Chapter 15

I woke up feeling even worse than the night before. My head was pounding, my body ached, and my stomach twisted uncomfortably. I barely had the energy to move. My blankets were warm, but I was still shivering.

I just wanted to go back to sleep, but I could hear movement outside my room. Then Elijah's voice.

"Easton, you look like death."

"Thanks," Easton croaked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Feel like it too."

I forced my eyes open and peeked out from my blankets. I could hear Easton coughing, and Elijah sighing.

"You need to stay in bed," Elijah said firmly. "There's no way you're going to work like this."

"Father's not gonna like that," Easton muttered, his voice hoarse.

"Screw him, you are not working " Elijah snapped.

There was silence, then a tired sigh from Easton.

"Fine."

I groaned, curling further into my blankets, feeling miserable. My head throbbed, my throat burned, and worst of all, my whole body ached.

Elijah must have heard me because, a second later, my door creaked open.

"Adrian?" he asked gently.

I let out another weak groan. I was too exhausted to form words.

"You too, huh?" Elijah sighed as he walked over. "Guess it's gonna be one of those days."

I barely moved as he pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. His palm was warm, but it still made me shiver.

"You're burning up," he muttered, brushing some hair off my sweaty forehead.

I didn't respond. Instead, I just rolled closer and clung onto him. Elijah sighed but didn't push me off. He knew how I got when I was sick.

"You're gonna have to let go at some point, kid," he said, ruffling my hair. "I have to drive the twins and Henry to school."

I shook my head weakly.

"Adrian," Elijah said in a warning tone.

I just buried my face into his chest.

Elijah let out a deep sigh. "Alright, you win. For now."

I heard him leave my room, but I didn't move. My whole body felt heavy. A few minutes later, I heard Henry groan from down the hall.

"Why do I have to drive?"

"You heard me," Elijah replied. "Easton is too sick to get out of bed, and I'm staying home to look after Adrian."

There was a pause before Henry muttered, "Great."

"You are getting your keys back today anyway," Elijah added.

"Yes," Henry said.

The house bustled with movement as the twins and Henry got ready, but I just lay in bed, half-asleep, until I felt someone sit beside me.

"Okay, baby bunny, I have to go," Elijah said softly.

I whimpered and clung onto him tighter.

"Seriously?" he sighed, but his voice was gentle.

I nodded weakly.

"You're ridiculous," he muttered but pulled the blanket over me properly. "I'll be right back, okay? Just rest."

I barely had the energy to nod, but I loosened my grip.

Elijah left with the others to make sure they had everything they needed for college, and I dozed in and out of sleep until he returned.

When he did, he picked me up without a word and carried me downstairs. I curled into him, too exhausted to care.

"You need to drink something," he said, sitting down on the couch with me still clinging to him.

I shook my head.

Elijah sighed. "This is gonna be a long day."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The twins and Henry came home in the afternoon, and Henry immediately groaned when he saw me still attached to Elijah.

"Seriously?" he muttered. "You've been holding onto him all day?"

I didn't answer. I just clung tighter.

Elijah sighed. "Henry, you take over. I need to go cook dinner."

"No way," Henry protested. "He's all sweaty and gross!"

"Henry," Elijah warned.

Henry groaned but sat down next to me. "Fine, come here, you clingy gremlin."

I hesitated for a moment before reluctantly letting go of Elijah and grabbing onto Henry instead. He sighed but didn't push me away.

The twins smirked at me.

"Aww, does the baby bunny need cuddles?" Miles teased.

"Shut up," I muttered, my voice hoarse.

"Yeah, yeah," Alex said, waving a hand. "Come on, you need medicine."

I immediately shook my head and tried to bury myself into Henry's hoodie.

"Not happening," Henry muttered, tightening his grip so I couldn't escape.

Alex held out the medicine, and I turned my head away.

"You have to take it," Miles said. "It'll make you feel better."

I shook my head stubbornly.

"Adrian," Henry warned.

I groaned dramatically but still refused.

"Fine," Alex sighed. "Elijah!"

"What?" Elijah called from the kitchen.

"Adrian won't take his medicine."

"Make him," Elijah replied.

Henry tightened his grip on me, and Alex held out the medicine again. "Just take it, baby bunny."

I glared but hesitantly took the medicine cup. With a deep breath, I swallowed it and immediately gagged.

"Ugh! That's disgusting!" I coughed, scrunching up my face.

The twins burst out laughing, and even Henry chuckled.

I scowled. "It's not funny!"

"It totally is," Miles said between laughs.

I grumbled and buried myself into Henry again as they continued laughing.

Elijah eventually called everyone to the table, and the twins helped me over since I was still too tired to walk properly.

Elijah placed a bowl of soup in front of me. "Eat."

I stared at it, feeling my stomach churn. "I don't think I can."

"You have to eat something," Elijah said firmly.

I shook my head. "I'll puke."

"You still have to try," Elijah insisted.

I sighed, staring at the soup like it had personally offended me. After a long moment, I pushed it away and grabbed some raw vegetables instead.

Elijah sighed but didn't argue. "Fine, but you need to eat all of them."

I nibbled on some cucumber slices while my brothers ate their actual meals.

"You're such a rabbit," Henry muttered.

"Shut up," I mumbled weakly.

Dinner passed with my brothers chatting about their day. I barely paid attention.

After dinner, Elijah carried a bowl of soup upstairs to Easton, who was still in bed, looking even worse than before.

The rest of us headed back downstairs, and after another failed attempt at making me eat more, Elijah sighed and led me upstairs.

"You're sleeping in my bed tonight," he said, placing me down and tucking the blankets around me.

I was too tired to argue.

Elijah ruffled my hair. "Just sleep, okay?"

I barely nodded before exhaustion pulled me under.

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Word count: 1061

Hey Guys Thanks for reading this story so please be nice and kind. I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or bad grammar.

Thanks for reading my fifteenth chapter and please vote and leave a comment.

More chapters will be coming out soon.

*EMMA HETHRON*