The Fever Becomes My Home

Andy looked around his small room, observing the collection of doodles and posters that decorated the dull white walls. He picked up his stuffed Batman pillow and smiled, holding it in his lap.
Ashley called him... Batman... That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to him. Anyone that wasn't Elizabeth, that is. Speaking of Elizabeth, was she really sick? Or was that other girl just lying to him...?
That other girl seemed to really like Ashley, and he didn't want to get in the way of that. He knew what it was like to not get something you wanted and it was not a nice feeling. Maybe that's why she was so mean to him. Was she jealous?
Why would she be jealous, though? Andy was just a patient... He was nothing special. All he was, was a disaster waiting to happen- or maybe a disaster that had already happened. He couldn't think straight anymore...
Andy ran his fingers through his snarled hair and laid down. He was about to open his mouth and call for Elizabeth when he remembered she was gone.
Gone.
Elizabeth left him. She was never sick... Maybe he could ask Ashley when he got back.
In the meantime, Andy took out a Marvel coloring book. Elizabeth got it for him for christmas last year... He was almost done with this one. Andy had colored most of them and pinned them to the wall. He opened up to the first one that was blank and began to color it in. He wasn't a big fan of Marvel, but Elizabeth didn't know the difference. He decided it was best not to complain.. After all, she had done a lot for him, it was just a coloring book.
The door was suddenly creaked open. Andy looked over calmly and set his coloring book down, smiling.
"Hey there.. How's my lil Batman doin'?" Ashley said softly, shutting the door behind him and taking a seat by the bed. Andy blushed ever so faintly and closed the coloring book.
"F-Fine..." he said awkwardly, looking at his lap. He still felt guilty...
"Thats good." Ashley spoke gently. "Elizabeth told me to tell you she would be back in two days."
Andy's face lit up. Elizabeth didn't abandon him... His smile soon faded.
"Ashley...?"
"Yeah?"
"Were you... upset about yesterday?"
Ashley smiled reassuringly and shook his head. "No, no. I wasn't upset. Why do you ask?"
"No reason..." he shook his head dismissively. Ashley nodded.
"Do you need anything?" Ashley asked as he stood up. Andy shook his head no, setting his box of crayons down. Ashley couldn't help but smile. "I'll be back in a few.."
"Y-you could stay if you'd like.." Andy said quietly, peeking over at him through his hair.
Ashley smiled and came back, sitting on the bed. He seemed happy to stay... Why would anyone be happy to stay with him? It's not like he was interesting, or anything.
"What's that?" Ashley asked, pointing to the coloring book with the Avengers on the front. Andy blushed and picked it up.
"It's a coloring book." He said. "See?" He flipped the pages.
"I thought you didn't like Marvel..." Ashley laughed softly, elbowing him teasingly. Andy frowned.
"I don't!" he insisted. "Elizabeth bought this for me last Christmas!"
"Oh really? Or are you a closet Avengers fan?" Ashley teased.
Andy pouted. "No!" He set the book down. "Elizabeth doesn't know the difference between Marvel and DC, so- she bought this one thinking it was the right one."
"Did you tell her it wasn't?" Ashley raised an eyebrow. Andy shook his head, quiet as he opened it again and began to color some more. "Why not?"
Andy stopped and switched out the green crayon for the black one. "I didn't want to upset her..." He said like it was common sense.
"How would you upset her? It's just a coloring book."
"It's not just a coloring book.." he frowned. "It's a gift and- I don't know. I don't really think you'd understand.."
"No, no.. tell me.." Ashley frowned, suddenly intrigued.
Andy sighed and looked around his room. "Elizabeth.. has done so much for me.. y'know?" he whispered. "She told me that she looked at three different stores for a present for me because she couldn't find a coloring book that was perfect for me. I- I don't know what she means but.. She bought me the one with the most coloring pages... And the best pictures. Even if it's Marvel."
"That's really sweet." Ashley smiled.
Andy nodded. "That is. And I didn't want to say anything because I was afraid she'd feel like she'd have to take it back and find a different one..." He frowned. "I don't like to worry her, y'know? I like it because she put so much thought into this."
Ashley looked at him, smiling faintly. "That's sweet of you." he rubbed his back. Andy smiled.
"You think?"
"Yeah.." Ashley nodded and looked at the coloring. "You're really good."
"O-Oh.. thanks." He blushed and kept coloring in the picture. "Usually I draw, but coloring is fun too.."
"Mind if I color too?" He asked. Andy looked at him, frowning. He wanted to color with him?
"Uh- sure. Here.." he tore out a page and gave it to him, spreading his crayons out for him to use as well. Ashley smiled and began to color in the picture of Iron Man, using a book as a surface.
Ashley suddenly took his phone out, setting it on the bedside table and playing some soft music. Andy looked up, and looked over, eyes wide. Ashley laughed.
"Never listen to music, huh?"
Andy shook his head, staring at it curiously. Elizabeth played some music for him sometimes when he was upset or when he had trouble sleeping, but he never heard stuff like this.
"What is this?"
"It's called Blink-182. Never heard of them? Ever?" Ashley laughed again. Andy shook his head.
"No, but... I like it.." he smiled a bit, swaying a little to the tune. Ashley smiled happily and turned it up.
They continued their coloring, Ashley humming along to the music while Andy simply bobbed his head along.
"I'm done with my coloring." He said awkwardly and held up the colored in Hulk for Ashley. Ashley grinned.
"I love it."
Andy smiled faintly, shutting the book and setting it down. "I like yours..."
Ashley smiled and took a black crayon, signing the bottom and giving it to him. "Then keep it."
"What? No- its yours." He frowned.
"And now it's yours." Ashley smiled and got off the bed. "I have to get going now, okay? I'll see you tomorrow." He murmured, taking his phone. Andy nodded and waved.
"Bye.." he said softly as he left and shut the door. Andy looked at his coloring and tore his own out of the book, scrawling his name on the bottom. He folded it, tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth in full concentration. When he felt that the creases were perfect, he got off the bed and nervously opened the door. He bit his lip and waved as a nurse passed by to get her attention.
"Andy? What are you doing?" The nurse frowned. She was a friend of Elizabeth's, so Andy vaguely recognized her... He just didn't know her name.
Andy held out the folded coloring paper and pointed down the hall to Ashleys disappearing figure. The nurse smiled and nodded, getting the message.
"Of course..." She smiled and walked down the hall. Andy watched shyly from the doorway as she tapped Ashley on the shoulder to give it to him. Ashley turned and mouthed his lips, but he was too far away to hear what was being said.
When the nurse left, Ashley stood and unfolded the paper. Andy nervously watched. Would he like it? Would he throw it away? A wave of relief washed over him as Ashley smiled fondly and put it in his pocket, looking down the hall at him. Andy immediately ducked back into the room and ran to his bed, laying down to pretend to be asleep in case he came back.
He laid on his side, facing the wall. His heart thud in his chest rapidly and his face was heating up. He liked this feeling... He felt like he had a friend...
Andy smiled happily and closed his eyes, drifting off to take a nap.

Notes