Chapter Seven:
This Kiss
The Jessica Simpson single was playing softly, and Dana sang along from her position curled up on the bed. She loved this song; it was everything a love song should be. "You set me soul at ease, chased darkness out of reach," Dana hummed quietly. "Left your desperate spell on me, say you feel it too, I know you do," Dana continued. The song went on, but she momentarily ignored everything but her thoughts. And how well the song fit together with her stupidity. 'Stupid,' Dana cursed herself. 'Stupid, dumb-ass, retarded old me.' It had been four days since she and Brian had gone out, and she'd so blatantly told him that the last thing she felt like doing was dating someone. He hadn't called yet, and Dana was too scared to call him for fear that her emotions would show through her voice. Anxiety washed over her again, and Dana bit her lip. She felt slightly nauseous, partly because she was sick, but mostly because she'd pushed away something so good. She buried her head in her hands, and groaned. 'This is awful,' Dana whimpered. The front door opened and closed, shaking Dana out of her thoughts.
"Dana, you'll never guess what-"
"Headache," Dana yelled back, cutting Brette off.
"Are you okay?" Brette asked softly, coming into Dana's bedroom. "I can go buy some more Tylenol if you want..."
Dana smiled painfully at her roommate's efforts to be sweet. "Yeah, stock me up all the cold, flu, headache medicine you can get, I think I'm coming down with some virus." She pointed to a pair of jeans. "There's some money in there, I think."
Brette retrieved the money and gave Dana a worried glance. "I'll be back in a few minutes, you just take it easy."
"I will."
- - -the next afternoon- - -
Brian reached for the phone. "Hello?"
"Is this, um, Brian?" a female voice asked.
"Can I ask who this is?" he wondered suspiciously. The called ID was too far away to see, and he could never be too sure if it was a fan or not.
"It's Brette, Dana's roommate."
"Yeah, this is Brian."
"Listen, this is going to sound really weird, but would you be able to come over and look after Dana?"
"Like, baby-sit?" Brian raised his eyebrows. "Why?"
"I have a class in a little while, and Dana's on a lot of cold medication right now... the medicine basically turned her into a puddle of Jell-O, and I don't feel okay with leaving her alone. She might have a little fever attack or something," Brette explained sheepishly.
Brian smiled. "Yeah, I could do that."
"Are you sure? If it's a burden, I can get someone else, it's no-"
"It's no problem," he assured Brette.
"Are you positive? I only called you cause you're phone number was taped onto the phone, and most of Dana's friends have classes right now..."
"I'm positive," Brian told her firmly.
Brette was a little uneasy asking him to do this. "Okay... do you know the address?"
"Yeah, I've got it. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Okay, thanks so much!" She declared, relieved.
- - -a few minutes later- - -
The doorbell rang, and Brette pulled a quick check on Dana before answering it. She pulled the door open distractedly, and froze when she saw who was standing at the door.
Brian smirked as Brette's eyes bugged out of her eyes. "You must be Brette," he offered, slightly amused.
"B- Brian?" Brette was puzzled. "Are- are you the Brian that's coming to watch Dana?"
"I am."
"Oh, um, please come in..." Brette ushered him in. "Dana's in her bedroom asleep..." she paused. "Do you know where her bedroom is?"
"I have no idea," Brian shrugged.
"It's, it's the farthest down the hall... follow me."
He did as instructed, following her into a small bedroom with the curtains closed. Brian could make a form out in the bed and when it rolled over he recognized Dana. "What's wrong with her?"
"It's just fever, or flu. Something along those lines. I'm not totally positive." Brette glanced at her watch. "Oh, hey, listen, I've gotta go now, my class starts soon. I should be back in about 2 hours, maybe a bit longer." They returned to the door. "Thanks again, Brian."
"You're welcome," Brian replied courteously. Brette left. He stood still for a few minutes, unsure of what to do, until he decided to go check on Dana. The apartment was extremely quiet as he made his way back to her room, the only sound being his breathing. Every so often Dana would shuffle in her sleep, reminding him that he wasn't alone. Brian settled into an armchair and leaned back. 'This is easier than I thought,' he mused.
- - -half an hour later- - -
Brian closed his eyes and rested in the oversize chair. He was nearly asleep himself when Dana broke into a coughing fit. His eyes flew open in surprise, and by the time he realized what had happened Dana had already stopped.
"Good job, Dr. Brainless," he teased himself.
"Dr. Who?" Dana's voice crackled.
Brian stood up and walked over to her quickly. "Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked in a whisper.
"Better than I felt yesterday night." She blinked. "Why are you here?"
"Brette had to go to her class, and she called me to see if I could look after you," Brian explained.
Dana rolled over and turned on a little lamp. Pushing the covers off, she sat up. Her hair was poking in all different directions, and the baggy tee shirt was wrinkled all over. Brian was bewitched.
"Do you want something to drink, ginger-ale or tea?"
"Ginger-ale?" Dana was puzzled.
Brian nodded. "Yeah, it's good to drink flat ginger-ale when you're sick."
Dana bit her lip. "Ginger-ale, I guess."
" 'Kay. I'll be back in a few minutes," Brian walked out, leaving Dana alone in her room.
Dana sat still for a few seconds before lurching to her feet. She pushed to door shut, and stared at herself in the mirror that hung on the back of the door. 'Oh...' she moaned pathetically. 'I look terrible!' It's not like he's expecting you to look gorgeous, a little voice reminded her. 'But still!' Dana reprimanded herself. She ran a brush through her hair, and it started to curl a little, the way it always did. She straightened her black tee shirt, tucking it into the Daffy Duck boxers. Not caring about her appearance anymore, she trudged down the hall to see Brian pouring a glass of ginger-ale in the kitchen.
Brian saw Dana walking towards him, and for the first time it struck him how utterly tiny she was. She wasn't very tall, maybe up to his chin, with small features. She reminded him of a smaller Mariah Carey. Thin, muscular, dignified. Even with drool crusties plastered on to her chin. "I would have brought the drink to you," he offered. "You could have stayed in bed."
"No, it's okay, I need to return to the ranks of the living anyway," Dana accepted the glass with a smile. She took a gulp, and gave a satisfied sigh. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"So what have you been up to since I've- Monday?
"Not much," he admitted. "Sleeping, relaxing, whatever. Enjoying my time off."
"How much time do you have off?" Dana tried to be nonchalant, but it wasn't working.
"Until late January, early February. And believe me, it's the greatest feeling in the world to wake up and be able to say 'Hmm, I wonder what I'll do today?'"
She laughed, but it quickly turned into a cough. Brian patted her back instinctively, and Dana stopped coughing, surprised. "Thanks," she murmured.
"Don't mention it," Brian said.
"Doesn't it suck... I mean, how can you stand to travel nine out of the twelve months?"
"No, it doesn't suck, it's just a pain in the ass every now and then. But you get used to it. Numb yourself to the suckiness, I guess you could say."
"And all the screaming girls make it easier, don't they?" Dana teased.
It was Brian's turn to laugh. "Maybe... maybe not."
"I bet they do, 20,000 screaming females between three and fifty-three, or more specifically eighteen and twenty-eight," her eyes twinkled mischievously, despite the virus that plagued her system.
He held his hands up in surrender. "You have a point."
"I know I do," she stated confidently. "Any guy with hormones would kill to be in your position."
"And you would know this because... ?"
"I know guys."
Brian laughed. "And I know girls."
"You know what I mean!" Dana protested his teasing tone.
"I'm just bugging you," he grinned.
Dana advanced with mock threat. "Don't you do it again!" She teased.
Catching her completely off guard, Brian pulled Dana close and kissed her sweetly. He rested his left hand on the small of her back, and used his right hand to push her hair out of the way.
"Oh," was all Dana managed when they stopped.
Brian's face was centimeters from her own, and his eyes smiled at her.
"You might get sick now," Dana whispered. She didn't know what to say.
"I don't mind," he whispered back.
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