John reached into his back pocket and pulled his wallet out. “Do me a favor and go to the store. Get anything you can think of to stop this meltdown: pain reliever—the kind that puts you right to sleep—pads and tampons, one of those heating pads, and lots of chocolate.”

“How about some booze?”

He handed Chris a wad of bills. “A bottle of Makers would be great.”

“Check.”

“You’re saving my life, you know that?”

Chris grinned. “Better you than me, Johnny.”

As Chris left for his mission, John turned to the door. “Becca, I can’t help you if we don’t talk about it.”

“You can’t help,” she shouted.

“I think I can,” he said.

“You don’t understand.”

“Honey, you’re not the first girl to start her period,” John said. “Open the door and we can talk about it.”

“I’m not going to talk to my uncle about this!”

John cracked his neck to the side. This is not what he wanted to do tonight. Not too long ago, he’d had his hands on the delicious curves of one Professor Reese. He could almost feel her lips on his, smell her perfume... “Becca turn off the music and come to the door.”

“You’re not coming in here.”

“Fine, I’m not coming in, but I need you to turn off Alanis and come to the door.”

There was a pause. The music stopped. “What?” Her voice was muffled against the door.

John breathed as he slid down to the floor. “Take a seat and we’ll talk through the door.” He learned the move from his mother. They’d spent a few teary conversations talking through a door like a confessional. He heard Becca join him from the other side.

“Fine.”

“Thank you,” he said, leaning his head against the wooden surface. “Now can I ask you a few questions?”

Becca heaved a tired sigh. “Fine.”

“First, when did it happen?”

He heard a sniffle. “During sixth period math,” she muttered. “I stood when the bell rang and Kelly told me that I had it on the back of my jeans. She gave me her shirt to tie around my waist.”

John nodded. “That was really nice of Kelly.”

“She’s cool.”

“Did you go to the nurse’s office?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Becca went quiet. “Because I didn’t think you’d come get me.”

John ran his hands down his jaw. “Honey, I’d come to get you. Every time. I might be a little late, but I’d move mountains to get you.” Was this what made her so anxious and moody? Currently, the adults in her life had other things to do. Her mother was clear across the globe learning about city planning while her father... God only knew what, or who, he was doing.

Another sniffle. “I didn’t want to be a bother.”