Since when were you counting all the times I forget my things?" she exclaimed gesturing toward me. She'd probably be standing up and arguing with me if we were in school, but since she's sick, she just talks with her hands for now.

I shrugged. "Oh I wonder why you forgot your umbrella multiple times," I said. She calmed down. "Was it because you wanted me to walk you home like back in sophomore year?"

"How do you still remember that stuff?! And no, I didn't purposely forget my umbrella!" (y/n) stated. She put her hands on her face while I turned around and reached for my bookbag.

I stood up. "Here, I also bought you some medicine," I said, reaching into a small bag. I carefully poured out her specified amount and gave her a glass of water, which was on a nightstand.

"What is this?" she asked, looking at the clear liquid. She tightly gripped the water glass as she inspected the liquid.

"Cough medicine," I stated plainly. She started shaking her head frantically.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no," she repeated as I leaned to her. "Didn't my sister tell you I hate cough medicine?! It's so bitter and-" she explained before tightly clasping her lips and hiding beneath her blanket.

"Come on, (y/n), open wide," I encouraged, pushing it toward her. She still covered her mouth with the blanket. "Don't worry, it's good for you."

"Lily told you to get the other kind, and you just didn't listen?" she concluded. She was right. Her sister instructed me to buy the colorful ones, but I didn't want to, just in spite of it.

"Hm, something like that. Seems like the thought slipped out of my mind," I said dismissively. (y/n) still hid half her face under her sheets but her eyes were now visible.

"Just drink it. Please?" I asked. Wow, she must really hate cough medicine. Not that I could blame her. It's gross.

"Fine, but only to get it over with," she said, snatching the little clear cup. She grabbed her water and quickly drank it. I watched her cringe and swallow it.

"Atta girl," I said, watching her.

"Disgusting," she said after taking several gulps of water. (y/n) then took a deep breath and laid down. She sighed. "I hate you."

I brought out the metal container of piping-hot chicken noodle soup. My mother started making me these when I was Lily's age, and she still does.

"I can feed myself, I'm not a baby," (y/n) said as she took the thermos and utensil from my hands. But nature chose to prove her wrong when she couldn't even bring a spoonful to her lips because of her slightly shaky hands.

She groaned. "Ray, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I need help," she muttered. She gave me back the soup.

(y/n) didn't even look at me directly. She was probably internally screaming. I laughed as I inched the food toward her and her mouth parted to let in the steamy, delicious comfort food.

"You're so cute sometimes," I told her.

"Shut up," she replied after.

Her cheeks were flushed everytime I offered her a morsel. She's adorable when she gets embarassed, but it's not like I'd tell her that to her face.

"That's good soup," she said. I cleaned her mouth with a napkin.

"Thanks, my mom made it," I explained.

I proceeded to feed her slowly, as I stifled a smile. Once she finally finished, I carefully placed a hand on her forehead. Her face was already red from her cold, and it got even more crimson.

"Looks like you're burning up. Hold on while I get a towel," I said standing up.

I walked out her bedroom and went to her bathroom, in search of a towel. I found a plain white one, and I ran it under cold tap water before wringing it slightly.

I heard some lightning flashes from outside, with the sound of water. Seems like it started raining again.

I went bck to her room and she hasn't moved. But then she sat back up, but I saw her elbows give out and she fell back on her pillows. "Ow..."

"Just lay down," I said while gently pushing her down and tucking her in. She looked like a little kid right there. I then placed the towel on her forehead before sittig back down on the chair.

"Ray, what were you doing while I was out?" she said, refering to when she was taking a nap. Some of the water from the cloth dripped down the side of her cheeks.

"Watching you sleep," I teased, waiting for her reaction. She facepalmed herself, completely forgetting about the towel. I helped adjust it.

"You weirdo," she said looking at me. I guess she's the type to still have her senses, because I know some people, such as Norman, who lose every bit of morality when they're sick.

I chuckled a little while looking at her nightstand. "You're reading Great Expectations?" I asked. She nodded. "Funny, I remember reading this in junior high."

"Wow, so smart," she deadpanned. "And yes, I'm reading it for fun. My older sister Delilah told me it's interesting."

"Really? It was boring to me," I stated honestly, glancing at the shiny cover.

"Well all books are boring to you, I guess," (y/n) answered turning to me.

"I bet you read that romance manga about old middle school love," I replied, looking up from the novel. "The one with the black-haired guy?"

"Wait are you talking about Blue Spring Ride?" she questioned, suddenly suspicious. "How do you know?"

Crap. I should've rethought this beforehand.

"Emma persuaded me to watch the anime and I actually read the series after. It's alright, though. It still wouldn't be my first choice if I was surrounded by all types of genre," I said honestly. She looked like she was about to laugh.

"Who would've thought you read shoujo romance?" she asked. "I thought you were the I-only-read-classic-literature person."

"I don't know if I should be offended but back to what we were talking about, Great Expectations," I said changing the topic. I do not want (y/n) to find out about my secret collection of light novels. I mean, I have the limited edition of Ouran Highschool Host Club that could be worth millions in the future!

"Hey Ray," she said turning to look at the ceiling. "Can you read a few excerpts to me? Please?"

I tilted my head and my mouth rose into a playful smirk. "Why? You like me that much?"

"No, it's because, well whatever, forget I said that," she stammered, shrinking back under her blankets. I saw her face the other way. "I don't even know why I asked when I know you'll probably refuse anyway."

"No, i-it's fine, I'll read aloud if that's what you want," I said. Her eyes lit up excitedly as she swiftly turned to me once more.

"Then can you?" she inquired, gazing at me while laying down. The towel was now off her face, and on her bedsheets, but at least she seemed to have cooled down.

I nodded. "Sure."

I took a deep breath and opened the page. My face broke into a genuine smile when I saw that she actually uses the homemade flower bookmark I gave her one day as a gift.

"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching; and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but I hope - into a better shape."

When I glanced at her, I heard her silently whimper. She was already fast asleep.

(y/n) and Lily looked very alike when they're sleeping. Well, probably because they're siblings of course. They both have that responsible energy, but also to the fact that they can finally rest.

I fixed the blanket so it kept her warm and I replaced her towel with a clean one. While I positioned it on her forehead I heard her murmur in her sleep.

"You're a nice guy Ray, no wonder everyone loves you," she said sleepily, turning to the colder side on the pillow.

Yeah, well apparently everyone except the one I love.

I made a handwritten note and signed it saying that I left a box of cookies as a Get-Well present downstairs. I left it on her nightstand on top of Great Expectations.

I waved goodbye to Lily who was completely absorbed in her show and made my way out their door.

The rain finally ended. I could see the sun peeking its head shyly through the clouds. That's a good omen. (y/n) will be coming back to school soon.