Cooking Up Trouble (David Cook fic) - (9 Parts)

[Bongo]

Title: Cooking Up Trouble

Fandom: American Idol season 7

Authors: symphonyflute & caedere

Summary: It's down to the top sevenand Mariah Carey is the mentor. Unfortunately super cutie David Cook is feeling a little under the weather.

Disclaimer: If we owned David Cook.....poor David Cook. Hehe.

“Let me tell you,” Jason Castro said. “I liked having Mariah Carey as a mentor.”

David Cook looked up from his crossword in surprise. “Really? You don’t strike me as a Mariah Carey fan.”

Jason smiled. “Nah, she was just a lot hotter than Dolly Parton.”

“I liked her, um, you knows,” David Archuleta supplied. David C and Jason looked at each other and smirked. This was going to be too easy.

“Dolly Parton is famous for her you-knows kid, didn’t you like those?” Jason reminded him.

“Yeah, but she’s, well, older. So her, well, they’re, you know.”

“Wiser?” David C asked.

“No, just…um…older. You know.”

“Oh, so older women shouldn’t have breasts. I got it now.” He tried not to smirk as he watched his young competeter squirm.

David A shook his head. “No, that isn’t what I meant.”

“What did you mean then?”

“I meant, um, why are we all sitting out here?”

“The girls are taking forever in wardrobe,” Jason answered. “And we didn’t take as long to make up as they thought. We’re just that beautiful. Or at least I am. Cook here took like twice as long as me.”

It was true. He had been on the pale side and the make-up artist had struggled to bring color to his face. Not to mention that he had been unusually sensitive to the powders and everything made him cough. Luckily the others had been done and out by the time she got to that part.

The few moments that passed before the girls had come out of wardrobe seemed to stretch out for the oldest of the male competitors as he nervously chewed on the end of his pen, eyes set on one particular word in his crossword puzzle.

“An eight letter word for madness,” David mumbled to himself, doing anything – everything- to try to distract himself from the thought of his pending performance.

He’d planned it out well and he knew all the notes, all the crescendos and legato moments. However, planning wasn’t what he was worried about. Something in the back of his mind kept telling David that this performance wouldn’t be his best.

He didn’t exactly feel at the top of his game tonight and that concerned him. The bottom three was a position he’d never been in and he had to make sure he didn’t slip.

“Hey, Cook, the show’s going to be starting in a few…hello?” David Cook looked up and saw Carly standing in front of him, an amused smile playing on his lips. “Earth to David- I’ve been talking to you for like five minutes, man.”

David just shrugged it off, “Trying to figure out this one word, sorry.”

“’S’okay, come on.”

He laced the crossword on the table, hoping no one would think it was trash and throw it away while he was performing, and stood up to follow Carly and the others to the stage. She threw her arm around his shoulders and led him him in the direction in which everyone had gone. “Come on word nerd,” she joked. “Let’s go kick some ass. I mean tushy. Sorry Brookie.”

Everyone laughed and the blonde pianist cracked a smile at her own expense. “You can swear if you want, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Archie, though, him it might bother. Right shortie?” David pulled away from his friend’s embrace to ruffle his other friend’s hair. The boy was looking at him with a strange expression.

“Something wrong?” Even as he said it, David knew why he was getting that look. His voice was…weird. He cleared his throat. “Never mind.” He didn’t want to hear any take-care-of-your-voice from anyone like Syesha had from everyone when she lost her voice earlier in the season. “Let’s go kick some tushy.”

Standing in the line-up on stage, David Cook was contemplating whether or not being one of the last to perform was a good thing. Granted, it would give him a decent amount of time to try to work on figuring out how to cover up the scratchiness in his voice. There was the chance though, that the judges might notice and his performance would be fresh in the minds of the voters.

He was jerked out of his thoughts when he felt someone tugging on his arm and looked over. Immediately, he surmised that he must’ve zoned out yet again as everyone else was leaving the stage except Archuleta.

Carly was standing beside him, almost escorting him off stage. “That’s twice in a row. Where’s your head tonight, Cook?” She laughed, punching him playfully in the shoulder once they were off the stage.

“About a million light years away right now,” David said, being mostly truthful. He needed to get his head back in the game though. His gaze drifted out at the mass of fans standing before them.

Before he knew it, Jason was standing beside him. “That stage is huge, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Almost as massive as the crowd,” muttered David, clearing his throat again. He glanced over at Jason who seemed almost overwhelmed by the size of it all and was thankful he didn’t seem to notice the odd sound of his voice.

Jason was one person though; one often distracted person. The judges and everyone watching? They’d be one hundred times more vigilant.

Jason, Brooke, and Kristy immediately scampered off to go run through their songs a few times but David stayed behind and chose instead to sit down and watch the others perform. Beter to save his voice than get a couple extra minutes of rehearsal, because if he croaked out the song it wouldn't matter much is he was flat or forgot a word or two. He'd be out of there.

So he watched David Archuleta wow the crowd with When You Believe, and was extremely moved. For such a young guy, Archie was good. And it was a beautiful song. Carly was supurb at Without You next, though David was amused at her facial expression. She almost looked like she was in pain. Maybe he'd tell her about that later, if he remembered. Syesha owned the vocal runs on Vanishing, but he hated vocal runs and they were giving him a headache.

Brooke had miracuously appeared just in time to perform Hero, and her performance, well, it was alright. She looked like she was about to pass out from nervousness. Probably should have picked a different song, he thought.

David started to tense up a little as Kristy Lee Cook walked on stage, ready to perform Forever. Not because he thought she’d be bad, not because he might get a headache from her singing, much like with the vocal runs in Syesha’s performance. It was because he knew he was next and if he didn’t get his act together it would be his last performance.

Her voice was rather smooth as she spoke though, and it relaxed him quite a bit. He started toward the back of the stage as her performance began to close. “Kick some ass, okay?” Carly smiled as he walked past her.

David forced a smile, trying to convince himself more than anyone that he was going to do just fine and that his song would sound good enough to pull him through to the next week.

Upon walking out onto the dimly lit stage, he realized that he didn’t even plan on using his guitar to amp up his performance. Of course it was supposed to have a relaxed, acoustic sound, but without it, would he be strong enough?

“We were as one babe, for a moment in time. And it seemed everlasting that you would always be mine,” he started slowly, cringing slightly to himself when his voice sounded a bit strained. Regardless, he continued to sing and hope for the best

“Now you want to be free so I’m letting you fly, ‘cause I know in my heart, babe, our love will never die, no…” The orchestra began to play as he let the note drop, and he frowned inwardly, the headache from earlier still resting dully in the back of his head.

David Cook is allergic to reviews, so the more ya'll review, the more he'll sneeze. So.....

[chui]

ooooh.... very nice! cant wait to see where you take this.

[The Sneezster]

A lovely start. Thanks for this one.

[simply_me]

Oh man, I love where this is going

Can't wait for the next part

[Jazz]

He's so adorable.

No, actually, the real reason I'm commenting is to show you my signature.

[happysparkleprincess]

This made my night!

I can't wait for more!!!!!

[Just Older]

Awesome.

Apparently I'm a little on the slow side lately .... Carly was my favourite Idol, and I had absolutely no idea who your Carly was. LOL

This sounds promising, with or without the addition of sneezes.

[Jazz]

Chapter Two.

* * * * * * * * *

The judges looked less than impressed. Simon had his arms crossed, never a good sign, and Paula had her hands clasped in front of her. All three of them wore frowns.

“David, what happened man?” Randy began. “That didn’t even compare to any of your work so far this season.”

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. He really didn’t know what had happened. “I guess it just wasn’t my night.”

“I would say that is an understatement,” Simon interjected. “Not your night would mean you hit a few wrong notes. This was nothing short of a disaster.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Paula argued. “It wasn’t a disaster.”

“Then what do you call it when someone sings the entire song out of pitch with a voice that sounds like they gargled a shot of acid?”

“He wasn’t that out of pitch! And what’s that crap about acid? His voice sounded…fine….” She said the last part hesitantly, David noticed.

As they were pitted against each other in their customary argument, David felt the annoying need to sniffle a few times. He chalked it up to nerves and the hot light, but it when it led to an overwhelming need to sneeze. Shit.

Hoping to be discreet and not be caught, he cupped his hands over his mouth and sneezed. “Achoo!”

Of course, with David’s luck, it didn’t go quite as unnoticed as he would’ve hoped. It wasn’t like they all gawked at him or anything, because it was hardly anything like that at all. Paula simply paused her argument with Simon for a moment to turn and say a polite “Bless you.”

David merely nodded thanks, wishing she’d said nothing instead. Maybe he was just overreacting. It was just one sneeze on stage. ‘Yeah, but it was after the worst performance of my life,’ he thought to himself.

Ryan Seacrest walked back on stage and took his place next to David Cook, turning to face the judges. “So Simon said it sounded like you gargled acid. Anything you want to say to that?’ he asked curiously.

“N-nahh…not really,” David said, sniffling once to try to relieve the tickle that still hadn’t left his nose. “I know it wasn’t m- ahh…” he sniffled again, desperately fighting the need to sneeze. “…my best performance.”

Ryan nodded once and looked into the camera, “After that performance, if you’d like to see David Cook next week, the number is 1-866-Idols-0-“

“Ahh…Achoo! Hachoo!” Before Ryan could finish with David’s number, the tickle in David’s nose won the internal battle he was having with it. He sniffled yet again in the hopes of stopping, but that only seemed to make it worse. “Achoo! Ah…ahh…achoo!” He could feel his face burn red with embarrassment and avoided making eye contact with the camera.

“…can I give them your number now so you can get votes?” Ryan laughed, looking at a now very red David Cook in amusement.

David held his hand out graciously. “As you wish,” he allowed, sniffling again a few times and wishing the floor would eat him.

“As I was saying before being rudely interupted,” Ryan began again, smiling, “David Cook’s number is 1-866-idols-06. Again, 1-866-idols-06.”

“Excuse me, Ryan,” Simon said crossly, “I don’t believe we were finished talking to David yet.” Ryan stood back and allowed them to finish their critiquing of his performance.

“It really is a shame that it had to come to this, David,” Simon deliberated, and a puzzled look etched it’s way onto David’s face. “Faking ill to try to excuse a bad performance? This is a competition based on talent, not trying to see how many people you can get to pity you.”

David Cook was dumbfounded, at a loss for words. “I…I didn’t…” He paused for a second, the oh-so familiar tickle returning at what could possibly be the worst time for it. “…ahh…hahh…I know it’s my fa- ahh…achoo! Hachoo! –fault.”

“David, it’s really quite obvious you’re putting on a show now. You might as well give up now.”

“Simon,” Paula interjected, “what makes you think he’s faking?”

“He had a horrible performance and now he’s trying to save himself with an obviously made-up and not very well thought out reason..”

“Okay, it’s time to go to a commercial now. We’ll have more American Idol when we get back! Don’t change the channel, there’s more Mariah Carey to come.” Ryan said suddenly, trying to break the argument.

Meanwhile, David wanted to go to the emptiest corner of the room and hide. He was humiliated. And what was worse? The dull throbbing in his head was now twice as painful.

Believe me, there is more to come. And to re-enforce, I'd like to bring to your attention that David Cook is in fact, allergic to reviews, and the more you review, the more he'll sneeze. We've already hid the allergy meds so you don't have to worry about that. ;]

[queenie]

Awww. Poor David. Sounds like it's to get worse now, though...

[simply_me]

Oh man

I've never hated Simon, but now I do

adorable chapter

poor David

[Just Older]

Aww. Poor David.

Nice writing, ladies!!

[chui]

poor poor David... Simon is being such a meanie!! im sure all of us would have rushed to the phones to be able to see him again the next week!

[Bongo]

Chapter 3

"Way to go Cook!" Carly patted him on the back as he exited the stage. "That was amazing. I'm betting that whenever you get the cut, that'll be in the bye-bye montage they play." She looked around. "Seriously, I'm betting. Who's up? Kristy?"

The horse trainer smiled and shook her head. "Nah, it'd be stupid to bet against you. And gesundheit by the way."

He sniffled again. "Thanks. You don't have a tissue, do you?" Carly shook her head and answered her ringing phone, announcing that her husband wanted her to meet him outside.

"Maybe." As Kristy was digging through her purse, and Carly was off in search of Todd, David A joined them in the break room.

"That was kind of a lousy thing to do," he said quietly. Kristy stopped looking to better watch what was about to unfold.

"Excuse me?"

"Faking sick to avoid elimination. It was lousy. You should have just stuck it up like everyone else."

"I was not faking sick!" David exclaimed again. "I was sneezing. There is a difference between an autonomous reaction and faking sick!"

"Then why did you sneeze so much?" the teen pressed.

"I don't know, dust maybe?"

"No one else had a problem. And, you know, you didn't sneeze until you were being criticized. And, well, you don't fake sneeze very well."

Kristy, amused, handed David a tissue while David A fled from the older man's mean look. "Autonomous?"

"I do a lot of crosswords."

[Just Older]

This story isn't getting any less "aww, poor David." LOL

Still, it's cute.

[Bongo]

Chapter 4

As soon as he had the opportunity, David Cook left for his own room. There was mention by a few of his friends that they’d all be hanging out at the pool by the hotel that night, but the thought of it made his head throb. He needed sleep. And he needed to forget what happened during his performance.

"Hey Cook," Carly hollered across the hotel lobby as David trudged tiredly over to the elevator, "are you going to come chill with us tonight by the pool?"

"No, I’m just going to…uh…finish my crossword puzzle from earlier." He replied, waving said puzzle in his hand. She looked at him skeptically, then shrugged.

"Whatever, Word Nerd. If you feel like joining us, there’ll be chicks in bikinis," Carly laughed, winking at him.

The metal doors slid open and he walked into the elevator to be greeted with blaring, static-y music. David sighed inwardly and waited for his floor, leaned against the wall unenthusiastically. Swinging the door open, he walked in and laid down on the couch, not bothering to change or even take off his shoes.

It didn’t even seem like a minute before there was a knocking at his door. "You sure you don’t want to join us?" Carly’s voice echoed through the hotel room and rang in his ears.

"No, thanks. I’m good." He said, quickly clearing his throat so his voice wouldn't sound so strained or hoarse.

"You’re a party pooper," she laughed and David heard her leave, walking down the hall.

The sound of the door clicking behind her was like music to his ears, but it was only moments before someone knocked, waking him out of his slight grasp on sleep. "Go away, I'm sleeping." He yelled, pullint the pillow over his head. The door opened anyway.

"Carly told me to come get you," David Archuleta told him, standing in the doorway.

He pulled his head back out. "How did you get in here?"

David shrugged. "It was unlocked."

"Then can you lock it on your way out?"

"No, but you can. I'm not supposed to leave until I have you with me."

"Tell them I'm asleep."

"Sorry, have you ever met Carly?"

He had a point there. "Then you aren't going either."

"But there are girls in bikinis."

David, cranky and tired, threw his pillow at the teen in his door who easily ducked out of the way. So now he had no pillow. Damn.

"Is there any chance I can negotiate with you?" David Cook questioned, very much wanting to stay exactly where he was. "Y’know, like, say we’re ever in the final two together, and I’ll let you win if you go away right now?"

"Not a chance. I’d win against you without you ‘letting me’ anyway," David A laughed, pulling air quotes. "Now come on, it’s not that difficult to get up and walk downstairs for a little while. I don’t want to be in here and Carly will kill me if I go down without you."

David C groaned and sat up, reaching for his crossword puzzle and pen off the table. If he wasn’t going to stay in his room, he needed something to keep him occupied.

"I see you’re cooperating now. Why are you so tired anyway?" the teen asked. Then he mumbled more quietly to himself, "It’s not like you put much effort into tonight."

As quiet as it was, the older David still heard it and rolled his eyes, looking at Archuleta in distaste. "C’mon, let’s just get this over with," he said, heading out the door with the younger following close behind.

He headed down the stairs, deciding to spare himself the horrible elevator music, and almost immediately regretted it. David could hear the thumping of music and he hadn’t even opened the door yet.

Oh, this was going to be Hell.

"Where's your swimsuit?" Syesha asked when they had gotten to the pool. She had pulled her hair back in an attempt to keep it frim frizzing in the water, but she needn't have bothered. Her silver string bikini distracted from her hair perfectly.

"I didn't bring one," he replied. "I knew it would just pale in comparison to yours."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I like this suit."

"Hey, I like it too. At least I will until I'm blinded by it."

"Why don't you come over here and say that Cook?" she asked in a tough voice, swimming to the middle of the pool.

"You know I'm good, but thanks."

"Chicken," Kristy suddenly exclaimed.

"Who's side are you on?" David joked.

"No one's. I just want to play chicken," she replied, smiling innocently."Will you be my partner?"

"I don't have a suit, remember?"

She shrugged. "So?"

"So I don't want to get my clothes wet."

"Take them off," she suggested flirtateously, giggling.

"I'll be your partner," David A offered eagerly.

Kristy blushed and allowed herself to sink a little lower in the water. "I think I'm bigger than you. Sorry."

"I'll be your partner," Brooke offered, feeling smart for having worn a one-piece while everyone else had gone the itsy-bitsy route.

"Cool." He dove into the pool, and swam over to Brooke. Syesha and Jason paired up too, more because they happened to be next to each other than anything else.

"You know," Carly's voice sounded next to his ear. "There aren't enough guys. Means you have to play. Sorry."

With those words, she gave him a light shove, which, in his state of exhaustion, was enough to send him into the pool.

"So, uh, Kristy, want to be my partner?"

[Just Older]

!! How can you let them be such bullies?

*Waits patiently in David's room for him to come back up.*

[Bongo]

!! How can you let them be such bullies?

*Waits patiently in David's room for him to come back up.*

I'll see you there.

[Anonymouse]

This is excellence. =D I love how it isn't totally muddled with too much sneezing. Everyone is written exactly as I'd imagine they'd be, except for Archie, who seems a little too malicious sometimes (but his unquestioning obedience when following Carly's order seemed spot-on!). Carly is perfect, she seems like she'd be stubborn and persistent. And Brooke with her modest one-piece, and awkwardly adorable Jason. And Kristy! She annoyed me on the show until she left and then I loved her, because that's how it works with me. I used to get annoyed when she hung on DC but in a story I think her flirtateousness is adorable (even if she is engaged or something, psh who cares?). And DC is just so wonderful with his little crossword puzzles and his humiliation. =P

BTW, I was wondering if you saw that photo I found on flickr of DC actually sneezing? It's in the media section. When I saw it I literally died a little inside. It could serve as inspiration!

You're a great writer, I enjoy reading this and I can't wait for the next chapter.

[Bongo]

Chapter 5

Thrashing around in the water with someone else on his shoulders wasn’t exactly how David had planned to spend his evening when he was laying on his couch earlier. Now, however, he was holding tightly to Kristy’s legs and trying to keep her up until the end. If she fell, he got completely submerged in the water. That wasn’t exactly what he wanted.

"Don’t let me fall now," Kristy giggled, her arms locked with Brooke’s and trying to knock her off of the youngest competitor. "Or I’ll dunk you when I get down there."

Brooke let out a girly squeal that made David wince when Jason and Syesha came up and knocked her off of the youngest guy’s shoulders. Syesha laughed and started to wrestle playfully with Kristy. David was finding it increasingly difficult to keep himself standing up, let alone Kristy too.

The two girls seemed to be an equal match in strength, as neither could push the other down into the water. "Looks like it goes to whoever can hold their chicky up longer," said Carly in a suspenseful tone from the opposite end of the pool. "Cook versus Castro, anybody want to call it?"

"Oh, it’ll definitely be us," Kristy announced happily, "I hooked the strongest of the guys." She didn’t know, however, that right below her, David Cook was fighting a battle of his own. He’d started to feel the need to sniffle a few times throughout the whole game, but that little irritation was starting to get worse.

His breathing started to hitch as the strength of the tickle in his nose increased, but he was determined to be the last one standing.

"Having problems, David?" Jason snickered, obviously realizing that Cook was faltering in holding Kristy.

"Not at a- ahh…hahh…-all, Castro." Lying through his teeth.

"You sure about that? ‘Cause you look like you’re about to –"

"Achoo!"

"And with that, team Mercado-Castro wins!" Carly yelled. Of course, David Cook and Kristy were both under water.

"Sorry," David sputtered as they surfaced.

Kristy shrugged. "Whatever, it's just a game." She grinned. "But I do like that when it came down to you guys, little Jason won. You're like a foot taller than him."

David looked over at Jason, who shrugged at the comment. "I am petite."

On the other end of the pool, Brooke and Carly seemed locked in conversation and David was swiming laps. "Who's up for the hot tub?" Kristy asked, frowning as her former partner shivered in the not-so-cold air.

"I am," he said immediately. Everyone quickly agreed, and their games and shinanigans were forgotten as they all settled into the warm soothing water.

The warmth of the hot tub was a sigh of relief for one certain, still slightly shivering contestant. All seven of them were in there, so it was pretty lucky that they were all decent friends.

"So, who do you think is gonna win the show?" Carly asked, leaning back against the wall behind her.

"You can’t ask something like that, Carly!" Brooke exclaimed, shocked she’d say something so…absurd. "There’s no way you can guess something like that when we’ve got so far ahead of us."

"Don’t get your swimsuit in a bunch," Carly laughed. "I just wanted to know what people were thinking."

While the two of them argued playfully back and forth, the relaxing heat of the hot tub was slowly lulling David Cook to sleep. His eyelids seemed to get heavier and heavier until he felt like he couldn’t keep them open anymore.

"Earth to Cook," Carly said, flicking some of the warm water in his face.

"Hmm?"

"You were snoring." Kristy giggled. "It was funny."

"Oh…sorry." David sat up more, trying to sniffle inconspicuously. "Achoo!" He did best to muffle the sound of his sneeze in his hand but didn’t do a good job and in turn, saw Brooke scoot a little farther away from him. "Ahh…achoo!"

"Whether you’re faking or not," Brooke said quietly, "that’s still kind of gross."

His eyes dropped down to her and he sighed. "Excuse me?"

"I just don't appreciate having someone else's bodily fluids invading my personal space." She shrugged.

He couldn't believe his ears. "You're a freaking nanny!"

"So?"

"So your entire life is based around someone else's bodily fluids."

"They're kids, it's different."

"No it's not," Carly piped up.

"Yeah, it totally is. And I use a lot of hand sanitizer."

Carly rolled her eyes. "Some of that peroxide is starting to leak in hon," she warned.

Syesha and Kristy snickered, and Jason patted Brooke on the arm. "I think you have pretty hair," he assured her.

Brooke smirked halfheartedly, obviously annoyed by the current situation. She crossed her arms over her chest but tried to mask her annoyance.

After that escapade, however, she’d lost the kind, innocent air about her. At least, in David Cook’s mind she did. That little comment put him off and he made the decision to call it a night early, standing up.

"Going somewhere?" Kristy asked curiously. He nodded and rubbed at his eyes a bit.

"Yeah, I’m still tired. Probably going to head up to my room and get some sleep now," he mused. "Don’t want to be falling asleep at the results show tomorrow, right?"

"I don’t know," Carly giggled, "it depends on if you want to try to top your performance tonight."

"Thanks, Carly," David replied sarcastically, starting to wring out his wet t-shirt. He shivered again, almost instantly regretting getting out of the warm, inviting water.

She winked. "Any time, Cook."

Syesha had noticed him shivering, and perhaps she was the only one, but regardless, she spoke up. "Do you want anybody to come with you?"

"No, I think I can make it the twenty yards to my room all by myself. Thanks though."

"Sure. And if you need anything, just ask. You know my number."

Jason raised his eyebrows. "He's tired, not dying. Dude."

Kristy laughed and splashed her. "Chill out."

"He's shivering," Syesha protested.

"Well the air is about twenty degrees cooler than the water," Kristy pointed out logically. "Go back and sleep," she directed towards David. "We all know you won't die on the way."

"Se ya'." He gave everyone a good-bye salute and started walking to the door into the hotel.

[Just Older]

Is David going to have a visitor? Someone to take care of him ... or is he just gonna go it alone?

Tell me, tell me, tell me!!

I love how you're keeping the story open and broad by using all the Idols. It will let you change characters - change directions, change plot - if you get stuck.

[dancestar893]

OMG! i love this story!

I have been lurking on this site for ages and i finally decided to get an acount so that i could actually thank ppl for work like this.

it is an absolutely adorable story!

[Anonymouse]

I'm really excited to see the next chapter. =3

NOT RUSHING YOU THOUGH. Not really.

This is just so cute, it makes me happy and I want to see what happens next!

[Bongo]

Chapter 6

David felt somewhat stupid, standing sopping wet in the hotel’s hallway and searching for his room key. It was somewhere within the jean material that was now clinging to his legs.

He was tired and cold by the time he finally got his hotel door open, the key hidden very well in his back pocket. A yawn was hidden by his hand and he pulled off his wet clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor in exchange for something drier, warmer.

Little consideration was put into what he was wearing, and he was almost certain as he pulled it on that his shirt was backward, but he could honestly care less. On his way over to his bed, David picked up the pillow he’d thrown at the teen earlier and tossed it on the bed before collapsing on top of it.

Now normally someone as exhausted as David would’ve fallen asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow. Realistically speaking, though, the headache was beginning to rear its ugly head again, and his nose was starting to bother him more and more.

He reached over and turned off his light, glancing at the LED clock on the table as he did so. 1:03. He’d been down at the pool longer than he had expected.

Closing his eyes, David hoped to soothe his head with a little sleep, but unfortunately, the cards were stacked against him. Every few minutes he had to readjust himself on the mattress because he was too cold. Quite a few times, when he was almost asleep, he’d be jerked awake by a sharp cough that made his raw throat burn, or that incessant tickle in his nose that refused to fizzle out.

"Ahh…achoo!" David groaned, rolling over yet again on his bed. He doubted he’d ever be able to get to sleep now.

A knock sounded on the door, waking him up once again, and he was about ready to kill whoever it was. "Come in," he called, sighing. Whatever.

It was Syesha, wearing a giant yellow T-shirt over her swimsuit. "Hey honey, how are you feeling?"

"Tired," he mumbled into his pillow.

"I hope you aren't really getting sick," she fretted. He felt a hand run through his hair. What the hell did she mean really? If he wasn't so damn tired, she would be getting an earful

He peeked out at the clock. "It's almost 2 in the morning," he pointed out. "And not all of us are as energetic as you are. Do you have caffeine permenantly diffused in your blood?"

She didn't laugh. "Seriously, you need to take care of yourself. If you're this tired you shouldn't do things like go to the pool past midnight."

David understood that she was only doing this because she generally cared. But that didn't make it any less annoying.

"I'm okay Syesha," he stressed. His nose was running and he wanted to reach out and grab some tissues, but that would incur the wrath of super Syesha. Plus, his hand was nice and warm where it was.

Instead, he tried as subtly as possible to sniffle without her noticing. "And for the record," David said, clearing his throat quietly, "I did not choose to go to the pool past midnight. Carly sent one of her minions to come and get me."

"You still shouldn’t have come if you knew you’d be this tired." David sighed, burying his face further into his pillow and silently muffling a cough. He hoped she wouldn’t hear it.

"Really, Syesha, I’m fine. Just tired is all," he lied. In all honesty, David was just hoping Syesha would leave and let him get some much-needed sleep. She looked slightly less than convinced with his answer and readjusted his blanket.

He groaned inwardly. He was perfectly warm how he was, thank you very much. Not anymore though. Syesha’s hand brushed up against his forehead, and he wasn’t sure if it was accidental or if she was still trying to determine for herself if he was ‘really’ sick. Whatever the hell that meant.

"If you say so," she said after a moment, ruffling his hair gently. "I’ll be a few rooms down if you need anything, alright?"

"Mm…" David mumbled, starting yet again to drift off to sleep. Syesha let out a quiet laugh.

"’Night." The door shut and he was alone again in his hotel room. He felt around on the table beside him for a box of tissues and pulled them under the blanket with him, blowing his running nose with one and tossing it lazily in the general direction of the trash can. Readjusting for the umpteenth time that night, he tried to get a little shut-eye before the show later that day.

[Coral]

Ooh, it's sooo good! Can't wait for more! Good idea writing a fic over idols, the characters are almost perfectly how I would like them to be! Wonderful job - the nicest part was the on-stage part, I reaaally enjoyed reading that..

[Just Older]

You know what I have to say about this part. I know you do.

It starts with Awww.