JACINDA'S POV

Let me just say it now: I didn't believe Percy when he said that he was alright. Why? Well first, he is a terrible liar. Secondly, you could tell that he was sick just by looking at him. He was as pale as a ghost and his eyes were so puffy and tired looking. He acted like he was in pain too. Finally, he fell asleep on the couch. Percy Jackson does not take naps.

I grabbed a blanket from the closet and draped it over Percy's sleeping body. I pulled my laptop out from my backpack and sat down in the large chair on the other side of the room.

15 minutes ticked by and Percy finally woke up. He immediately got up and walked to the bathroom. I could hear him coughing from my spot.

When he came back out, I sighed and looked deeply at him. "When are you going to admit that you are actually sick?" I asked.

He looked at me plainly. "I guess right now…"

"Good! Now that you say that, I can actually treat you like you are."

He pursed his lips and sat back down. "What hurts?" I asked.

"My stomach, throat and head. It hurts to swallow." Percy said hoarsely. I walked over to him and put my hand on his throat. His Lymph Nodes were quite swollen. I ruffled the hair on top of his sweaty head. I went back to my laptop and Googled his symptoms.

After 15 long minutes of searching, I came to a conclusion. "I think you might have Mumps. Have you gotten the vaccination?"

"I don't think so…."

"Read this article about them. Tell me if that's it." I handed him the computer.

He slowly read the symptoms list. "I can't read the whole thing. I'm sick, and that makes dyslexia worse!" I had forgotten that he was dyslexic! "It sounds about right."

I frowned and grabbed the computer. "There is no cure for those."

Percy winced and leaned back. "Ambrosia and Nectar?"

"Only helps with injuries, not sickness."

"At least the person that has to take care of me is a daughter of Apollo!"

"Yeah? Well, you're stuck with a daughter of Apollo who has no healing talent whatsoever. Do you want some hot apple cider?"

"It'd come right back up!"

"Well, if it's hot, it will make your throat feel better when it does."

Percy looked at me for a moment, "Well, I don't particularly like puking. But, my throat is killing me! So, out of pure desperation, why not?"

I got up and drifted off to the kitchen.

Silence hung in the air while Percy sipped at his cider. I sat by his side, massaging my thumbs into his shoulders. "Wait! Aren't Mumps contagious?" he asked.

"Highly." I stated. Percy scooted away from me an inch. "Don't worry! I've already had them."

"When?"

"A long, long time ago."

Percy put down his empty mug and sat silently for a few minutes. After a while, Percy was a sickly shade of green, hunched over the bathroom wastebasket that sat between his legs. We sat side by side on the couch. He hadn't yet been sick, but he could tell that it was coming.

Percy spat into the trashcan and looked up at me, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry. I know this isn't what you saw yourself doing this week."

"Why are you the sorry one? You can't help being sick!"

"I know, but you shouldn't have to do this! Now I feel like I owe you."

"No! This is the least I could do!"

Without warning, Percy opened his mouth, in an attempt to speak, and threw up. He moaned and put his hand against his stomach. I laid my cheek against his warm, flattened back, and I continued massaging him.

"I hate being sick," Percy mumbled. "Are you going to call my mom?"

"Do you want me to?"

"No. Being the way she is, she will get all worried and want to come straight home."

"Then I won't"

"Thanks." He choked out before throwing up once more.

Thanks for reading! Can I get a review? Maybe? It would make my day!