Linda sat in history class, trying not to cry. She was tired, hot, and in pain. Her head burned, her uterus throbbed, and her eyed stung with unshed tears. She knew if she rubbed her eye or opened her mouth, the tears would come streaming down her face. She just hoped Mr. Thorndyke would be clairvoyant and not call her. Unfortunately, he wasn't clairvoyant and he had unjustifiable grudge on the young blonde.

Mr. Thorndyke looked around, "Linda! Can you answer the question?"

"Ha-" her voice was small and weak, and it cracked.

"What? I didn't hear you."

"Mr. Thorndyke, May I go to the bathroom?"

He crossed his arms, "answer the question first."

"Hamilton."

"Fine. You may go. Make it quick."

She nodded and grabbed her bag. She nearly made a clean getaway when the teacher called her out, again.

"Why don't you leave your bag here?"

Linda's boyfriend, who was thankfully in the same class, shot the teacher a dirty look.

Linda's cheeks burned red, "I really need to go."

"Then go. But leave your bag."

She felt the tears daring to fall. "I really think I should bring it."

"Leave it or I'll give you detention."

That does it. "Fine, Mr. Thorndyke. I'll leave it. I'll leave it here and I'll stain my clothes. Because you get the privilege of not having a uterus and not suffering every month, I'll leave it here. And I'll send you the bill for my new clothes."

Danny Reagan mouthed, "damn."

"You may take it. And if you ever speak like that to me again, you will get detention." Mr. Thorndyke looked at the things on his desk.

Linda made a face and quickly exited the classroom. She started walking until she felt the contents of her stomach creeping up her throat.

Back in class, Danny tapped his pencil on the table, and blankly stared off into space. He hated history, and always daydreamed. Luckily, his girl always took good, precise notes. He was thinking how badass she must be to mouth off to the teacher, go to school, and pay attention all while enduring unspeakable pain.

"Mr. Thorndyke?" Linda's voice was small and weak once again.

"What?"

"Can I go to the office? I, uh, I just threw up."

Danny frowned, wondering if she was okay. Of course she isn't, you doofus. She just hurled her breakfast!

Mr. Thorndyke looked at her, "you do look sick. Fine. Go."

Linda moved forward to get her books. The boy sitting next to her handed her her things, Linda's "thank you" barely audible. She quickly made her way to her locker to put the books back. Then she walked to the nurse's office.

"Hi, Linda. Head's bothering you?" The nurse, Heather, wondered. Linda frequently came in for headache medicine.

"I'm sick."

"Oh dear." Heather escorted the blonde to one of the cots. "Can I call your parents?"

"They're on vacation. The neighbors are too busy."

"Is there a friend's Mom I could call?"

Linda thought of the only person who would be willing to come to school to pick up a girl that wasn't even theirs. "One."


"I'm so sorry you don't feel good, Linda," Mary Reagan said as she drove back home.

The blonde was silently crying now, "th-thank you f-for get-getting me."

"I wouldn't think twice about it! You can stay over as long as your parents are away."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetie. Lucky for you, we made brownies yesterday." Mary frowned, "course, you won't want them cause you're sick."

"I'm not sick," Linda wiped her tears.

"The nurse said you were."

"I kinda lied. I threw up, but I threw up cause my cramps are so bad... could we please not talk? It hurts to talk."

"I'm sorry. We'll stop."


"Hey, Ma. Day was good, gotta call Linda," Danny quickly said, making a beeline for the phone.

"Oh, honey, Linda's upstairs." Mary stood across from Danny.

"Really?" He looked towards the stairs.

"Yeah. Her parents are out of town, so she called me. She's in your room right now, probably napping. Danny, she is a very hormonal girl. Even if you say 'hi' the wrong way, she'll most likely end up crying."

The teenager nodded, "I'll be nice, I promise." He tiptoed up half way up the stairs, "why am I tiptoeing?" He walked normally till he got to his bedroom. A smile spread across his face when he saw his girlfriend lying in his bed, fast asleep. He bent down and kissed her cheek, "feel better. I love you." Danny, as quietly as possible, went to work on his homework.


Mary didn't think twice of having Linda for dinner. That was the day the young blonde knew she'd always have a family with the Reagans.