We all slept terribly, and were up at the crack of dawn. Soda wanted to get on the road right away, but Two-Bit insisted that, since we were actually sitting in the parking lot of a diner, we ought to take advantage of their breakfast offerings.
I headed into the diner with a small bag to change my clothes and brush my hair and teeth. My back was killing me, and I felt achy all over. I made a mental note that, once this trip was over, I would never again willingly sleep in a car.
Two-Bit got us a table while Soda and I went into the bathrooms. I brushed my teeth and hair, then went into the stall to change. As I sat down to pee, I glanced down and noticed a dark stain on my underwear.
For a second I was not sure how to feel. I had been waiting for this- Lord knows, Anna had been pestering me constantly about whether "it" had happened yet, but truly, I could not think of a less convenient and awkward place or time for "it" to happen.
I almost wanted to cry. How the heck was I gonna take care of this little... situation? I changed into different clothes, and stuffed some toilet paper down there for the time being. I really didn't want to tell Soda or Two-Bit about it, but I didn't really see any alternative. There was no way I could just get Soda to drive me to a pharmacy, with no explanation… and even if I did, he'd want to come in with me. I leaned against the sink, pondering my options.
I must have been in there quite a while, because suddenly Soda was knocking on the door.
"Scout, are you okay in there? You're not sick or something, are you?"
Well, actually it's the "or something," I was thinking.
"I'm okay," I called out. "I'm coming out right now."
I pushed the door open and Soda was standing right there. He put his arm around my shoulder and guided me over to the booth. He sat down, but I didn't.
"C'mon, Scout, sit down," he said.
"I think I'm gonna call Darry first." I knew he would be awake, even if it was early. Darry hardly ever slept past six.
"What, are you going to assure him none of us died in our sleep?"
"Maybe. Just order me bacon and eggs," I said, heading over to the phone. I was glad it was actually in a booth, I didn't really need any strangers hearing what was sure to be an already embarrassing conversation.
I had no idea how much money to put in the phone, so I started off with fifty cents. I guess it worked because I dialed and it rang.
"Hello?" Darry got it on the third ring.
"Hi, Darry... it's me."
"You guys are up early," he said. "Soda's rolling hotel wasn't so comfortable, huh?"
"Not really."
I guess he had expected me to laugh, and, when I didn't, he knew something was up.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's okay."
"Are you sure? You sound funny."
"Well… I kind of have a small problem, actually."
"What's the matter?" he sounded worried.
"It's nothing bad, just…embarrassing, kind of."
"Scout, come on… What's going on?"
"Promise you won't laugh at me?"
"I promise."
"I kind of…uh, well, I woke up today with a little problem…a female kind of problem."
He was quiet, and I knew he knew what I was talking about.
"I guess it's not really the best timing for that, huh?" He actually sounded sympathetic.
"Yeah, not really."
"Did you tell Soda?"
"No."
"Why, Scout? He knows about that stuff."
I didn't say anything. I wasn't dying to tell Soda and have him tell Two-Bit and have them both making fun of me while I was stuck with the two of them for the next two days.
"I don't want them to make fun of me," I admitted.
"They won't. But I'm glad you told me," he said. "Can you put him on?"
"Are you going to tell him?" I asked.
"Well somebody's gonna have to," he said. "You, or me?"
"You," I replied. I realized that Darry would put the fear of God into Soda about him and Two-Bit teasing me, too, probably. I remembered how he had threatened Two-Bit when he had snapped my bra.
"Put him on, Scout."
"Okay. Darry?"
"What?"
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
I stuck my head out of the phone booth and called Soda over. "He wants to talk to you," I said, handing him the phone. Then I went over and sat with Two-Bit, watching Soda through the glass. I knew exactly when Darry told him, as he turned and looked at me, with what looked to be a frown on his face. He talked for another minute and then hung up. He turned to look at me again, and then motioned me over. I got up and walked over to the phone booth, leaving Two-Bit to chat up the waitress.
Soda pulled me into the booth, sitting down on the seat and pulling me with him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. And he sounded kind of…sad.
"I was afraid you would make fun of me," I answered. "It's embarrassing."
"Not really," he said. "I mean, it's not like you can help it. You're growing up."
Well, yeah, obviously if I could have helped it, it would not be occurring right then.
I just stared at my feet.
"So, we'll make a stop after breakfast. Can it wait that long?"
"I think so." I wasn't really sure. Anna had told me that the first time it wasn't usually much. "Are you gonna tell Two-Bit?"
"Not if you don't want me to," he said. "You know, Scout, guys do know about these things. I mean, Two-Bit's almost nineteen."
"I know," I said.
"I just... I wish you woulda felt like you coulda told me," he said.
"Sorry," I said. "I guess I was just a little…surprised. It's not that I don't trust you, I was just embarrassed."
"Well, don't be. And nobody's gonna make fun of you. Or they'll answer to me." That was funny, and I laughed. Two-Bit could crush Soda if he wanted to.
"C'mon, lets go eat," he said, pulling me up and over to our waiting breakfast.
............................................
A/N: How awkward, huh? Poor Scout! I am dying to know what you all think of this, so review, please! It's funny that this is the chapter that happened on Good Fic Day!