Written for Usagi and Mamoru: A Love Like No Other. Link on my bio page.
50. Advertisement (625 words)
Serena stumbled into the Crown Arcade one arm wrapped around her waist, her other hand rubbing small circles into her lower back. She shuffled to the counter and attempted to curl up into a ball on the stool hoping to lower the amount of pain. She squeezed her eyes shut and laid her head down on her knees. "Andrew," Serena whimpered. "Food, please. And a glass of water."
Darien snorted. "What's wrong Meatball Head? Did you go an hour without eating chocolate?" Serena ignored him as she fumbled in her bag searching for something. If she didn't take something soon she knew exactly where this would be heading. Darien turned his head to look at the younger girl as she groaned. His eyes widened when he saw the state she was in: sweating profusely and practically writhing in pain. "Serena are you okay?"
Serena shook her head as she finally pulled a box of pain-killers out of her bag. "Period pain," she whispered.
Darien was about to reply when she turned her head and suddenly vomited on the floor. When he saw her eyelids beginning to fall and the pallidness of her face Darien jumped up, grabbed Serena and quickly lowered her to the floor. He placed her bag under her feet and watched as blood slowly returned to her cheeks. It was as Serena's eyes were opening and as her hand reached out and clasped his that Andrew arrived back with a hamburger and glass of water. He noticed Serena lying on the floor and dashed around the counter. "What happened?" he yelled.
Serena cringed as the stabbing in her abdomen and lower back returned with a vengeance. "The food," she rasped out, "and the water. And the tablets on the counter." She sat up slightly and took a few small bites from the bun of the hamburger before popping two tablets in her mouth and swallowing them with a gulp of water.
"Maybe you should go see a doctor," Andrew said, feeling very worried.
"He can't do anything about it." Serena once again curled up into a ball and once again began rubbing her back and silently prayed that the pain-killers would kick in soon. "It's just period pain."
Darien frowned. "But you just threw up and almost passed out. That can't be normal."
"Yeah well it is for me. If I don't take some medicine before the pain starts then it gets so bad that you just saw the result." Serena opened her eyes, breathing heavily. "I need to get home. And sleep. Sleep is good."
Andrew brushed away the hair falling into her eyes. "You can't walk home like this Serena." He looked up at his best friend. "Darien could you give her a lift?"
"Yeah sure thing," Darien replied. Despite the haze of pain Serena glanced at Darien in surprise. He was actually willing to help her?
Darien and Andrew lifted Serena to her feet and Darien put a hand around her shoulder. She looked up at him from her stooped position. "What are you-"
"I very much doubt that you can walk by yourself right now." Serena nodded, put her arm around his waist and leant against him, accepting his help for the time being at least. With Darien supporting Serena's weight the two slowly moved towards the back door leading to the carpark. "You know Meatball Head you look so bad right now that you should be the new poster girl for period pain advertisements."
She glanced up with a wan smile on her face. "Very funny jerkwad."
"Well I see you still have your sense of humour. You can't be feeling too bad then." He smiled at her gently. "Come on let's get you home."