❝Hearts in my eyes, strawberry skies❞

- Madison Beer, Teenager In Love.

I did wake up the next morning with a banging headache, and I really did feel like I had been run over by a truck. I groaned, stirring and hoping Tanner would believe me this time. I mean, it was only yesterday when I faked being sick.

"Hey, Renee, you should be up by now!" I heard Tanner say from the other side of the door minutes later.

I tried to speak, but my voice was inaudible.

"Be down for breakfast soon," he said before I heard his footstep move away from the door.

Of course, he wouldn't think I could be sick today. Well, I was, so I was going to lie in bed till he noticed I wasn't out.

I was only falling back in to sleep when there was a knock on the door. "Renée."

"Tanner?" I called softly.

"Renee, I hope you know you're running late. Why aren't you out?" He said, opening the door and a look of disbelief masked his face, "Why-"

"I promise Tanner, I feel sick." I looked at him.

"But, are you?"

I nodded. "I have a headache. It's banging."

He looked at me, walking to my bed and sitting by me, raising a hand to my forehead.

"Can you see that I'm running a temperature?"

He let out a breath, "Your skin is flushed."

"I feel like death."

"You have to stay home and rest. I'm sure it's a cold or a flu. I'll call work and let them know I wouldn't be coming today."

"No, you don't have to do that. I'm sure I can take care of myself."

He looked at me. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "If anything goes wrong or I feel worse, I'll text you."

It was his turn to nod, "Okay," he leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"Make sure you stay hydrated, and by that, I mean water and juice. No coffee or soda," Tanner told me before leaving for work. "Try eating something, that's important, then take an ibuprofen. I left it on the counter in the kitchen. Text me if you feel worse. Love you. Oh, and don't shower with cold water."

"Okay, love you too."

I headed right back into my room, not wanting to do anything at all but sleep. I should have something to eat, but I didn't have the appetite to.

My phone vibrated beside me, letting me know I had a text. And it was one from Kaleb.

*I haven't seen you. Where are you?*

It was then I remembered to tell him,

It was also then I remembered to let Sky know I wouldn't be coming to work, so I sent her a text as well,

*Hi Sky. I wouldn't be coming to work today. Down with a cold or a flu, heaven knows. Hopefully, I'll be out tomorrow. Have a great day.*

After reading her reply telling me to feel better, I curled up under my blanket, a book in hand. I wasn't much of a reader, simply because anytime I picked up a book to read I ended up falling asleep, so after long hours of sleep and absolute boredom, I decided to lounge in the living room.

I was in the middle of watching The Perfect Date when the doorbell rang.

Wondering who could be at the door, I looked down at my phone for the time.

3pm.

Tanner was definitely still at work, and Kaleb was probably still at school for basketball practice, except he left earlier. Walking to the door wrapped in my blanket, I hoped it was Kaleb. No one else needed to see me in my worst state.

The doorbell rang again and I immediately opened the door.

River?

"River?" I looked in shock, my head tilted to a side.

"Yep, that's me," he grinned.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.

"I came to catch fish," he said seriously and it honestly did take me a while to realize he was being sarcastic.

"Jerk," I muttered and he chuckled, "Of course, I came to see you. I was at the bakery and Skylar mentioned you were ill and she also asked me to bring you some gourmet brownies."

My eyes then dropped to the bags he held in his hand and I smiled widely, "She did?" I stepped aside for him to come in.

"Yep," he nodded. "How do you feel?"

"I have a headache, I feel really tired and my body aches," I laid back down on the couch.

"Well, first off, have you had something to eat?" He set the bags on the couch beside me as he took a seat.

I shook my head, "No, I have no appetite, and that amazes me because I'm always hungry."

He chuckled, "You have to take something at least, so sit up."

"I don't want to," I whined.

"Come on," he urged.

I let out an exaggerated breath and forced myself to sit up.

"So, I figured I should bring some soup, since Skylar said you might have a flu," he said as he took a covered bowl out of the bag. "I wasn't sure what type you might like but my mom always forces me to have chicken soup when I'm down with a cold or something..."

I paid no attention to what he was saying, but his face instead. He was so sweet and all I wanted to do was hug him and not let go.

"... So, I decided to go with chicken soup. I wanted to get fro-yo but I wasn't sure if it was a very good idea so I got you some juice instead."

"You're so sweet, you know that?" I said quietly.

"I've been told," he nodded, a smile on his face as he handed me the bowl of soup and handed me the bag so I could take out the spoon.

"What have you been doing all day?" He asked.

"Sleeping, mostly," I answered. "And lounging around watching Netflix," I pointed to the TV.

"I know that guy, all the girls go crazy for him," his eyes on the TV.

"Noah? He's cute."

"And I'm not?" He looked at me, a smirk on his face.

I decided to tease him, "I mean, you are. Just not as cute as he is."

"You know how people lie even when they know the truth," he chuckled. "That's you right now."

"You're so cocky," I laughed.

"I am," he nodded, grinning.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, River," I rolled my eyes playfully and we laughed.

After almost an hour, I was more than half way done with my soup and the movie had ended.

"Come on, it was obvious he was going to start having real feelings and end up with her," River commented. "These movies need more plot twists or even unique plots. What happened to movies like The Switch?"

"I agree," I chuckled. "But you have to admit the plot of The Switch is completely absurd."

"What do you mean absurd? It is absolutely unique."

"Yeah, yeah, sure," I rolled my eyes.

"Are you really rolling your eyes at me, Renée?"

I giggled, "Um, yeah. And there's nothing you can do about it, unless you want to play with your health."

"Thank your lucky stars," he laughed. "Hey, do you have any meds to take?" He asked the same time I asked, "Hey, what's your last name?"

"It's Jenson," he answered. "What's yours?"

"McCann, and yes I do. Tanner left an ibuprofen for me."

"Where's it?" He looked around.

"On the counter, in the kitchen."

I watched him get up from the couch and walk to the kitchen. Grabbing the tablet pack and filling up a glass with water.

"Now that you've had some soup, I think it's the right time to finally have these. You should feel better really soon," he said, dropping a tablet in my hand and giving me the glass of water.

"I knew you were an artist, just not a nurse," I eyed him, a small smile on my face.

"Let's just say I hate that you're sick," he ruffled my hair and I felt color rise to my cheeks.

After taking the pill and draining the glass of water under River's watch, he spoke up. "When I was a kid, I would throw my pills under the couch or bed and act like I had taken it."

"So sneaky," I said, shaking my head.

"I had to make sure you didn't do it," he chuckled. "Anyway, I have to head back to the bakery now. I have a bit of work to do."

"That's okay. Thanks so much for coming, River. I can say that I feel a bit better."

"I'm glad. Just feel completely better soon," he winked. "I'll text you later?"

"Okay," I smiled, nodding.

He placed a small kiss on my forehead and I got a feeling in my stomach.

"Finish your soup," he said before walking to the door.

I watched him leave, a smile on my face.

After a million thoughts about River and how adorable he was, I decided to finish up my soup and see another movie, but it wasn't long when the doorbell rang again. Maybe Tanner was back?

I got up from the couch and walked to the door.

My eyes widened.