~ALEX~

Dinner was easy enough, not that anything I ever make is very complicated. We live as creatures of habit and tonight was pasta night. Nate barely glanced up from his book as he ate, which is fair enough, I barely glanced up from my lap. “Oh no,” I groaned quietly. My gray sweatpants were turning a rusty shade of red, I underestimated the severity of my injuries. How am I going to explain this? I could come clean, no. I could take my pants off, run into my room holding them, and change. I could just not move until he goes to bed. ‘Is this really my best option’ I stare at my bowl of uneaten pasta, gritting my teeth.

I slyly knocked the bowl off the table onto my leg. “Ow!” I yelped, not expecting it to hurt, but the sauce was still hot and my leg was very sensitive.

“Alex?” Nate looked up. “What just happened, are you okay?”

I stood up and went to grab a towel. “I’m fine, just spilled!” I called from the kitchen.

“Let me see your leg, the sauce was hot,” I heard his chair screech as he stood.

“No it’s fine,” I return to the dining room with towels in hand, or at least I try to.

Nate blocks the entrance, concern etched in his face. “Alex, seriously, I want to make sure you didn’t get burned. Please?” I glare up at him and push past. I return to the table to clear the dishes, but Nate sneaks up behind me. “Alex…” He places a hand on my shoulder, “Okay, just promise me you’ll run your leg under some cold water before you go to sleep?”

“All right,” shrugging him off, I place the dinner dishes in the dishwasher and start it. I head back to my room, not planning on actually listening to Nate, but I look back at him and turn into the bathroom instead.

~

The bathroom is always cold, but today it feels like ice. But despite that, my leg still burns, and not just because of the pasta sauce. I groan as cold water fills the tub, just looking at it makes me shiver. After I brush my teeth and wash my face, I strip off my shirt and my pants, now stained beyond any hope, and gingerly step into the tub. I’m forced to slap a hand over my mouth before I let loose a string of profanities. I really hate the cold.

I finish that bath as quickly as possible, my lips and fingertips still flushed various shades of blue. I wrap myself in my robe and rush back to my room. “How was your bath, Princess?” Nate teases from the living room.

“Oh, screw off!” I retort, my teeth chattering. I slam my door and pull on the warmest clothes I own, which seeing as I live in LA, is not very warm. I throw my sweatpants into the trash and jump into bed. My phone is lying on the floor, right where I dropped it earlier. I leave it on the floor, but lean down to plug it in. Of course the minute I lean over, my door slams open.

“Ah!” I gasp. Startled, my head hits the floor, HARD.

“Shoot!” Nate laughs and lifts me back off the floor. “You okay?”

“No! What the hell are you doing!? Let me go! And why are you in here!?” My face flushes pink, as he sets me down.

“I’m sleeping in here tonight.” Nate climbs over me into my bed.

“Like hell you are, get out.” I cross my arms and look at him sternly.

“Nope, I’m already asleep!” He closes his eyes and refuses to move.

I can’t say no to him though. So I just give up and climb into bed beside him. “Don’t you have work tomorrow though?”

“No, and you don’t have class, so we can go do something together.” He responds sleepily, scooting closer to me. “Here, you’re cold right?” He opens his arms and scoops me into his hold.

“Fine,” I grumble, secretly somewhat happy about this. I really need to learn to say no to him.