Today is Monday and as always I showered, brushed my teeth, put on my uniform and went out.
Obviously don't forget to put on the ring I bought on Saturday.
"Good morning mom"
"Good morning Ariel"
I had breakfast with my mother and got ready to go.
"Don't forget the thank you gifts"
"Of course"
I said and then left the house.
On the way I ran into Noah so I walked with her.
"Here, my mother and father prepared this for you and Leo"
She said as she handed him a bag with things.
"Give them my thanks"
Noah said with a smile as he took the bag.
"I will tell them"
The rest of the day was quiet, I greeted Olivia, Sara, and Mia, ate lunch with Noah, and headed home.
xxx
Tuesday.
Today the day was calm until something happened that I did not expect...
"…read the next paragraph…"
"..."
Ha… I feel bad…
My head throbs and I feel nauseous.
I can't agree on anything.
Have I eaten something bad?
But I have only eaten at school and at home…
C-Shit, I feel like I'm going to throw up.
I slowly raised my hand and got the teacher's attention.
"Tell me Ariel"
"I-I don't feel well…"
"What do you feel?"
I was going to reply but I felt like my food was about to come out.
Without answering the teacher I quickly got up and ran to the bathroom.
When I got to the bathroom I went into a stall and bent over the toilet, throwing up.
"Who…who…"
oh god... what's wrong with me...
I felt all the color drain from my face.
While I was throwing up I felt a stabbing pain in my abdomen that made me moan.
With difficulty I lowered the lever and then I lifted my skirt, lowered my panties and sat on the toilet.
Ha… I think I'll be here for a while…
Slowly I did my needs and after a while I got up and taking the toilet paper I cleaned myself.
Out of habit I looked at the paper and froze.
Red…
Why... why is it red...
Throw away the paper and taking another pass it.
S-Blood.
HA! Why am I bleeding?!
Did something happen to my organs or something?!
No, it can't be, think about what it could be.
I closed my eyes and thought for a moment.
After a moment I snapped them open and remembered something I had read.
TRUE! Women get their period, so this blood must be normal.
Having solved the matter, I cleaned myself several times but the blood did not stop coming out.
Is this normal...?
Seeing that the blood did not stop coming out, I gave up and stopped cleaning myself.
Now how do I get out of here? If I put on my panties I might leak.
Ha... the headache doesn't let me think about anything...
While I was lamenting I heard a knock on the door.
"Ariel, are you okay?"
That voice… is Olivia.
Shall I tell you what I have? But I'm ashamed… no, be brave, if you don't tell him you'll never get out of here.
"I-I have my period and the blood won't stop coming out"
"Ha! Don't you have sanitary pads?
"N-No"
"Wait, I'm going to look for some, I'll be right back"
"Good…"
Ha... I'm saved...
Yes, saved...
Everything... is turning black...
xxx
Ha… I fainted.
Who knew that this pain would be so strong.
Ugh, it hurts...
Should I keep sleeping?
No, I'm at school so I can't.
But I was in the bathroom, why do I feel so comfortable?
I slowly opened my eyes.
Ha… why is the sun so strong?
I closed them again and then opened them all the way.
That's weird, I'm not in the bathroom.
I looked around and could deduce that I was in the infirmary.
But hey… I passed out with my panties down… oh no…
Well, now is not the time to think about that... and I don't care either.
Uhg… I'm going to continue sleeping… I don't think it will bother anyone.
yes... no one...
"Ariel…"
Let me sleep…
"Ariel, wake up"
A… e…. Go…
With difficulty I opened my eyes.
"Hello…"
It was Noah, she was sitting in a chair next to my bed.
"How do you feel?"
"Ha... as if a hammer was hitting my stomach."
"I guess so…"
Noah sighed and looked me in the eye.
"The teachers said you can leave early"
"Yeah…"
He had no strength to celebrate.
"You can walk?"
"We'll see about that..."
I slowly raised my body and sat on the edge of the bed, then stood up and tried to keep my balance.
Oh no, I can't.
"Careful!"
Thanks to Noah taking me I didn't fall to the floor.
I went back to sit on the bed.
"What if I call your parents?"
"Mom and Dad are at work..."
And I never bring my phone with me anyway.
"What a mess... Do you want me to help you get back home?"
"But your classes…"
"I will ask permission"
"No need, I can…"
"And if the same thing happens the other time? Now you're weak and you can't defend yourself."
"..."
I can't argue against that.
In the end I accept.
"Okay, I'll be right back, lie down for a while"
"Good"
I lay down and closed my eyes.
Before I knew it Noah was back so with her help I got up and started walking.
"Let me carry the backpack at least..."
"No, you can hardly stand, the less you will be able to carry something"
"..."
I apologize internally for being a burden on Noah.
The path was slow and steady.
Halfway through, I used what little strength I had to break away from Noah and walk on my own.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes... I think I can... ah..."
I staggered and Noah caught me before I fell.
"Don't force yourself, come, put your arm here"
Noah put my arm around his neck and kept walking.
At that moment I noticed that he was wearing something around his neck.
Ha… she's wearing the necklace I gave her.
That made me a little happy.
On the way we reach a checkpoint with guards.
"Good afternoon Miss Ariel, who is this person?"
"Hello… she is my friend"
"Understood, I need you to leave her name and her signature here"
Just as the guard ordered, Noah left the information on him.
"She can come in"
"Good"
We enter the complex.
xxx
"This is my home…"
I said weakly.
We stopped in front of a mansion surrounded by a high white wall.
"The key is in the first bag"
"Good"
Noah went through my backpack and pulled out an odd shaped key.
Then he walked to the big front gate and opened them.
"Come on"
We slowly entered and walked through the courtyard until we reached the main house.
"You can leave me here in the living room... I'll manage to go to my room"
"Where is your room?"
Ignoring me, Noah asked.
"Above…"
"Come on"
At a slow pace we began to climb the stairs.
Then we walked down the hall until we got to my room.
"Is this"
"Good"
We went inside and Noah left me on my bed.
"Thank you…"
I said as he laid me down.
"Did you eat yet?"
Speaking of food, I'm hungry.
But I can't keep bothering Noah, I have to say no.
grrr
No! Silly stomach, you betrayed me.
"I think that's a yes, I'll go do something to you"
"But…"
Without stopping Noah left the room.
"..."
Ha… I look like a baby that can't do anything by itself.
But I can't say I hate this…in a way I like it.
Thinking of that I smiled a little and closed my eyes.
Time passed slowly and, although I didn't fall asleep, I was able to rest my mind enough for the pain to subside.
"Ariel, the food is here"
I opened my eyes and saw how Noah came with a bowl of soup.
"Go…"
I slowly stood up and walked over to the desk.
I took the spoon and started to eat the soup.
It was surprisingly good.
"And you already ate?"
"I ate my lunch before coming"
"Ha…"
Noah walked over and sat on my bed as he watched me eat.
For some reason that action made me nervous.
As I could I forgot about it and concentrated on my soup.
When I finished eating Noah took the plate away and came back.
"Your room is surprisingly masculine"
he said to himself as he looked around.
"He he…"
I just laugh.
"I'll stay here until your mother comes back, is she alright with you?"
I was about to refuse but I thought how lonely it would be to be alone so I accepted.
"Alright"
"Good"
Noah took the desk chair and sat next to my bed.
"Does she still hurt you?"
"A bit…"
"It was lucky that Olivia called the teachers when you didn't answer."
"Yeah…"
"Next time don't hide that you feel bad, just tell a teacher and they are unlikely to say no"
"I'll do that…"
We talked casually for a while.
"…and then my brother ran off"
"Ha ha ha"
During that time Noah told me all kinds of stories.
"...but my friend didn't reply after that"
"Oh..."
I felt great familiarity being with Noah.
How does it feel to have friends?
This… is an experience that I like.
"Hey... I have a question, I don't know if I bothered you"
At that moment I remembered something and asked Noah.
"Tell me"
"In high school... I heard rumors about you... but I've noticed that you're nothing like what they say... What are these rumors about?"
Ask slowly and calmly.
I know it might be rude to say this, but I've been curious.
Noah opened his eyes and looked at me for a while.
"Since when did you know?"
"Since last Wednesday"
"Why did you keep talking to me if you knew?"
"Because rumors do not define a person"
Noah lowered his head and thought of something, then he raised his head and smiled at me.
"I'm glad you chose to believe in me"
I smiled in response.
"The truth is that I am not very sure how they started either…"
Noah raised his head and looked at the ceiling, after a few seconds he lowered it again.
"Everything went well until April 4 months ago, when the student elections were held…"
Noah began to narrate.
"At that time I applied because I thought I was up to the task of leading the students…of course, being a freshman I wasn't the most popular candidate so my votes only took me to second place, I shouldn't have won… "
Noah sighed and continued.
"On election day, surprisingly, my competitor missed classes, the students thought that regardless of whether or not she was there, she would win… but surprisingly, the teachers said that if I was not present, I could not compete for what they gave me, even though in previous years it did not matter if the competitor was there or not…"
Noah's fingers laced together.
"I think the teachers did that because of my situation, but no matter if it's like that or not, I won unfairly…"
Clenching his fingers Noah continued.
"Since then, rumors spread that I slept with the teachers and older students, and that in this way I ensured my win..."
Horrible…
"To stop the rumors I tried my best to be a good president, but no matter what I did, the rumors only intensified…little by little the friends I had made drifted away until I was left completely alone…"
Noah's voice cracked at this point.
"That's why I tried to get along with the transfer students, but they all backed away as soon as they heard the rumors…"
At that moment he raised his head and looked me in the eye.
"That's why I felt happy when you didn't walk away, and even knowing that I could involve you in the rumors, I didn't tell you anything… my selfishness could ruin your reputation…"
Tears started to come out of Noah's eyes.
At this point he was shocked, I can't imagine how it must feel to be excluded from others.
It's true that I didn't relate, but I had the option to, Noah on the other hand... I couldn't be with anyone even if I wanted to.
Without saying anything I got up from the bed and walked towards her, then hugged her.
"My reputation doesn't matter, on the contrary, if I can trade my reputation in exchange for a friend as good as you, I'm more than willing to accept the deal."
I said as she caressed her back.
"..."
Noah cried on my chest for a while.
"Thanks thanks…"
After a while Noah calmed down.
"I'm glad to have a friend as understanding as you"
He said wiping away his tears.
"The feeling is mutual, if you don't mind we can be good friends from now on"
Hearing that, Noah opened his eyes and after hesitating for a moment he hugged me.
"Of course… of course I want to"
We were hugging for a while.
xxx
"Hey, sorry for asking, but what is your situation?"
I know it's a bit insensitive, but my curiosity has always characterized me.
"Ha... that's..."
At that moment we heard someone coming up the stairs.
"I think she's mom"
"I'm going to say hello"
Noah got up and opened the door.
"Oh hello, who are you?"
"Good afternoon, I'm a friend of Ariel's"
Noah told mom about the situation.
"Ariel!"
Throwing the door open my mom walked in and hugged me.
"Of course... I forgot that could happen, I'm sorry"
"Don't worry, I didn't think about it either"
"Being your first time it was obvious that he would hit you hard…"
Remembering that there was someone else, my mom covered her mouth.
"Thank you for bringing and taking care of my daughter"
My mom thanked Noah.
"It doesn't matter"
"It's about time for dinner, will you stay for lunch?"
"It's late so…"
"Of course she's going to stay"
Before Noah could refuse, I accepted in her place.
"Okay, wait a while while the food is here"
"Good"
My mom left the room.
For the next half hour I was talking to Noah about various things.
I didn't mention anything about Noah's situation again.
After dinner we took Noah back to his house.
xxx
"From now on you will carry sanitary pads in your backpack"
My mom said as we walked home.
"Ha...it's hard being a woman"