Groaning, Nathan heaved and puked again, feeling like his guts had left him. He was knelt in front of the toilet in the bathroom, silently hoping he wouldn't wake anyone up. After around five minutes, Nathan hobbled over to the sink, feeling as though his head was killing him. After brushing his teeth, Nathan ignored his body's protests and dragged his body back to bed. His need for painkillers only crossed his mind for a second.
Rapping the surrounding blankets, Nathan turned his phone on, the brightness causing him to squint and the pounding to return to his head. Seeing it was only two am, Nathan locked his phone and threw the blankets around himself, cocooning himself in its warmth.
Nathan's alarm only increased his headache. Running on just over four hours of sleep, Nathan turned his alarm and snuggled back into his blankets, before reaching over to his bedside table and taking his phone out of his charger. Unlocking his phone, Nathan pressed Mr. Smith's contact and held the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" Mr. Smith's cheery voice rang through his ear.
"I don't think I can come into work today." Nathan grimaced at how raspy his voice sounded.
"I take it you're ill?" Mr. Smith questioned knowingly.
"Yea-" Nathan's response was cut off by a deep cough exiting his throat.
"Alright. If you have the energy, email your current client and let them know there'll be a delay. If you don't feel up to it, don't worry about it. Try to get yourself pulled around by tomorrow."
"I will," Nathan promised before he coughed uncontrollably.
"I hope you get better soon." That was the last thing Nathan heard before the line went dead.
Placing his phone back on the bedside table, Nathan closed his eyes, instantly falling asleep.
"Nathan."
Forcing his eyes open, Nathan suppressed the groan when he saw Ryan above him.
"You better get up, you have work in twenty minutes," Ryan reminded, sending the teen an annoyed look.
The elder's look quickly changed to a look of concern when he saw the teen's ghost like face and bags under his eyes.
"I don't feel well," Nathan mumbled, swallowing the bile rising in his throat.
"I can see that. What's wrong?"
"I've been up most of the night puking, my head's killing me, and I can't get rid of this stupid cough," Nathan complained before he started violently coughing.
"Have you called your boss and told him you won't be at work?" Ryan questioned.
"I called him just after my alarm went off," Nathan informed, turning away from the man and pulling his blanket over his head.
"Not going to happen," Ryan said, pulling the blanket off Nathan's head, causing the teen to groan in protest. "I know you want to sleep. Your going to eat and take something, then you can seep," Ryan promised.
"I'll just puke again," Nathan mumbled, trying to tug the blankets out of Ryan's hands.
"You might not be. Besides, its better to have something on your stomach so you can take something to help."
"I'll eat, but I'm not taking anything," Nathan protested, looking at Ryan with tired eyes.
"Nathan, I get it, I really do; two painkillers wouldn't hurt you, okay? I promise," Ryan assured.
"I'm not. You can't make me," Nathan protested, holding his head.
"I won't. I'll get you something to eat; promise me you'll try to stay awake," Ryan ordered gently.
Nathan hummed in agreement with his eyes half closed.
Once his door was closed, Nathan unlocked his phone and placed it on the lowest brightness. Remembering Mr. Smith's instructions, Nathan quickly emailed his client, informing them of the delay. After the email was sent, Nathan killed time by scrolling through social media.
"I'm surprised you're awake." Ryan smiled as he walked into the room with a tray in his hands.
"So am I," Nathan responded, as Ryan placed the tray on the empty stop on Nathan's bedside table.
"Thanks," Nathan smiled.
"You're welcome. It's boiling. Give it a couple of minutes. Text someone when Dylan wakes up, okay?" Ryan questioned.
"I can look after him, I'll be fine," Nathan protested weakly.
"I know you can. Do you want him to be ill? I know you want to look after him, Nathan, I understand that. But sometimes you need help, and we're more than willing to give it okay? You're not alone anymore." Ryan smiled, leaving the room when Nathan gave him a nod.
After placing his phone beside him, Nathan lifted the tray onto his lap. He smiled slightly at the chicken soup and a glass of orange juice.
Half way through his soup, Nathan heard the familiar sound of crying from Dylan's nursery.
Placing the tray back onto his bedside table, Nathan stood up and walked shakily into the adjoined room, ignoring Ryan's orders.
"Morning Dylan," Nathan whispered, picking up his son. Nathan smiled when Dylan reached out and pulled on his hair.
Moving Dylan to his hip, Nathan coughed into the opposite elbow, coughing as far away from his son as possible.
Placing Dylan onto his changing table, Nathan gaged when he undid Dylan's baby growth.
Feeling sick rise in his throat, Nathan quickly unstrapped Dylan and placed the boy in his cot, before rushing to the bathroom and puking into the toilet the second his knees hit the floor.
"Nathan?" Erin questioned, having heard the teen.
Although he had stopped puking, Nathan was still hunched over the toilet, unsure if it was over.
"I'm alright; I left Dyan on his own; do you mind changing him? He's in his nursery still," Nathan questioned, gasping for breath.
"No. I'm going to stay with you until I know you'll be okay?" Not giving Nathan a chance to respond, Erin pulled out her phone and texted Ryan to check on Dylan.
"Do you think it's all over?" Erin questioned, kneeling down beside the teen.
Nathan just nodded and accepted Erin, pulling him into a hug.
Ignoring Nathan's protests, Erin gently pulled away and stood up. Picking up Nathan's toothbrush, rinsing it and placing toothpaste on it, Erin helped Nathan stand up and handed him the toothbrush.
"Let's get you back to bed." Erin smiled gently at the teen and walked him to his bedroom.
"Get some sleep," Erin ordered, picking up the tray and leaving Nathan alone.
Opening his eyes, Nathan guessed a couple of hours had passed. Grabbing his phone, Nathan saw a text from Scarlett.
10:02
Hey! Just in case you're wondering, I've taken Dylan out with me. We're just with my friends, I didn't think you'd mind. If you do, text me and we'll come back. We'll probably be out for most of the day.
Not bothering to respond, Nathan unlocked his phone and pressed on Lucas's contact and placed the phone to his ear.
"Hey, Nate. How're you feeling?" Lucas's soft voice came through the phone, somehow brining comfort to Nathan.
"My head kills, I've puked around seven times. Can you just come over? I need company," Nathan questioned, silently praying Lucas would say yes.
"Of course, I'll be over in twenty minutes," Lucas promised. The pair shared their goodbyes before hanging up.
Like he promised, Lucas was over in around twenty minutes.
Dragging himself out of bed, Nathan forced himself downstairs to unlock the door.
"Hey," Nathan mumbled.
"Well, you look terrible," Lucas commented as he walked inside.
"Thanks, you look terrible too," Nathan repeated before erupting into a coughing fit.
"I think you should go back to bed," Lucas lightly suggested.
"No, I want to spend time with you, that's why I invited you," Nathan complained.
"Fine! Have you taken any pills?" Lucas questioned, walking into the kitchen and going into the cabinets.
"No, and I'm not going to," Nathan protested, ignoring Lucas's glare.
"You're ill, Nate, just take the painkillers. They'll help," Lucas tried to convince.
"No! I mean it!" Nathan shouted, wincing when his head ached.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Nathan, I really think you should go to bed. I'll be here when you wake up, I promise," Lucas suggested, his emerald eyes, giving Nathan a desperate look.
Crossing into the living room, with Lucas trailing behind him; Nathan lay on the couch and gestured for Lucas to sit beside him.
"I'll sleep here and you can watch a movie or something; how does that sound?" Nathan questioned, ignoring his head.
"If that'll make you happy," Lucas gave in, giving Nathan a smile. "Do you want some tea? It'll help," Lucas promised.
Nathan just nodded and watched as Lucas disappeared into the hallway.
Getting comfortable, Nathan reached onto the back of the couch and grabbed the blanket and draped it over him.
By the time Lucas returned, Nathan had gotten completely comfortable.
Sending Lucas a grateful smile, Nathan took a sip of his tea, ignoring the burning in his throat as he slowed.
Taking a seat beside Nathan, Lucas turned on the tv and went straight to Netflix and played a movie.
Lucas couldn't stop his face from heating when Nathan snuggled up and began tracing his abs beneath his shirt halfway through the movie.
"Luke?" Nathan mumbled, halting his motion.
"Yes, Nate?"
"I like you," Nathan sleepily mumbled, switching his position so he had his hand on Lucas's shoulder and his head on his chest.
Lucas couldn't deny the happy feeling he got when he heard those words.
"Sure, Nate," Lucas mumbled, thinking his crush was just tired and didn't know what he was saying.
The next thing Lucas's heard was Nathan's soft snores filling the room.