Pitch Perfect Harmony

Can I Not Care About My Girlfriend?

The next morning, Taylor found her explanation for being so tired and clingy the day before bright red in her underwear. Rolling her eyes, she threw the slip away and got a tampon. Back in the bedroom she quickly checked on the sheets but it seemed like she woke up early enough. "Good morning pretty girl", Travis turned around in bed looking at her with sleepy eyes. "I don't feel too pretty today", she said honestly. His smile faded instantly as he got up to hug her. "What's wrong?", he asked. "I'm on my period. Nothing special, just annoying", she told him. "Oh, poor Tay. But would you want some breakfast?", he wanted to know. Taylor nodded smiling about his gentleness.

"Trav, I'm on my period, not sick", she chuckled when he told her to sit down and wait for him to prepare breakfast. "So you feel okay?", he asked from the kitchen while putting the food together. "Yes. I feel it but I'm okay. It'll get worse later but normally, it's not that bad", she told him openly. "Tell me when you need anything okay?", he just wanted to make sure she knew. "Always. You're a real gentleman, Trav", she joked a little. It was cute how much he cared but normally, she really was okay and it was nothing more than annoying. Every couple of months, there was a bad first day but she would already know.

After their breakfast, Taylor had to work for a few hours, and Travis got his laptop out too. He hated the paperwork but it was necessary. Taylor finished the storyboard for the first music video and was talking about it via a call with her director of photography when Travis entered her office silently. He massaged her shoulders making her smile up at him for a moment. Taylor muted her microphone for a second. "Can you get me a hot water bottle?", she asked him. "Sure! I'll be right back", he said giving her a quick peck on the lips before leaving again. He came back with the bottle she had asked for and a cup of tea making her smile again. "Thanks. You're the best", she said before turning back to her meeting again. Travis stayed for a few minutes massaging her shoulders and neck again while listening to her explaining every single idea down to the smallest detail. For some reason, he loved to watch her work.

When Taylor had finished what needed to be done, she could finally cuddle up with Travis on the couch. He pulled her into his lap putting the not-so-warm-anymore water bottle aside and his hands on her lower stomach moving his thumbs up and down. Taylor pulled a blanket over their bodies and leaned back. "How are you?", he asked silently. "Cramps started but it's okay", she said. "Can I do anything? Get you some painkillers?", he suggested but Taylor shook her head. "Just stay like that", she mumbled. He nodded before gently massaging her tummy and sometimes thighs because he knew that cramps could radiate into the legs. He was just about to ask if that was okay when a relaxed sigh escaped her lips. The question didn't seem necessary anymore, so he stayed quiet kissing her temple softly.

"How long are you on your period normally?", he asked after a while. "It changes. Five days when I'm not stressed but on tour it's more like three days but heavy ones. Like my body wants to get it done faster, I don't know", she explained finding it cute that he wanted to understand. "So depending on how my body feels about this break that isn't that much of a break...", she added leaving her sentence open. He nodded understandingly. "Don't worry we can have sex soon", she joked making him chuckle. They both knew that this wasn't why he had asked. "I don't know how you feel about that but I wouldn't say no because of your period", he still said more seriously afterward. Taylor was honestly a little surprised by that. Most men she had been with had avoided even talking about it and were disgusted by the idea of only seeing her blood anywhere. "I... I've never really thought about that", she admitted. "Really? I think... I mean, I have no idea obviously, but I heard that it even helps the cramps for some people", he mentioned. She shrugged surprised again by how much he seemed to care. "You know, most men who care that much either have a daughter, a younger sister, or can't live a few days without sex", she chuckled a little when she noticed. Travis laughed too. "Can I not care about my girlfriend? I mean, I can't really help anyway, so I at least want to be respectful and... not a dick", he said. "You're so cute", she sighed practically feeling his love engulf her body.

They decided to order something for dinner later but Taylor wasn't that hungry anyway. She felt bloated and on the edge of nauseous like she always did on the first evening of her period. She ate a little but was honestly just happy to cuddle up in bed again later. "Still cramps?", Travis asked. She nodded. "It's going into the back and legs a bit", Taylor explained and he just started his massage again making her smile. "Do you think you can sleep?", he asked when it was dark outside already. "I think so. Maybe not too well", she said. Travis shifted making them lie down mostly. Then he put the lights out and kissed her temple. "Close your eyes baby", he whispered still massaging her. "You're cute", Taylor whispered. "I love you", she added relaxing slowly into his body. "I love you too", he told her before they both drifted into sleep.

Why are there so many stories or one-shots about periods you ask?
Because we all imagine the way we would want our (future) partner to react.
Or because we live in the trauma of how (ex) partners have reacted.
For me, it's the first option luckily.