Chp. 48 "It's a Date"
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
Avery's light eyes focused on me, and even though she looked semi-healthy I knew what she felt like, and I hated thinking about it. I wanted to help her, I wanted to make her feel better, but I knew I couldn't take her pain away. I wished I could, just so I could see her smile or something, but I knew she felt really sick already and it was just going to get worse.
She shrugged lightly, turning over in her bed to face me as I sat close to her in my usual chair. I had spent almost all my time sitting here, just watching her and keeping her company. They always had to come get me and nearly drag me out of here when we needed to get some work done.
"I'm alright."
I placed a hand on her head, lacing it slowly through her matted hair because she had been sweating. She was still hot from the fever, but I knew she would want to take a shower soon, and I was up for helping her. I wanted her to feel as normal as possible, and not feel like she couldn't look to me for help. I knew the fever was making her weak, and the nausea only made her feel even worse. There had been a couple of times where I had to hold her hair back while she threw up, not being able to take it anymore.
I hated seeing her like this.
I placed a light kiss on her temple, feeling her burning skin against my lips as I held it there for a little bit. The day was winding down and that would make it three days Avery had been diagnosed, and she was already starting to feel completely ill. I didn't know why she was worsening so fast, but it was really scaring me.
She sat up, seeming to do it with little difficulty, which made me feel a little better. She stared at me and smiled, "I'd like to shower."
I smiled forcefully, watching her walk slowly to the bathroom as I locked the door and followed behind her. She began unbuttoning her shirt as she questioned, "So, any luck with testing today?"
I swallowed, not wanting to tell her we weren't making much progress, but I also didn't want to lie. I shrugged; trying to make it seem like testing was going well, "They were more eager today, so I'm taking it as a good sign."
She smiled, this time I could tell it was a bit more genuine and was laced with a hint of excitement. She nodded, "Good."
Her shirt fell to the floor, revealing her petite upper body that was now completely bare. She hadn't been wearing a bra considering she was burning up. The less clothes the more comfortable she was. I studied her, and it was like I was looking for any abnormalities that were visible, but I knew they were all going on inside of her.
She slid her shorts off and exposed herself completely, and I moved in towards her. I didn't want to hurt her, considering I knew she was physically feeling like shit, but I wanted to love her. I felt like I was losing her and the more I watched her the more it pained me deep inside my heart.
She accepted my embrace, and also allowed me to kiss her. I felt her skin against my hands, feeling the familiar sense of warmth that now radiated off of her. It wasn't the normal temperature, it was much higher, but it didn't slow me down.
Her hands roamed against my face, lacing through my hair that was hanging loosely. Feeling her lips against me made the hole in my heart kind of disappear; although I knew it was still there. Nothing was better yet, but feeling like it was for a little bit made this situation tolerable.
She whispered, "Please shower with me."
I smiled weakly, hearing the desperation in her voice as I nodded against her forehead. She sounded scared, and this scared me even more, but I wouldn't protest. I wanted to make her happy, and if this is what she wanted I would give it to her.
I just wanted to see her smile again.
~ ~ ~ ~
I awoke feeling quite hot and disoriented, but I soon realized it was because Avery was wrapped around my torso on top of her bed. I figured it would be easier to just move all of my stuff in here but I couldn't, it wasn't like this room was big enough to house one teenage girl, much less two.
I leaned over; glancing at the clock that revealed it was only five in the morning. I knew the doctors would be switching shifts at this time and the lab would be near empty, so I shook Avery awake. She groaned in protest but soon her body began to wake up and move against me. She was damp with light sweat as she sat up and looked at me, "Why did you wake me up?"
I smiled, getting up off of her bed and holding out my hand, "I want to show you something."
She seemed a tad annoyed with me, but I didn't care, I wanted to take her out of this horrible room. In the three days I had been here I had done a lot of exploring and was actually brave enough to explore the emergency stairwell that led you to the very top of the building.
I pulled her carefully off of her bed as she fixed her hair, following close behind me as I punched in the code to open the door. It unsealed, and closed behind us, sealing back. Avery whispered, "Where are we going at five in the morning?"
I whispered, "Be quiet, it's a surprise."
"Don't tell me to be quiet. You know I'm not supposed to be out the room without that God-awful suit."
I turned to her, kissing her lightly on the lips, "That's why I need you to be quiet, so we don't get caught."
I pulled her to the emergency exit stairwell, helping her up the stairs considering she was a little more in pain than yesterday. I could've taken the elevator but that didn't give you direct access to the top of the building, but the stairwell did.
We made it up two painful flights of stairs and I opened the door, revealing a dimly lit morning in Buffalo, New York. The air was damp with morning dew but other than that it was as clear as it could be, and the sun was just starting to rise.
The scene was perfect; we were looking over a vast lake that was surrounded with trees and other vegetation. This Bureau was huge; it stood six stories high and seemed to be the length of two football fields, so of course they had to own a thick piece of land. It was built in the middle of nowhere too, but it was only logical to do that considering what they did in the first place.
Avery's hand was holding onto mine tightly, and I led her slowly to the edge of the building's roof. I had discovered this yesterday morning when I couldn't find any sleep within me, and found myself walking for hours through the Bureau. Thus, I stumbled onto the roof and watched the sunrise, and it was something I really wanted Avery to see, and I wanted to be standing right next to her when she did.
She seemed to breathe a little better, and I knew it was because she hadn't seen the outside world in almost four days.
I sat Avery on the ledge of the building; looking at her while she looked down six stories to the ground. She looked at me, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Or is being diagnosed with the BD3 not enough for you?"
I smiled reassuringly, "I wanted to take you out that room, and I wanted you to see the sunrise. It's beautiful."
She nearly whispered, "You're beautiful."
I looked at her, feeling a sense of happiness wash over as I looked into her mesmerizing eyes. I never got tired of her, ever, and it pained me knowing that she was suffering. I knew it was going to get worse, much worse, and I didn't know how I was going to cope with it. How would I be able to stand the image of her dying body, and what if we didn't make enough progress in time to save her?
Avery must've seen the look in my eyes because in that instant she smiled, "Andy, I trust you."
I shook my head, feeling the weight of the world rest on my shoulders. "What if they can't find a cure in time Avery? How am I gonna-"
"Stop," she cut me off, leaning into kiss me softly on the lips. I felt my heart melt and ache at the same time, knowing in that moment that I was completely in love with this girl. From the first day I had seen her she had caught my eye, and she had managed to draw me in completely without speaking a word to me until the end of the school year. I had studied the way she was every day, and I realized that she was something special, even though she never realized it herself. She was modest, beautiful, and a selfless person that had been so driven and passionate. Those were a couple of the many reasons I fell for her so hard. I was never going to find someone else like Avery Ryan, and I wanted to keep her mine forever.
"This is the best date you've taken me on."
"This is a date?"
Her eyes switched to me and rolled, allowing herself to smile, "Yes, I consider it a date, because for once it's just me and you."
I kissed her lips once more, "Then it's a date."
I swung my legs over the other side of the building, letting them hang freely while Avery stayed on the other side of the ledge. She mumbled, "You're going to fall."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you will. You're the clumsiest person I've ever met."
I looked at her, smiling, "Even if I did fall, I'd be ok."
"It would hurt like a bitch though."
"You're right."
"I'm always right."
I stared at her, shaking my head and swinging my legs back on the other side of the ledge to join Avery. Having mixed feelings about everything was tiresome, especially when they involve your girlfriend.
I was always the type of person who fell easily, and I had to be careful not to do that all my life. I had been hurt multiple times, and I learned from my mistakes not to get close to people. It was one reason I didn't have many friends besides Avery, Max, and Gage. Then Avery comes along and ruins that, stepping right over all the walls and the insecurities as if they didn't exist.
And I fell hard for her.
Now we were here, at the Protection Bureau and she was infected with the BD3. I had finally opened myself up to someone again, fallen in love with them, and this bullshit happens. I must've been cursed with bad luck, and I then involuntarily spread it upon other people.
I checked my phone, seeing that it was nearly six in the morning now, and I needed to get her back to her room. I sighed, wrapping my arm around her tiny waist that seemed thinner than last time, "Let's get back to your cube."
"Are you meeting with Henson today?"
I nodded, knowing that we would have to get some serious work done today, and the conversation I stumbled upon yesterday came to mind. I made a note in my brain to ask Henson, and to pry as much information out of him while I could this morning.
But for now I would enjoy Avery's semi-normal company, knowing that soon I wouldn't be able to do this with her for much longer.
**A/N**
Hey guys, hope you all are enjoying the story! I'm working super hard on it and enjoying every second! My first year of college is almost over and I will have more and more time to dedicate to this story, so stay tuned! Happy Reading! Also, please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT! It is really appreciated :)