The Best Friend Equation

Chapter 13 - The Red Wave

Trigger warning: For all the boys reading my book. This chapter contains mentions of blood and gore. I mean, mentions of the menstrual cycle. You have been warned. Please proceed with caution 😉

The next morning when I woke up — eyes swollen shut because I had cried myself to sleep — I realized something else. My stomach was cramping. My back was stiff. Eyes widening, I scampered into the bathroom. Great. Today of all days. As if I wasn't feeling low enough.

I freshened up and then dragged myself to bed again. Sometimes, my periods were tolerable but sometimes they were so painful that I had difficulty moving. My OB-GYN had informed me that this was due to high levels of prostaglandins in my body, a hormonelike chemical that caused severe muscle contractions.

Today was exceptionally bad. Obviously, my body thought that having plain old periods was very low-key.

Lying on my stomach, I switched on my phone and I waited as it booted up, then waited some more as a flurry of messages and notifications slowed it down.

I had a couple of missed calls from my friends, about three calls from Cam and seven from Luke. I rolled my eyes. I should be thankful that he gave me space to myself yesterday. I half expected him to barge in my house in a panic. He had a key so he could have. But I'm glad he didn't. I had been in no position to face him last night. After what Angelina had said to me, I wasn't sure that I still was.

I clicked on the friend group chat we had, where Ana had informed everyone that I wasn't feeling well and wanted to be alone. I felt a rush of gratefulness for her. She and I weren't very close but she was a really good person. It seemed like she really hadn't told anyone about yesterday.

Cam had texted me personally to ask how I was feeling. Luke had texted me to ask how I was feeling and when he could come see me. I smiled. It was the little things like these that made me love him so much that it hurt. He cared deeply for the ones close to him.

As my stomach spasmed again, I groaned and forced myself to get up. My doctor had prescribed some medication for me to elevate the pain. It was a very mild reprieve. But it was something. As I opened the top drawer of my dresser, I saw that the bottle was empty.

"Noooo," I groaned again, falling back on the bed. I couldn't believe I had forgotten to refill the bottle. This was every organized person's nightmare. Now, I was going to obsess over the fact over and over again.

I grabbed my phone once more.

Aria: Hey.

The three dots appeared immediately.

Luke: Hey. Are you ill?

Aria: No, just have periods.

Aria: Listen. I need a favor. My period painkillers are over. Could you refill the bottle for me?

Luke: Ofc. Be there in 10

While waiting for him, I sent a message to Cam that she should not pick me up for school, since I was taking a sick day.

Cam: Symptoms?

Aria: Bloody V.

She sent me a crying panda sticker in reply.

On the group chat, I let everyone know that there was nothing to worry about and that I was just not feeling very well. Also, that I would not be attended school that day. Immediately, I got a flood of 'awws' and 'get well soons'.

When Luke finally arrived, I was sprawled on the bed like a dead body.

"Hey, is it really painful?" he asked softly. He was wearing a Friends T-shirt today and his hair was wet from the quick shower he must have taken.