The blonde’s breath was heavy as the sun’s wrath. Her cheek was against the satin-covered pillow; the silent heavy sighs creeped out of her lips so slowly like smoke. The morning started to unveil its glory beneath the still dark clouds and in just a few more hours, the brunette knew another day would about to kick off. Sandra knew she should be going home, she shouldn’t be there. But how could she when Cate was a mess last night?
“Cate…”
The blonde did not reply. Instead, she made her way towards her room, not really minding how wet her clothes were and how she was making wet footprints all around the floor. Sandra stopped by the door, contemplating whether she should go home or not. She knew Cate was not okay and so she stood by the door and observed and when Cate stumbled, almost causing her to fall face first against the floor, the brunette dropped her guard down and went on to rush towards the blonde’s side.
“Cate…are you okay? Here, sit here fi –”
“I’m fine, Annette.” Cate dismissed the chair that Sandra offered and went on to walk inside her bathroom, “Go home now.”
The brunette shook her head as she watched the blonde eagerly, “You’re not okay.”
“I am.”
“No, you’re…” The brunette was cut off when Cate suddenly vomitted on her bathroom floor; the blonde was bent halfway as she puked her guts out and Sandra managed to rush to her back, “See?” The brunette spoke as she stripped Cate out of her Chanel blazer; she then held the blonde’s waist as she rubbed her back, “You’re not okay. Okay, just vomit. Vomit it all out.”
“I’m fine.” The blonde managed to spit those words before puking out again.
Despite the sting of the tone that Sandra heard, she went on to touch the blonde’s neck with the back of her hand, “You’re not. You’re hot as fire, goodness.” She mumbled and when she did, she right away managed to get a towel and wiped it across the blonde’s neck and face, “This is what you get when you stay under the rain.” She mumbled as she slowly walked the blonde towards the lavatory where she helped her washed her mouth and her face, “You have to remember…” She held Cate’s chin and forced her to look at her as she wiped her face, “…you and rain? You two are not friends.”
“I told you, I’m fine.” Cate managed to counter with her eyes closed as she stood in front of the brunette like a little kid, “I just need to sleep this off. And you…” She opened her eyes – those cerulean orbs stared at Sandra’s brown eyes so solemnly, “…you need to go home.”
“No.” Sandra held her hand as she dragged the blonde very carefully towards the shower, “You’re not sleeping unless you get yourself out of your wet clothes. And I,..” She shook her head slyly, “I’m not going home unless I know you’re okay.”
Cate looked at her, as if telling her to go away, still Sandra did not budge and so Cate coldly said, “Get out.”
“No.”
“I’ll undress!”
“I’ve seen you!” Sandra countered, “I’m not getting out of here because I’m afraid you’ll kiss the floor, so no, Catie. Undress.” She replied in such a tone Cate knew she had.
Feeling tired and already defeated, Cate gave up a sigh as she started to undress herself.
The blonde’s bedside table had two marble ashtrays full of ashes and cigarette butts. Sandra made a mental note to clean it before the sun would wake up. It was still 4 am, and despite the urge to leave the bed, the situation wasn’t letting her. How could she when aside from the tempting warmth of the bed, Cate was sleeping soundly beside her? The brunette was afraid that Cate would wake up if she would move; she really wanted her to take that long slumber especially when the blonde had a sudden fever that night.
“Cold.”
Sandra startled when the blonde spoke; her tone was frail that she almost sounded as if she just whispered. The brunette immediately half-sat on the bed; she checked the covers, assuming that the blonde was feeling the frigid air of dawn, but then the blanket bundled the blonde tightly.
“You’re bundled up, Cate.” Sandra replied as she caressed the blonde’s head, “And the aircon is not on. I turned it off earlier.”
“Cold…” The blonde spoke; her eyes were closed, but her lips were slighty shivering.
Sandra panicked seeing Cate’s condition and so, despite the urge to just go down and get her some warm water and towel, she opened the covers and slid herself beside the blonde.
“Can I…” Sandra bit her lip as the realization hit her; would hugging her ex to sleep appropriate? Still, she brushed that thought right away, “I’ll hug you, okay? My body heat will help you. I’m a doctor so trust me.” She mumbled as she extended her arm and slid it underneath the blonde’s frame, but before she could even cuddle her, Cate protested.
“No.” The blonde looked at her, her aura was so weak that she looked like a little girl in the brunette’s eyes, “You don’t need to hug me.” She took a hold of the blanket and pulled it up to her chin, “I know you don’t want it so don’t. Besides, I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“No.” That stern tone came out alongside Sandra scooting Cate back in towards her to cuddle, “You’re not the doctor here. I am.”
Like a scared child, Cate obeyed even if she didn’t really want to. Knowing that her ex-girlfriend’s body heat would significantly reduce her fever left her with no alternative, but to curl up with her. Cate was obviously too tired to fight, save from the fact that she truly didn’t want to defy Sandra. Thus, she did not protest anymore when the brunette pulled her to cuddle.
The brunette had her arms wrapped around the blonde with the blanket covering them both, “You can sleep now. Go back to sleep.”
With those words that Sandra mumbled and the saccharine touch it had, somehow it lifted all the stubborn scabs of Cate’s heart. It felt like all the worms latching onto the blonde’s heart were picked out. Cate would be lying if she would say her heart did not flutter, because when Sandra mumbled those sweetly, the blonde felt as if they were still together and she had just woken up from a bad dream. Too tired to even reply, the blonde melted on the brunette’s neck and when she did, Sandra slowly placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“You’ll get well tomorrow. I promise.”
Cate closed her eyes as the scent of the brunette filled her system, “You don’t have to hold me. You can let go.”
It took a few seconds before Sandra softly replied, “I won’t, Cate. I won’t.”
***
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