PERCY.
I was so pissed. No, that's not quite right. Pissed doesn't even begin to cover what I was feeling at that moment. It was more like a bubbling rage mixed with frustration, and a touch of helplessness. Imagine my surprise when I stepped outside to get Gemini because I knew my sister's party was already in full swing, and instead of him waiting like I'd asked him to, I was met with a scene I couldn't have foreseen in my wildest dreams.
Gemini was thrashing around in the swimming pool, struggling to keep his head above the water and those fools—the ones who probably put him there—they just stood by, laughing, watching him struggle like it was some kind of joke. I couldn't believe my eyes. My fists clenched, my jaw tightening as I took in the chaos before me.
This is why people say all such of things about me
I took him out of the pool and carried him straight to my room, my heart racing with a mix of anger and concern.
"You don't fucking know how to swim?" I snapped as I dropped him right in the middle of my bedroom, the tiles feeling cold beneath my feet. He flinched—poor kid—his eyes wide with shock, then he shook his head slowly, indicating he didn't know how to swim. A heavy sigh escaped me. Calm down, I told myself. It's not his fault those assholes pushed him in, they're the ones who should be at the receiving end of my anger.
I hurriedly wrapped a bathrobe around him, I felt him shiver when my fingers brushed against his skin. He looked so fragile like a fragile bird caught in a storm. I made a mental note to get him out of those wet clothes and into something dry as I made him sit down. I rummaged through my closet, grabbing a fresh set of clothes, and pointed him towards the bathroom, his movements were tentative and cautious.
As he finished, I noticed a slight tremor in his hands. His teeth chattered softly, a clear sign he was cold. I helped him dry his hair, the softness of his hair between my fingers, and then I thought, 'Hot chocolate'. Penelope loved taking it when she was cold, so maybe he would, too.
We went downstairs to the kitchen when I was done with his hair I made him a hot cup of chocolate.
While he sipped from the steaming cup, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of his button shaped nose scrunching up with every sip, the way his lips curled around the mug. Then, out of nowhere, a small sneeze escaped his mouth. "Achoo!"—so adorable, it caught me off guard. I shook my head, trying to dismiss whatever strange thought had just crossed my mind. But then, he sneezed again.
"It seems you're coming down with a cold," I voiced my thoughts watching him nod slowly, eyes half-lidded and tired.
"I'll get something for it on my way back or tomorrow morning," he murmured quietly, voice barely above a whisper. But I wasn't having any of that. Something about him seemed more vulnerable than usual—my protective instinct kicked in.
"Listen," I said, gently getting his attention. "You don't have to go back to the dorm tonight. I have something for the cold. In fact, you should stay the weekend. That way, I can help you work on your project too. It's the least I can do after what those guys pulled."
His eyes flickered with hesitation. "It's alright. I don't want to intrude on your space. Besides, I don't have anything to work with," he replied, voice hesitant, almost a whisper.
Does he not want my help? I wondered, my heart tugging at the thought. I pressed on, trying to reassure him. "I don't mind. I really want to help, and I've got all the supplies we need. Plus, you shouldn't be alone right now."
He paused for a moment, probably considering my offer, then he gave me a small, grateful smile. "Alright," he said softly. "I'll stay. Thanks...I owe you one." Another sneeze punctuated his words, and I couldn't help but smile at his resilience.
"Great," I said, beckoning him gently. "Come with me." I started walking upstairs, hearing his footsteps behind me. Penelope had sent me a text earlier—she would be spending the weekend at our family house, she said we should have a good time. Whatever that meant. I knew she felt bad about what happened to Gemini, especially since inviting him over was her idea. That little guilt-walk she was probably doing in her head.
We reached the pantry, and I searched through the medicine cabinet to get him something for his cold. Better to nip this in the bud before it gets worse.
"Take this," I instructed, watching him swallow the pill.
He looked at me with those big blue eyes. "Thank you," he said softly, voice hoarse.
"Come on," I said, leading the way. "You should sleep early. Rest is the best medicine." He followed quietly, almost like a puppy, his shoulders slumped probably from exhaustion and I couldn't help but smile at his quiet obedience.
I handed him a fresh set of pajamas, and he hurried into the bathroom to change. When he returned, I was just about to pull my nightwear shirt over my head—when he caught sight of me. He turned away awkwardly, shy and avoiding eye contact. Oh, how cute.
A moment later, hesitantly, Gemini crawled into my bed. I was contemplating—is this okay? But I figured, why not? He looked so vulnerable, so exhausted. Before I knew it, he was asleep, peaceful and still.
I could have let him sleep in the guest room, sure. But something told me I needed to keep an eye on him—something was off. His skin looked too pale, his breathing a little uneven. I quietly settled against the headboard with my iPad, scrolling through articles to distract myself from the thought of another sleepless night. But then my fingers, almost on their own, brushed his forehead—hot, burning.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Shit," I hissed quietly, feeling the heat radiate from his skin. He was burning up. The fever was worse than I thought. My mind raced—should I take him to the hospital? But no, I've dealt with worse—my sister's fevers, her colds. I could handle this.
I quickly grabbed a bowl of cold water, dipping a towel inside, then gently pressed it against his forehead. His face relaxed under the coolness, a tiny sign that maybe this was helping. But he was still shivering beneath the blankets, his body fighting against the cold.
Then a thought occurred to me and I hesitated again. I hesitated so long I almost didn't do it. But I slowly removed my pajama shirt, climbed back into bed beside him, and wrapped my arms around his smaller frame. He startled at first—probably surprised by the sudden warmth—but then, he welcomed it, pressing into me, seeking more comfort.
He buried his head into the crook of my neck, arms wrapping around my waist. My muscles tensed at first—what was he doing? Was this okay? But then I felt him relax, surrendering to the warmth I offered. His shivering slowly subsided as he melted into me, and I could feel his breathing evening out, becoming steadier.
Despite the fire on my skin from his body pressed against mine, it was strangely comforting. I found myself dozing off, the gentle rhythm of his breathing lulling me into sleep. The night had turned into an unexpected surprise—a quiet comfort amid chaos. And all I could do was hold him close, allowing the sweet arms of sleep enveloped me.