Swimming? No thanks

Chapter 21

Alyssa's POV

"Alyssa! My underwear is red and it wasn't red last night!" Maddy called from my bathroom.

"What?" I got out of my bed and went to where Maddy was holding her underwear at her knees. "What do you mean it's red?"

"It's blood red and so are the inside of my legs."

I looked at her underwear that she had bled through. "Oh, you're experiencing what we land girls call a period. Your body is getting rid of the blood from an unfertilized egg. It lasts four to five days. You're going to be grumpy and in pain. We call it PMS-ing." I opened one of the cabinets and pulled out a pad. "Wipe off your legs with dry toilet paper while I get you some new underwear." I walked out of the bathroom and to my closet. I pulled out another brand new pair of underwear. I put the pad on and took it in to Maddy. "Put these on."

"What's this?" She pointed to the pad.

"It's called a pad. It stops the blood from getting to your underwear and shorts. It's extremely uncomfortable, but you have to wear it if you don't want to be embarrassed."

"Okay." She slid on the new underwear and came with me to get dressed. I pulled out two pairs of jean shorts, a T-shirt, a nicer shirt, my main bra, and my backup bra. I handed Maddy my back up bra, a pair of jean shorts, and the nicer shirt. "Is this like my mermaid top?"

"Kind of. It covers the same area." I explained how to put it on and she happily went to my bathroom to get changed. I quickly changed out of my pajamas and into my outfit for the day. "Maddy, you almost done? We need to eat soon."

"Done." She popped out of the bathroom.

"Pick a pair of shoes." I nodded to my closet as I tied up my tennis shoes.

"Why do I have to wear shoes? I've been doing fine without them."

"Because school requires that you have shoes. Pick a pair so we can eat breakfast." I grabbed my back as I watched her pull out my gladiators and try to put them on without unzipping them. "You have to unzip the back."

She looked at the back of the shoe and pulled down the zipper, easily slipping them on her feet. She zipped them back up and followed me out of my bedroom. We pounded down the stairs and into the kitchen where Megan was already eating. "Hey, Megan."

"Morning, Alyssa and Maddy. What's the plan for Maddy at school today?"

"She is going to hang out with one of my teachers who is also a mermaid."

"Okay. Just don't get discovered. Okay, Maddy? Be careful."

"I know. I've been told to be careful by a lot of people already."

"Why did I hear yelling upstairs?"

"Maddy is officially on her first period."

"Fun, your first full day as a land person and you're already on your period."

"That reminds me. Maddy, we need to go for a daily swim so we don't get sick in class."

"Okay." I set down my stuff and we ran out back. We both dove in and swam near shore. We went back after a couple minutes and went inside to eat. I pulled out a box of Fruit Loops, a bowl, a spoon, and milk.

"Maddy, what do you normally eat for breakfast?"

"Fish."

"How about we try Fruit Loops for this morning?"

"Fine." I pulled out another bowl and spoon. I filled both bowls with cereal and milk.

"Be careful not to get yourself wet when you're eating your cereal. Milk can make you transform."