Jack
Lisa and Donnie were whispering and laughing in the backseat, and I hoped they weren't planning something that'd get Donnie in trouble. As I navigated the free route to Donnie's cottage, my mind wandered back to the happenings at the club.
What if I'd overreacted? This was my first time wondering about this. I never doubted my guts, but immediately I'd seen Donnie make eye contact with that slick stranger, my stomach had churned.
Was that jealousy? My brows knitted, and I desperately rebuked that thought. Why would I be jealous?
Because you think Donnie would like him, an obnoxious little voice in my mind accused me.
Why would I care if Donnie likes him? I scoffed internally.
Because you like her! The voice accused.
I don't! I shut the voice up and focused on the road, recounting the reasons I didn't like Donnie. She was spoiled, high-maintenance, vengeful, and a haughty snob who acted like my touch repulsed her. In fact, I couldn't wait to be rid of her.
“Jack!” Lisa called me, an urgent tone in her voice.
“What?” I asked, my voice sharp with warning.
“We need to make a stop at a convenience store!” Lisa panted.
“Not just any convenience store, Ducy's.” Donnie spoke for the first time in a while, and I was alarmed to notice a note of pain in her voice.
“Why?” I queried suspiciously, “Is this some sort of trick?”
“Oh my God!” Donnie exclaimed, “Do you think everything revolves around you, Jack? We really need to go now!”
“Give me a reason,” I told Donnie squarely, as I still maintained the route to her house.
“Because I'm on my period.” Donnie snapped at me, “My clothes and the backseat of this car are going to be a mess if I don't get any tampons.”
I frowned distrustfully and tried to meet Donnie's eyes in the rearview mirror, but she wouldn't look at me. I'd read somewhere that women's bleeding on the first day wasn't usually much, but I wasn't going to mansplain to Donnie using an article I'd read on my phone for citation.
This felt like a ploy, because I believed a woman like Donnie would have had a goddamn tampon in her purse if she knew she'd get her period anytime soon. But maybe, she'd forgotten. Fine, I'd humor her a little.
“Why can't we get tampons elsewhere?” I checked the map on my phone, “There are some convenience stores along this street.”
Donnie groaned angrily deep in her throat, and the sound went straight to my brain, or more honestly, to my dick. She sounded like a little cub picking a fight.
If only Donnie knew how I reacted to her little groan, she'd quickly stop making the sound.
“It has to be from Ducy's. The brand I use isn't really . . . common. Ducy's is the closest store that stocks it.” Donnie explained slowly, as though she were talking to a child.
I sighed with resignation. I had no other choice but to get Donnie her tampons. I was sure nobody was tailing us, so there was no harm in getting her her hygiene products.
“Fine,” I ground out and swerved the car to another road, “Let's go get your tampons. But if this is some prank, I'll make you regret it.”

*

Ducy's was like every other convenience store, it was really small with white-washed walls, and broken lights.
“You sure this is the place?” I peered out in the darkness, trying to see if there were any unscrupulous figures wandering about.
“Yes,” Lisa nodded, while Donnie held on to her abdomen and whimpered with pain.
Donnie's whimper went straight to my heart, and I panicked. I hated seeing her in pain. It was my job to protect her after all.
“You're having cramps?” I asked Donnie.
“Yes, how observant of you to notice.” She croaked out sarcastically.
I made a mental note to grab her some ibuprofen as well, “What brand of tampons would you want me to get?”
Lisa answered, “Don't worry. I was planning to go get the tampons.”
I gave Lisa a serious look, “Over my dead body, Ms Sinclair. You're going to stay here, in the car with Donatella and I'll go get the tampons. I'm not taking any chances with your safety.”
Lisa swallowed and began to describe the brand of tampons I was going to get. I made a mental note of the name and color of the box, and advised them, “Don't leave this car, and don't talk to anyone. Once you see a threatening figure, lock all the doors and call me. The car is bulletproof, so you'll be safe.”
“Oh Jeez!” Donnie complained, “We know all this already. Could you go get me the tampons?”
I shook my head and exited the car. Looking around again to make sure the street was empty, I strode into the store.
The cashier, an old man who looked asleep behind the counter, opened his eyes when he heard me enter. I waved at him to show him I meant no harm, and immediately began to search the shelves for the tampons.
After about ten minutes, I'd learnt something new. There were about a thousand brands of tampons. Why did they have to be so many, though? How were people supposed to choose?
And I hadn't found Donnie's preferred product yet.
“Does this even exist?” I asked myself, hoping I hadn't been played a fool. It wouldn't be the first time Donnie tried to pull one over me.
After getting the ibuprofen, I jogged to the elderly cashier and told him my problem. The man simply smiled and brought the box of tampons out from behind the counter.
“This what you want?” He asked sleepily, his eyes closing.
“Yes,” I made the payment for my purchases, “Why did you hide these tampons?”
The old man snorted, “I don't have to explain myself to someone young enough to be my grandchild.”
I shrugged, his shop, his rules. Moreover, I'd wasted so much time searching for the tampons, that I didn't have time to argue with him. I quickly wished him a good night and turned around, only to slam into two uniformed cops.
“What the—” I almost cursed, holding onto my purchases, “Any problems, officers?”
As I asked the question, a thousand scenarios shot into my head. What if something had happened to Donnie and Lisa?
“That's what we're here to find out.” One of the two said. He was incredibly young, if I would guess, too young to be a cop. But what did I know? The other one looked age-appropriate, but his uniform was a bit too large for him.
“We sometimes patrol these streets to make sure there are no robberies.” The older one smiled at me.
“That's good, Officers.” I nodded, “If you don't mind, I'll get going.”
“Not so fast,” The younger cop held out a hand, “May we see your ID?”
“Why?” My eyes narrowed, “Do I look like the sort to cause trouble? In case you haven't noticed, I'm unarmed and in a haste.”
“Your ID, please.” The cop reiterated, “The faster you show us, the faster you leave this place.”