Growing Up and Other Tall Tales

Chapter 82

"Oh fuck." I whisper, which at this point could mean anything because I use that to describe anything from tripping over a sidewalk to algebra

Ruffling through the cabinets under the bathroom sink I designate this moment as an ultimate oh fuck. Like off the charts of perpetual embarrassment.

Sitting back down on the toilet seat, I hesitate for a solid minute before swallowing down my remaining shards of pride.

"Aiden." I hiss into my phone

A confused silence is followed by a, "I am in the next room?"

I breathe in sharply. "I can't exactly come out right now."

"Do you want me to zip you up again?" he asks and I hear the channels being switched on the television

"No." I scratch between my eyebrows and then imploringly. "I have my periods. And because I'm stupid I forgot to resupply."

There is barely a pause.

"Oh." The television volume decreases and I can hear his voice clearer. "I'll make a store run."

"Thanks, I'll pay—" the line cuts off, replaced by the door opening and closing

I pull myself a bath, waiting for Aiden, and sink into the water. A familiar throb echoes over my body, ready to crucify the next week of my life to a bloody wall. My eyes shudder shut when a sharp knocks come from the door.

"Lyra."

"Coming." My voice sounds slurred and drowsy even to me. It's like the exhaustion from the car crash and the kidnapping had all caught up to me turning muscle to mesh and bones to brew. I wonder if it is too much for me to ask him to—

"Okay, I'm coming in. Eyes closed." He promises and there's pause from him waiting for me to refuse his offer

The door creaks open, and he does come in, eyes closed and in his hand, a paper bag. I hide a smile into my hand as he stumbles into the wall before reeling back to grope his way around. He slips a little on the cool tile and my hand reaches out from the tub to clutch his wrist before he loses his ground. His fingers instinctively wrap around mine.

"There you are." He sighs with a little laugh

"Thanks," I say taking the bag from him. "I honestly can't move right now. I'll be out in a little."

He shakes his head. "Take your time. I'm outside."

--------------------

True to his word, he is outside, sitting with his laptop on his lap and the TV on in front of him. He doesn't notice me until I sit down next to him. I clamp my hands together on my knees and shrug sheepishly at him.

"I was going to go shopping but I kind of, forgot." I say without looking at him. "And I did miss my period last month, I think that's why it hurts this much."

He looks a little taken aback. "You missed your period? That's a thing?"

I look at him, a little taken aback myself at the worry in his voice. "It's definitely not a good thing. But it happens."

He looks like he wants to push it but then lets it go. "Okay, I bought chocolate." He shrugs setting the laptop down on the table and getting up to go to the kitchen. I look after him, confused. He rummages through another paper bag and pulls out a chocolate bar. Then he goes to the kettle that had steam wafting from it.

"What are you doing?" I ask softly when he comes back with a bar of chocolate and a bottle of hot water

"I'm-" he pauses himself and blinks like he isn't too sure himself. Then confusedly but carefully, "Helping. I'm helping."

I unwrap the bar and took a bite. My mind clouds numbingly and a small rush of energy seeps into the crevices. "Dark chocolate." I smile dreamily at him with my mouthful of it and he laughs almost fondly

"May I?" he asks holding up the bottle of hot water

I look at it confusedly and then shrug, "Sure."

He gestures at me to lie down on the couch on my stomach, I follow him uncertainly. He tucks a cushion under my head. I smile at him, a little confused. He returns it easily. I feel his fingers flutter at the hem of my sweater. My toes curl a little.

And then the warmth expands at my lower back. I groan into the pillow.

"That feels fucking amazing." I manage and I hear his chuckle somewhere far away

"Stop being so dramatic. Everyone does this."

I turn around to look at him over my shoulder. "I haven't."

He looks up from where he is pressing the bottle into my skin, "The girls didn't do this?"

"We are all barely home at the same time. The most we do is buy pads and tampons for each other." I shrug and then without thinking, "It's not like I had anyone to teach me, anyway."

Aiden's ministrations come to a screeching halt. I hear his breath come out sharply like I had punched him. I wince hard. I should not have said that.

"It really is not a first world problem," I tell him but this time he doesn't smile back. He doesn't even look at me. His eyes cold and hardened, fixated on his task. I turn to the front and dug my chin into the cushion. Despondently, I take a bite from my chocolate. And fall asleep.