ÀàAriel froze where she stood, her eyes widening as Alicia's expression shifted from confusion to a kind of startled disbelief.
"Blood? Where?" Ariel asked, her voice a shaky whisper.
Alicia lifted a hand and pointed behind her. "Turn around."
Ariel did—and her heart nearly stopped. The lower back of her soft blue dress was stained with a dark, unmistakable patch of red.
"Wait—don't tell me that is your—" Alicia began.
Ariel gasped so loudly it echoed. "My period!" she nearly shouted—but the moment the sound escaped, she cupped her hand over her mouth, remembering there was a man in the house. Her eyes darted toward the hallway as if Xavier might walk in at any moment.
Alicia folded her arms. "Great," she drawled, dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh my God," Ariel breathed, rushing toward her friend with small, panicked steps. "I didn't even know it was coming… I didn't feel anything."
