(A/N this mentions periods and stuff, I personally believe people should be able to talk freely about them, but in case anyone is made uncomfortable by it, here's the warning.)

Ryder's POV

The next couple of weeks passed similarly. Everyday I would run with Sam in the morning and evening, and between meals I would train in combat, and in the batting cage. I was starting to become really good, and beginning to be able to aim where I was hitting. I was really starting to settle in. Samara still hated me, but Reeve no longer glared at me, and I was getting to know everyone.

It was my birthday in a few days, and the guys were going to throw a party for everyone. Me and Sam lay in our room, listening to music from our separate beds. My stomach had been aching all day, but I wasn't sure why. Maybe I would take a trip to the medbay later. 

I went to the bathroom and sat on the toilet. I frowned, noticing a wet patch on my underwear. As they were black, I couldn't tell the colour or anything. I grabbed a tissue and pressed it onto my pants gently, and pulled it away. Like I had suspected, it was red. I began to tear up. Was this my first ever period? What was I supposed to do? Was I meant to tell someone? I didn't even have anything with me. 

I washed my hands and called Sierra.

"Hi love, you okay?" she asked. I sniffed. "What's wrong honey?"

"A-Are you busy?" I asked. 

"Not at all, sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned. 

"Can you come to the bathroom?" I whimpered. 

"I can love, shall I come now?"

I nodded, before realising she couldn't see it. "Y-Yeah, but Sam is outside, and I don't want to worry him," I added.

"That's okay, I'll call Gray and tell him to occupy Samuel, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks," I said.

"It's okay love, don't worry, I'll be there in a second, okay?"

I hummed and she hung up. A couple of minutes later, I heard Sam's phone ring outside, and shortly after, he came towards the bathroom and knocked. 

"Hey Rye? I'm just gonna go and help Gray with something, okay?" he said.

"Yeah, see you later," I said.

"Shall I lock the door?"

"No, it's okay,"

"Cool, see ya," he said, before leaving. 

Shortly after, I heard the bedroom door open, and footsteps approach the bathroom. "Ryder, sweetie? Are you in hear?"

"Yeah," the door was already unlocked. 

"Can I come in?" I hummed in response. 

She came in and assessed the situation, before reaching forward and rubbing my shoulders. "Oh honey, it's okay, I'm guessing you haven't had one before?" I shook my head and began to weep. This was so embarrassing. "Aw, Ryder, you're probably very embarrassed I know, but it's okay, you're okay, I've got you," she said. 

She left the bathroom and returned with a fresh set of trousers and underwear. As I sat on the toilet, she removed my my shoes and my joggers and underwear. She put them into the wash and I put the fresh ones on. 

"I'm just going to go and get somethings, okay? You stay here pet," she said, and I did as she said. 

She returned a few minutes later with her arms full with rectangular boxes. They had soft colours and they all said 'always' on them. She opened the cupboard under my sink and placed some of them under there, before returning with the others. 

"You seen these before love?" she asked. I nodded my head. 

Sierra proceeded to tell me about tampons and sanitary towels. I couldn't believe that my own mother hadn't told me about any of this. I mean we briefly did it in school but there didn't explain how to use these products were, they just told us we would have periods. I stopped crying and listened to what she told me. 

"You can come to me any time if you need help you know," she added, once she finished explaining, and helping me.

"I know, thank you,"

"I know that it's probably overwhelming, since you didn't know what to do. But most, if not all women have it, so it's nothing to be worried about," I sat on my bed and she sat beside me, placing her arm around my shoulder. 

"My stomach hurts like, really really bad," I said, whimpering unintentionally.

"Those a period cramps, some people have them pretty lightly, but others have it really bad. Shall we go to the medbay and see what they can get you?" Sierra asked.

"Yeah, please," I said. 

We left and went to the medbay. I knew Sam was probably in the same building, but thankfully he didn't see me or anything. I remembered to take my bat, of course. 

The doctor asked me some questions, before deciding to put me on birth control. Having pain would hinder my training, so it was quite a quick decision. 

We then went to dinner, where Sam and Gray already were. It felt weird to walk to start off with, but I got used to it. 

That night, I lay in bed, awake, and thought. 

Sierra truly felt like the mother I never had.