"Hey. Got any homework?"

I walked into the kitchen, where Mom was waiting. I shook my head. "No. But I have a geometry test tomorrow, so I'm probably going to study."

"Okay. I'm going to work soon. Do you need anything when I come back?"

I shook my head no. "Wait. Actually, yeah. I could use some tampons."

And that was it.

All I needed was an, "okay, honey" and I was up the stairs and in my safe space- my room.

I loved my room. It had yellow walls and baby blue bed-sheets. I had wood floors, so whenever I had socks on, I would dance around in front of my mirror listening to hard rock and alternative. 

I threw my bag on the ground and crawled into bed, staring at my ceiling. I had sports quotes all over it like, 'never give up' and 'make or break it.' I didn't play a sport right now, unless you counted cheerleading. I didn't. Cheerleading is just some yelling and jumping around. I didn't even want to be on the team. Sarah was the one who convinced me to join. 

I was going to play volleyball, but they cancelled it because the coach got cancer and had to quit. I loved Coach P, so I was kind of distraught. She was more like a mother to me than my actual mom was. Sarah comforted me for a whole week, before telling me I had to join something or I wouldn't get over this and that the cheerleading team was the right fit.

I turned on my side and closed my eyes. I didn't want to think about Sarah anymore. 

I couldn't feel that pain.