"What?" I asked in sheer skepticism running to the bathroom and slamming the door shut in his face. The steam had fortunately dispersed and made it easier for me to find some tissue paper. I found it under a pale counter grabbing a bunch and sticking it in my underwear as the first rush came through.

"Why?" I growled. What was more embarassing telling a bunch of strangers about my period or telling the guy I really liked to not come with me to buy pads?

Yep, I liked him. I admitted it.

Hmmm...the latter I decided as my body was overtaken by sharp pains. I groaned loudly, hoping Griffin didn't hear me. I rushed out of the bathroom, trying to overlook the immense pain. I found Griffin dressed in dark jeans, dark blue sneakers, and a dark blue sweatshirt similar to the one I was wearing.

"Thanks, but I don't need your help, Gryffindor." I smirked then winced as another rush of cramping took my body.

"Oh...yeah because you're in the condition to drive a car that isn't even here. I would love to see you try, Mickey."

I forgot that we had taken Sterling's car.

"Skylar, Sterling. They must be-"

"I called Sterling last night explaining everything." My eyes widened as I cradled my lower mid section as another cramp took its course.

"What?" My eyes shot to his with confusion.

"What?" He repeated in the same confusing tone.

"That's... really...sweet." I said softly. I couldn't help but smile at him.

"So are your lips." He smiled back, walking past me and opening the door to a sleepy...Sterling.

"Sage...?" He gasped. His cream green eyes widened in disbelief when they met Griffin.

"I'm okay." I told him.

"Yeah I know, Griffin called me after Skylar freaked when you weren't in the bathroom. It took alot to convince her that you were in the so called right hands."

I gave Griffin a look. Definitely, an accurate choice of words.

I noticed that Sterling's cheeks became slightly crimson at his words

"What I didn't know was that you were the culprits of all the damn moaning and groaning." Eh said changing the subject.

My face exploded. Literally, my face was on fire. If he heard it, then the entire fraternity heard it.

"Yeah, that was us." Griffin smiled proudly. I was going to kill him. "Who else heard?"

"This entire floor."

"So most of the frat."

"Yep..."

I couldn't meet Sterling's eyes. All I wanted to do was shrivel up and disappear.

"Thin ass walls." Griffin hissed.

"Don't worry, Sage...they enjoyed it." He snickered with his hazel mint eyes twinkling in mischief. I gave him a hard punch in the shoulder blade, moving past him and down the hall not daring to look down the railing and finding any unwelcoming faces. Griffin followed closely behind.

"Bye lovebirds!" He called laughing.

"Yep, someone please kill me." I said trying to hide myself by pulling down my sweatshirt as I walked down the staircase.

"Sterling go back to masturbating with your skittles!" Griffin hissed at the bottom of the stairs. His insult echoed through the silent fraternity. Meaning everyone probably heard that. That shut Sterling up. I looked up the stairs to the dark haired boy who's face was going over in crimson.

"Sorry." I mouthed. My kindness always getting the best of me. The cramping had fortunately ceased for the time being. Griffin held the front door open motioning for me to go first. I was slightly taken aback.

"Wow, who knew giving you a BJ would turn you into a gentleman." I smiled walking through the door. " Guess I should give them more often."

His blue eyes lightened.

"Yes, you should."

I followed Griffin to his black Range Rover. He opened the door and I dove in as a new wave of pain took me. Five minutes later I was whimpering to myself about how I hated being a girl.

We drove down one of the many vacant streets of the neighborhood. I was in so much pain. I wanted to pass out just to escape the cramps. It was like someone was continously kicking me in the lower mid-section.

I cried out, pulling my knees to my chest in the seat. I was on the brink of tears.

"I'm sorry...."

"Fuck you, Blondie." I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Sure, sweetheart." He snickered keeping his eyes on the road.

"Hurry up!" I growled leaning my head against the cool window of the passenger seat.

Another sharp pain overtook me.

"Please...hurry." I whimpered as a tear drizzled down my face. I needed an advil as well.

"I'm hurrying, Mickey..." He said lightly as he stopped in front of a 7/11.

"Always." I told him.

"What?" He demanded, slightly perplexed.

"Always is the brand of the pads that I want."  I told him calmly. "With Rice Krispies." I added. "And Advil."

"What are you talking about?" He asked, leaning toward me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What I want..."

"I can't go in there...."

"Why?"

"Because..."

"Because..." I edged him on, contemplating whether I should kiss him or punch him.

"Because..." I could tell that he was trying to choose his next words very carefully. " I don't know what you're talking about."

Another sharp pain. I grabbed his shirt pulling him toward me. The scent and heat of his body engulfed mine.

"Ask the fucking cashier, dumbass." I hissed through gritted teeth. His ocean blues widened. He actually looked a bit terrified. It was clear that he hadn't dealt with this before. Which was odd since I'm pretty sure he's been with other girls....

"F-Fine..." He stammered then caught himself "Fine, Mickey. I'm not a pussy."

"What's wrong with being a pussy?" I giggled.

He rolled his eyes, heading toward the store.

"Griffin!"

"Yeah." He growled.

"I want skittles too!"

_|_

GRIFFIN

Damn, she's insane when she's on her period. I growled to myself walking through the doors of the 7/11. I gave the Asian looking cashier a nod.

I can't believe she thought that I only liked tall chicks. I like all women. Love them actually.

Love...

It's such an archaic word. It breeds more pain than pleasure.

Why do I sound like William Shakespeare? Why the hell am I talking about love when I'm supposed to be finding...that crazy person some pads?

Why am I talking to myself so much tonight?

I found myself wandering toward the cold section, quickly grabbing a Snapple.

She would like a fruity drink, wouldn't she?

She liked the ones Gabriel kept giving her.

Gabriel.

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

I turned down another aisle grabbing a pack of glazed doughnuts, Skittles, Oreos, and a few rice Krispie Bars.

I walked down the medical aisle, stopping in a section that contained pads. 

Always right? What the hell was that?

I scanned the brands adeptly. There was no way in hell that I was asking for help. I finally found the Always boxes, grabbing two. I grabbed a bottle of Advil as well. We would both need it by the end of this.

If she doesn't like these, too bad. I said internally, turning around and heading to the counter and dropping the stuff on the top.

The cashier eyed the pads. He was definitely laughing on the inside.

"There for a...friend."

"Sure, pretty boy." He smirked.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

I narrowed my eyes at him, leaning toward him.

"Yep, just a friend..." A feminine voice sighed from behind.

Shit. I hissed inwardly as I turned toward her.

"Sage...you know what I meant..." I said finding her dark misty eyes.

"Sure, sweetheart." She said, moving past me. She was hurt.

I didn't know what we were, and  trust me I fucking hated sounding like a cliche. But, it was the truth. Everything was becoming too ... I can't even come up with a word to explain it.

Our lives were already on the brink of collision. She couldn't know about my life, my step father, my real father, his disappearance. I didn't know how I felt about Sage. But, all I did know was that she made me feel better when I wanted to ...die.

She made the pain that alcohol couldn't diminish go away. But, I had started to depend on her too much. It was time to end it...

It was time to stop being each other's puppetmasters. 

I turned toward her, watching as she examined the box of pads.

"Right choice." She said quietly.  I told the cashier to ring it up.

I slid my arms around her waist. Her breathing hitched as I turned her toward me.

"You know what I meant..."

"I do." She answered not meeting my eyes. "You don't want to get attached." She said slowly. "You...don't want to get...too attached..." A slow tear trailed down her cheek. I slowly wiped it away. She knew where this was going.

"I'm sorry...Sage....It's...." Her dark eyes finally met mine.

"If you say complicated I will punch you in the nuts."

I smirked at her spark.

"Is it wrong that that turned me on?

"Pretty sure anything would at this point."

"That will be $9.50."  The cashier said from behind me. I thanked him with a dark look.  I slid my card across the machine without breaking eye contact with Sage. Not as easy as it sounds.

We remained in silence long after the cashier said that we could leave. Nothing wavered. Our eyes never leaving each other. Blue to brown.

I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't because I was selfish, stupid and broken. I couldn't allow myself to bring anyone into my life who was already in it. It was time to let go of the girl who rocked my world and gave me a really really really good blow job.

"I...can't..." I started. A deep pain inside my abyss began to form.

It was so clear how fucked I was at that point.

"I...know..." She replied, then grabbed the grocery bag and walked out of the store. I watched as she got into the passenger seat. I looked back to the cashier.

"I know, cliche right?" I snarled, then walked out of the store. I opened my door, slamming it shut.

It was 4:45 A.M. Here we were, wide awake, together.

"Sage..."

"Don't..." She said. "There's nothing that you need to explain."

I gripped the steering wheel until the leather pierced my skin.

Why do I care?
We've only known each other for 2 and half weeks. Stop...being such a piece of shit.

I drove her to her hall and got out. I walked to her side, opening the door for her. She was munching on Oreos. She got out not paying me any attention. I shut the door behind her.

We walked in uncomfortable silence to the building. 10 minutes of bone breaking silence.

When we finally came to the residence entrance. She stopped. She didn't face me. Her back was to me. She was hurting. We had went really far tonight in her eyes and leaving her like this is going to tear her apart.

I had to say something.

"Please...know...that I have enjoyed every moment that I have spent with you..."

She still remained silent.

"Even when I saved your ass from those dumbasses." She smirked trying to hold back a laugh.

I beamed moving toward her until her back was against my front.  I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"I enjoyed that immensely..." I whispered, leaning down and placing a kiss on her shoulder. "Goodbye...Sage..." I breathed into her.

With that, she walked to the entrance, taking out her ID.

She was being really calm considering her period. No emotions. She was trying to shut off her feelings about this.

As she was about to pull the door open she turned around running toward me and gave me the biggest hug. She was good at that.

I enjoyed her hugs more than I would allow myself to admit. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. My eyes began to burn around the edges.

God, I'm such a weak ass loser!

"Sage...we can't...I can't...I know that this so fucking cliche, but my family is...I am...."

"I understand..." She said similing sadly. More tears had came to join the sob fest and they made it harder.

She turned and then walked through the door.

******
😭