"Riley, come on! We're going to be late!" Maya said. She was face to face with Riley's bedroom door.

Riley told Maya to wait for her outside of her bedroom, which was strange. It was their tradition to have Maya pick Riley up. Maya would usually fix herself up in Riley's room while she got ready in the morning.

Something fishy was going on, and Maya didn't like how suspicious she was getting about her best friend.

"Riles. Let's. Go. Otherwise, I'm going downstairs and telling your parents."

Maya would never actually tattle on Riley unless something was really serious, but she just wanted to know what was taking Riley so long.
Besides, had already left for work. Some work thing had been keeping her really busy for the past week, which left the duty of dropping Auggie off at the elementary school before meeting them at John Quincy Adams.


Maya couldn't take it anymore. She opened the door to Riley's room, but Riley was in the bathroom.

"Riles, what's up?"

"I need you to get my mom." Riley shouted.

Two minutes later, Riley came out and her big brown eyes were widened with worry.

"Your mom left... Riley, are you okay? You look kinda pale." Maya was officially worried.

"I think... I got... I think I got my period, Maya." Riley said in the most adorably awkward way possible.

Maya smiled.

"Ah yes. Puberty."

Riley's eyes widened even more. "Don't say it so loud!"

"Its natural Riley!" Maya said with a laugh. Oh, this is going to be fun, she thought to herself.

A moment of silence washed over the two friends as it was Maya's turn to be the nurturing one. She awkwardly and slowly stroked Riley's face until Riley finally spoke.

"Um, Maya? I really do need your help though," Riley said.

"Wait, you don't know how to use a pad?" Maya was shocked. Riley took notes in gym when Coach explained the rules to football. Surely she took notes in health class?

"I need something to stop these cramps. They're killing me!" She confessed.

Maya laughed. "Sure thing Riles."

"Thanks Maya."

"No probs, Riles. That's what friends are for." Maya replied.

Both girls smiled at each other. They really were growing up. It was their turn to meet the world.