Two-Way Monologues

Kendra sat in the armchair watching Anya move about the apartment in a daze. She so obviously had the flu. It had started with a cough, then sniffles, then the full-on runny nose, but now it had reached the fever stage and was cause for concern. Putting her textbook aside, Kendra cleared her throat. “Hey Rosario, you need to get your ass back into bed.”

“What?” Anya asked, not with attitude but rather confusion. She’d been concentrating so hard on trying to pull on her boots that she hadn’t quite heard her friend.

“You’re sick Anya, really sick. You need to be in bed not out in the snow running errands for your boss. Call in sick, you’re entitled.” Kendra said firmly.

“I just took some medicine, I’ll be fine.” Anya insisted, she gave her boot one more tug before collapsing back against the couch, breathing heavily. She had foolishly put on her heavy pea coat and scarf before beginning the arduous process of pulling on her stylish yet impractical winter boots.

“You look awful.” Kendra said honestly. Anya’s complexion had paled significantly, her nose was red, her eyes looked tired and despite her best effort at using concealer, there were noticeable bags underneath Anya’s eyes. “And you’re wheezing.”

“Eww, I am not.” Anya said defensively. “I’m only going to work until after lunch, ok?” Anya had to admit, she wasn’t feeling her best but a month before New York Fashion Week no one could be spared at Simplicity. “And I promise I’ll go straight to bed.”

“Ugh, I wish Adrian were here, I bet he could convince you to stay.” Despite her repeated denial of being ill, earlier in the week, Anya had banished Adrian from their apartment. It was bad enough Kendra was being exposed to her germs, Anya had told him, his band couldn’t afford him getting sick during this crucial time in their fledgling career.

“I wish he were here too but I suspect our reasoning is different.” Anya laughed at the disdain on Kendra’s face. “Oh lighten up Kendra, I’m gonna come home around two and sleep for the rest of the day. I’m compromising, you should at least be happy about that.”

“Fine, I concede.” Kendra nodded, reaching for her book again. “I’ll make you some chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight and you’re gonna eat it, and after you eat it, you’re going to take some more medicine and some extra vitamin C.”

“Yes ma’m.” Anya saluted to her roommate before standing up and heading towards the door.

* * *

Madeline dismissed Anya almost immediately after she arrived. “You’ll be no good to me next month if you still haven’t gotten over this sickness.” She said sternly. “Take a few days off, go home sleep, and have that delicious boyfriend of yours wait on you hand and foot.”

Anya protested weakly but the idea of retreating into bed for the remainder of the day was sounding mighty tempting. She’d even accepted Madeline’s offer for the company’s car service to drive her home, a habit Anya had actively tried to avoid forming. Closing the door to the apartment behind her, Anya began the arduous task of taking off her winter apparel.

“You have never looked more pathetic.” Adrian suddenly appeared at the door of her bedroom, startling Anya and causing her to yelp and drop her overstuffed tote bag.

“Shit, Adrian, what are you doing here” Anya asked, clutching one gloved hand to her chest and picking up her discarded possessions.

“Kendra called me and told me you had gotten worse so I figured I come over and do some stuff around the apartment for you. I washed the dishes, vacuumed, and I just finished changing your sheets.” Adrian shrugged. “My mom always did that for me when I got sick. I called her and asked her for a recipe for her soup too,”

“Are you serious?” Anya asked. “Baby, that’s thoughtful. Seriously, that was really sweet of you.” Anya felt the familiar tightening in her chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Adrian started to come closer to her but Anya put up her hand to stop him.

“No, you can’t catch my germs.” She insisted. “The guys would kill me.”

“I’m a grown man.” Adrian said puffing out his chest. “I do what I want woman.” Anya laughed until she started coughing. “And right now I want to take care of you.” He came over to her and started to pull off her gloves, next her hat and scarf.

“I’m serious, I don’t want to get you sick.” Anya looked up at him lovingly. She hadn’t seen him in three days but it surprised her how much seeing him was affecting her now.

“And if I get sick, I get sick.” Adrian stared back at her as he unbuttoned her jacket and slid it from her shoulders. “I miss being with you.” Anya could tell from the look in his eyes that he meant something more.

“I’ve missed you too.” Anya felt her cheeks heating. Adrian took her by the hand and led her over to the couch and when she was seated he knelt down in front of her and started to unlace her boots, intermittently gazing up at her.

“I’m under strict orders from Kendra to put you to bed and nothing more.” Adrian told her with just a hint of disappointment in his voice. “And you certainly look like you could use some sleep.”

“That bad?” Anya asked, running her hand through her messy hair, suddenly feeling self-conscious that he was seeing her in such a “pathetic” state.
“That bad.” Adrian agreed but not before he leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “You need to go to bed.”

“I am kind of tired.” Anya admitted.

“Go get into your pajamas, I’ll be in with some medicine and tea.” Adrian stood up before he was tempted to start kissing his girlfriend again.

“Thank-you.” Anya stood and gave him a tight hug, needing to feel close to him. “You’re so good to me.”

“It’s because I love you and you deserve to be taken care of.” He kissed her forehead and Anya realized that sure she had a fever and was possibly dying from some super strain of the flu, but that she couldn’t be more content with her life.

When Adrian returned to her bedroom Anya was already in her favorite pajamas- a pair of Adrian’s old flannel pants and one of his worn college t-shirts. Adrian chuckled to himself as he set her tea down on her night table and handed her the medicine.

“Thank-you. What’s so funny?” Anya asked him curiously.

“I was just thinking about your outfit.” Adrian walked to the other side of the bed and sat down, relaxing against the mountain of pillows. “There’s something very satisfying about seeing you wearing my stuff.”

Anya took her pills and several sips of tea before responding to him. “Really? Why is that?”

“I suppose this isn’t the most elegant response or really the most romantic or whatever, but it’s a possessiveness sort of a thing.” Adrian glanced over at her.

“You know, I love that you’re always so honest with me.” Anya smiled up at him. “Even if you’re talking about marking your territory.”

“What can I say, I’m a classy guy.” Adrian laughed and rolled onto his side so he could face her. “It doesn’t seem so barbaric in my mind, just, I dunno, nice…” He took her left hand in his own and touched his grand-father’s ring. “It makes me feel like you’re thinking about me just as much as I’m thinking about you.”

“Adrian-“ Anya said his name softly. “God, why are you being so perfectly wonderful right now? I can’t even kiss you and you’re saying all this wonderful stuff.”

Adrian chuckled and nuzzled his face against her neck. “It’s okay, this is nice too.”

Anya sighed. “It’s weird how much I’ve missed you.”

“Why is it weird?” Adrian asked closing his eyes.

“Not weird, but… intense.” Anya sighed. “I love you so much.”

“Good, because I intensely love you too.” Adrian laughed lightly and pressed a kiss to her neck. “Go to sleep and feel better baby.”

“Adrian?” Long minutes later, Anya’s sleep filled voice roused Adrian.

“Hmmm?”

“When you get sick, and you will get sick, I’ll take good care of you.”

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Thanks for the reviews. I've edited all the previous chapters- not too many changes but just cleaned it up a bit, and now I'm going to finish it. Hope you're enjoying the story so far!