Girl Meets Collection of Stories

Feel Better

Now that Maya and Josh were both attending NYU and living on campus, they spent so much time together. If they weren't hanging out his dorm room, they were hanging out in hers or in the student union. If they weren't in the same place they were still actively communicating.

Going a whole day without talking was extremely unusual, so the fact that it was now Friday evening and he hadn't heard or seen Maya since the night before was really worrying him. He knew she had a big midterm, so not hearing from her during the day he expected.

But he had expected to hear from her the moment it was over, and she would have been done a few hours earlier. He made his way from his dorm on one end of campus to hers on the other side. He tried to convince himself that everything was fine, and that she was just upset about the exam.

When he arrived at her room, the door was uncharacteristically closed. Maya's door was always opened at least a little because her roommate always had people in and out of the room. He assumed her roommate was gone for the weekend.

He softly wrapped his knuckles against the door, not wanting to upset her further if she indeed was angry. Silence. He tried again. This time he heard some movement on the other side of the door. He tried one more time. He finally heard her say something but it was quiet and slightly muffled.

Against his better judgment that he shouldn't go in if he didn't know that she wanted him there, he opened the door anyway. He was surprised to find Maya tightly rolled up in a ball beneath her blankets. He could see her hair, pulled into a bun on top of her head, and her face.

"Maya, what's wrong," He whispered has he walked over to her, "Are you not feeling well?"

"I'm freezing," Maya replied through chattering teeth. Josh definitely thought something was wrong since the room was very mild and the fall day was unseasonably warm. He lightly touched her forehead with his hand, bringing a smile to her face.

"Baby, you're burning up," Josh commented, quite concerned about her, "Let me get you something. Do you have any Advil?"

"In my desk drawer," Maya answered pointing as she mumbled into her pillow. Josh found the bottle. Popped out a couple pills and grabbed a cup from on top of her fridge.

"I'll be right back," He said before heading out to fill the cup at the drinking fountain in the hall.

"I'll be here," She answered weakly. Within moments Josh reappeared in the room handing her the cup and pills.

"That should help you feel better," Josh offered as he watched her gulp down the pills and the water. He couldn't help but be worried about her still.

"I'm still so cold," Maya replied as she handed the cup back to him and burrowed down into her sheets.

Not having any better ideas, Josh pulled off his shirt, socks, shoes, and jeans. He felt a little silly standing in her room in nothing but his boxers, but he had a good reason. He pulled back her blanket, despite her resistance which caused her to start shaking, and slid in next to her.

The bed wasn't really big enough for both of them but Maya immediately snuggled up against him anyway. Her face burned against his bare chest but he held her close anyway. Within minutes she stopped shaking and he could sense her pulse slow.

He rested his chin on top of her head as she drifted off to sleep. Despite the heat she was giving off, Josh eventually nodded off as well.

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Josh awoke to a dark room, as Maya shifted in his arms. Trying not to wake her, he slowly pulled his arm out from under the covers to see his watch. He blinked a few times before seeing it was nearly midnight. Maya's face was no longer burning against his chest, which relieved him, as her fever must have broken.

He just watched her sleep for a few moments before she began stirring as though she could feel him looking at her. She smiled slightly as she opened her eyes

"Hi Gorgeous, how are you feeling?" Josh whispered as he eyes met his. He quickly became aware the fact that he was in his girlfriend's bed in nothing but his boxers. Nothing happened, but he couldn't help but wonder what his parents would think if they saw this.

"Much better, thank you so much for taking care of me," Maya answered, before looking down at his bare chest and blushing, "If anyone walked in right now..." She playfully teased him.

Slightly embarrassed by the whole thing, Josh got out of the bed, grabbed his t-shirt, and letting it fall over his upper body.

"Oh come on. Don't do that, I like you so much better without it," Maya disputed as Josh climbed back into the bed.

"Too bad," Josh teased as he wrapped his arms around her again. Maya crawled up a bit so her face was almost even with his, leaving a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I really do appreciate you taking care of me," Maya said softly as she rested her head on his chest listing to his heartbeat, "Since my roommate went home this weekend, I thought I'd be stuck suffering the whole weekend.

"Well I have a big paper due on Monday, so I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to. Plus did you think I won't come looking for you if I didn't hear from you all day?" Josh responded, sweetly.

When Josh didn't hear an answered, he looked down to see that Maya had fallen back asleep on his chest. With a smile on his face and the girl he loved on his heart, Josh fell asleep as well.

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When Maya woke again, the Saturday morning sun streamed through her window. Her head was resting on her pillow rather than on her boyfriend. When she realized she was alone in the bed, she lifted her head to look around the small room for him.

Josh was nowhere to be found, but a letter was left on her bed in his place.

Good Morning Gorgeous,

You were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn't bear to wake you. I went to find breakfast. I'll be back soon.

I love you,

Josh

Maya smiled at the note before she heard her stomach growl. She hadn't eaten since lunch the day before and she was definitely starting to feel it. She laid back down, looking up at the ceiling, waiting for him to return.

Moments later she heard a noise at the door. She sat up to see Josh quickly appear with his arms full of food. There was a plain bag that looked vaguely like a sick meal from the cafeteria. The other bags were takeout.

"Hey handsome, what do you have there?" Maya greeted him with a big smile, "It smells delicious."

"I wasn't sure what you were up for eating so I got the sick meal from the cafeteria just in case. I also got pretty much everything from the McDonald's breakfast menu," Josh explained as he put the bags down on the bed, "Plus I got your favorite coffee because I know how much you love that."

"I'm starving! I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday," Maya exclaimed as she grabbed the drink from his hand and a sandwich from one of the bags.

"I figured," Josh replied, "I haven't eaten since I came over either." The sick meal was quickly relegated to her desk, as the two went to town on the various breakfast items. After most of the food had been devoured, Maya leaned over and kissed Josh on the cheek.

"I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world, to have a great boyfriend to take care of me," Maya said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm definitely the luckiest guy in the world to get to take care of you," Josh said, smiling, as he leaned his head against hers.