Chapter 26

Monday was awful.

I woke up with a deadly stomachache and my period right on time, like a clock. I groaned. I hated the first and second days. They were awful. Simply awful, and I didn’t need this kind of negativity on a Monday.

Normally, my first day was the worst with painful cramps. My second day was intense flow. When it was too bad, I decided to stay home. Those days were reversed when I couldn’t move from the pain.

This was one of those occasions.

I should be at school, taking notes and keeping my grades up. I should be working my butt off to get the scholarship for Mountbatten U. However, the pain was searing, and I couldn’t focus on anything but it. There was no point in going anywhere.

I texted Melissa to keep good notes and send them over later. She was my savior.

Hazel

Hey, Mel.

Mel

Girlie, how is it?

Hazel

Not going to school today.

She knew the code. I never missed school unless it was necessary. I’d only missed a few days, and the main reason was my period.

Mel

Ugh. I pity you right now.

I forced a smile. If anyone could understand bad cramps, it was her.

Hazel

Can you take notes and send them to me later?

Mel

Sure. :Cinnamon tea is good for stomachache if cramps get too bad.

Hazel

Thanks. I’ll try it.

I would try anything to stop my stomach from churning around.

I slumped back in bed and closed my eyes, trying to fall back asleep, but a new cramp attacked me again and I wanted to cry.

It sucked to be a girl sometimes. What was with this kind of karma?

I spent the rest of the day trying to study and drinking cinnamon tea while my stomach was bloated the entire time. I felt like a pregnant woman. Graham texted to check on how I’d been doing, and I kept my answers vague. By six p.m., I was tired and ready to give in and call it a day when the doorbell rang, and Mom called for me.

“Honey!” she hollered. “There’s someone here to see you.”

Since Melissa hadn’t sent the notes, she must have come over to bring them personally. She probably was feeling like a generous soul and bringing one of her cinnamon teas too.

When I trudged down the stairs, I stopped in my tracks and opened my eyes wide. Mom was in the kitchen, laughing with the visitor.

The very beautiful, tall, and muscular visitor who didn’t have food on his clothes and had brushed his hair and teeth today.

Graham.

I wanted to run back to my bedroom and change. Be presentable, at least. However, Mom looked at me and Graham followed suit. He perked up at my presence.

Too late for Plan A.

I descended the stairs. I must have looked awful, but in my defense, I was feeling like that too. Wasn’t there a saying along the lines that you projected your insides on the outside?

There was nothing, absolutely nothing, sexy about having your period.

Graham didn’t seem affected by my dirty clothes, my old sweatpants, and my ratty shirt. Nor was he affected by my messy bun that was more mess than bun.

He smiled at me softly, and it radiated a warmth. I felt a bit better.

“Hey, baby,” he said. “Melissa told me she had your class notes. I decided to bring them and check how you were doing.”

Mom smiled and didn’t comment on the “baby” part. However, I was sure she knew we were more than friends. Maybe Graham was right: a simple friend wouldn’t come bearing gifts the first time they met parents.

“Thanks,” I muttered. I was surprised at the way Graham was staring at me. All my previous concerns about my looks seemed meaningless. He didn’t care.

“Brought you chocolate too.” He showed me two packages of white chocolate.

~Gah!~

“Mom.” I smiled sheepishly. “Graham and I are going to my bedroom to hang out for a while.”

“Just leave the door open.”

I blushed, confirming my suspicions. She knew what was up between Graham and me.

I grabbed Graham’s hand and took him to my bedroom. Not like he needed guidance; he’d been there enough times. Once we reached it, he looked around for something new. He looked at the WWII book on my nightstand and smiled.

I sat on the bed. “Thanks for the chocolate. It wasn’t necessary.”

“I like taking care of my girlfriend.” His piercing eyes flickered at me.

I melted at his words as he walked to me.

“Need me to buy you anything else?” he offered.

I raised my eyebrows. “I won’t traumatize you if I send you in search of tampons? Dad could barely look me in the eye when I asked him to buy them once.”

Graham snorted. “Of course not. My hands aren’t going to burn, and my brain isn’t going to fry for touching them.”

I smiled.

“Or, I hope. The legend says otherwise.”

I chuckled, tilting my head to the side.

“Want me to go now to get them?” He pointed over his shoulder to the exit. I shook my head, gripping his hand and tugging him to the bed. I only needed him and his cuddles.

“Want to stay for a movie?” I asked him and his eyes brightened. “Only to ~watch~ a movie,” I forced the word with a meaningful look that meant ~no funny business allowed. ~

“You only want to snuggle. Don’t try masking it with anything else.” He narrowed his eyes at me and sat down on my bed.

I giggled. “Well, this weekend I enjoyed cuddling with you.”

“It’s the arm, right?” He bent his arm, tensing the muscles. “Told you watching movies with my arm would change your life.”

I bit my lip. “It did. I’m going to leave my review in Professional Cuddlers. Five stars.” Graham laughed as I jumped from the bed. “Pick a movie. I’ll be back in a sec.”

I needed to brush my mouth and hair, at least. Also, I needed to change my tampon. I did it quickly as Graham picked a nice Disney movie.

“I love Hercules,” I said as I walked back. Graham was already lying down.

“Yeah? That’s my favorite Disney movie too,” he confessed. He opened a package of chocolate and broke the squares down, thrusting one into his mouth. “Who isn’t a Disney person? Also, Hercules kicks asses. Everyone loves him.”

It was cute that he needed to explain. “Is that what you like about him?” I teased. “That he’s admired by many people?”

“Not really.” His brow furrowed. “He has a dream—to become a hero so he can go to Mount Olympus and be where he belongs, with his father and family. And he works hard for it.”

I studied closely the way he spoke. Maybe Hercules meant more than an entertaining movie to Graham. Maybe he found himself reflected in Hercules in more than one way.

“This sounds kind of personal,” I pointed out. My voice was sobering. “Does it have anything to do with playing football and impressing your father?”

Graham turned to me, his jaw clenching with tension. He nodded, exhaling. “I like football, don’t get me wrong. But there’s something about my father being a legend…”

Just like Hercules’s father was a legend, the king of all gods, almighty Zeus.

“There’s something that…” He tried again, unable to get the words out.

“It makes you feel the pressure of having to show everyone—and him—that you can also do it. That you can be like your father,” I supplied.

Graham faltered.

“Not showing,” he amended. “But more like…like he could be proud of me too. Find a recognition that I’m his son. That his blood runs in me too.” He swallowed hard.

My heart sank at how uncomfortable Graham seemed. “Graham,” I said, approaching him. “He must be proud of you already. You don’t need to prove anything.”

“Not really, when he’s proved so much in life,” he muttered. “I’m working on it, though,” he said with conviction.

I sat down next to him so I could face him, and he could digest my next words. “I’m sure he’ll be proud either way. If you play football or do something else. He’ll be proud only because you are yourself and you are trying hard at what you want. Only because you are happy. Like Oscar Wilde said, ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.’”

He hummed. The corner of his lip curled. “Where did you get that quote?” He liked it. It was obvious. “Is there a page where you all wise people find them?”

I snorted. “Nope, read it on Goodreads.”

“On what?” He frowned, confused.

“Goodreads. It’s like Facebook but for books.”

“God.” He chuckled under his breath. “You’re such a nerd. A sexy, irresistible nerd.”

I giggled. “Behave yourself,” I hushed him. “The door is open.”

“I will. I know I’m only here to provide arm service.”

I chuckled and hugged his huge arm. “Yes.”

Graham wrapped his other arm around me. It was a weird hug until I shifted and hugged him for real. I had a feeling that Graham needed that embrace. He seemed to be needing plenty and plenty of hugs when it came to talking about his family.

I was more than happy to give him all of those that he needed. It was as much as I could do to ease his situation.

We watched the movie in each other’s arms. I admitted it was one of the best movies. My pain was long forgotten.