Part 1

"What the hell?"

Standing there in bloody briefs, holding the unraveled remains of what was - only a second ago - tightly wound sportswrap, Stan knew his life was over.

Stan had lied to Coach Black when he felt it coming, still not yet used to this new, monthly hell. That strange pain forming beneath his skin, he held his side like he had a stitch, and managed to cash in his good reputation for the chance to shower alone.

So hearing another voice in there with him wasn't inconvenient and terrifying, but also humorous in a way that only God could appreciate. He even had the chutzpah to make that voice belong to the most shockingly blond asshole in Derry High. Because if anyone was going to find out in the most humiliating way possible that Stan was on his period, it would be a Bowers goon. The pretty one, at that.

Turning around, Stan crossed his arms in front of his chest. Even as he tried to hide the shape of his body, the blood was a dead give away. Victor looked at it, to the wrappings in Stan's hands, and finally, to Stan's face.

Stan steeled himself for the cutting words that would follow. Victor hesitated a moment, his mouth hanging open and his expression oddly sympathetic, before the shock wore off and his usual smug little face came back.

"You can't wear that! You're going to hurt yourself!"

"Huh?"

"Look, you're small enough, just put on a good sports bra. If you keep using that other stuff, you're going to break a rib!"

Victor had to point for Stan to realize he was talking about the sports wrap.

"How do you-"

"And is this your first period?"

"No," Stan said, indignant. Quieter, he added, "I've had a few."

"Well, plug it up, asshole!"

Vic pulled a tampon from one of his pockets, and sent it flying. It struck the very stunned and slightly curious Stanley in the chest, making him slap himself as he caught it.

"Why do you have a tampon?"

"The better question is why don't you?" Victor leaned back slightly, narrowing his eyes. It was almost a challenge. "Too afraid to be seen buying them? Don't be. They all think you're buying them for your mom. Just get some kids candy with it, like you had to be bribed."

"Thanks?"

There was a pause. Vic let it hang between them for a few seconds as Stan simply stared. He felt like he'd stepped into the Twilight zone.

"I don't understand," Stan finally got his voice to start working. "Why are you telling me this stuff? How do you know this stuff?"

"Do you really think I avoid the shower because I like the feeling of being sweaty?"

It clicked so hard, Stan felt like he'd been slapped. His eyes widened and his nose flared as a greedy amount of air filled it.

"You're -" Stan was walking towards Vic, his stern glare melting into something more affable.

Vic did the exact opposite, and even held out a hand to stop Stan if he got too close. "- Not going to have a bonding moment in the shower with a half naked Jew."

Stan shut his mouth and looked down at his feet. He was so excited to meet someone like him, he almost forgot who he was speaking to.

He heard a sigh and looked up to see Vic swaying in place, one arm curled up behind his back as he had a mental debate with himself.

"You're a grade behind me, yeah? Meet me at the kissing bridge tonight. I'll hook you up with Drugstore Dan. He's got hormone blockers and t shots and shit like that."

"What are those?" Stan had an idea, but he never knew things existed to fix what he'd thought was inevitable.

"They stop your puberty from fucking up your body," Vic answered, confirming Stan's suspicions, and sending goosebumps down his arms.

Stan started to say something, some kind of show of gratitude. But Vic turned on his heels dramatically, his boots squealing against the floor. He walked off, whatever he'd come in there to do clearly forgotten or discarded to avoid furthering the already surreal experience.

As soon as Stan heard the door closing in the distance, he took his shower and put on some fresh clothing. He had just finished tying the final knot on his shoelaces when the first of the other boys came in.

Nobody seemed to notice anything different about Stan, but his problems were just beginning. As he thought about it, nobody ever seemed to notice anything different about Victor either. His face was thickening the same as Henry's, as was his neck, shoulders, and voice.

Knowing he was about to find out why made the rest of the day easier to handle.