5 5-Baby Steps (2/2)

”Stop, I'm not going to just let them attack you every day, especially when you look like you can barely stand up as it is. I'm taking you to the nurse, and I'm calling your mom because I know you won't. What's her number?”

”Josh, seriously, I'm alright. It'll pass by the end of the day, it was just a rough night when I got home, I probably just ate something bad.”

”Please let me take you to the nurse.”

He looks up at me and sighs. Finally he agrees, I go to pick up his backpack with him hobbling behind me.

I get him to the nurse without incident, as Zayne insisted on the long, isolated path. The nurse greets us wearily, she was expecting this visit to be about a fight. I explain to her how sick Zayne is feeling and looking while he lays down in her office.

After taking his temperature, which was at 101.8°, she goes to call his mom. While she's on the phone I take out a pen and write my phone number on his hand.

”Text me, ok? I want to make sure you're alright.”

He smiles and nods. I leave to let him rest before his mom comes, right as I walk out of the office the bell rings.

I don't want to be late so I book it to Physics, making it to my seat with maybe two minutes to spare.

Conrad and his pals come in and see me sitting by myself, to them it's a field day.

”Lucky you, you got spared the torture and risk of sitting next to that creep for an hour.”

I fake a smile and nod as I pull out my journal.

More like I'm being spared the torture of having to watch him get bullied by you while sick.

I feel my backpack buzz in my lap; I pull out my phone and see a text from an unknown number.

Thanks for your help today. I want to make it up to you, I'll call you later :)

I let the smile form on my face as I save the number into my contacts. Mr. Roe comes in and starts talking about our first unit and asks to collect the syllabus. I spend most of the period texting Zayne and trying to make him feel better.

My mom makes some bomb cookies, I could bring you some tomorrow?

My mom has always loved to bake and cook, so it's very rare we don't have home cooked meals and home cooked bakes in the house. Usually my dad could eat all her cookies in an hour but with him gone, the rest of us can get to them.

You don't have to, I'm probably going to be at school tomorrow. It's just a fever

Until it's broken and you're feeling better you should stay home. I'll sneak out tonight and bring you cookies, sweets help everything

Thats no joke :)

My heart skips a little as I put my phone away; I can't focus at all through the day.

At lunch I pull Arriana away to tell her everything and to beg her for help in covering for me tonight. She gives a big grin and agrees excitedly. I, like her, can't stop smiling.

I spend the rest of lunch using my excitement and energy to do homework. The more I get done, the sooner I can ”go to bed” and check on Zayne. Nothing can bring me down, until I see Conrad sit across from my sister and her friends.

Putting my stuff away I make my way over to them. The look she gives me tells me that she needs help but doesn't think it's a good idea for me to be there. I don't care

I sit next to her and hug her, ”What's up?”

She doesn't get a word out before Caira speaks up, ”Conrad says you helped save him from catching something from the Cupcake. Is it true?”

Arriana looks like she's going to cry of embarrassment.

”Yeah actually,” I say proudly, ”He has a really bad fever and ended up going home, hopefully he'll get better and no one else will get sick in the process.”

They all look shocked by my response, I knew what they were talking about, and they knew I knew. They can push if they want but I'll be damned if I play their game.

”I don't know, maybe he's not so bad,” Tempe stares at Conrad, seductively licking a lollipop, ”Maybe he just needs the right girl to... Set him straight.”

They all laugh, except me and Arriana. We sit there for all of lunch deflecting their commentary. It gets hard to hold my tongue and I start to feel my cheeks get warm. Arriana reaches over and holds my hand under the table, giving an understanding squeeze.

I spend the day on edge, but the knowledge of my trip to Zayne's place makes it better.

Coming home I sit with my mom and help her clean the kitchen after dinner. She insists on going to bed early as she seems to be feeling unwell. I help her as much as I can before she heads for her room around seven.

I wait two hours before getting a bunch of cookies and telling Arriana to cover for me. She asks me to say hi to Zayne for her before I head out.

He sent me his address late in the day and it isn't super far, a little ways past school at the Sandstone Apartments. I try to keep calm and not rush, but I want to see him and know how he's doing. My mind keeps thinking of his texts and his face when I gave him my number, my heart beats in my teeth as I force myself to peddle slower.

It takes a little longer than I originally planned given I tried to slow myself down to not look overly eager. I put my bike by the stairs to his unit when I suddenly feel sick.

I'm meeting his parents, I'm at his house. I think I might get sick. I know I'll get sick.

I build my courage and walk up the stairs, hesitating to knock on the door. Taking my chance with the split second I have of confidence, I ball up my fist and knock on the front door.