Friends in a Field

Demitri kept his deal with Becca. The next day after class, Becca practically dragged him out to the track. Demitri took a seat while all the other kids started doing dramatic stretches to warm up. Becca sighed.

"You could at least pretend that you're enjoying yourself." Becca teased.

"Why? It's not like you welcomed the library study period with open arms." Demitri challenged.

Becca sighed and thought about how she could make track more engaging. She looked into the distance at a small pathway into the woods and got an idea.

"Do you want to know the real reason I do track?" Becca asked intriguingly.

"So that you can say you're faster than me." Demitri complained.

"Okay Asshole, we gotta run two laps. If you beat me the first lap, I'll show you something amazing." Becca said.

Demitri's brain started running wild. What was Becca going to show him? It's not like there's much about her that he doesn't know, so does this mean she was hiding something before?

"Show me what exactly?" Demitri asked, crossing his arms.

"Gotta beat me the first lap if you want to know." Becca smirked at Demitri.

There was a moment of tense silence before Demitri stood up and lean forward into a lunge, stretching.

"It is on." He simply said and Becca laughed.

A few more minutes of stretching and it was time for Becca to give a quick pep talk to the team before starting practice. Everyone grouped together, awaiting the captain's words.

"Alright! Day one of two this week! We got a short week, so let's make it intense. Remember to breathe and keep your pace consistent. GO! GO! GO!" Becca yelled and everyone took off, sprinting towards the track. Becca searched the crowd and spotted Demitri. She jogged up next to him and started taunting.

"God, you're so slow!" Becca said, making Demitri's head turn.

"Oh yeah?!" Demitri yelled and in a moment of spite, he ran ahead of Becca.

Becca sprinted to keep up, easily doing so. Demitri kept running his hardest, which happened to be a slightly faster pace than Becca's normal run speed. Becca found herself struggling more and more to keep up to Demitri until he tripped. Becca laughed at him, then offered him a hand.

He slapped it away and stood up, sprinting past her again. Becca was caught off guard by this; usually Demitri accepts all and any help. She shrugged it off and ran after him. Demitri saw her and sped up, adrenaline being his only source of energy to continue. Becca almost caught up, but not before Demitri crossed the start line again.

"HA! SUCK IT!" Demitri yelled and started breathing extremely heavily. Becca rolled her eyes, panting a bit herself.

"Beginners luck." She complained.

"Doesn't matter... show me the thing." Demitri said, still out of breath. Becca took a deep breath and started jogging again.

"It's this way." She said.

"MORE?!?!" Demitri whined loudly and ran to keep up.

Becca ran up to the clearing she saw in the woods and looked back at Demitri who wasn't too far behind her. He caught up and stood next to her, looking puzzled.

"Uh, is this it?" Demitri asked, looking at the trees. Becca rolled her eyes and started to walk through the path. Demitri was confused, but followed her anyways. They went through the woods, and out on the other end was another field. 

The grass stretched for miles, making the two feel small. No school, no track, no people, not even a rock or tree could be seen; just emptiness filled with a blue sky, and a green ground. To Becca, the woods were like a portal. On one side is a life full of expectation, and on the other was a life built alone.

Demitri took a look at the peaceful, void-like scenery. He didn't understand it at first, then he saw the look in Becca's eye as she took it in for the millionth time. He recognized immediately, this is where she feels safe; this is her library.

"Sorry if this is a boring reward." Becca said to fill the silence.

"It's not boring." Demitri half lied. There was another long stretch of silence before Becca sat on ground and patted the ground next to her. Demitri took the spot she patted and sat as well.

"I know it's stupid, but this feels like a totally different world to me." Becca said and then scoffed, smiling at her own childish behaviour.

"What kind of world?" Demitri asked. Becca thought about the best way to explain the river of emotions she attached to the field.

"I guess... this is how my life would look if a didn't try anything new. It's a good reminder to be grateful for everything on the other side of the trees." Becca said. Demitri nodded silently and waited for more. Becca rubbed her eyes.

"That's stupid, I'm sorry. We can go back home now." Becca said, making Demitri's heart sink slightly. If this were the library, Demitri would stay forever; he knew he couldn't let Becca's field be ruined by his presence.

"No, it's beautiful." Demitri defended. Becca raised her eyebrows. She took Kendra to this same spot and Kedra practically begged to leave, so why is Demitri staying?

"You're just saying that." She said and looked down at the ground seeing only grass that started to blur.

"Hey, are you okay?" Demitri asked and Becca immediately wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a tight hug to hide her tears. Demitri knew what she was doing and gently stroked her back. 

"I don't know what's wrong." She said into his shoulder.

"Do we need to leave or stay?" Demitri asked. Becca felt a pain in her stomach as if someone has bitten her from the inside.

"I think we should go." Becca said. Demitri helped her up and they started walking side by side.

"It really was beautiful." Demitri said, hoping that Becca doesn't stop going to her field just because of him. Becca's lips raised to a smile, outshining the tear stains in her foundation.

"It was, wasn't it." She said under her breath, almost inaudibly. Demitri took her hand and dragged her forward more so she was leading them.

"Don't stop building your world." Demitri said, making Becca cry again. Demitri rolled his eyes and dropped Becca's hand, letting her rub her eyes and charge ahead.

"Uh Becky?" Demitri called.

"Yeah?" Becca answered.

"Did you sit in something?" Demitri asked. Becca turned and looked at the back of her jeans. A red mark was forming at her crotch. Embarrassed, she tied her sweater around her waist.

She knew this day would happen; it was bound to. She didn't think it would happen in front of Demitri, she thought it would be with her mom. Stupid womb producing stupid blood! This was the first time it had happened.

"What is it?" Demitri asked. Becca rubbed her arms, uncomfortable from more than just the cold.

"I uh.. we should race home." Becca said and started jogging to get her bag. 

"Hey, wait for me!" Demitri yelled and ran after her.

Becca ran into her house and locked the door. A few seconds later Demitri knocked and Becca slowly cracked the door open so he could only see her face. 

"Oh sorry Demitri, I forgot you were behind me." Becca lied. All she wanted to do was go upstairs, take a long shower, and cry.

"Ok, can I come in?" Demitri asked.

"NO! I'm uh.. tired.. from the run. I'm sure you are as well." Becca said. Demitri raised his eyebrow. He never saw Becca acting this way. He was scared that it was his fault.

"Okay then... I'm right next door if you change your mind." Demitri encouraged. 

"I know, thanks." Becca said and shut the door fast.

Demitri left, confused as to what could have happened. All he really hoped was that it wasn't his fault. 

Becca slumped down the doorframe and let some tears fall. She was in so much pain and the blood was only getting worse. Her mother heard her cries and went to check on her, only to she her crying on the entry floor.

"Rebecca, sweethart." She said gently. Becca looked up, her eyes still glistening with tears. 

"I got my period." She simply said and started crying harder. her mother sighed and helped her to her feet, leading her to the bathroom to deal with the blood.

After Becca was settled, her mom called Demitri's mother to vent. She needed it after a long day of work and a small family crisis. Demitri's mother picked up and the two ladies talked for hours. They try to talk at least once per day. They had their friendship down to a formula.

They shared everything. Sadly for Becca, Demitri was also pretty close to his mom. Demitri's mother has no filter and told Demitri basically right away. He asked what it meant and his mom explained the blood.

"So she internally bleeds every month. Jeez." Demitri said. He never considered Becca a girl, but now it was too apparent to ignore. He felt terrible that she has to go through that for no reason.

Demitri took a walk down to the grocery store and bought some of Becca's favourite gummy bears. She liked when they were bigger because then she could bite the head off better. Demitri knocked and Becca answered.

"Oh hi." she said, hoping that Demitri didn't come over to hang out. She was in no shape or mood to do so.

"I got you something." Demitri said and handed her the jumbo gummy bears. She smiled and took them.

"Thanks." she said.

"My mom told me what's up. I'm sorry you have to go through.. that." Demitri said. Becca felt so embarassed, but at the same time a weight was lifted off her shoulder. 

"Yeah, it sucks." Becca said and looked down, rubbing her arms.

"I hope you know you're still my hero." Demitri said, cheering her up.

"Thanks. You're mine too." She said, waving the gummy bears. they said goodbye and Becca went back inside to eat the gummies right away. Demitri similed, knowing he did a good thing.