“You’re welcome. Eat, please,” he replied sternly.

“You know, you really shouldn’t miss school on account of me. People will notice if we’re both out,” I said while slurping a noodle.

“Less talking, more eating. And you shouldn’t care what anyone thinks.”

“You do.”

“I don’t care, I just know.” I rolled my eyes and crunched the crackers into my soup, then took a sip of my tea. The heat felt good on my swollen throat. I tried to smile but it hurt the muscles in my face. Edward swung his feet up onto the bed and put his arm around me to support me while I ate.

Halfway through my soup it wasn’t so appetizing anymore, and my stomach lurched. I slapped my hand over my mouth and I knew I wouldn’t make it all the way to the bathroom by myself. Edward, knowing what I needed and probably not wanting to clean vomit from the floor, picked me up and ran me to the bathroom. He sweetly held my hair back while I regurgitated the minuscule amount of food in my poor stomach.

As I was spitting the toothpaste out of my mouth afterward, Edward sighed.

“Bella, I know you’ll probably want to protest, but I’m worried about you. I think we should go see Carlisle.” I just nodded my head my head in agreement. We went back into my room and I pulled a hoodie over my head. Edward grabbed my cell phone from the bedside table and slipped it into his pocket in case Charlie called. He scooped me into his arms and walked me outside to the Volvo. I rested my head against his chest and then accidentally coughed all over his shirt. I looked up to him horrified, and he just laughed and set me in the passengers seat.

“Do you want the air on?” he asked, concerned, while getting into the car. I shook my head no. I was scared that if I opened my mouth, another wave of vomit would spew.

“Would you like the heat on?” I shook my head again in reply and closed my eyes. Edward was driving less like a maniac than usual, but I could still add motion sick to my checklist of ailments today.