I knew there was a reason I rated this story T.
The bonding chapter is going to be between Brylee and Lexi.
I own nothing except for Brylee.
ENJOY!
…or not…
It was about two in the morning when it happened.
Brylee was feeling funny, so she had woken up, thinking her blood glucose levels were too low. They were in the normal range when she checked them before going to bed, but slightly on the lower side of the normal range, so she knew that there was a possibility of them dropping as she slept.
Then she saw the blood.
Her pajama pants were soaked and consequently, it had leaked onto her sheets. Immediately, she began checking herself for cuts or wounds that could cause this much blood to appear, but found none.
She didn't know what was going on, and honestly, she was terrified. But she didn't know who to turn to.
She immediately knew she couldn't turn to Duck. He would just tease her relentlessly and that was the last thing she needed at the moment. Rev would be too busy freaking out over the amount of blood to be of any help (the poor roadrunner couldn't really handle seeing a lot of blood and this would push him over the edge). Slam, who is usually kind and eager to help out, wouldn't understand this. Tech…well, she actually didn't know what Tech would do in this situation. So she decided to use him as a last resort. She definitely couldn't turn to Ace. The last thing she needed was him freaking out.
So that left Lexi.
Fortunately for Brylee, Lexi's bedroom was right across the hall from hers, so she didn't have far to go. With the sudden onset of cramps she was having, she was thankful that the distance was relatively short.
Slightly hunched over in pain – and praying to God none of the boys woke up – she got out of bed and left her bedroom. The pain was almost making her cry. But at least she made it to Lexi's bedroom across the hall.
When they first moved into the building, Tech installed a buzzer next to each of their doors that would tell them if someone was outside their bedroom. The system acted like a doorbell that only the person inside the room would hear. Everyone found that this didn't disturb them as much as the sound of someone making a commotion outside to get the person's attention.
Fortunately for Brylee, Lexi answered at the first buzz. At first, she was rubbing her eyes and barely paying attention as she was still half-asleep.
Then she saw the blood and was immediately wide awake.
"Can you help me?" Brylee pleaded.
Nodding, Lexi helped Brylee into her bedroom and shut the door behind them. Immediately, she helped the teenager into her personal bathroom and sat her on the tub.
"It's OK, Brylee," Lexi reassured her as she placed a comforting arm on the girl's shoulders.
"Is this normal?" Brylee asked.
"Of course this is normal," Lexi chuckled, "Every girl gets her period."
"Is that what this is?" Brylee questioned.
Lexi was originally planning to get the shower running and telling the young girl to shower and clean up while she went back to her room to get her clean clothes, clean underwear and put fresh sheets on her bed until she said that. This made her frown in worry.
"Didn't your mum talk to you about this?" Lexi wanted to know, "Or anyone else?"
"Well, before mum died, she was too busy at the hospital or the free clinic, I had no female relatives – or any for that matter – and no friends I could've talked to about this. So no," Brylee drawled, "And could you imagine Ace if I asked him about anything relating to female body parts?"
That caused Lexi to laugh. Living together and working together to save the world on a daily basis allowed everyone to get to know each other very well. Something they learned quickly was how clueless Ace was concerning girls and situations that girls endure.
Suddenly, Brylee was thankful that there was at least one other girl on the team she could turn to for girl problems. Because honestly, she couldn't imagine bringing this up with Zadavia without things being awkward between them.
"Well, this is a completely normal process in becoming a woman, Brylee. Of course, the first one is completely scary. At least yours started at the comfort of your own home where you had someone you could turn to. Mine started in the middle of my routine in a gymnastics competition. Let's just say there was blood everywhere and that it was the most embarrassing moment of my life," Lexi recalled.
"Poor you," Brylee laughed slightly.
Lexi laughed as well as she grabbed a little tub that just happened to be nearby and filled it with cold water. Getting blood out of clothing and linen was challenging. The sooner she started at least soaking the items, the easier it will be to get out.
"I'm gonna go get some salt. I want you to hop in the shower. Trust me. You'll feel better," Lexi said to her as she reached in and turned the shower on once the tub was filled, "I'll get you some fresh clothes. Leave your pajamas in the sink."
With those words said, Lexi left the bathroom, only to come back ten seconds later with the container for her insulin pump as well as her diary, a pen and the equipment she needed to check her blood sugar levels. The insulin pump Tech invented for her was infinitely better than the pump she had before the meteor hit by far, but like any other regular pump, she couldn't have it in contact with water that was a certain temperature for long periods of time so she wouldn't spoil the insulin that was in the pump.
Quickly, she checked her sugar levels. It was still around the same it was when she checked it before she went to bed, she observed as she went to note the levels as well as the date and time of the check in her diary – in the normal range, but on the low side.
So she couldn't afford to have a long shower – no matter how much she wanted to – because she couldn't afford to be off her pump for too long.
She had no idea how long she was in the shower for, but by the time she finished and turned off the shower, Lexi was standing there ready to hand Brylee her towel.
"Thanks," Brylee sighed as she took the fluffy towel that she read was a crystal color.
"You feeling better?" Lexi inquired.
"A little bit. Still in pain," Brylee answered as she slid on her underwear, barely noticing the sanitary pad Lexi had stuck on.
"Figured you would be," Lexi remarked as she handed her a cup, "Did some research after I put your clothes and sheets in the wash. Found that a small cup of hot water with a hint of ginger helps relieve cramps and keep you hydrated."
At first, Brylee grimaced. If there was one thing in the world she hated as much, maybe more, than a lot of the villains she had encountered with the Loonatics, it was ginger. Then another wave a pain hit her and she was desperate enough to suck it up and drink the contents of the cup, screwing her face as she swallowed at both the taste of ginger and the temperature of the water.
At least she won't have to suffer often.
"Don't worry. Soon, you'll get the hang of it," Lexi reassured her, "Before you know it, all of this will become second nature to you. Before you know it, you'll be a pro at getting blood out of your clothes and sheets. I also found out that while you are still in the normal age range for girls to get their first periods, you've started later than most girls because of your diabetes."
"Why do we get them anyway?" Brylee asked.
"I don't think this is a conversation to have at three in the morning," Lexi said wryly, "I will tell you everything you need to know at a more humane hour. I just hope Zadavia doesn't call with a mission."
"Me too," Brylee agreed as she reattached her pump.
"I can tell you that you and I will need to go shopping. You will need what I like to call a 'girl kit' and all the provisions you will need to be prepared for the next one," Lexi declared.
Brylee almost moaned when she heard Lexi mention going through this again. Then she remembered one thing she realized watching girls in her high school. This is a monthly event.
"Yippee," Brylee cheered sarcastically.
"Seriously. Anytime you need anything, feel free to tell me. No matter what time it is. I think I'm the better option compared to the others," Lexi laughed.
That made Brylee laugh. Considering her other options were six guys – one of them being her older brother – Lexi was the best option.
"And, we are going to have a girls weekend," Lexi proclaimed, "I hear Acme Pueco's relaxing."
"Do you honestly think that Zadavia is going to let us have time off?" Brylee asked, knowing that their mysterious benefactor rarely allowed them vacation time.
Mainly because they had a job that didn't allow them much vacation time to begin with.
"We hardly get time off. And honestly. What can happen in a weekend?" Lexi questioned rhetorically.
Brylee still responded with a, "Shut up. You'll jinx it."
Lexi just laughed, "Come on. I think your sheets and clothes would be done by now."
Grasping hands, Lexi and Brylee headed to the laundry room where, sure enough, they found the cycle was finished for her pajamas and sheets. As they examined them and Lexi taught her how to get any excess blood out so she was prepared for the next one, they had an unexpected visitor.
"What are you guys doing up?" Ace yawned as he walked into the washroom, "You two are aware of the hour, right?"
"Yeah," Lexi and Brylee nodded, not bothering to look up from their task.
"So what are you doing scrubbing Brylee's sheets?" Ace inquired.
"It's best to do it as soon as possible before the blood sets in," Brylee shrugged.
"Blood?!" Ace squeaked.
"Your little girl's a woman," Lexi smirked.
Ace's reaction was to beat his head into the doorframe, much to their amusement.
"It had to happen eventually," Brylee shrugged.
"I was hoping it wouldn't be at 14," Ace moaned.
"Going on 15, thank you very much!" Brylee threw in.
"She's actually at the right age, Ace. If it wasn't coming, I'd be a little worried. Even for a Type One Diabetic," Lexi pointed out.
Ace just sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He was sort of prepared for this day to come, but he, too, had done the research on this aspect for Type One Diabetics. He knew that for them, this would be coming later than regular teenager girls.
But he still prayed that his little sister would stay little for just a little while longer.
"So are you feeling alright? Are your levels okay?" Ace asked worriedly.
"They're fine. But we're probably gonna have to set up a consultation with Doctor Haddock or Nurse Delaney just so we know if there is anything specific we need to do," Brylee suggested.
"I'll call them when their office opens," Ace nodded, knowing that at least he would feel better if they consulted her medical team and asked the appropriate questions, "For now, try and get a little bit more sleep."
Brylee sighed as Ace finally left her and Lexi alone. She was tired, but too wired to go to sleep.
"Come on. You need to at least try to rest for a couple more hours. You'll feel better if you do," Lexi pointed out, "Come on. You can rest on my hammock."
By the time they got to Lexi's room, Brylee was already half asleep. By the time her head hit the pillow, she was dead to the world. Lexi let out a quiet laugh as she tucked Brylee into her sheets.
Lexi had a younger sister, but they were too different, so they never got along. While Lexi was a cheerleader in high school and tried out for the cheerleading squad at Acmetropolis University the day of the meteor hit, she was not like the negative stereotypical cheerleaders that are always portrayed in the media. Sure. She was into fashion and cared about her looks, but that was as close as she got.
Lexi also followed rules (albeit, she also made sure she didn't like some of them). Whenever she went out, she always was home by her curfew unless something happened or it was already decided she was spending the night with a friend. She did her chores. Worked part-time to get through high school. Studied hard (she was never a straight-A student, but she never failed any of her subjects). Showed respect to everybody (even those who barely showed her respect).
Her sister, on the other hand, was the total opposite. She didn't follow the rules. She flouted her curfew. She did not bother to do her chores or get a part-time job (and if she managed to get a part-time job, she would be fired within the month). Last Lexi heard, she was barely getting the necessary marks to stay in school and she made it a routine to disrespect her parents, her 'perfect older sister' and…well, pretty much everybody.
Except for her boyfriend, who is just as much of a loser as she was.
Brylee was nothing like her sister. Yes, she was shy, insecure and painfully lonely. But she was also smart, talented, beautiful and the best person to be around. She wished that she had gotten Brylee as her younger sister.
Then again, she wouldn't wish her biological sister on anybody; even her worst enemy.
So it was her resolve to be the older sister figure in Brylee's life, knowing she needed one.
And now, as she began to navigate the perils of womanhood, she would be the best big sister she could be.
SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY! But this was really hard to write!
This trilogy (yes, I'm doing at least two sequels after this) is essentially a coming-of-age thing. Essentially, it is a little girl becomes a woman thing. This is part of that.
Hopefully, I'll be faster with the next chapter.
BYE!
