Companionship

Chapter 43

Marcy reached for her phone as the music stopped playing and the device started vibrating. She peeled her eyes open to see who was calling but ultimately didn't care. She swiped it on. "Hello?"

"Marcy!" Blaine shouted.

She growled. "Why'd you call me at the asscrack of dawn?!"

"I need your help!"

"What have you done now?"

"It's not me! Your niece-!"

"Michelle's giving you the flux over Christmas presents?"

"No! Claire-!"

"Claire's giving you the flux over Christmas presents?" She sat up.

"Forget the Christmas presents!"

"You sound stressed. What's up?"

He took a deep breath. "Claire needs lady help."

"What?"

"Claire needs womanly help."

"Womanly help? She got her cycle or something?"

"Cycle?"

"Her period, genius."

He took a quick breath. "My goodness, we're not prepared!"

"Ah. She must be developing."

"Why are you speaking like it's no big deal?!"

"Because it shouldn't be. Most women grow breasts. Nearly all women have mensural cycles. It's natural, you priss."

"I'm not ready!"

"She's ten. I got my breasts at 8 and my cycle three years later."

"What?!"

"What?"

"You got- that at 11?"

"Yes."

"How was it?"

"Like any other time I got it; shitty."

"I'm not prepared for this, Marcy!"

"I see. Is she bleeding at all?"

"I don't think so."

"Make sure. If she's not, I'll see you when I come back."

"Wait! Why? Maybe you should come back now?"

"To do what? Watch her chest grow?"

There was silence for a long while. "You're mean."

"You woke me up."

"What do I tell her?"

"To hang tight. We'll go shopping later."

"Shopping? For what?"

"Bras, smart face."

"Bras?" Blaine's voice turned hoarse.

"I swear..."

"She can't wear bras!"

"If she's endowed enough, she'll have to."

"I can't- I can't do this!"

"You're acting like Mal."

"Mal?"

"Xin developed at fourteen. He had a time and a half. But they're growing up."

"Xin's pregnant!"

"Yeah."

The phone clattered.

"B? B?" She shrugged and hung up before laying back down but then Tris started hollering.