Trigger warning: panic attack.

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Jack
Alex arrived a few minutes later, really carrying a huge tub of ice-cream and two bars of chocolate. I perked up a little at this sight.

“Hey Lex,” I said. I held out my arms and he went in for a very careful hug, mumbling his greeting into my hair.

“So as you may have seen, I have this enormous amount of ice-cream with me and also chocolate. We can watch a film, bitch about Randy or whatever you like, really,” Alex said with a shy smile.

“Aw thank you so much, so thoughtful of you! I’ll just get us some bowls and spoons for the ice-cream, hang on,” I replied. Alex was so adorable.

“No, you need rest! I’ll do it for you,” Alex said.

“Lex, I’m not disabled, just a little hurt,” I said with a small laugh. He had already cheered me up. I got up and made my way over to the kitchen, feeling Alex’s concerned look in my back. I turned around to give him a smile; that was my mistake.

Before I knew it, I had fallen over my own feet, the clumsy idiot I was, and now I was on the floor. My ribs started to hurt again and hot panic rose in me at the feeling of the impact on my chest, the memories of the crash flooding my brain. The impact on my chest felt so similar, even if it was much weaker. Everything else got blocked out; all I had was the crash repeating over and over in my head, panic rising with each time it repeated until the burning feeling inside me got so bad that I couldn’t breathe or anything else. Just the images of the bus coming closer and hitting me.

“Jack. Come back to me. Come. Shh. You’re safe.” Finally, something reached me. It was Alex but his voice was weird, twisted. He was gently holding my head in his lap, caressing my face. I started to cry when I realized I was safe, that the bus accident was over. I was safe.

“Alex, I… I’m so sorry… I…” I stuttered, hot tears flowing down my face.

“Nothing to be sorry for, Jay. You are safe now. It’s over,” Alex whispered softly.

“Thank you so much, Lex…” I managed to say. He smiled.

“Don’t worry about it. Should we get to a fluffier place? Your floor is quite hard,” he replied.

“I… Of course.”

He helped me to get up and walk to the couch. He had me lie down and covered me in the blanket. He himself got the chocolate to keep it close and then joined me.

“Is it okay if I cuddle you?” he asked softly. I didn’t know what to say. I mean, I had just broken up with Randy but I was in desperate need of cuddles… Oh well, fuck it, I thought.

“Please do,” I replied. He came closer and wrapped his arms around me, his face being quite close to mine now.

“If you want to talk, I’m here for you,” he whispered.

“Thank you so much,” I said. I was feeling sleepy, all this panic had exhausted me. “M’tired,” I managed to mumble before I fell asleep. The last thing I heard was Alex chuckling and whispering, “good night.”

Notes

Aww look at them c:

-Laura