Emily was shaking, and it wasn't because of the late spring wind.

She turned to look at Levi, her eyes wide with doubt and a frown pulling down her lips. The confidence and optimistic attitude she had sported just a few days ago was long gone, fear and uncertainty replacing it quickly once they had reached the administrative office of the college.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked, her voice quiet. Levi looked back at her with a lopsided grin.

"Trust me, I never have bad ideas," he said, making Emily roll her eyes in good nature, a small smile replacing her frown.

"Cocky, aren't you?" she said. He looked back at her with feigned shock.

"Me, cocky? Now that's an outlandish idea," he shot back with a playful wink directed at her. She couldn't help but snort, suddenly very glad that Levi was by her side to distract her from her nerves.

They continued to stand there, not uttering a single word. Emily was taking in deep breaths, trying in vain to calm her racing pulse. Levi let her do so, not disrupting the quiet, willing to wait for as long as Emily needed him to.

After a few moments passed, Emily sighed loudly, turning to Levi.

"Ready?" he asked. She nodded in confirmation, even as her mind screamed at her to run in the opposite direction.

After their discussion at Aroma Mocha, Levi had scheduled an appointment with one of the counselors at the university. He had assured her the counselor was a very understanding and kind woman who had helped him in the past, but Emily was now starting to doubt whether or not this woman could really help her.

But it was too late to back out now. They were inside the office, Levi telling the man at the front desk that they had an appointment with Mrs. Bromely. And then she found herself shaking hands with a smiling middle-aged woman who was introducing herself.

Mrs. Bromely stood in the doorway of her office, looking at Emily expectantly. However, she could only stand rooted to her spot, her heart pounding louder and louder until it was the only thing she could hear.

This was real. This was really happening.

She was going to get help.

You need this. You deserve recovery, Emily thought fiercely, repeating the words adamantly to convince herself.

Levi gently knocked his arm against hers. She looked up at him.

"Do you need me to go in there with you, or are you fine on your own?" he asked quietly so that only she would be able to hear.

Emily glanced at Mrs. Bromely, who gave her an encouraging smile. She looked back at Levi.

"I'll be fine on my own, I think," she answered after a moment of consideration.

"Okay. I'll be waiting for you over there," he told her, gesturing to one of the burgundy colored chairs nestled in the corner of the room. Emily nodded, and he turned away from her with a small smile before walking towards the chair.

She turned back to Mrs. Bromely once Levi sat down. Taking in a deep breath, she entered the office, sitting down in one of the chairs situated in the small room.

I can do this. I can do this. Everything will be fine, Emily thought. Levi believed in her and if he could, so could she.

Emily started shaking her legs up and down in apprehension as she watched the woman shut the office door and make her way to her desk, sitting down and facing Emily. Mrs. Bromely gave her a reassuring smile.

"Alright, Emily. How can I help you today?" Mrs. Bromely asked, folding her hands on the desk in front of her.

Emily's lips twitched upwards upon hearing the words and remembering how she had met Levi. When she had first called him, she had been hesitant to get help.

But unlike then, she was going to ask for help properly this time.

-the end-