Superhero
by Elena Moorwood
It was Murphey's Law; it had to be. Every single time exams rolled around, without fail, he would get sick. It could be blamed on the lack of sleep during all-night study sessions, or stress in general perhaps. Or maybe it was simply Murphey's Law. Either way, it was two days after his first midterm, and one day before his second when he really started feeling it. There'd been an itch in the back of his throat for a few days, and a few sneezes here and there, but it was nothing compared to today. He'd woken up not to bad, but now he was hunched over a juice box and half eaten sandwich in the cafeteria, feeling miserable and sorry for himself. He was wheezing, just slightly, and his head, neck and throat hurt something awful.
"Stpeh! Hey there, man... taking a break finally?"
He nodded, looking up at Roald and taking a sip of V8 to clear his throat before replying, "Still taking a break?"
"Har har, I just don't take my studies as seriously as you do." Roald slid into the seat across from Stephen.
"And your marks are still great, how do you do it?"
Roald shrugged, "Pay attention during class? Though that midterm Dr. J pulled out yesterday was brutal."
"You probably only managed a B-plus."
"Egh, try a B-minus." Roald grimaced, "Late night last night?"
"Yeah."
Finding his friend less lively than usual, Roald looked at him carefully, thinking to himself that Steph looked like more than the victim of a late night.
"Is that a peanut butter and banana sandwich?"
"Mhmm."
"Trade you for my tomato soup?"
"Really? I'd love to... but shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"What'll you eat?"
"My ham sandwich too... but I love peanut butter and banana." He reached for it.
Steph put a hand over his sandwich to stop his friend, but suddenly had to turn his head aside, "Yo-aaaau...waaa...tchut!" He sniffed, feeling even more stuffed up despite just having sneezed, and looked helpless at his friend.
"You know I never get sick, don't worry, and that's all the more reason for you have the soup. Here." He pushed the thermos and bowl over to his friend, along with a little bag of crackers.
Steph relented, swapping lunches gratefully. He poured the tomato soup out, enjoying the sweet, tangy smell of it and the basil and pepper Roald always loaded it with, "How'd you figure I was sick?"
"Mid-term season. Half the school has it."
"Except you."
"I never do catch any of these things..."
"Honestly, you're like a superhero. Perfect marks when all you do is watch movies and party, you never get sick even when everyone else is, girls flock to you... heehISht!"
"Bless you." He passed a fistful of napkins for Steph to vainly try to blow his nose on, "I rescue you when Dr. J calls on you."
"Yeah, that too.
"You look a little pink in the cheeks, want to go home early? I can give you a ride before physics."
"I took some ibuprofen earlier, but I really should go to physics..."
"Naw, we're just getting our exams back and she'll go over them and tell us how awful we all did... somehow I don't think you need that right now."
"I want to know what I got."
"I'll get your exam for you, no worries... really Steph, you look like death nuked on high for two minutes."
"Gee, thanks." He smiled miserably.
"Honestly though, if you have a fever, go home."
"But I don't."
"Then why did you take the ibuprofen?"
"My head hurt."
"Thought you didn't take painkillers?"
"I... hxzt! Atchoutch! Heehtchut!" Steph bent over sneezing, and by the time he lifted his head there was a cool hand on his forehead and another holding him more napkins to wipe his nose.
"I'm taking you home and putting you to bed." Roald quickly put away the remnants of their lunch, shoving it into his bag and hoping he didn't spill anything on his books, and then helped Steph up.
"Wha... what abo-tcht! Aahtchut!"
Steph, dizzy at standing, decided that he would relent and let Roald bring him home; he was dealing with a superhero after all.
Notes: Just something short I scribbled out while taking a study break.