This week, however, Octavia did not want to see nor talk to Jay. She could care less about respect. When mother nature came around in search for Octavia, she came to collect.
Years of life on the streets were hard for her but being homeless when having her period was the worst. Most of the time, she could only lay in her tent and hope her friends were able to get enough money for her to survive off of too. There were times when she had to panhandle during her period. Asking for money was already embarrassing, but to make matters worse, on more than one occasion, she bled through her clothing where people could see. Since she had to choose between food and hygiene products, most of the time, all she could do was stuff rolled up toilet paper in her underwear. Of course, it wasn’t bad enough that she bled heavy, but she never had enough money for pain pills. Eventually, she’d get used to the sharp, gut-clenching cramps that went on throughout the day and night.
Life had not been kind to Octavia, but it was always worse during that time of the month.
Today was the start of her period. It woke her up in the middle of the night. A sharp jolt in her stomach that sprung her out of bed and straight to the bathroom. She stayed on the toilet for thirty minutes, tears in her eyes as she held onto her belly, groaning for the pain to subside. When it didn’t go away, she decided to pull herself up and head back to bed. Sleep would mute the pain for a moment.
A couple hours later, Octavia woke up to start her day. Apparently, stomach cramps were not enough because a headache felt like it was squeezing her brain, trying to turn it to mush.
Seeing that it was a little past noon, Octavia hurried out of bed to get dressed and start her day at work. In the main part of the house, Octavia was greeted to a kitchen full of dishes, whip cream, and chocolate bottles laid out on the floor. Sauce was squirted here and there as if someone had a food fight the previous night.
Octavia knew it was not a food fight, though. The panties scattered about, clothing and dental dams clued her in on what happened last night.
Most days, her boss’s messes did not annoy her. Today, however, the last thing she wanted to do was clean up the aftermath of a nymphomaniac's binger.
This is my job. Octavia told herself. I have no choice but to do my job.
Instead of harping on her pain, the annoyance she felt, or the mess in front of her, Octavia decided to dive headfirst into the task at hand.
After an hour, the kitchen was spotless, but Octavia felt worse than before.
“Octavia, I’m going to need you to clean Ms. Firefly’s room once you are done in here,” said Bee as Octavia was finishing up. The maid was bent over the sink, trying to calm her breathing as the cramps grew harsher with every passing moment. Bee didn’t bother to look up as she delivered the request. “She’s in her studio, so best to do it now,” Bee said then left.
The last thing Octavia wanted to do was go upstairs and clean the rockstar’s room. She already knew what the room would look like, but nothing prepared her for what she saw.
It looked normal. Not too dirty. Even the bed appeared to have been shifted a little, so it seemed almost made. Octavia knew she could get the room tidied down in under twenty minutes, so she hurried to start a load of laundry. Picking up the clothes scattered on the ground, and in a pile by the bathroom door. Jay’s closet was still put together, so she didn’t have much to worry about there, other than a quick dust.
Octavia wiped down the glass showcase boxes in the closet, dusted off the dressers, and wooden flacks that held folded clothes, then moved to the bathroom.
Stomach cramps started to grow worse, causing her to hunch over and hold her belly, hoping a little warmth would ease the pain. It didn’t. In the bathroom, she gripped to the toilet she was holding and sunk to her knees. The pain was so great she felt like throwing up.
“Give me a fucking minute.” Came Jay’s voice from the other room. A moment later, the toilet room’s door flew open as Octavia tried to pull herself up. “Bloody hell let me call you back,” Jay said. “Octavia, what’s the matter wit cha?” Jay’s voice came out panicked. More than she’d expect from the woman who lived her life on the fast lane.
“I--I--” Octavia tried to say, but even speaking hurt.
“Shit, you’re bleeding!” Jay exclaimed and picked the petite maid up, helping her to her feet. Octavia could barely stand. Wobbly legs nearly crumbled beneath her.
“Sorry… Period.” Was all Octavia could get out before trying to pass Jay in the small space.
Jay helped her out of the toilet room and into the bathroom. She sat her maid down on the stool in the open shower and looked her over.
“Shit, I’ve never seen a bleed this bad. Did you take anything? Have a tampon?”
Octavia leaned her head back on the cement of the shower and closed her eyes. “I never had money for things like tampons and pain pills. I tend to forget that I can take them. But most times it doesn’t matter. They don’t always help.”
Jay stood up and hurried to her cupboards. She pulled out a box of pads, then opened her medicine cabinet and found a bottle of Midol.
“Here, let me help you to your suite.”
Octavia shook her head, saying, “No. I need to finish cleaning.”
“Look...” Octavia looked up to see worry laced Jay’s gaze. Something she’d never thought the woman was capable of. “Don’t worry yourself about my room. I’m more concerned about you. Get to it when you’re feeling better.”
The pain in Octavia’s gut was too much to ignore. She nodded, yes, which was all Jay needed to see. Before she could try to stand, Jay, scooped her up in surprisingly strong arms and carried her out of the room.
∞
Nothing prepared Jay for the sight of Octavia hunched over her toilet, in apparent pain. Jay had seen a lot in her life. Overdosed bandmates, girlfriends. She even was in a fatal accident as a little girl and saw horrific things in the crash, but nothing scared her the way she felt when she found Octavia.
Now, Jay’s fears shifted. She placed Octavia down on her bed and hurried to get her a glass of water to take her pills with. Jay glanced around the maid’s quarters; she hadn’t been in the space for years. Ever since she first purchased the place.
Weeks had gone by, and luggage was still packed like Octavia had just gotten there. Jay wondered why she hadn’t unpacked as she obtained the glass of water and moved into the room.
Maybe she doesn’t plan to stay.
This thought caused even more fear than it should have for the rockstar. A chill ran up Jay’s spine and caused her neck to tense.
Octavia was in the bathroom when Jay entered the room. She took a seat at the foot of the bed, trying to ignore the foreign feelings coming to light, but something was off.
From the moment Jay met her, something had been off. Jay tried to belittle Octavia in the beginning. She tried to establish her dominance, but as time went by, this became harder to do. Jay couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about her maid had her on edge.
Jay didn’t care if Octavia talked to her. In fact, she enjoyed the sound of her voice. She found herself thinking about those little moments in passing when Octavia would say, “Good morning, Ms. Firefly.” Or “Can I get you something to eat, Ms. Firefly?” Or her favorite. “Good night.” Never with a “Ms. Firefly” on the end, which made Jay feel warm from its personal touch.