She came out of the bathroom weakly and went straight to bed, curling herself into a ball. It was the third time since last night she went to the toilet. Her stomach hurt badly and she was very weak. Mother Nature was always cruel to her this time of the month. She doubted if was going to make it to school today. All she wanted to do now was stay in bed all day as much as she loved going to school. She didn't want to go around school walking around like a zombie next to Nathan, drawing unnecessary attention. She had to inform Nathan not to pick her up today or expect her in school. Then she remembered about her damaged phone... Life was indeed difficult without a cellphone.

She walked downstairs to the get the Land-line ..she dialed Nathan's number and waited for him to pick, it rang four times before he finally picked up the phone she was sure she woke him up from sleep. It was 6:35 and Nathan wasn't a morning person.

"Hello,Wren" he answered in his morning voice.

"Mmhh, Nathan, you sound horrible in the morning " she teased, laughing when she felt another pain across her stomach, stealing the laughter from her mouth. She flinched and stopped laughing, Nathan seemed to notice it over the phone.

"Are you Okay? "he asked, concerned.

"I'm not sure, I won't make it to school today " she broke.

" Why? " he asked but dismissed when he recalled yesterday's event "Can I come over? " he thinks she was sick because of the blow. He actually thought she was a softie.

"No, no, no. You have to go to school so you'll fill me in on whatever happens in my absence.. Like Katy Perry or Justin Bieber would perform in school today . Interesting things happen in my absence.. " she said and he laughed hysterically.

"You're hilarious, Wren!" he kept laughing.

"I wish I was. " she stated with no humor.

"Okay, then. I'll come over later to see you, yeah? "

"Yup, If you care... "

"You know I do"

"Yes, you do. I'll see you later then. Bye "

"Bye" and the line went dead. She dropped the phone and ran to her room. She had a sudden urge to throw up, and her stomach contracted, causing a piercing pain. She went to her bathroom and threw up in the wash-hand basin. Then, turned on the faucet, rinsed her mouth with the water. She felt like death now, and looked horrible.

She went straight to her bed again, crying silently till she slept again. No one was awake now and she had no energy to do that.

'Hey! Trevor, this way'
'no, no, no! I want to play with Wren! '

'Please, Trev. Just for a while? It wouldn't hurt'

'See what I've found! A beautiful seashell! ' little Wren had called.

'Let me have it! ' Travis called.

'Nah, I picked it for Trevor. Go find yours' she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

'Its unfair, can you find one for me? ' Travis pleaded.

'Nope' she answered, laughing at him. She handed the shell to Trevor.

'Wow, it's so huge and beautiful! ' Trevor exclaimed and Travis eyed him jealousy and snatched it from his hand, running away and laughing.

'Give it back! Give it back! ' Trevor cried, running after Travis.

'Come get me! ' Travis smirked evilly, standing at the bank of the river, holding the shell at the end.

'Give it back, Travis! ' screamed Wren.

'Make me ' he said, walking deeper into the water.

'Its dangerous and cold out there, get out already and stop the game!' warned Wren

'Travis, watch out! ' yelled Trevor who was launching at him...

She felt a shake that brought her out of the dreadful dream. "Wake up, Wren" and she woke up in a shock only to meet her mom's panicky face.

"What's wrong, baby? It's past seven already! You don't look well and you didn't eat dinner yesterday! Is anything the matter? "

"Nah, I'm fine. It's just that time of the month " she said, curling into the bed again. The pain was getting even worse.

"Oh, dear" she gasped "I had no idea. You're having your cramps? "

"Not MY cramps.. Cramps! "

"I'm so sorry, let me get your medicine "

"Not MY medicine... medicines! "

"Aww.. my poor baby "

"I'm not your baby! " she interjected but her mother was already out. Her dad came in next. She thought he had left for work already. Ashton was in his forties, dark haired with grey eyes which Travis inherited. He walked in to see his daughter scrunched up in her bed.

"What's wrong, honey? " he asked, patting her back softly, his eyes were soft in concern. "Are you not well? "

"Yes, dad. I've got my period " she answered in a hoarse voice.

"I'm so sorry about that, sweetheart. Have you taken anything? You want Lasagna or pizza ?"

"I don't feel like eating anything, dad. I feel horrible. Why did you and mommy make me to be a girl? " she said and he laughed hard.

Just then, Lisa arrived with the medicine and gave it to Wren who sat up and took it. Her mom always warned her against taking sugary foods close to and during her period but her love for chocolates M&M's especially, made her violate that.

Wren grimaced as she took the medicine, gurgling it down with a glass of water. Her dad gave her a soft rub at her back smiling softly at her, reassuringly. "You'll do just fine " he said and she let out a weak smile and nodded.

"Mom, where's Travis? Is he alright? "
She asked after looking around.

"Preparing for school, why?" Anna answered.

"Nothing " she replied blinking. "I need to rest, mom"

"You have to eat something, honey." her father added in concern.

"I don't feel like it. I don't have appetite for food now." She said

Her mother left and came back with her breakfast. She gave her a hot glass of milk which she gladly drank.

"You need hot food. No chocolates, no sweets, and no cold food, got it? "

"This is the worse day of my life."

"No, honey. We want what's best for you. We love you. I love you " her father added and kissed her forehead, standing up.

"What do I get for you? " he asked.

"You know what, dad"

"Of course,and your mom will know nothing about it, I promise you " he said winking. While her mother exhaled heavily knowing these two were up to some mischief, but had to let it go she knew they wouldn't admit it. They both stood, looking at their daughter who snuggled into her blanket comfortably. The both of them left.

* * *

"She's not in school? Do you know why that is?" Tristan asked

"I don't know either. I guess its because of yesterday's event. I only got to know that from Nathan. She called him earlier today and said that she wasn't going to be around. Well, he went off with Mona and Ian to visit her at home " Ryder filled him in. His jaw clenched when he heard about yesterday, he tried to cover up his guilt.

"You wanna go visit her? " Jake asked, teasingly.

"Hell, no. I can't " he scrunched his nose. It was lunch time and they were eating in the cafeteria. Tyler laughed at Tristan's facial expression. "You look funny when you do that, man" he said, still laughing.

"And you sure laugh a lot. " he replied in disgust.

"You've been acting moody all day, is it because of the nerd? "Tyler asked again.

"What? I have a girlfriend to worry about, "

"You didn't have to answer that, meaning The Nerd's absence has to do it! She's hot, you know. And we know about your relationship with R." Tyler teased again, laughing.

"Shut up, Tyler. If she's that hot, go hit on her. Nerds aren't my thing " He defended, while Jake gave him a look, smirking.

"You keep telling yourself that "Jake said.

"Why exactly are we discussing this?" Tristan bent down and busied himself with his food,wondering what next he would do and how he would walk Away from his annoying friends. And oh, Rachel to his rescue.

"What are my favorite boys talking about? " she was always the one for gossip. She just arrived the cafe with her minion, Andrea holding their trays. She was having tatter tots for lunch and apple juice with a bunch of banana, of course. She loved eating bananas and got the name 'monkey ' from the boys as a result. She hated it when they called her that and smacked anyone who did and Ryder was always first.

"Hey, monkey " he called her, laughing and shaking. She dropped her tray next to Tristan and walked over to Ryder and hit him on the head with her handbag.

"Hey, what was that for? "

"Of course you don't know, idiot " she snarled. Everyone else at the table started laughing, drawing attention from the rest of the students who shifted their attention when Rachel, being the sassy one shouted
"What?!"

They murmured as they return to their food. Some gave her cold glares but she doesn't mind what people said about her. But definitely not monkey!!
Of course, she minded! She was also the one to love attention and was always getting one, being Almighty Tristan's girlfriend. At least what they posed in public.

She walked to the vacant seat next to Tristan and Andrea next to her. Tristan was glued to his food.

"Hi honey! " she greeted loud enough and pecked him on the cheek.

"Uhmm.. Hey, Rachel " he looked at her. She was always beautiful like today. She smiled widely at him with a
play-it-right look. He nodded and returned to his food. They've played along for a year now.

"Want some? " she asked him, pointing a finger of banana to him.

"Since when did I ate bananas?" he grimaced in disgust.

"You shouldn't be loud, you know. I never share them. " she rolled her eyes, bobbing the banana into her mouth careful enough so it wouldn't touch her red lips.

"So, what's up guys? "she asked Tyler who was closest to her " What did I miss? "

"Sup, Andrea " Jake greeted and answered with a smile.

"The nerd isn't in school today "

"Oh, that troublesome girl. she's the only nerd I know that's that way. " she rolled her eyes "So, why's that? "

"I guess she's still sick, Tristan must be a good puncher." Jake said and laughed, while Tristan clenched his jaw again, his eyes fixed on his food. He thought they were over with this topic when Rachel arrived, how wrong he was...

"Is that why Nathan isn't here? He went to look after her, that girl must be something... " She said with jealousy in her voice, while Tristan's eyes were on her now. For a second he had thought she might feel a thing for him.. But he was wrong, all they had and have ever had together was an act.

"Don't take it personal, Rach. After all, that's what boyfriends do for their girlfriends, right? " Tyler added while her eyes widened in surprise, her mouth turned in an "O" shape, she must've forgotten her act already.

"B-boyfriend? Are those two dating, seriously? " Rachel sounded a bit hurt.

"We can't draw conclusions already." Ryder added.

"Isn't it obvious enough? The way Nathan runs off after her when she needs help. They always hang out together, come and leave school together. It's either he likes her or they like themselves. They should go ahead, they're good for each other" Jake concluded.

"You've been a good observer. I see them as friends, that's all. Friends can do that for their friends too" it was Ryder again.

"That little piece of... " Rachel gritted her teeth annoyed, starring at nothing in particular.

"Okay, you guys know we should stop this already. Nathan can't be dating her. Plus, we're causing a scene here " Ryder suggested, trying to remove the scowl that was creeping on his face. Sometimes his friends could be childish. There was no way Nathan could like or date Wren because he was going to do that.

"Tristan, are we still on for tonight? " Rachel asked the still silent Tristan, who was almost done with his food. Within him, he was disappointed, finally he couldn't even win Rachel over.

"Huh? Yeah... I mean, yes, we are " he stuttered.

"Good " she smiled, trying to hide her hurt, putting up an act. She was quiet for the rest of the lunch, eating her bananas up till the last finger, Jake was talking with Andrea, Ryder with Tyler while she and Tristan remained quiet, then, the bell went and people left gradually for their next classes. Rachel was first to leave the table, followed by her 'boyfriend '

******

Hey guys, did you miss me? Yeah I did miss you too.

How can you possibly explain these tangled relationships? Can they be straightened out?

Leave your comments below 👇vote and share to your friends.. Be happy😊😊