Louise_2983 Posted August 16, 2009 Report Posted August 16, 2009 Chapter 18 Her head was fuzzy and light, her eyelids heavy and her breathing shallow as they crowded around her. She felt suffocated by their attention, wanting to bat them away and simply get on with her work but she knew that she barely had enough energy to move right then. Someone muttered the word ambulance above her and instantly she was pushing herself up to a sitting position on the cold floor by her metal desk, shaking her dizzy head forcefully. “No!” she objected adamantly as she mustered up every last ounce of energy within her to do so. “No ambulance, I’m fine” “Belle” her boss responded as she unsuccessfully tried to hoist herself up from the floor onto the chair beside her, her weak limbs refusing to cooperate as she groaned. “You’re not fine, you just fainted” “It’s just flu” she sniffled as Jenny helped her up onto the chair she was grappling for and she held onto her desk to steady herself. “I must have caught it when I was home last week, my little sister had it. It’s nothing serious” “Well if you’re not going to let us call an ambulance at least go home, you’re in no state to be working” She let out a loud series of sneezes as she surveyed the work scattered all over her desk. She was already behind with things after accompanying Aden back to Summer Bay the week before, the last thing she needed was to let things pile up even more. “It’s nothing that won’t wait” her boss told her reassuringly as if he had read her mind. “And if it is then we’ll deal with it” “But...” she began to protest half heartedly knowing that he was right but not wanting anyone else to touch her work. She liked to do things her way. “No buts” he shook his head and whipped the copy sheets she had picked up off her desk from her grasp. “Any work you attempted in this state wouldn’t be up to your usual standard anyway” “You’re right” she admitted with a sigh, grasping hold of her desk once more as another wave of dizziness hit her. “Then go home” he told her sternly indicating that it was an order she had no option but to follow. “Ok” she nodded reaching out to get her bag and car keys. “I don’t think so” he laughed taking them from her and picking up the phone that was peeking out of her bag. “Jenny will call someone to come and take you home” he told her as he handed the tiny silver phone to the young girl next to him. “Your boyfriend?” he questioned looking back at her expectantly clearly thinking that if her boyfriend meant enough to her for her to turn down a job in New York for him then the least he could do was collect her from work when she was sick. “I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend!” Jenny exclaimed clearly distraught that she’d may have missed out on some gossip and only just realised. “No, not my boyfriend” she shook her head slowly just imagining Jenny’s reaction if Aden turned up to collect her. They might never get to leave. “My friend Matilda works a few streets away, can you call her?” “Sure” Jenny replied as she scrolled down the list of Belle’s contacts until she landed on Matilda’s name. Belle groaned and rested her arms on the desk before laying her head on top of them. She really did feel terrible. Her entire body was aching and she couldn’t decipher if she was hot or cold or both. If she was honest with herself she’d been sick all weekend but Aden had been at an away game in Darwin and it had been easier to pretend that she was ok when the only person she had needed to convince was herself. She knew that she should never have even come to work that morning, especially after she’d threw up just minutes before leaving the house, but she’d been determined to get on with things as normal. “She’s in court apparently” Jenny whispered at what she clearly thought was a discreet volume but in reality caused every head in the open plan office to turn their way. “What kind of people do you associate with Belle?!” “She’s a solicitor” Belle giggled as Jenny blushed. “Oh sorry, I thought...sorry” she mumbled before quickly changing the subject. “Is there someone else I can call?” Belle debated the question in her head with a sigh. She needed Aden. She hadn’t seen him for two days and she was ill. He would be home by now. All she wanted was for his strong arms to be wrapped around her. She reached out weakly and took the phone from Jenny. “My boyfriend” she replied handing the phone to her boss. “But can you call him please? He’s number one on the speed dial” Her boss did as she asked and within seconds Aden was on his way not needing to be asked twice. Her boss went back to his office and Jenny got back to work as Belle waited for Aden to arrive, her head back on the desk and her heavy eyelids drooping shut. She was half asleep when she felt his fingertips gently run over the top of her head as his other arm snaked around her waist and his full lips hover next to her ear. “Babe?” he whispered softly, his warm breath caressing her soft cheek. She lifted her heavy head to find him crouched down next to her chair, gazing at her intently, his bright blue eyes radiating concern. “You came” she smiled weakly as he helped her sit upright. “Of course I did” he whispered, brushing his lips against her cheek. “They said you fainted?” “Yeah” she nodded sheepishly. “But it’s just Annie’s flu, I’ll be fine” “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick when I called this morning?” “I didn’t want to worry you” she told him clinging on to his muscular arm to keep her balance. “It’s just flu, I’ll be fine” “We should get you to a doctor though” he told her, his tone anxious. “Just to make sure” “No!” she groaned burying her head in his neck as he held her close. “I just want to go home” “Bu-“ “Please Aden?” she pleaded, her eyes begging him as she looked up at him helplessly. “Ok” he gave in with a sigh. He never could say no when she looked at him like that. “You going to be ok getting out to the car?” She nodded with a weak smile, happy he was doing as she asked. “If you help me” “Well actually I was just going to run out ahead of you and let you struggle” he teased but when his cheeky comment wasn’t met with a slap on the arm of a caustic comeback he knew she really was ill. “Come on” he whispered softly, wanting to take her in his arms and carry her out but knowing that if he did that in front of all her work colleagues she would make him pay for it once she was better. “Belle?...Babe?” he tried to help her up but her attention was focused on something behind him and she wasn’t listening. He twisted his head to find an attractive, blonde perched on the edge of the next desk gawping at them open mouthed. “Oh” he half laughed as he remembered Belle telling him about her colleague having his picture pinned up on her notice board. He peeked over the blonde’s shoulder and sure enough there he was in his footie kit staring back at himself from the newspaper clipping on clear display. He felt Belle push something into his hand and looked down to find a pen wedged between his long fingers. He looked back at her confused before she giggled softly. “She’s going to at least want an autograph” she explained as Jenny continued to stare at them, not uttering a word. “Just paper only please” Belle told him weakly as she sniffled. “No body parts” “Right” he smiled at her as Jenny silently pushed a sheet of paper across onto Belle’s desk in front of him. “It’s Jenny isn’t it?” he asked, his pen poised over the paper ready to write a quick message. “Oh my gosh!” Jenny gasped at Belle as her face flushed with delight. “Aden Jefferies knows my name!” Aden chuckled as he quickly scrawled on the sheet of paper and handed it back to her, clicking the lid tightly back onto Belle’s pen afterwards. “I think you’re amaz-“ she began to gush but instantly stopped as realisation hit her. “Belle’s boyfriend” she stated quietly. “You’re Belle’s boyfriend” “What gave it away?” Aden laughed, his arm still looped around Belle supporting her. “You told me you’d never heard of him!” Jenny exclaimed in annoyance. “Just so you could go and get him for yourself?!” “Actually” Belle smiled resting her head on Aden’s shoulder and snuggling into him. “He was already mine” “Five years now” Aden told Jenny not bothering to omit the year Belle had been in London from his calculation. “Five years?!” Jenny’s eyes widened in shock. “But I read that you were single?” “Well then you shouldn’t believe everything you read” “Oh” Jenny sighed before her gaze fluttered over Aden’s appearance, appreciating his tight jeans and fitted black t-shirt, and she clearly decided it was worth one last shot. “I don’t suppose you’re getting the five year itch?” she asked fluffing her hair and sticking her cleavage out as Belle giggled and hid her face in Aden’s neck as she cringed. “It’s the seven year itch sweetheart” Aden corrected her with a chuckle. “And not a chance” he told her as he picked up Belle’s bag and phone in his free hand and helped her to her feet. “Ready to go babe?” he whispered as she leant in to him and let him prop her up. “Definitely” she grinned despite feeling terrible. “Or Jenny might keep us here for another two years and wait for the seven year itch to kick in!” “Well she’d be keeping us here forever” he told her with a smile, planting a quick kiss on her lips. “Because it’s never going to happen” She smiled happily as he led her out to the car, letting out an amused giggle when she heard Jenny yell across the office to one of the other girls. “Oh my god! Aden Jefferies just called me sweetheart!” *** “See! I told you it was just flu!” she announced after he had shown the emergency doctor out. “You didn’t need to call a doctor” “I just wanted to be sure” he told her as he met her at the foot of the stairs and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re too important to me to take any risks” “Aww I love you” she mumbled as a shiver zipped through her and he rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm her up. “I love you too” he smiled, brushing his lips over the top of her head. “Now back to bed” “I don’t need to go back to bed, I’m fine. I’m just going to sit on the sofa with my laptop and do some w-“ “Work?” he scoffed in disbelief. “No way” he shook his head adamantly. “Back to bed. You heard what the doctor said, you need plenty of rest” “But...” she groaned knowing it was pointless. She didn’t really have the energy or motivation to work anyway she just felt like she should. She hated being sick. “No buts” he told her, whipping her legs off the ground and carrying her up the stairs before she knew what was happening. “There you go” he smiled softly as he lowered her into the bed and wrapped the covers around her. “You’ll be fluffing my pillows next” she smiled softly. “Just want to look after you babe” he told her in a murmur as he gently held her hand in his and stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “You always do” she sighed closing her eyes in exhaustion. “Get some sleep” he told her before pressing a quick kiss to her cheek and leaving her alone to rest. Once he was downstairs he called Irene at The Diner and got the recipe for the soup she always made when one of the kids was sick. She laughed at him for daring to attempt to cook something not involving pasta but he simply shrugged off the teasing and took the recipe anyway. He was going to do everything he could to look after Belle in the best way possible. It took him several goes to get it right but a few hours later he had a perfect batch of soup gently simmering on the stove. He set up a tray and swiped a flower from the bunch on the table, popping it into a thin, glass vase before placing it next to the china dish and cutlery so shiny he could see his own reflection in. He ladelled the soup into the dish before carefully navigating his way upstairs to check on Belle. “You’re so sweet” she sighed as he entered the room, balancing the tray on his knee as he pushed the door open and found her awake. “I called Irene to get the recipe but I can’t promise it’s going to taste like hers” he laughed as she sat up in the bed and he placed the tray onto her lap. “I’m really not hungry” she protested weakly. “But I love you for going to all this effort” He shook his head not taking no for an answer. “You need to eat Belle, even if it’s just a little bit” “But I ca-“ “No buts” he told her, lifting the spoon and dipping it into the bowl so that a gush of pale coloured soup rushed to fill its gentle curve. He wasn’t going to let her stubborn streak win. She crossed her arms over her chest defensively above the tray on her lap. “Are you going to make me feed you?” he arched his eyebrows at her. “Because the last person I did that for was Effie and I know you don’t want me to think of you like my little sister” “Did you pretend that the spoon was a choo choo train?” she teased him softly as he balanced the spoon over the bowl so he wouldn’t drip soup onto her sheets. “No of course not” he rolled his eyes as if her suggestion was ridiculous. “Effie prefers it to be an aeroplane” She laughed softly as he held out the spoon for her to take, pushing it towards her. “Ok” she sighed taking it from him. “But just a little bit” “That’s all I’m asking for babe” he smiled as she took the spoon from him and began to eat. He watched her doubting his own ability. “Well?” he asked after a few spoonfuls had been eaten with none being spat back out which he took as a positive sign. “Almost as good as Irene’s” she lied to spare his feelings before letting the spoon clatter back into the dish, accidentally splashing him with soup as she did so. “But I can’t eat anymore” she sighed as he wiped the hot splashes of soup from his bare arm. “That’s ok” he smiled lifting the tray from her lap and placing it onto the dresser. “I just wanted you to try. I don’t like seeing you sick. I’ll do anything to help you get better” “I think I just need to sleep it out” she sighed, collapsing back against the mound of pillows behind her. “I’ll leave you to it then” he smiled softly planning to return to his own room. “Ok” she sighed but her tone was tinged with disappointment. “Do you want me to stay?” he asked turning back to face her. She nodded slowly and sadly. “But I know you can’t” “What? Don’t be silly. If you want me to stay then I’m staying” “But I want you to hold me and sleep next to me and then you might catch it too” “I’ll take the risk” he smiled lying down next to her and pulling her close. “But what about footie?” she sniffled. “If you’re sick you won’t be able to play” “I told you Belle” he smiled, pressing a kiss to her sticky forehead. “If it’s a choice between you and footie then I choose you every time” “But what if we’re both sick?” she objected again, not wanting to find problems but not wanting to make him ill either. “Then we’ll look after each other” he told her with a tiny grin. “But right now it’s my job to look after you and if you want me to stay here and snuggle then that’s what I’m going to do” “I want to snuggle” she sighed hugging his body closer to her and resting her head on his toned chest. “I love you Aden” “I love you too” he whispered back but she had already fallen into a deep sleep. He held her close, filled with an overwhelming desire to protect her as he did so.
LAURZY! Posted August 16, 2009 Report Posted August 16, 2009 Awwwww! well that was just so sweat! Loved Jenny's reaction I love it when they're all lovey dovey Brill update chick, cant wait for more
~Zoe~ Posted August 16, 2009 Report Posted August 16, 2009 That was a good chapter. Really sweet Jennys reaction was funny Great update Louise
bradyell Posted August 16, 2009 Report Posted August 16, 2009 Awwwwwwww!! What a great couple of chaps to come home to! Love the fluffiness soooooo much! *sigh* i'd gladly take the flu if i had an Aden to look after me!!!
amz89 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Posted August 17, 2009 Aww that was such a cute chapter. I loved it more soon please =)
matticus01 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Posted August 17, 2009 Beautiful Louise And I loved how Jenny got so excited that Aden knew her name and called her sweetheart! hehe Loved every second of it, update soon
Lise Posted August 17, 2009 Report Posted August 17, 2009 That was brilliant, again. Jenny's reaction was funny. Aden really is just perfect.
Adelle_fan1000 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Posted August 17, 2009 Loved both updates Louise!!! Also liked Jenny's reaction!
Jody Posted August 18, 2009 Report Posted August 18, 2009 Chapter 17 Loved the Annie, Belle, Aden and Irene interaction. I liked the "we're inevitable" comment. Sweet line. And extra points for the fact that it made me think of a scene between another couple who I really like (Chuck and Blair). Some really funny moments here too. Belle getting a bit freaked out by Annie's staring, the "Annie, you can't get pregnant that way!" comment from Aden, and the comments about Irene and Alf. "I will go soon but not tomorrow. Not when Roman's going out there to fight and my Dad's never fought for anything in his life, not even his family. I'll just get angry with him Belle and then I'll get angry at you when it's not your fault and I don't want that" I really liked this part. Aden's explanation for not wanting to go see Larry right now made a lot of sense. I like that he gave thought to what would happen, considering how he's feeling right now, and decided against it because of that. Rather then out of spite. Defintely my favourite part of the chapter. The rest of the Aden and Belle scene didn't really hold my attention. Only because it feels like they've had the same conversation about their future quite a few times times already. And add to that the parts with Belle reffering to the Irene as her mother and Aden refferring to Roman as dad, and Belle's take on why it is Amanda could be going out of her way to avoid him, I get that was more of the benefit of that Aden and Belle scene (and as a clear joke, it would be okay) but when she says it like she actually means it kind makes me question her intelligence. Does she honestly believe anyone still gives much thought to those events back then even now after all this time, unless it's to maybe make a joke and laugh about it? Chapter 18 Julie was hilarious. So many great quotes there. Loved those parts with her. The Aden and Belle scenes were nice too.
Louise_2983 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Posted August 18, 2009 Chapter 17 The rest of the Aden and Belle scene didn't really hold my attention. Only because it feels like they've had the same conversation about their future quite a few times times already. I agree they have had the conversation before but I was trying to show that it hasn't just gone away. Belle still sometimes feels scared that she's ready to commit to Aden and he still doubts whether she is 100% committed to them occassionally. This chapter is literally only one week on from Belle admiting her problem to Aden and I didn't feel it would be realistic for them to have completely ironed everything out within that time. “Chapter 18 Julie was hilarious. So many great quotes there. Loved those parts with her. The Aden and Belle scenes were nice too. I might believe that you liked that chapter more if I actually had a character called Julie Thanks for the feedback everyone
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.