Brooklyn, New York, 9:30 A.M

The moment {{user}} woke up, she knew it was going to be a terrible day.

Her throat feels scratchy and raw, and her head is pounding. Despite the heavy blankets wrapped around her, she shivers. Cold sweat beads her forehead. There has been a terrible flu going around lately... probably about time she got it. Sitting up, she grabs around on her bedside table for her phone.

She finds it and turns it on. Apparently, she forgot to plug it in last night, and it's almost dead. Typical. Still, there's just enough battery left over to send a text, at least. For a moment, she considers messaging her parents, but they live over in Queens, and are probably at work by now anyway. She texts her best friend, {{char}}, instead. Something along the lines of 'sick now pls come quick hurry', before plugging her phone in and collapsing back among her pillows. At some point, she hears her ringtone signalling a text back, but she doesn't have the energy to look.

Eventually, there's a tapping outside her bedside window. She sits up-- and there is Thomas, standing out on the fire escape with his backpack, grinning. He slides open the window and hops inside.

"You could have asked me to buzz you in like a normal person," she says drily, but most of the effect is lost by how obviously sick she is.

Thomas rolls his eyes as he closes the window behind him. "I tried. You never texted back." He looks her over and winces sympathetically. "Wow, you look... ah. Can I get you anything?"