“Then why didn’t he say it,” Eric said, his voice rising. “Who does that?”
“That’s all you have?” Bellatrix asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s your reason for not liking him. Fuck off.”
Eric watched as she threw a cushion at him and walked off. Eric sighed, feeling helpless.
“I-,” he started to say. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he decided against it. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to listen. They were leaving in a month as it was. As long as he kept her away from Antoine until then, he would be fine. They would go somewhere else and forget him.
“Look, Eric,” she said, turning around. “I know you are looking out for me. Why don’t you come meet him yourself and get to know him? Maybe then you will feel better?”
Eric sighed, giving in. “Alright. But only because you asked me to.”
“Thank you,” Bellatrix said, smiling. “Now, how about we get some dinner?”
∞∞∞
“BLEGH...”
Eric held Bellatrix’s hair back as she threw up. The poor thing had been sick for an hour now, throwing up almost continuously.
“Why did you make me try those yucky things,” she said, moaning.
They had gone to this fancy restaurant that Eric had heard reviews about. Apparently, they served the best oysters. Turns out, it hadn’t been a very good idea. Bellatrix, who had initially been excited to try something new, had become sick only an hour after eating them.
“Here,” Eric said. “Have some mouthwash. Rinse. It will help get the taste out.”
He stayed with her until she was done, and then helped her to her bed. She laid down, doubling over. She groaned and said, “Why did I eat them? Now I will die.”
“You won’t die,” Eric said. “It probably just irritated your stomach. Now that you have thrown it all out, you will feel better.”
Only she didn’t get better. An hour later she developed a high fever. Eric felt worry filling his chest, maybe he had gotten her seriously ill.
“We have to get you to the hospital,” he said, staring at the thermometer.
“No,” she said, groaning.
“I think this is serious!” Eric replied.
“No!” Bellatrix shouted, somehow getting up and grabbing his collar. “Promise me. No matter what. No hospital,” she gasped.
She said it so vehemently that Eric decided it was best not to take her there after all. Instead he wet strips of cloth in cold water, slowly pressing them against her forehead. He sat next to her, holding her hand and feeding her some porridge in between.
Thankfully, she slowly started to get better. The fever started to decrease, and she slept restlessly. Eric sat next to her, softly stroking her hair. He had planned on impressing her with the dinner, but it had completely backfired. But Eric wasn’t worrying about it. Right now he was more worried about her.
“Eric,” she said, groaning in her sleep. “Eric, are you there?”
“Yes. I am here,” he said quickly. “I am right here. Right next to you.”
“My stomach hurts,” she whispered.
“It’s alright,” he whispered. “It’s alright. You will be alright. I am here with you. I will get you some painkillers, some medicines. I will get a doctor.”
He tried to get up to run and find a doctor, but she grabbed his hand with surprising strength. “No,” she said. “No doctor.”
Eric turned around and sat next to her, softly stroking her hair. “Alright. I am here with you. I am not leaving you. Okay?” he whispered.
∞∞∞
Bellatrix looked at Eric, barely awake. Her stomach hurt, and her body was aching horribly. He was softly stroking her hair and holding her hand.
