the sleepover

modern au with other books (kotlc, shatter me, pjo, tig, the naturals) and also another period cramp fic bc im addicted and wish that someone would do this for me. 

car configuration: 

car 1:

kai (driver)

paedyn (front passenger seat)

michael (back seat)

lia (back seat)

car 2:

dean (driver)

cassie (front passenger seat)

sloane (back seat)

celine (back seat)

Paedyn

The car ride to Sophie and Keefe's house is the kind you never want to end—wind whipping through my hair, music blasting, and the warm sun kissing my face. Kai's hand rests lightly on my thigh. He hums along to Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl by Olivia Rodrigo, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. Michael snorts from the back seat.

"Didn't know you were such a fan of Olivia Rodrigo," he says.

Kai rolls his eyes but says nothing.

"She's singing about social anxiety and not knowing how to flirt," Michael continues, shooting Kai a pointed look.

"Exactly," I say.

Kai smirks and finger-quotes, "Oh, darling, we both know you like my 'terrible flirting.'"

I roll my eyes, but a laugh slips out anyway. Kai glances over at me, flashing that smile—the one that reveals his stupid dimples. Those dimples never fail to make me blush. Michael gags dramatically from the back seat.

"Jealous much?" Kai says smugly. 

"Of what? Your inability to flirt, or the fact that you have the music taste of a thirteen-year-old?" Michael fires back. 

"Enough, you two," Lia elbows Michael. She inspects her nails as if she's bored. My phone buzzes.

lord hunkyhair:  get your butts here. the glitter cannons are loaded.

kenjiii: ON OUR WAY! ugh nazzy is actually going the speed limit shes so boring

lord hunkyhair: hurryyyyyyy

let's try not to break any laws

the better emotion reader: boring.

––

When we finally pull up into their driveway, Kenji and Keefe explode through the door. 

"LET'S PLAY TRUTH OR DARE" they both shout at the same time. We all burst into laughter as we sit down in the living room. I curl up on the couch, with Kai's arm slung around my shoulders. 

The game starts light, but Kenji's mischievous grin makes it clear it won't stay that way for long.

Kenji points at Dean. "You start, broody boy."

Dean sighs but plays along. "Alright, Paedyn. Truth or dare?"

I glance at Kai, who's already smirking like he knows I'm about to choose chaos. "Dare," I say.

Kenji perks up. "Ohoho, I've got one!"

Dean holds up a hand. "Let me."

Dean, of all people, leans back like he's calculating. "I dare you to send a voice message to Kai confessing your undying love, using as many Shakespeare quotes as possible."

Michael bursts out laughing. "This is already gold."

Groaning, I grab my phone. "Fine, but I'm going full Juliet."

I record a dramatic, ridiculously breathy message: "Oh, Kai. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep... also your hair smells like pine trees. Please run away with me to Verona."

The room loses it. Even Lia cracks a smile. Kai is practically wheezing beside me, holding his hand over his chest like he's been personally serenaded.

"That was hot," he murmurs into my ear. My cheeks heat up but I smile.

Next, Michael's up. "Cassie. Dare."

Cassie narrows her eyes. "Hit me."

Michael thinks for a moment, then points to Dean. "Kiss him. Right now. Full on."

Cassie just shrugs and leans over, pressing a kiss to Dean's mouth. It's brief, but definitely not innocent. Dean turns a little pink. The group collectively loses it again.

"YOU TWO HAVE BEEN FLIRTING ALL NIGHT," Keefe howls.

Celine throws popcorn at them. "Get a room."

Sloane just nods. "Statistically, this was inevitable."

The game rolls on—Sophie makes Keefe attempt a handstand and he nearly kicks over a lamp, Kenji has to send a flirty voice memo to Tam, and Lia's dare is to let Michael do her eyeliner blindfolded (which ends in eyeliner everywhere but her eyelid).

A sharp, cramping twist low in my stomach. And worse—something... wet.

Oh no.

My stomach drops.

I shift, uncomfortable, and try to subtly check my jean shorts without drawing attention. And yep. I know the feeling. I know it too well.

I'm bleeding.

I didn't bring anything. Not a single pad. Not even a sad emergency tampon in the bottom of my bag.

Trying to act casual, I lean into Kai. "Hey... I need to run to the bathroom. Be right back, okay?"

He looks at me, instantly picking up on something in my voice. "You good?"

"Yeah," I say too quickly. "Totally fine."

I make it to the bathroom and lock the door, pulling my shorts and panties down to confirm my worst fear: blood, already staining through my underwear.

I fumble for my phone and text Annabeth in a panic:

emergency. just started. no pads. no tampons. dying.

annabeth: omg. say no more. coming to the rescue

I sit on the closed toilet lid, wrapping my arms around my stomach as another cramp hits. This is the worst timing. I already felt kind of bloated before, but now it's so much worse. I stare at my reflection and feel a wave of self-consciousness.

I'm bloated. I look gross. My shorts feel tight in the worst way. And I hate that it's all I can think about.

Annabeth knocks on the door a few minutes later, and I let her in with a whispered "thank you" as she hands me a little zip-up pouch.

"You good?" she whispers, looking concerned.

"Yeah. Just... uncomfortable."

She squeezes my arm. "I've got Midol in my bag too. Come find me if you want it."

Once I've changed and tried to pull myself together, I slip back out. Everyone's in the dining room now, laughing and passing around homemade pasta and garlic bread. I take a seat between Kai and Sloane, but I can't bring myself to eat much.

The smell makes my stomach twist. And... I don't want to eat in front of everyone when I feel so puffy and gross. I nibble at some bread, but that's it.

Kai notices immediately.

"You're not eating," he says softly.

"I'm just not super hungry," I reply, shrugging.

His eyes linger on me for a second. I know he's worried. He always is when I pick at my food. But he doesn't push.

Back in the living room, I shift uncomfortably on the couch, trying to cover my stomach up with my arms. 

"You." Lia points at Jameson. "Your turn! Truth or dare, Jameson." 

"Dare," he flashes a devilish grin. 

"I dare you to let Keefe do your makeup," Lia smirks. After Keefe steps back from Jameson's face, his eyelids are sparkly and bright pink, with glitter smeared all over his lips. 

Kenji points at Kai. "Alright, king of awkward flirting. Truth or dare."

Kai leans back lazily, eyes on me like he already knows I'm watching. "Dare."

Kenji's eyes glint. "I dare you to whisper something dirty into Paedyn's ear. But we all get to watch your face while you do it."

My stomach flips.

Kai doesn't even hesitate. He leans close, brushing my hair aside, lips just barely grazing my ear. "Careful, darling. Keep looking at me like that and I might forget we're not alone." My breath catches. I open my mouth to say something back and all that comes out is a flustered squeak. He just chuckles, like he knows exactly what he's doing. Because, of course, he does.

Michael groans from across the circle. "Can you two not flirt like we're not sitting right here?"

Kai doesn't even blink. "Not my fault she's distracting."

My stomach twists again and this time I feel like throwing up. I excuse myself to the bathroom again, and shakily shuffle to the bathroom before closing the door. I text the girls group chat.

hey guys i need help. please hurry.

A few moments later, Nazeera forcefully enters her way into the bathroom. Annabeth is behind, and she  immediately frowns. "You okay?"

"I—yeah. I just... my cramps are bad and I'm really nauseous and everything hurts and—" I cut myself off, sucking in a breath as another cramp rolls through. It's sharp and low and unbearable. My knees buckle slightly.

Annabeth's eyes widen. "Okay, sit. Sit now." She lowers me to the floor, guiding me to sit with my back against the tub. "You're really pale."

"I think I'm gonna pass out," I mumble, hands clutching my stomach. The world tilts, everything too loud, too bright.

"Shit." Annabeth presses her hand to my forehead. "You're clammy—Pae, I'm calling Kai."

"No, don't—he's with everyone—" But I can't even finish before a wave of nausea makes me retch into the toilet.

"Too late," she says firmly, already yelling, "Kai!"

There's the sound of pounding footsteps, then a frantic knock on the door.

"Paedyn?" Kai's voice is panicked. "What's going on? Let me in."

Annabeth opens the door and he's inside in a second, eyes scanning the scene—me curled on the bathroom floor, pale and trembling.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" he says. I nod, wincing slightly as I say, "Yeah, just my period, it's nothing."

 Kai

"It does NOT look like nothing, Pae," I say as I brush a strand of silvery hair from her face. I pull her to my chest, and notice that her arms are covering her midsection. I don't say anything, but when our eyes meet, she knows that I noticed. 

She's still shivering. Even as I hold her, even as I whisper all the soft things I can think of, Paedyn trembles slightly in my arms like her body's too worn down to regulate itself.

I hate this.

I hate that I can't take her pain away. 

"I'm going to get cleaned up," she whispers. I nod and slowly help her stand up. I gently shut the door as I exit the bathroom, and I sit next to the door. 

Paedyn steps into the room, and she's walking like her entire body aches—but she's smiling for everyone else. The kind of smile I've seen a thousand times on her. The kind that hides how she's really feeling.

She slips onto the couch beside me again, tucking her legs up and curling her arms around herself like she's trying to shrink.

"You're cold," I murmur, instantly tugging off my hoodie. "Here. Take this."

"I'm fine, Kai—"

"You're freezing." I don't give her a chance to argue—I just slip the oversized hoodie over her head myself, letting it drape over her like armor. "Let me take care of you. Just for tonight."

She's quiet for a second, eyes softening. "Okay." Her arms relax by her sides as soon as my hoodie swallows her whole. So it really is bloating that's bothering her. I think to myself. 

Every so often, Paedyn shifts uncomfortably, and her nose scrunches in pain. She tries to play it off—laughs at something Keefe says, tosses a joke back at Kenji—but I see through it. I see the way her spine subtly arches to relieve pressure. The way her grip tightens on the couch pillow. The way her hands keep hovering near her lower stomach, like she's trying not to draw attention. My arm slowly snakes to her lower belly, my fingers slowly lifting her shirt and my hoodie. I start massaging small circles to the tender parts on her stomach. She flinches slightly, but keeps a smile plastered on her face. 

"Paedyn, you're so beautiful, and nothing in the world can convince me otherwise," I murmur into her ear. She tenses at first—instinctively, like she's ashamed of how her body feels. But I don't let her pull away. Eventually, she leans into my touch. 

Paedyn 

"Okay okay, Paedyn's turn," Sophie says, laughing, after watching Michael do an interpretive dance. "Truth or dare?"

I hesitate. I'm still feeling fine, just a little bloated—but I want to ride the fun a bit longer.

"Truth."

Sophie leans forward, grinning like she's been waiting for this. "What's your go-to move when you want to seduce Kai?"

The room goes wild.

Even I burst out laughing. "Excuse me?!"

Kai's arm tightens around my waist, a smug look on his face. "I'd like to hear this too."

I try to keep a straight face. "Okay, okay. If I really want his attention? I just wear his hoodie or shirt and nothing else."

Michael audibly chokes. "So what you're doing now, is that intentional?"

I smirk. "Maybe."

Jameson holds up a hand. "I—wait, that actually works?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Kai says with a smug grin.

"Too much information!" Kenji yells, covering his ears. "I'm too pure for this!"

"You're literally not," Nazeera mutters.

A few minutes later, when Sophie turns down the lights and starts a movie, Kai leans down again. "You still hurting?"

"Yeah," I murmurs. "Mostly my back now."

He moves before I blink, adjusting until I'm practically draped over him. One hand curls around my waist, the other sneaks beneath the blanket to rub slow, firm circles along my lower back. I tense at first, then melt with a quiet, "That feels so good."

He presses another kiss to her hair. "Just say the word and I'll carry you out of here. I don't care if we have to leave early."

I laugh, but it's tired. "You just want to be dramatic."

"Dramatic? Me? Never."

I snort.

A bit later, Annabeth brings her a heating pad she warmed up in the microwave and a little bottle of Midol, placing them on the coffee table with a wink. "Don't make a scene about it," she tells Kai.

"I would never," he says solemnly, already reaching for them.

Once I'm settled again—heating pad under the blanket, pill taken, my cheek resting against his shoulder—I glance up and catch him watching me.

"What?" I ask softly.

"You're... so pretty. My pretty pretty Pae," his breath stirs my hair. 

"I love you." I bury my face into his hoodie, inhaling his pine scent. 

He tilts my chin up just enough to meet his eyes. "I love you more. Even when you steal my sweatshirts and bleed on the couch."

I shove him weakly. "Kai!"

"What? It's true."

"Hey Paedyn?" Kenji calls out.

"Yeah?"

"What's it like being everyone's comfort character and having a hot boyfriend? Like the boyfriend you stole from me."

I snort. "Stressful. Also I thought you were with Cardan."

"I have mistresses, obviously," Kenji says. Michael laughs. 

Cassie

We've somehow made it into our designated sleeping spots. Of course, most of the couples are cuddling and whispering to each other. The lights are off, except for a string of fairy lights Sophie hung above the window. It's peaceful. Calm. Everyone's finally quiet.

Then, Keefe ruins it.

"So," he says, very loudly, "now that we're all settled... how about a little game of Seven Minutes in Heaven?"

Groans erupt instantly.

"Keefe, it's midnight," Annabeth mutters.

"That's the perfect time for Seven Minutes in Heaven," he replies proudly.

Juliette sighs. "Absolutely not."

Kenji grins. "Absolutely yes."

Sophie throws a pillow. "I swear to god—"

I'm not sure who says our names first — probably Lia — but as soon as I hear "Cassie and Dean" paired together, there's a round of groaning and laughter like we're all twelve again.

Dean just raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching like he's trying not to smile. He leans back on his hands and tilts his head toward the closet. "Well?"

I narrow my eyes. "You planned this."

"Never," he says."But I'm not complaining."

I roll my eyes and push myself up, trying not to think about the fact that everyone is watching. They've all seen us kiss before. Hold hands. Curl into each other during movies.

Dean follows me into the closet, and someone, probably Michael, whistles as the door shuts.

It's mostly dark, warm, and way too quiet. I'm hyper-aware of the closeness, the way our shoulders brush in the cramped space, the way his fingers find mine almost immediately.

"You okay?" he murmurs, because he always asks. Every time.

I squeeze his hand. "Yeah. You?"

He nods, then pulls me gently closer so my back is against his chest and his chin rests lightly on my shoulder. 

"I know this is supposed to be some big dare," I say after a second. "But this is kind of nice."

Dean hums. "Seven minutes of cuddling?"

"With witnesses," I tease.

He brushes his lips against the side of my neck. "Let them watch."

I laugh, soft and startled, and he grins against my skin. 

When the door finally opens, Keefe makes a dramatic sound of disappointment. "That's all you two did?"

Dean just slides his fingers between mine and lifts our joined hands in the air like a trophy. "We win."

I roll my eyes. But I don't let go.

Kai

"Next pair," Michael announces, digging into the hat.

"Annabeth... and Percy."

Percy cheers, "YES. THIS GAME RULES."

Annabeth just sighs and lets him drag her into the hallway closet. The door shuts behind them, and the timer starts.

There's a full minute of awkward silence before someone coughs.

"Think they're actually talking?" Lia asks.

"Nope," says Cassie.

"Absolutely not," says Nazeera.

They return seven minutes later with flushed cheeks and suspiciously messy hair. Percy's smug. Annabeth's pretending she doesn't know him.

Paedyn

Back in the living room, I'm curled even deeper into Kai's hoodie, now fully nestled against his chest.

"You okay now?" he whispers into my hair.

I nod. "Still crampy. But better."

"You're a goddess."

I snort. "A bloated, bleeding goddess."

He cups my face, thumb stroking over my cheek. 

And as the chaos of the night continues—Keefe doing dramatic reenactments of closet scenes, Sloane trying to prove the statistical likelihood of a makeout session, and Michael stealing garlic bread while no one's looking. 

"Sleeping arrangements!" Keefe announces dramatically, holding up a roll of duct tape. "I'm putting down official blanket borders."

"Put that away before I duct tape you to the ceiling," Sophie says, stealing it.

"I'd like to see you try," Keefe mutters.

Kenji's dragging over sleeping bags and throws while Nazeera sits cross-legged in the corner, braiding glitter into Lia's hair like a silent threat.

Kai helps me settle down in a quiet corner of the room, close enough to still be in the group, but tucked slightly away from the main chaos. He lays out a comforter on the carpet and adds his hoodie-blanket hybrid to the pile.

"Lie down," he says softly, already fluffing a pillow. "And no arguing this time."

I hesitate, self-conscious again. "What if I bleed through—"

"Then I'll burn the evidence," he says without missing a beat. "You're more important than a blanket, Pae."

My eyes sting. Damn this pretty boy with pretty words. 

So I let him help me lie down, curling on my side, knees drawn slightly up to help with the pain. He spoons behind me, one arm sliding gently around my waist, hand splaying over my stomach.

"Tell me when it's bad, okay?" he whispers into my hair.

One of his hands rubs slow circles on my stomach while the other laces with mine.

Around us, the room grows quieter. The occasional burst of laughter still filters in from Kenji and Keefe's corner—something about glitter mustaches and Keefe insisting he's "too pretty to sleep."

Michael mutters something sarcastic, and Lia kicks him in the shin under the blanket.

Sloane is explaining murder statistics to a very sleepy Celine, who just keeps blinking slowly and nodding as if absorbing everything.

I let my eyes flutter shut, Kai's warmth seeping into every aching part of me. I'm still bloated. Still cramping. Still uncomfortable.

But I don't feel alone anymore.

word count - 3139 

holyyyy bro that took so long to write but i hope you liked it! i love all these book series so hope you enjoyed!

also i need writing prompts so likeeee

anyways yeah mwah love you all!