Fourteen

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Alexander Nathaniel Rozzi

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Alexander Nathaniel Rozzi

"Ella." I whisper, brushing back her hair. It was wet with sweat even though she was shivering and had her blankets pulled together around her. Her forehead was burning up and I knew she was sick. Ella didn't answer me, instead she let out a soft whine, trying to get me to leave her alone. "I just want to check up on you, my love, then I'll let you sleep."

We had done this many, many times before. Ella got sick easily, she was normally better the next day but I did have experience taking care of her. Ella rolled onto her back, blinking her eyes open, she looked miserable. Her eyes were red and her cheeks had a flush to match.

"I don't feel good." She told me, her voice husky proving her throat was sore. Her watch had alerted me not too long ago about a spike in her fever and it was pretty high. I had medicine for her but this was the hard part. I needed to get her to eat first. Ella's appetite on a normal day was small but when she was sick it was none existent. It was one of the many repercussions we had got from being kidnapped. Ella had never gained an appetite after being starved for the first few years of her life.

Ella holds her arms out and I do what she wants, circling my arms around her, holding her tight. I lift her up with me and hold her in my lap. My favourite thing about sick Ella was her clinginess, that and her lack of filter.

"I know, love."

I rock us back and forth slowly. Liam was sick as well so Eleanor was back at the house taking care of him. When I saw the spike in Elle's temperature that had been getting worse through the night and her restlessness which had also been recorded I told Eleanor and Lilliana we weren't going to school. Eleanor didn't mind and I don't think Lilliana cared.

"You need to eat something, Amore."

"No thank you." She brushes me off, expecting that answer. I stand up with her in my arms and move to the bathroom, setting her on the counter and handing her her toothbrush. I turn her so she's sitting cross legged facing the mirror so I can do her hair while she's brushing her teeth. Ella's eyes follow me in the mirror as I pull out her hair tie and braid a single plait down her back.

"Do you want to go next door?" I ask. "Liam's home sick as well and Eleanor is there making soup and such."

"Yeah, I like being there more than I do here." I felt the same, the Taylor parents were nowhere near as welcoming as Eleanor and James. Eleanor looked after me like I had never left and she took Ella in like she was hers.

Ella hopped off the counter but she stood still and closed her eyes for a second. My arms immediately circle her waist holding her up. "Dizzy."

"A little bit, yeah."

"Would you like me to carry you?"

"No thanks." Ella walks into her room and wraps a light pink fluffy blanket around herself. She's had that blanket since we were in the hospital after being rescued. I had the same one just in navy blue. She slips on slides. "Can you bring my laptop for me?"

"Please." I tease. "Watch your manners Ella."

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