Chapter Thirteen - Vulnerable Avery
                          (Tom)
"Good morning, Mrs. Summers," I smile, greeting Avery's mother as she smiles back, opening the door enough for me to enter.
She looks at me hesitant, as if she's got something to say. "Uhm, Tom. Do you mind watching over Avery?"
I shake my head, grinning. "Though I bet Avery would mind."
Mrs. Summers smiles with concern plastered on her face. She proceeds to scratch the nape of her neck. "Avery has a fever."
"As much as I want to watch over her, I've got a job and I'm not allowed to take a day off," Mrs. Summers eyed me apologetically. "--so can you watch over her for just  a few hours? Oh, and feel free to help yourself to the soup on the pot."
I nod, placing a clenched fist on my chest like a soldier. "If it's for Avery, then I'd do anything."
Mrs. Summers' face breaks into a teasing smile. She nudges me slightly with a look on her  face. "Plus points for me, boy."
She heads towards the door, her heels clacking with the floor, but not before she stops and gives me one last reminder. "I almost forgot. Avery gets clingy when she's sick. So if she's acting weird or out of her way, then it's probably the effects of the medicine."
I tilt my head, trying to understand what she's saying but I'm left with no choice as Mrs. Summers exits the door and leaves me alone on the living room.
I heave a sigh. So it's just me and Avery? Somehow that makes me anxious. I mean even if we're friends, I'm still a guy and she's a girl.
Argh!! Nothing's going to happen. What's wrong with you, Tom? She's vulnerable and sick right now! Now's not the time to think about weird things.
I slapped my face, trying to control myself. Once I calmed myself, I headed up the stairs as I see Avery's room around the corner.
Like the interiors of her room, her door was pitch black with a skull and a sign board that said. 'No pets allowed'. I smile as I see the sign she wrote. It's probably because of me.
I stare at her door for the longest time, suddenly finding myself reluctant to open the door. What if she's changing clothes? What if I caught her in a bad time?
I shake my head, trying to pry my thoughts away and take one long breath before twisting the door open.
My eyes roamed around the interiors of her room and to Avery. She was lying in bed fast asleep. I let out a sigh of relief, making my way close to her.
Her windows were shut close and I decided to open them since it would help. I pull out a chair from Avery's desk and sat myself beside the her bed frame.
Avery looks so peaceful right now. Her face is red and her nose looks stuffy. A sweat ran down her forehead and I brought my hand to her temple, feeling her hot temperature burn through my palm.
I sprung up from my seat when Avery's eyes flutter open. I stare at her as she blinked countless of times, then her gaze shifted to mine.
"Hey," I say, trying to not make things awkward.
  She must be wondering why I am suddenly inside her room without any warning.
She narrowed her eyes at me and at the same time furrowed her brows with her lips pursed into a thin line. She looked the same as usual; grumpy.
Then my eyes widened and my mouth parted slightly when I see her smile at me. Her eyes were looking  at me with warmth and with no signs of hostility.
I covered my nose with my bare hand, trying to cover the blush that was making its way through my cheeks. She's smiling at me! Is this true? Is this a dream?
I felt like a teenage boy squealing at some romance novel as my heart palpitate, unable to stop itself from racing fast. She opens her mouth, her smile not fading away. "Hey."
Can I have the normal Avery back? I feel as if this side of Avery will kill me before I know it. This is too much for my poor heart. It's too good to be true and it's because she's weak.
I cough, trying not to mind the red tint spreading around my cheeks. "Y-you alright?"
She stares at me for a while before responding. "I guess."
"I-I'll get you some cold compress," I mutter and proceed to turn my heel when she clasps on my arm, making the hair around my arms prick up.
"Where are you going?" she says in a softer tone, like a child seeing her mother leave.
"I'm just going to get you some cold compress," I repeat, feeling the heat of her hands.
"You're leaving?" she asks. "---people always leave me. Even my father did."
I turn around to face her and see her conflicted expression. I wanted to ask her about what she meant but I knew that asking her when she's weak wouldn't be the best idea.
I knew that if Avery was back to normal and she realized she told me something she shouldn't--she'd probably hate me or distance herself from me.
I didn't want Avery to hate me. I smile at her reassuringly, holding her hand. "Don't worry. I'll be back. This will just take a second."
"Promise?" she eyed me intently.
"Promise," I nod.
She gradually removes her hold from my arm and I make my way outside her room, closing the door behind me softly. I heave a sigh, my heart still racing fast and my cheeks beet red.
Damn it, Avery. Why are you so cute when you're like this?
. . .
After that, I did what any person would do to a sick person. I checked her temperature every 30 minutes, taking a record of it. I also made her eat the soup her mother left in the pot and made her take the medicine.
She drifted to sleep after that and I sat over the chair, watching her as she slept soundly and more at ease with a slight smile at her face.
It's weird to stare at her up close. I almost never get a chance since she always glares at me or tells me to stop looking at her. Somehow seeing her side like this, makes me think if she actually likes me.
"Tom," she murmured, her voice hoarse from coughing.
I flickered my eyes open as I rubbed them to keep me awake. I watch as she tries to get up in bed, then wobbles as her knees were shaking.
I hurriedly stood up from my seat and catch her on my arms, her body clashing against mine as she groaned.
I look at her worriedly, putting her hands around my arms so that she can use me as a stand. She looks at me for awhile before wrapping her arms around my neck.
I stiffened as she hugged me. She could probably hear my heart going erratic right now. My fingers trembled as I hugged her back, feeling her warmth seep into mine.
I couldn't help but nozzle my face on her shoulders, getting a whiff of her shampoo that smells like lavender.
We stayed like that for a while until I decided to break the silence. "Avery...are always like this when you're sick?"
"Maybe," her voice was muffled as she hugged me tighter, her face pressed against my chest. "--I don't know if what I'm doing right now is right or wrong."
I sigh. "That explains everything."
"....Do you hate me, Avery?" I hesitantly asked.
This was the only chance I could ask Avery about that without her sneering at me or saying insulting words. This was Avery's side where she was vulnerable and more truthful with what she felt.
We stood still in silence while I wait for her answer. I don't know how I would feel if she would  say that she truly hates me.
"You know, Tom," she replied, her voice calm. "--I don't trust people easily. I don't...want get myself hurt because I'm not some martyr."
"But I don't hate you," she finally replied.
"You..." she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper. "--you're one of my special people."
"So don't...hurt me okay?"
My heart takes another leap from what she says.
And I couldn't help but smile like a stupid fool. I whisper. "I promise I won't."
"Glad to know."