***CREDS TO MY BEST FRIEND FOR HELPING ME WRITE THIS CHAPTER***
The next morning Eleven walked down to the basement. It was Wednesday and the kids were supposed to go to the movies. Mike was watching TV when El entered the basement, so she went to sit beside him.
"Hey El." Mike said.
"Hey Mike." She said.
Mike stated, "The boys will be here to go to the movies in fifteen minutes."
"Mike I think I'm gonna stay here I'm not feeling well. You guys can go without me." El said.
"What's wrong El?" Mike asked.
El replied, "It's just a stomach ache. I'll be fine while you guys are at the movies."
"You are worrying me Eleven. I'm gonna stay with you, and maybe the boys will just hang out here instead." Mike said.
"No Mike. Go have fun. I'm fine." El ordered.
Mike stated, "I'm staying home with you. I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Alright. I'm gonna go lay in the fort. Do you wanna come lay with me?" El asked.
"Sure." Mike agreed.
Mike laid beside Eleven in the fort. Eleven wrapped her arms around Mike and rested her head on his shoulder. El fell asleep within five minutes, and Mike laid there waiting for the boys. He heard footsteps approaching the door that led down to the basement. Mike gently slid out of El's arms and placed her head softly on the pillow. He then rushed to the door to make sure the boys came down quietly. They all sat around El's fort.
"Is El okay?" Will asked.
Mike replied, "No, she actually isn't feeling well. I'm gonna stay here and take care of her. If you guys wanna go to the movies you can, but El and I would like your company if you don't go."
"Sure I'll stay." Will offered.
"We wanna make sure El is alright." Dustin said.
"Maybe we can help if El needs us." Lucas suggested.
Mike replied, "I'm sure Eleven would be happy to know how much her friends care about her. Thanks guys for missing the movie today."
El was asleep for two and a half hours, but the guys played D&D so the time flew by. She awoke and Mike kneeled down to ask her how she was doing. She said fine and whispered that she was going to the bathroom.
"Did she spill some kool-aid on the blanket? Dustin asked.
"I don't think she has had any today?" Mike answered. El pulled down her pants when she got to the bathroom and saw blood. It terrified her and she screamed loudly.
"Did you hear that?" Mike asked.
"What?" Lucas asked.
Mike replied, "I heard a scream. Oh no. What if it's el? I'm gonna go check on her."
"Mike relax. You are being paranoid. El is fine she is just not feeling well." Dustin said.
"El will probably be back any second." Will said.
Mike agreed, "Fine. Maybe I am just worried."
In the bathroom, El was sitting on the toilet panicking. She thought she was dying. Her stomach was still hurting and she had a headache since she woke up. El tried to calm herself, because she needed to get someone to help her. Just then she heard a banging on the bathroom door.
"El! El! Are you alright in there? I heard you scream." Nancy yelled worriedly.
"Nancy! I'm bleeding! My stomach and head hurt and I'm scared!" El explained in a panicked state.
Nancy replied, "Don't worry El this all normal. Oh I was so worried you were hurt. Can I come in and help you?"
"Ok." El answered. Nancy opened the door to find El sitting on the toilet with blood all over her lower areas. She had tears in her eyes and was staring at Nancy in confusion.
"You are gonna be fine Eleven. Don't cry I can help you." Nancy said.
"How?" El said.
"Let's get you cleaned up and I'll explain what's happening. I'm gonna get you some clean clothes. You should shower while I'm gone. Alright?" Nancy asked.
Eleven replied. "Ok." Nancy rummaged through the bathroom cabinet to find her hidden stash of feminine stuff after she returned with the clean clothes.
"El, this is a pad. You can use it to catch blood. You stick it on your underwear." Nancy explained. She gave Eleven her new clothes as she stepped out of the shower and handed her the pad. Eleven got dressed and sat down to listen to Nancy.
"Eleven you are a woman now." Nancy stated.
"I'm a woman now?" She asked confused.
Nancy replied, "Yes, you got your period today."
"Period?" El asked.
"It's when you bleed once a month for about 3-5 days. They come with cramps that is the stomach pain. Also, you get cravings for certain foods and headaches. It happens unless you become pregnant. It's totally normal it happens to all girls." Nancy explained.
"This is going to happen every month and What is pregnant?" El asked
Nancy answered, "It means you are having a baby."
"How do you get a baby?" El replied.
"Ummm. That's a question for another day." She answered.
There was a pounding on the door it was Mike. He had managed to slip away from the boys by telling them he was going to get a drink. Nancy opened the door.
"El! Are you okay? I heard you scream." Mike exclaimed. There was an awkward silence of them all staring at each other.
"Do you want to tell him El? You can keep it our secret if you aren't comfortable letting him know." Nancy told El. El stared at Nancy embarrassed her face turning red.
"Tell me what?" Mike asked.
"Mike, can you promise to keep this secret from the others?" El asked.
Mike replied, "I promise."
"I'm a woman." El stated.
"Well, I can't really keep that secret but ok." Mike said.
Nancy said, "I don't think you understand Mike."
"What?" He asked.
"El got her period today. She doesn't wanna be teased or anyone else to find out." Nancy explained.
"Oh." He uttered. Mike began to turn red and his eyes got big. He was embarrassed.
El asked, "Are you okay Mike?"
"I'm fine El. Congrats on being a woman I guess." He said quietly.
"Thanks." El replied. El opened the bathroom door to find the other boys standing outside the door. El's face turned red and she ran down to the basement embarrassed. She thought they had been eavesdropping, but they had just walked up the stairs to check on her.
"Wait to go. Eavesdropping really? El wanted it to be secret." Nancy said.
"Guys I told you I was getting a drink. What are you doing up here?" Mike asked.
"We just got up here we heard nothing." Lucas stated.
Dustin said, "Yeah. You were gone for awhile, so we came to check on you guys."
"What's wrong with Eleven?" Will asked.
"Uhhh. Come upstairs to my room and I'll explain." Nancy said frustrated. They headed to Nancy's room.
"So what's wrong with Eleven?" Dustin asked.
"El is a woman now. She got her period today. If you don't remember from health that means she will bleed for 3-5 days once a month. She will also get cramps, cravings, and might notice El being a little bit more cranky than normal." Nancy explained. The boys didn't know what to say. Finally, Lucas broke the silence.
"Well, can we do anything to help?" Lucas asked.
"Actually, each of you could probably help somehow. Thanks for offering. She is lucky to have such caring friends and a caring boyfriend." Nancy said.
"Alright. Tell us how we can help and we will be sure to." Will said.
Nancy replied, "Dustin, Mike says you are always hungry. I'm gonna give you some money to get chocolate and other snacks. Most girls crave chocolate, so the more the better."
"Alright. I'm on it." Dustin said.
"Umm. Will and Lucas you seem crafty. Can you go to the store and get some rice, a pillowcase, and some rubber bands. We can use it to make a heating pad for her cramps." Nancy explained.
"Ok. We are kind of crafty I guess." Lucas said. Will shook his head in agreement.
Nancy looked at Mike, "Well, I'm gonna have to talk to El. I'm gonna explain that you guys weren't eavesdropping and that I had to tell you. Anyway, Mike I'm gonna give you the job I was gonna do, since you are her boyfriend. I need you to go and buy pads."
"Ummm. Ok I guess I can do that. Hopefully, no one I know is there. I'm gonna do it for El though cause she would do it for me." Mike explained. The boys began to leave and Nancy tapped Mike on the shoulder.
"Also, I know she would love cuddles and affection from her boyfriend especially right now. She is in pain, but snuggles will make her feel much better trust me." Nancy whispers to Mike. Mile smiled at the thought of cuddling with El. He wanted her to know he was willing to help her and that he cared about her. He hated the idea of El being in pain. Mike and the other boys were on their way to the store, and Nancy went to talk to El.
"El are you okay?" Nancy asked.
"All the boys know. They are gonna tease me or tell." El said.
Nancy replied, "Well they do know, but they weren't eavesdropping. I had to tell them, because they were worried when you ran off."
"Oh. Where are they anyway?" She asked nervously.
"El you don't need to worry. I told them not to tease you. They wouldn't do that anyway they wanna help you. In fact, they all are off running errands for you right now." Nancy explained.
"Really they are? I have great friends and an amazing boyfriend." El stated.
Nancy replied, "Yes you do. Now get some rest they will be down here in an hour or so I'm sure to surprise you with their gifts."
"Ok. Thanks for helping me Nancy. I'm glad I can call you my sister." El said.
"Me too El." Nancy replied. Meanwhile, the boys were off doing their jobs….