Chapter 23: Chapter 23
It had been a week since the picnic, I had kept up my usual activities, going to classes, practice with Jake, ignoring Grey (yeah, I held grudges), preparing for my presentation and hanging out with Jaylen and Talon separately, I made sure I gave both enough attention daily and didn't push them to interact when we were all together.
Talon had been a bit wary at first but now we had something akin to a friendship going on, I didn't try to get him to involve his feelings and I noticed he was becoming more open and comfortable around me.
I sometimes hung out with Jay in his office, keeping him company while he worked, his huge couch becoming my regular napping spot, when I didn't have class that is, as for Talon, we had formed a routine of going out for early morning runs together, or seeking his assistance with my school work.
My hard work was paying off as they both seemed a lot happier, more carefree and always eager to hang with me, my plan was simple, I would become important enough to them, make them realize how much better life was with my presence, my intention was to occupy a spot in their hearts, a spot more important than any other thing including their rilvary, I already had the edge with being their mate, what I wanted was for them to know and love me beyond the compulsions of the mate bond.
I woke up that morning to a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, I groaned rolling over on my bed and clutching my abdomen, I shut my eyes, gritting my teeth against the onslaught of pain, struggling to a sitting position, I looked down at my sheets, noticing the huge patch of blood stain, I groaned in annoyance, it was that time of the month.
I tried getting up but flopped back down on my bed with a pain filled groan.
I had what you could describe as an extreme case of menstrual cramps, the kind where I became nauseous, dizzy and unable to inhale anything food without throwing up, yeah, it was bad, I've had to deal with this since I first started having my period, when I was 11, I remembered how I would scream the whole house down causing my mom to become frantic, talking about my mom, I needed to call her.
She had gone on a vacation in some place that was devoid of signal, she should be back home by now though.
"Fuck!" I groaned out as I was drawn out of my thoughts by the pain kicking up, I usually took prescribed birth control pills that helped reduce the symptoms to a barest minimum so I could still function with my period but with everything going on it had totally skipped my mind.
It was already time to go down for breakfast but I couldn't move an inch without the pain ripping through me, I groaned when I heard a knock on my door,
"Ana?" Jay's voice came through,
"Ana? You okay in there, breakfast is ready." he continued, I couldn't have responded if I tried.
"Why the fuck do I smell blood, Ana?, You okay?, open up." he said in panic, at my lack of response he became frantic, pounding the door, and yelling my name, soon enough I heard other footsteps,
"What's going on here? Why do I smell blood?" I heard Talon ask, a frantic Jay related the situation and they were both now pounding on my door and with the murmurs I was hearing, a crowd had been attracted.
"Ana open up, please" Talon tried and I managed to let out a pained
"go away.", the last thing I wanted was for anyone to see me like this.
"What do you mean go away?, what's going on in there?, open up or I'm knocking your door down." Jay threatened and I sighed.
"wait!, don't, send everyone away, I'm coming." I said and I heard Talon giving the instructions, as the sound of the footsteps faded away, I sighed looking around, I couldn't find my key card.
"Ana? Please open the door." Jay begged and I groaned,
"I can't find my card Damn it!" I gritted out, did I forget my period came with a temper, well they did, cramps or not, getting on my bad side at this time of the month was akin to having a death wish.
"I'll go get my master card." Jay said, hurrying away.
"Talon, where's Mia?" I asked,
"I told everyone to stay away as you requested." he replied, I groaned, biting my lip to hold back the annoyance, my everyone obviously doesn't include the twins.
"get Mia for me please." I asked.
Jay arrived just as Mia did, unlocking the door and rushing in, Mia gave me a concerned look before understanding dawned,
"your pills?" She asked,
"didn't pack them." I answered with a pained sigh and she glared at me,
"one suitcase is enough huh? I'll rush to the pharmacy, it's closer than the apartment." she said, I nodded and she hurried out.
Jaylen and Talon still had looks of confusion but as I rolled over in pain, they rushed to my side, both catching sight of the stain on the sheets.
"period cramps." I explained and they nodded,
"what can we do?" Jay asked in concern and I smiled,
"help me to the bathroom maybe, I really need a shower." I said and they nodded.
"Talon help her to the bathroom, I'll change the sheets." Jay said, getting new sheets from the closet, Talon picked me up bridal style and headed for the bathroom, getting to the shower, he slid open the doors and placed me in, turning around
"Hand me your clothes" he said and I took them off before tapping him, he turned, his eyes shut, taking my clothes and closing the shower door. I took a quick shower, cleaning myself up, I heard Jay coming in,
"Ana, tell me what I should get you." he asked,
"uhmm, a pack of sanitary pads please, I didn't unpack that so they're still in the blue suitcase, a pair of underwear from the closet, third drawer and anything comfy to wear." I replied, slightly embarrassed, he chuckled, humming in response before heading out, returning later and handing my stuff to Talon.
Once I was done, Talon handed me a towel to dry off, and then my underwear and the pack of sanitary pads, after that he handed me a pair of shorts and a huge black hoodie, once I was dressed, I pushed the door open and Talon reached out, picking me up and transporting me to the outer part of the bathroom, he settled me down on my feet but stood close by as I quickly brushed my teeth, when I was done with that, he carried me to the room where Jay was waiting.
Jay pulled the duvet off the newly changed sheets and Talon placed me on the bed, once I was comfortable, Jay pulled the covers over me and they both sat at each side of my bed, I sighed smiling at them gratefully, before closing my eyes and groaning in pain, I could tell they were both worried as I rolled over, struggling to endure the pain, but there wasn't much else that could be done.
Mia rushed into the room with the pills, a bottle of water and a glass cup, Jay took the items from her, handing Talon the pills as he helped me sit up before uncapping the bottle of water and filling up the glass. Talon studied the prescription before feeding me two pills and Jay immediately held the glass to my lips so I could swallow down the pills, I did so, scrunching my face up at the taste, Talon and Jay chuckled before helping me lie down.
After about 30 minutes of pain, my mates were extremely worried for me but were relieved as the drug took effect and I slowly drifted off into sleep.
I woke up an hour later feeling refreshed and pain free, Jay was still with me but Talon was nowhere to be found,
"he didn't leave, he went to get you something to eat, your temperature rose a bit while you were asleep, you had him really worried, he and I both." Jay sighed softly, placing his palm on my forehead to check my temperature and I smiled at him placing my hand over his,
"I'm okay Jay." I assured him.
Talon met us like that, with a huge tray containing three plates of food in his hands, he shut the door with his leg, seeing me awake he smiled rushing in and placing the tray on my lap, before his palm occupied the spot Jay's had just left.
"your temperature seems to be back to normal." he said in relief, I laughed softly,
"I'm the doctor here you know." I bragged and Jay chuckled,
"aspiring doctor." he clarified exchanging a look with Talon as they both laughed, I threw them a dirty look but I couldn't help but notice, something was different with this two, a good kind of different.
We ate quietly and I studied them as they made small talk, I was puzzled at this new behavior and after a while I could no longer keep in my curiosity.
"What happened between the both of you?" I asked suspiciously and they stared at me before laughing.
"I was wondering why she kept subtly staring at us." Talon said to Jay with a chuckle, he smirked in response and I frowned,
"when people start acting strangely, it's a normal reaction to stare, you both are actually comfortable breathing the same air, and can even hold a conversation of your own will without external influence, strange behavior might spell danger, are we safe?" I asked honestly and they both burst into laughter.
After a while Jay gave me my answer,
"we were both really worried about you and neither was willing to leave, after a while your temperature rose and Talon panicked, I had to talk him out of it and somehow after that, we kinda called a truce." Jay explained, I raised a brow
"a truce, so it's temporary or...?" I asked and Talon chuckled,
"Nah, not really, we used to be really good friends before everything you know, practically brothers, and we had a lot of hilarious memories together, I have this habit of loosing my sense of direction when I panic in situations like this, there was this time Caine got injured at the border and instead of going to the pack doctor in my territory, I somehow went to Jay's territory instead." he said laughing, Jay laughed as well picking up where he left off,
"so when he felt your temperature, he panicked, I told him to go get my mom and the fool walked right into the wall." Jay said almost choking with laughter, Talon instead of being offended also seemed to find the situation extremely funny,
"Jay's baffled expression was hilarious and he wasn't even the one who bumped his head." Talon said chuckling, I laughed softly, shaking my head,
"so I'm guessing it sort of triggered a fond memory for you two." I said,
"yeah, something like that, the usual tension in the atmosphere faded off so we talked and here we are." Talon continued,
"I'm still mad at him but I have to admit I miss his friendship, if nothing else at least we can have that." Jay said softly, but I still heard the tinge of sad acceptance in his tone, I sighed in annoyance,
"so... just friends?" I asked and they both nodded,
'hell no' I thought with a huff.
~Author's Note~
Hey guys, we've come a long way in our tale yeah?, Something tells me we'll be rounding up soon, votes and comments are deeply appreciated, thanks y'all