Tampons // PAUSED

O N E

_Sapphire_

Let's all agree that we, the women of this world, are seriously damaged by puberty. Those nasty cramps... All the blood... But despite all of that, the most important would be all the money we spend on tampons! That money could be used to buy concert tickets, candles, candies... Anything! Sadly, Mother Nature won't be deterred. She just had to say, "Let them spend more than $100 on tampons each year! It'll be fun... I promise!" Lies... Lies... It's all lies!

I'm Sapphire Hemmings, the girl who never stops complaining about periods.

_Nadine_

One of the biggest struggles is being on your period when you want so desperately to go to the beach... That's one reason why I'd like to punch puberty in the face today; I'm supposed to go to swim in the waters of Bondi with Luke, but no. I can't have one nice day with my boyfriend without it stepping in my way! I mean, I've got years left... Why choose today of all days?! I swear my uterus has a mind of its own... Some days, I barely have any pain (those are the days that I have nothing to do but laze around all day). Most days? I feel like I'm on my deathbed (it's always when I have everything planned down to the exact minute)!

"Mom, I'm going to Luke's house!" I scream.

My mother is a beautiful woman with a unique mindset that most both admire and envy. She's amazing, loving, kind... Everything anyone could ever want, which makes my father one lucky man.

"See you later, honey!" she calls from downstairs, probably baking her latest sweet experiment, "Be careful!"

I race downstairs to hug her, careful not to get too much flour on me, "Don't worry, mom, I will. I love you."

"I love you too," she whispers into my ear, giving me one final squeeze before letting me go, "Don't stay out too late."

Then I remember... I have to buy more tampons. I quickly turn around to ask my mom for a few dollars to get them, but she's already beat me to it, "There's five dollars on the counter."

_Michael_

Trinity... How can I talk to her without looking like an absolute idiot?! I know she works at the drugstore... She's one of the few cashiers. What if I go in there pretending to search for something? It's a long shot, but not impossible for it to work. I'm going to do it...When I enter the store, the bell above the door rings, and Trinity looks at me, giving me a wide grin. She is so beautiful... Why the f*ck am I so shy with her?! I offer a small smile and then begin roaming the narrow aisles, barely paying attention to where I was going. It's then that I see Sapphire, Luke's little sister.

"Hey, Sapph!" I wave at her, pulling her in for a side hug.

"Hey, Mikey! How are you?" she questions, "It's been so long since you've come by. We miss you around the Hemmings household!"

I laugh, "I'm good. I've just been really busy here lately, but I'll be sure to stop in soon. Just for you!"

I pinch her cheeks slightly; man, is it fun teasing her... She's like the little sister I never had!

"A reunion?" someone gasps from behind me, "Without me? It's an outrage!"

"Well, it's good to see you too, Nadine," Sapphire deadpans sarcastically to her brother's girlfriend, "But, what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to go to the beach with Luke?"

"I am, I just have to pick something up," she coughs, "Anyway, I'm gonna go..."

She makes eye contact with Sapphire and jerks her head so it motions toward behind where we're standing. Catching on, she smiles, "Yeah, me too... See you later, Mike!"

As she passes she stands on her tiptoes slightly and whispers, "Trinity's coming this way. Good luck!" How does everyone know?!

"Hey, Michael. Finding everything okay?" the short blonde asks, looking up at me curiously.

My slight blush that only covered the tips of my ears turns a darker shade of red, and the color takes over my entire face, "Uh... Y-yes!" I shout, grabbing the nearest item I can find off the shelf.

"You..." she pauses, "Need, uh... Tampons? Are they for your girlfriend?"

F*ck! Sh*t! Argh! What did I just do?! She thinks I have a girlfriend now! I need something... Something to get me out of this stupid situation I just put myself in, and I need it... Now!

"Uh... No, no! I, um, I don't have a girlfriend. They're for... They're for my sister!"

"Oh!" Trinity still seems confused, but keeps a smile on her face anyway, "What's her name?"

"Rene," I answer quickly.

She giggles at what I'm assuming to be my flustered state, "That's a really pretty name! Maybe I'll get to meet her someday?"

"Yeah, maybe..." her words cause me to lose myself in a bit of a daydream.

She looks back at her station to find a customer waiting patiently to be checked out, "I've got to go, but I'll see you later?"

I nod, and wave as she walks away.