Today sucks. Never mind that it's only seven thirty in the morning, today sucks and it's gonna suck all day.
Mei plunked her head down on the kitchen table. She wished she could just go back to bed and hide there all week.
"Red peony?" Ming tucked a lock of Mei's hair behind her ear and put her plate of toast in front of her, even giving her free reign of the cinnamon shaker.
"Uh huh," grumbled Mei.
Ming put her hands on her hips. Mei was always like this on the first day. "You know," she said, trying to motivate her, "I bet obsessing over that boy band you like would be much more fun if you did it with your friends."
"True," mumbled Mei, not lifting her head off the table.
"And your friends will be at school," continued Ming.
Mei lifted her head off the table. "I know where you're going with this, Mom." She ate her breakfast and got up from the table. "Okay, here I go." She gathered her things up, and off she went to school.
When Mei got to school, she stuffed the things she didn't need into her locker and went to her homeroom. When she got there, she found Abby with her face smushed into the desk. "Uh, hey, Abby."
Abby looked up, with a scowl on her face, and then plunked her head back down.
"You too, huh?" Mei slid into her seat. "Yeah, same. I got woken up at five o'clock to go and clean blood out of my clothes."
"I hate everything," grumbled Abby.
"You already hate everything," said Mei.
"Well, I especially hate everything today," said Abby, turning to only press one side of her face on the desk.
"You don't hate 4*Town," said Mei, pulling out the fanart she and Abby had been drawing together.
"That's true, I don't," said Abby, pulling out her orange pencil.
When Mei got to her math class, Miriam had her head on the desk, just like she and Abby had been in the morning, with an arm pressed into her stomach. Mei cringed. "Cramps?"
"Yeah," said Miriam, in somewhat of a strained voice.
Mei sat down and put a hand on Miriam's back. "Yeah, you get those really bad, eh?"
"Mmhmm." Miriam pushed one of her braids back behind her.
"I have mine too," said Mei. "And so does Abby. No word on Priya yet." She reached into her bag and handed Miriam one of her extra snacks. "Here, I know you love these things."
"That's nice, but I swear to god if I eat anything right now, I will puke."
"Well then save it and eat it at lunch," said Mei, matter-of-factly.
"Oh my god, you're such a mom," joked Miriam.
At lunch, Mei, Abby, and Miriam met up with Priya and Tyler, and they all sat together on the bleachers. Abby laid face-down on the third row seat. "You still hate everything?" Priya asked.
"Yeah," said Abby.
"I know what will make you feel better," said Mei, and she poofed into her panda form. Abby looked up, shrieked with joy, and glommed onto her.
"It's very rare that we all get our period at the same time," said Priya. "It's like an omen."
"Of what?" Tyler cocked his head.
"That we're a group made in heaven," cooed Miriam.
"Or Mother Nature decided to torture all of us at once so we can all suffer together," mumbled Abby.
"Mother Nature doesn't torture people!" Mei scowled.
"What about hurricanes?"
"I don't get it," said Tyler, "what's the big deal about you all getting your period at once?"
"How do you not get it?!"
"I don't GET a period!"
All five of them groan-screamed simultaneously. After a moment of angry silence, Tyler stood up and held his arms out. "Go ahead, hit me. I'll suffer with you."
Without a second of hesitation, Abby hopped out of Mei's lap and slugged Tyler right in his guts. Tyler doubled over. "Is that what it feels like?"
"Pretty close," said Mei. She knew exactly what Abby's punches were like, and she figured it was probably for the best that she didn't go in for a second throw.
When Mei got home from school, she slumped down on the temple steps. Ming ran a hand over her hair and handed her a bowl of those small strawberry candies, which Mei had no idea where she got them. "You just offer these to people. Simple."
"Uh huh…" Mei leaned against the podium.
"We're still on for our show tonight, right?" Ming swept up the stairs. "I've been meaning to check out that old American sitcom. Kate and someone."
"Of course," mumbled Mei.
Ming looked over her daughter, and gave her a sympathetic smile. "The first day is always the worst, Mei-Mei. I'm sure tomorrow will be better."
Mei nodded. "I hope so."