Summer Lovin'

Chapter Three

Chapter Three
(November 1999)

I'd been curled up under my covers ever since getting home. It had officially been the worst day of school EVER. I knew I had to talk to my Dad about it, but I was dreading the look of panic that I knew would come over his face.

So, I stayed under the covers like the mature grade 6 girl that I was. Any time he had come in to check on me, I had held up the Harry Potter book that I was rereading, like I was too into the book to chat.

There were three books out and I had never read any of them without starting at the very beginning. It was actually alarming the amount of times I had gone through them. Any time I wanted comfort, I started reading them all over again. It just felt wrong to begin anywhere but at the very start.

The soft knock on the door had me looking up in surprise, the door wasn't closed and my Dad wasn't really a knocker. I was expecting Josie so I was really surprised when I saw Mama Sawyer, standing next to my Dad.

Her loving smile had me immediately bursting into tears, causing a look of panic to pass between her and my dad. She stepped forward, looking behind as she walked. "You go make some hot chocolate for Hailey and me and we'll call you when we're ready for it."

She must have filled my Dad in on why she was here because he gave her a look of enormous relief and me a look of flushed panic before he took off to make the hot chocolate.

She walked into the room holding a bag up, "I picked up everything I could think of on the way."

She sat down on the bed and I watched as she emptied out the goods. She had gotten a couple different kinds of pads, a few brands of tampons, some chocolate and some tylenol.

As she sat down next to me, leaning against the pillows, she wrapped her arm around me and pulled me in. "How did you know?" Even as I asked, I knew.

She gave me a little smile, "Gabriel came home worried that you wouldn't have anyone to talk to. He knows that I've always wanted a daughter and so thought that maybe we could help each other through this."

I curled into her side and cried a little more before telling her, "it happened in gym class and I hadn't realized... so it stained my pants."

She nodded, quietly listening, as I explained that I'd been wearing light blue jeans and it was so easy to see. They were so light that it had been impossible to miss the big stain.

She gave me a little smile and said, "I know it feels embarrassing but it'll be old news soon enough."

I groaned, "I haven't even got to the worst part."

She raised an eyebrow and so I told her the rest, " Josie had an extra pair of pants there today and so she gave me them. I somehow squeezed into them but she's smaller than me."

Mrs. Sawyer was a smart lady and she slowly shook her head as I nodded, "yup, first I had to get my period, so that everyone would know it and then I borrowed my friend's pants and when I bent down to tie my laces they split wide open."

She sat there for a moment with her mouth opening and closing like she was trying to find the right words. But, I was coming to realize that there really isn't a right thing to say about a moment like this, so instead she gave me a horrified look and asked, "what happened next?"

I started to laugh, knowing that it was actually pretty funny. "This is the worst part! It was so quiet in the class that everyone heard the rip, so Gabriel came over right away to investigate and ripped off his t-shirt to help me cover up."

Mrs. Sawyer hit her forehead with her palm and shook her head, "of course he did. I swear that boy would do anything for you."

Her words made me blush and then I made her laugh by telling her, "it was very kind of him but he caused more of a scene by being half naked and Mr. Henry yelled at him about how, "nakedness will not be tolerated!"

A little giggle escaped as I pictured the scene in my head. "Then he figured out what happened and why Gabriel had stripped, and tried to calm down the situation and get the classroom's attention somewhere else. But, by then everyone knew what was happening."

I wiped my eyes as her laughter made me laugh even harder. As our giggled subsided, I said, "it honestly was the worst day and when we walked home, I realized even Lincoln had heard about it. He's not even in our grade!"

Mrs. Sawyer looked at me with so much love and sympathy in her eyes as she said, "honestly sweetheart that's the worst but I have to tell you, it'll be forgotten soon enough and my boys were already talking about how they were going to throw elbows if anyone so much as mentioned your name tomorrow."

Then she ripped into one of the bags of chocolate and pointed at my book. "What do you think? Should we eat a bag of chocolate and take turns reading chapters?"

How did she know me so well? "Don't you need to go home?"

"I left the boys and Mr. Sawyer money for pizza and told them I was having a girls night. Think your dad would bring us both some hot chocolate and maybe order us some pizza?"

We ripped open the bar and I gave her a side hug, "I know he would, thank you so much for coming here Mrs. Sawyer."

She returned the hug and said, "Hailey, you're family! Anytime you need anything, I'll be here and if Gabriel doesn't know to send me, next time you need anything, you call, okay?"

I wasn't sure how I was lucky enough to have this family in my life but as we snuggled in and started reading, the worst day faded away into one of the most wonderful of nights.

A/N- is it just me or is this getting cuter? Like do I love them cause they are my creation or are they super freaking sweet? 🥰

I thought about Mr. Henry yelling at Gabriel that he wasn't god damned Magic Mike but it's a little before the time. 😂😂