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You sighed shakily as you turned your head to glance at your alarm clock — 2:13 am. You had to wake up for school in just a few hours, and the thought of spending eight hours in a hot, loud classroom made you feel nauseous. Even more than you already did.
Your throat ached as if you’d been screaming for hours on end. Your head hurt - it felt scratchy and sore, and your stomach felt so weird. At one point, your bed was too hot and too heavy, and at the next moment you were freezing with goosebumps rising on your arms.
Waking up grandma wasn’t an option - she barely slept in the night as it was, and waking her up would ruin the entire day. You trembled slightly and sat up in bed, before switching on the lamp on your bedside table and illuminating the entire room.
Although it was very late, you grabbed your phone and opened your messages with Caleb.
———
‘• Last online 3 hours ago •’
Caleb 🍎: “goodnight meimei don’t stay up too late :p”
You: “goodnight 🫶” — 10:42pm
———
You stared at your phone blankly for a few seconds, before huffing softly and opening the keyboard. Your thumbs hovered over the screen for a good moment.
You: “caleb i know youre asleep, but in the morning can you ask grandma to get me the day off of school? i really don’t feel well and i can’t sleep” — 2:16 am
You were about to switch your phone off and try sleep, when the two ticks suddenly flashed blue - Caleb read the message.
———
Caleb 🍎: “i’m up, pips. what’s wrong :(“
You: “my throat, head and stomach hurt a lot and i feel really achy im really sorry for waking u up”
Caleb 🍎: “aw no honey you didn’t wake me, come to my room i’ll see what i can do <3”
———
Your lips quivered and you quickly climbed out of bed, before scurrying down the hall into Caleb’s room. You opened the door and quietly closed it as not to wake grandma.
Caleb’s hair was messy and his eyes were hardly even open. He yawned and opened his arms.
“Come here, mei.” He whispered, tugging back the duvet for you to lay down. You wasted no time in crawling into his arms. “Didn’t I say not to stay up too late?” He teased.
You nuzzled your nose into his neck as his arms welcomed you.
“So sleepy…” You whispered and curled your fingers into his shirt. Caleb yawned once again, his eyes watering with fatigue, and his lips grazed your hair.
“You’re pale, pipsqueak. And warm.” He commented, pulling you closer into his chest.
“Head hurts.”
“Yeah, I bet it does. Here, have some water. Sit up.”
He insisted, grabbing his water bottle off of the table and handing it to you.
You slowly sipped the water, its coolness drizzled down your throat like rain finally cleansing a desert. Caleb’s fingers ran through your hair as you finished drinking, and he gently pecked your temple with his lips.
“Better?”
“Mhm, thank you.” You whispered and laid back down. Caleb followed suit, laying down beside you and cuddling you again.
The moon shone beautifully through the blinds, illuminating the little room in a peaceful glow. Caleb’s violet eyes were struggling to remain open, and it was so obvious; yet he fought to stay awake, to keep you company in your discomfort even if it meant being tired at school later.
His fingertips slowly, comfortingly traced across the side of your face, his nails grazing soothingly against your soft skin.
“Your blankets are softer than mine.” You mumbled. As if nudging Caleb back into consciousness, he let out a sleepy groan and nuzzled his face into the crown of your head.
“Well then you should sleep in here with me more often, honey… you’re warm and soft.” He whispered, his tone raspy and fatigued. You couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.
“Grandma wouldn’t like that.”
“It’s not up to her, pips. It’s up to you.”
You hummed in acknowledgement and buried your face into his chest. He reciprocated by placing his palm on the back of your head, fingertips curling into your hair.
“I’ve always loved your pretty hair.”
His sudden comment made your eyes open, just to meet his closed eyelids. Perhaps his fatigue was causing him to speak out more openly.
“…I’m happy you like it.”
Caleb mumbled something intelligible, before kissing your forehead.
“How’re you feelin’…?”
You sighed softly. Truthfully, not any better - but you knew Caleb wouldn’t let grandma force you to go to school, and that thought alone brought you some semblance of solace.
“Not great, gege.”
He smiled faintly at the nickname.
“Come on, pips. Cuddle me back, I’m cold.”
You wrapped your arms around his torso and gently drew circles on his back with your finger. He shifted his arms to snuggle you, and he pressed one last kiss to your forehead. His eyelids opened slightly and he gazed at you lovingly through his lashes.
“Such a sweet girl.” He teased lowly, before looking at the clock - 2:46 am. Bed time. “Come on now, meimei. Time for sleep. You wake me up if you’re still not asleep by half three and I’ll get you some medicine, ‘kay?”
You nodded and immediately buried your face down into his chest, erupting a giggle from Caleb.
“Goodnight…”
“I love you.” Caleb whispered.
…
…
“Hey now, pips, say it back.”
“I love you too…”
“Cutie.”
——————
Around two hours later, you woke up feeling hot and achy. With a quiet noise, you rolled over so that your back was facing Caleb, and you released a leg from the blanket to try and regulate your temperature a little.
His hand instinctively reached over to caress your waist, even in his rest. He rubbed your side for a while, before his and your motions stilled with sleep overtaking you once again.
Once the clock hit 6:30 am, the loud beeping awoke you both. Caleb hit the alarm with his palm, and immediately tended to you.
“Shushh, go back to sleep. You don’t look any better.” He mumbled, tucking your hair behind your ear.
“But grandma…” You started, yet made no move to escape from his warm bed and embrace.
“I’ll speak to her, pipsqueak. Close your eyes.”
You did as he said, and felt yourself falling back asleep. Soft lips pecked your nose - he always kissed you, you could never escape from it - and his presence disappeared.
“Sleep tight, honey.”