Liam hadn't listened when Percy had told him she was sick. She had gone to the movies with him on Sunday but when he went in to kiss her she had told him she had a cough and pre-flu symptoms; he hadn't cared at the time. He cared now.
"June! I need more water!" He grumbled out pathetically from his position on the living room couch. His fever was at one hundred and two and his entire body felt on fire and frozen at the same time. His joints were achy and his throat scratchy; he felt awful, and despite June doing her best to nurse him back to health he was getting sick of her taunting him about Percy.
"She probably has Herpes too." Was her last oh so innocent comment. He figured this gave him full reign to act like a prick in return.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! My but if he isn't abusing those sick privileges of his." She muttered to Samantha that night as the two girls sat in the kitchen. Sam sipped on her tea as she smiled at June. June seemed to like the role of taking care of people despite her bickering about it. I did feel good to be needed, Sam supposed.
"Will you take this pitcher out to him for me, Gray? At least maybe then we'll have ten minutes of silence before he needs something else." She handed Sam a cold glass pitcher full of ice water and then went back to preparing dinner; Spaghetti a la June.
"Sure." Sam said belatedly as she took the pitcher and walked into the room next door.
"Here you go." She said as she placed the pitcher on the coffee table in front of Liam. She peeked a glance at him and noted that he looked quite adorable tucked into his royal blue bed covers, his hair all ruffled and his face flush with the fever.
"Thank you." He said grumpily, his face in a serious pout. She stood there awkwardly, trying to find another excuse for being able to look at him a little longer.
"Um, do you need anything else? Watermelon maybe?" This got his attention, though he looked confused.
"Watermelon?"
"Mhm. It cools down the fever a little and it'll sooth your throat. Would you like some?" He did seem interested.
"Do we have any?"
"Oh. I'm not sure, but I can get some if you'd like."
"I would actually, but only if it's already in the house. It's too late to be running out to the store."
"Alright." She smiled at him, glad that he'd been interested in her suggestion, and then headed back towards the kitchen.
"June?"
"Mm?"
"Do we have any watermelon? Liam would like some and it'd be good for his fever too." June turned around looking contemplative.
"You know, I don't think we've ever had watermelon in this house before. Isn't that odd?"
"You haven't? Oh I love it, it's my favorite. Well, I'll just run out and get some real quick then. We can all have it for dessert or something."
"Okay!" June liked the idea. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd had watermelon. Sam ran upstairs to grab her purse and coat and after a goodbye lick from Levii she was on her way.
She walked happily back towards her temporary home with a big heavy watermelon tucked in her arms. She found herself smiling at the memory of Liam under his covers looking like he didn't enjoy being babied, though who didn't. She went to get her keys out once at the door to the town home but found an arm snake around her side. She jumped a little but smiled when she saw Ben standing behind her, hand already on the door knob.
"Hello there." He said charmingly. He smelled a bit like a bar.
"Hi."
"What do you have there?" They were still standing in the doorway, Ben's hand on the knob and them very close together.
"A watermelon." She said simply. Though Ben was handsome, he intimidated more than charmed her.
"Let me get it for you." The weight was lifted from her arms right as the front door swung open. Liam stood there with his blanket still cocooning him. His look went from worried, to confused, to angry.
"What are you doing?" His question was directed at Benjamin.
"What does it look like I'm doing." Ben replied as he pushed past the sick man and went straight for the kitchen.
"And why did you go out? I told you not to bother." He was talking to Sam now, and being very stern.
"I know but you'd said you wanted some..." His angry stare faltered for a moment before he was stomping towards the kitchen to no doubt yell at Ben some more. Sam closed and locked the front door and slowly made her way towards the kitchen herself.
"-exactly are you mad about?" Ben said as he sat casually at a barstool watching June work.
"Well...that you're drunk for one."
"And for two? Because your one is shit. I don't need your permission to get sloshed."
"No, technically you don't, but if you expect to stay here for free then yes, you do." Ben looked angry but tightened his jaw and didn't say anything.
"And two...-" Liam cut off when he noticed Sam was in the room now.
"Nevermind." He took off out of the room after that. The kitchen was quiet, the only sounds the ones June would make preparing dinner or the ones Sam would make slicing up watermelon. She placed four large, juicy slices on a little green plate and then went towards the living room.
Liam was very bothered. He didn't like that Ben was drinking again. And he really didn't like that Ben seemed to have romantic plans for his...housemate. The girl was so naive and innocent, Ben would suck her up and spit her out before she had times to say his name. He was so wrapped up in his loathing Ben thoughts that he didn't hear the quiet girl come in, didn't notice her until she was standing right in front of him with a plate full of watermelon. She had on a pretty little dress that went down to her knees and matched her eyes, but what he really noticed was her smile; pink, pouty, and bright on her face.
"Here." She said as she placed the plate on his lap. She then surprised him by sitting next to him; she looked anxious. He gathered that she wanted to watch him eat the watermelon, and as weird as it was, he also found it kind of endearing. So he picked up a slice and bit into the fruit. It was delicious, and cold; just the right amount of sugar with an overwhelming flood of water. He felt instantly hydrated and it satisfied something deep inside him.
Sam bit at her lower lip, liking the peaceful expression that came over his face; she'd never seen him so relaxed. Her mouth was smiling so hard she felt her cheeks would burst.
"Do you like it? Is it good?" She asked happily, her voice a little giddy. Liam, overcome with a nostalgic feeling for some reason, nodded in earnest and held the slice up to Sam's mouth for her to try. Sam, without a second thought, grabbed his hand to better guide the fruit to her mouth and then bit into the slice herself. She giggled a little as juice flowed out of her mouth and down her chin; Liam watched it's route, fascinated by her for a second.
"Gray! Dinner!" And then the moment was gone and Liam was serious again and Sam felt out of place.