Bent - Jaden Hossler

13.

The room went completely quiet for a while. The boys were anxious for an answer, knowing that it was an asshole question but they wanted to know as well. 

"Wow. You were right when you said that it's gonna be a mean question." 

"I'm sorry Allie." 

"I know. Okay, it's like when I stare at your crotch or your butt. Sure it's meant as a compliment but it feels a little disgusting, like you only like us because of that and it's just rude, don't do that. We have a face, a really pretty one too, stare at that." 

"How does it make you feel? Do you notice it?" 

"I do and it feels dirty like it kind of disgusts me." 

"Let's leave the topic there?" 

"Yeah, let's do that." 

"Okay so in the video where we talked about making this, you told us about PMS-ing. Could you tell us about periods in general? Like, to educate us. I think we are not really well educated on it and it shows in society." 

"Yeah sure. You can also ask questions but I can only answer for my own experience and it's been a while since I had my period." 

"Really? Why?" 

"Mental health can have a major influence and the stress and anorexia stopped it. The last time I had it was in February." 

"It's June!" 

"Yeah I know, but I am getting better so maybe I will be back on the road again." 

Alice was grabbing the next abandoned coffee when Bryce held her arm so she couldn't and gave her a bottle of water. "You drink way too much coffee." 

She took a few sips before giving it back to him. "So let's get something clear. Menstruation is a normal bodily function just like going to the bathroom number one or two or sneezing and affects half of the world's population. Look at it from this angle, men and women poop, far more often than menstruation occurs, and yet, we do not see each other as less clean than the next person, so why should we see menstruation differently?" 

"Wait there are people that think that it's dirty?" 

"In a study by Kindara on how men perceive menstruation, a large number of men stated that a woman on her period is 'less clean and less attractive.'" 

Noah, bless him, was in pure shock. He had two sisters and a mom so he grew up with periods around him. That didn't mean that he understands, because he doesn't but it means that he saw the effect it had on women. 

"Okay, can you start with what menstruation is?" 

"Sure. The uterus develops a lining intended to nourish and protect a fertilized egg, a fetus approximately every month. The fertilized egg has to attach itself to the lining in order to grow. When no pregnancy happens during the cycle, the lining is shed along with nutrients, dissolved remnants of the egg, and tissue such as blood which is what is known as menstruation." 

"Okay, I looked it up before the video, so basically: No pregnancy equals no need for uterine lining equals Periods slash Bleeding each month." 

"I'm proud of you Josh." The satisfactory grin on Josh's face made it clear to Alice that he really did understand and that he was proud of himself. 

"Did anybody else look something up?" The hand-raising was very timid but eventually, every member of the sway-house had his hand in the air. 

"So you all know a little?" 

"Yeah but that doesn't mean that we understand. We tried, we really did." 

"Okay, let's continue. How often should menstruation occur? Every person with a uterus' cycle is different but the normal cycle is between 23-35 days long. A menstrual period starts with the body expelling the old uterine lining with blood when the egg does not get fertilized and ends with the female body preparing to get pregnant. Days of bleeding can vary from 3 to 8 days, generally, with the heaviest bleeding occurring on the first few days." 

"Okay, I now get why people think that it's dirty when they don't know everything." 

"You already went over PMS in the last video but let's fresh it up a little." 

"Every month, those with monthly bleeds experience different symptoms just before the actual period starts. These symptoms are known as premenstrual syndrome, PMS, symptoms. While the media has been consistent in portraying food cravings and mood swings as the key symptoms of an upcoming period, women experience all sorts of symptoms. Symptoms such as cramps, acne breakouts, sore breasts, bloating, and diarrhea are all fairly common." 

Alice's voice was coarse from all the talking so Jaden took the bottle from Bryce and handed it to her again. "Can we talk about cramps for a second?" 

"Cramps can easily be the most dramatic part of having a period and the most painful. Cramps can happen at any time of your cycle with different intensity, signaling ovulation, or pre-menstrual cramps. But severe cramps or pelvic pain could be a sign of a more serious condition like endometriosis." 

"Is it really that bad?" 

"Well if they can't walk because of the pain, it obviously is you dimwit." 

"Calm down Anthony. Blake just asked." Kio and Quinton were a little astonished with the women in their life, how strong they really are. 

"Sorry, Blake." 

"No, you're good." 

"Okay, for some it doesn't hurt, some just have a stomachache, but some are in immense pain. Do you know how a cramp in your leg feels like? Well, imagine that in your balls for a week."

There was no word spoken everything that Alice heard was painful groans coming from the people around her. 

The faces of her boys were contorted in pain, from imagining what that feels like. Alice continued to tell them about the things that could happen and about the sanitary products that exist. 

With that, they decided to end the video because they collectively got uncomfortable. 

Jaden also had a very important day in the studio, apparently, one of his Idol's would come by and hand with him and Travis. 

Alice was incredibly happy for her boyfriend. He was meeting the right people and was getting somewhere.