Content warning: Panic attack

*****

"Knives Out."

"It: Chapter Two."

"Knives Out."

"It: Chapter Two."

"Knives Out!"

"It: Chapter Two!"

Adrian and Zara came to the one argument that every person going to the theatre would come to - which movie to watch. Zara was a hardcore horror movie fan and having once been scared of clowns, she wanted to know what the sequel held for her. She had tried to read the books but she always found her thoughts drifting.

Adrian was definitely into mystery movies and from all the reviews that he had come across, 'Knives Out' was supposed to be a thriller-comedy. He really wanted to know how Hollywood could have pulled it off because he knew that Indian cinema could do it.

"If we don't get the tickets, you can just shoot him!" She pulled his leg, metaphorically that is, as they stood in line.

He looked behind his shoulder and noticed the guards passing by, completely unaware of the conversation they could have overheard. "Maybe I will."

Zara stared blankly at him. She had not meant for him to go along with the joke. They got two tickets to a neutral movie that they both wanted to watch to avoid any further arguments because they both seemed to have lost when the person behind the ticket counter said that both the movies were housefull and that they would have to watch a romantic movie instead. 

Zara and Adrian shared a look but they had wanted to test each other's trivial knowledge and so, they agreed.

The movie they chose was not that bad once they decided to keep an open mind to it, but they did play their games with the previews. They quizzed each other about the actors and actresses, when they were born - which could be answered roughly - who the directors were, what other movies they had directed, who was the music composer and have they won any big awards....it was becoming one of their favourite moments with each other.

But they couldn't come to a definite winner because the movie interrupted them in what was the last round. They called it a tie rather than fighting for who was the winner, although they considered themselves to be the one.

Zara was trying to concentrate on the movie, even though it was her least favourite genre, but she was worried that her phone may buzz any time with the notification that the files have been transferred. She hoped that the panic wasn't visible to her. I should have taken that drama course, she thought to herself.

But Adrian was the one who couldn't concentrate. He was in a closed room with someone and that only made him think about the last time he had travelled on a plane. He looked at Zara smiling at the movie and his heart constricted.

He felt his throat restricting after half of the movie. He knew what was happening to him. He tried to close his eyes and rest his forehead on his knees but his heart was racing faster than he thought it would. Blood pounded in his ears and the twitching of his hand started. He had to get out of there.

"Adrian?" Zara worried as she tried to place a hand on his back but he was swift in getting out of the theatre. She recognised the symptoms quickly and followed him outside.

Adrian's vision blurred as he leaned against a wall in the empty corridor and fell to the ground, landing with a thud on the clear floor. He pulled his knees closer as he tried to get control over his breathing. He shouldn't have been thinking about it. He really shouldn't have.

"Adrian!" He heard Zara's voice in the back of his head as he felt her slide onto the floor beside him. He concentrated on her voice as she continued to talk to him. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. How can I help?"

How could she help? It was because of thinking of her that he got this attack. He blamed himself for letting his past affect his present. He tried to get the words out but his head was pounding. "C-chocolate."

Zara nodded once before running to the counter to buy the chocolate bar that was nearby. She was grateful to the Saints that everyone was inside for the movies and that there was no one to stop her in line. "Quickly please."

She ran back to Adrian while fumbling to open the bar. She did not know whether to hand it to him or make him eat it but Adrian took the bar from her and started to eat it. Zara released her breath only when Adrian's chest stopped moving up and down rapidly.

"Are you okay?" She asked, receiving a subtle nod in answer. She hesitated to place a hand on his shoulder but clutched his shaking hands instead. She rubbed some warmth into them as she sat down cross-legged next to him.

Adrian looked at her in awe. He hadn't had a panic attack in a really long time and only Marvin was the one who would help him out. Most of the time, he would get through it alone. He thought of what Zara had told him when she said that she was going to be his friend even if he didn't want one.

He smiled, finishing the chocolate. "Thank you." He cleared his throat. "Really needed that." He closed his eyes once more and concentrated on her voice.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He considered it. Zara could see that. But he shook his head. "Maybe some other day."

She clamped his shoulder and he rested his head against her hand. "So shall we go to Starbucks?" It was a tradition that she wouldn't leave the mall without going to the only coffee shop that would scoop an ice cream into the coffee.

"I've never been there before." He said, getting his voice back.

Zara's eyes opened wide. "You've never been to Starbucks? Well, I'm not letting you leave without trying their chocolate chip frappuccino."

Adrian chuckled, grateful that Zara was letting the topic go. He would tell her the truth one day but that wasn't today. For now, he had to figure out how to tell her that the reason he had gotten a panic attack was because he was worried that he wouldn't be able to save her if anything was to happen?

That he was starting to have feelings for her?

*****

You're welcome