Girl of Steel and Stone

Chapter 9

And so, the First Year is almost over.... Enjoy, vote and comment!

Chapter nine

I was in a fool mood. I was having my period again and it hurt and Thorn just kicked me in just the right – or wrong – place.

That was one thing I'm not happy about. My first menstruation was in November and it didn't hurt at all. Six weeks nothing and then it still didn't hurt. It hadn't hurt since this morning. And well... au.

Selene didn't believe me when I told her I had never menstruated before. Well, that is what happens when you don't have enough food.

I was shooting Death glares at Thorn. He smiled back smugly. If it weren't for my period, I would have won. But when he kicked me there I fell on the ground and couldn't get up. Just breathe and try not to scream. Easier said than done. He had looked at me weirdly and then taken me in a headlock. So yeah, he had won.

Geography was turning interesting. We were talking about the East, where most of the fighting was done, which was kind of weird since the rebel bases were in the North. I didn't understand a thing of what she said about why they fought there instead of in the North.

The East was basically made of marshland. There weren't many inhabitants to begin with and most had died in this never-ending war. There was no one from the East in our class. Only Thorn had been there for a year or two. He just said that it stank something fierce.

I was walking back towards my room after diner when the smell of sweat and sweet deodorant filled my nostrils. It wouldn't tell me who it was though. We all sweated too much for that.

'Rayan,' Slutella's voice said. Ah, great. I just wanted to lie down on my bed and take that paracetamol that was waiting for me. Man, my stomach hurt.

'What?' I said angrily. I glared at her. Be quick, I thought. Or just go away and let me dwell in self-pity. This Sunday I was going to eat ice-cream and find a way to keep it cool in my room. Another cramp lanced through me.

'I just wanted to warn you to stay the hell away from my boyfriend.' She looked at me like I was a threat.

Huh?

'Uhm, I don't know if you've seen it, but he and I don't like each other. As in not at all. I don't want your boyfriend. You can keep him.' Why did she actually want to "warn" me about that anyway?

'Just stay away, C-9.'

'I'll try. Tell him the same.'

I unlocked my door and went inside, toeing of my boots before crashing on my bed. I had homework. A lot of it. But I didn't care. I hurt everywhere and I wanted ice-cream. With my face still smashed in my pillow I reached for the paracetamol on the nightstand.

I didn't find it. I groaned and went to look up to see Jared standing next to the bed, holding the paracetamol in his hands.

'Give,' I said, reaching for it weakly.

'What's up?' he said, concerned. 'You look like you're in pain or something.'

'I'm in pain. I'm in a lot of pain. Now, give the damn things.'

'What's wrong?' I gave him the stink-eye and reached for the pills. He kept it away. 'Tell me.'

'I don't want to talk about it. Just give.'

'Cali, tell me or I won't give you.'

I groaned in my pillow. Another cramp made me curl up to a ball.