Binding 13

The next day at school, Shannon has her first period but does not realize it until a girl tells her she has blood on her skirt. She rushes into the bathroom and hides in the stall, doing her best to clean herself up but crying from embarrassment and frustration as she does so.

When she leaves the stall, she realizes there is someone else in the bathroom. Though the girl is initially kind, Shannon becomes wary when she realizes that it is Bella. Bella warns her to stay away from Johnny and implies that Shannon has somehow manipulated Johnny into liking her.

Shannon leaves the bathroom quickly and runs into Gibsie, who tries to comfort her. When Johnny arrives, Shannon does her best to get away, but Johnny insists on knowing what is wrong. As he tries to comfort her, Bella loudly calls Shannon a “slut,” which causes Johnny to go over and confront her. He again tells Bella that they are done and threatens to ruin her reputation if she messes with Shannon.

Shannon tells Johnny that her discomfort is not Bella’s fault: She is in pain from her period. Johnny takes her to the locker room to get ibuprofen from his bag.