𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 | 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒚

008.

HER STOMACH WAS KILLING HER, she must have been asleep for half an hour. tops. she woke up to three texts from rudy telling her that everybody except for drew was at the beach and that they'd be back in the evening, which she groaned after looking at. she went to the washroom and sat down on the toilet, and that was the exact moment it happened. she felt the blood rush through her, and it felt so bad. her stomach hurt even more, and she knew it was psychosomatic but, what the hell? it still hurt a lot. 

she clutched her stomach and extended her hand for a pad that was kept in the drawer next to her. she opened it to see only one pad, one single pad kept in the drawer. she hated her life, she hated herself for not buying more the last time she had gotten her period. she let out a frustrated yell and fixed herself up. washing her hands and hating herself so much, it was barely one in the day and the others wouldn't be back till at least six, or maybe even seven. she was in no condition to change, take a cab, go to the drugstore and get some pads for herself. 

she groaned thinking of her only option, she desperately needed those pads. god, she hated herself for what she was about to do. she left the bathroom after washing her face and putting on some moisturiser. she changed into an oversized hoodie and some shorts before grabbing the key of her room. she groaned before opening the door, she closed the door behind her and groaned again. god, she hated herself so much. she pushed back her hair in a clutcher that was stuck to her hoodie and walked a few steps to knock on the door in front of hers.

she pressed the bell and knocked. "one second," she could hear drew's voice loud and clear. he opened the door, and cleared his throat, smile falling off of his face the second he saw her, "arabella, to what do i owe the pleasure?" he asked, trying to sound as chill as possible. "i wanted to say sorry for today morning. i don't hate you, and i was just really angry at that time. i also, um, kind of need a favour." she played with her hands to reduce the awkward. "of course," he scoffed. "please, it's really urgent," she was so close to joining her hands and going down on her knees to beg him. 

"i got company," he said, pointing his thumb inside. "oh, i'm sorry for interrupting," she looked down and for a second, genuinely felt sorry for interrupting drew's time with his fling, girlfriend or whatever. "but, i can help if you babysit her." she looked up at him, his lips were pressed in a thin line and his thumbs were hanging on the loops of his jeans. "you want me to babysit your partner?" she asked, trying to process what he was saying. 

"my niece," he said with a puzzled look on his face, "to babysit my niece." she nodded after understanding, "oh, yeah. sure, i can do that," she put her hands in her hoodie pocket.

"okay, cool." she entered the room and he closed the door behind her. she saw a cute baby girl in a cute floral onesie sleeping on drew's big bed, "what's her name?" she asked, after turning her head towards him. "liliana," the bed dipped as she sat next to the sleeping girl, she gently touched the little girl's soft hair with her fingertips. "so, what do you need from me?" arabella bit her lip before answering and he raised his eyebrow. 

"can you get me some pads from the drugstore? i'm all out and i'm in no shape to go buy," her eyes squinted, kind of to show that she really needed him to do her favour. he opened his mouth, then closed it. "i'll pay you back," she added and he nodded.

"with interest?" she asked, tilting her head. liliana rolled on her side and lied down on her back next to her. "sure, i'll send you a picture of the ones they have. don't bother paying me back, though." he grabbed his jacket - that arabella thought wouldn't be necessary because of the hot weather but let it be, and his phone from the nightstand. she got up from the bed to stand, and felt the cramps kick in again.