That's What Friends Are For
an American Idol story
by midnight_angel_girl
It was almost down to the final episode of American Idol, and Clay and Ruben were alone in the house. It was a warm spring day and Clay was in the kitchen making himself some breakfast before Ruben woke up. As he was sitting down to eat, Ruben came down the stairs. Ruben opened the fridge and grabbed some juice before sitting down across from Clay. "Hey, how's it going?"
Clay opened his mouth to respond and sneezed instead. "Heh-ehshoo, hashoo, ashoo." He took the napkin Ruben offered and blew his nose.
"Thanks."
"Allergies buggin' ya again? Bless you, by the way."
"Thanks. Yeah. They're kind of bad today."
"Take your pill yet?"
"Yeah, when I woke up." Clay sniffled. "I'm kinda glad that we have the day off today."
"Yeah. I was thinking we could go out and do something, but you probably don't feel up to it right now."
"(Heh-choo) Dot really. We could just watch a movie or something if you want. I kinda want to go back to bed though."
"We can watch a movie. It's okay with me if you fall asleep on the couch. You usually do anyway."
"Okay," Clay said, coughing.
Ruben looked at him as he took a drink of his orange juice and winced slightly as he swallowed. "Clay, are you sure this is just allergies?" he asked, getting up and walking over to him. He pressed his hand against Clay's forehead and cheeks. "You're a little warm," he told Clay. "It's probably just a cold, but you should rest. Go lay down on the couch and I'll go to the store and get you some cold medicine."
"You're probably right," Clay told Ruben. "Thanks. (Hetchoo, hey-ehshoo)"
"Bless you again. Do you want anything else while I'm out?"
"Cad you get be sobe bore tissues?" Clay asked, blowing his nose on the napkin again.
"No problem."
"Thanks." Clay finished eating while Ruben got his keys. "Let me go upstairs and get you some money quick."
"Don't worry about it. You can pay me back later. Just go get some rest. You're working so hard on American Idol stuff and your school stuff. No wonder you got sick."
Clay smiled at Ruben. "Thanks, dog. I'll go lay down in the living room."
Ruben headed out the door while Clay went to the living room and laid down on the couch. 20 minutes later Ruben was back with a shopping bag. "Did your allergy pill kick in at all yet?"
"A (ahshoo hashoo, ah-shush-shoo) A little bit. I'm still sneezing my head off though." He took the box of tissues that Ruben handed him.
"Thanks." Clay sat up, while Ruben handed him the bag and sat down next to him. Clay took out a box of allergy/cold pills and a bottle of Zicam. "What's Zicam?" he asked, blowing his nose.
"It's supposed to help you get over your cold faster. My friend uses it, and she's only sick for like 3 days."
"It's worth a shot I guess. We tape on Tuesday, and I'm going to (heh-choo, hey-ehchoo) soud awful sigig like this." Clay took the cold medicine and swallowed some. Then he read the directions on the Zicam bottle and used it.
"Huhchoo! Herchahhh! Heh...hep-tchoo! "ihh-Hitchoo! Ehh-Hetchuh! heh-Choo! Huh-Cheshh! Ehh-Heshhoo! heh-Ihshoo! Ihtchooo! Ihshoo hehhh... ehhTchhoo! ehhAhshoo! hahTchooo! ahhKtchooo! ahhhChooo! Ahhh-ihChooo!" He sneezed a few minutes later. "That stuff burds. ("heh-CHOO! heh-AhChoo! HahChishoo -keh-AHTchhoo )" He sniffed, reaching for the tissues and blowing his nose a few times.
"God bless you." Ruben told him.
"Thags." Clay blew his nose again. "You wadda put id a video?"
"Sure. What do you want to watch?"
"Dod't care. (huh-choo)."
Ruben got up and put in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He settled in the armchair, and told Clay to lay back down. "If you fall asleep, I'll wake you later to eat some lunch."
"(Uh-choo, heh-chisshhh, Hayeshoo) Thaks, Rubed." He smiled at man who had become his friend.
"No problem Clay. That's what friends are for."
I do not own Clay Aiken or Ruben Studdard. Written for weekly hatching 12.
Never really watched American Idol, but I love Clay Aiken. This is a short fic that would take place near the end of the second season. Clay and Ruben are the only two left. Anyway, here's a quick attempt at a story. Let me know what you think.