WARNING:
UPSETTING & GRAPHIC CONTENT.
Includes details about panic attacks.

The faint hum of noise brought the classroom to life.
All eyes were on Eloise as she told the rest of the class what the group had discovered.

"Poor guy", said a boy called Sammy.

"I'm glad we went", said Eloise.
"Now his obsession with the award makes sense."

"I can't imagine not caring about my brothers or sister", said Atlas.

"Same here", said Elliott.
"Family is everything."

Spencer, who would usually engage in the class conversation before class, was unusually silent.
He just kept staring at his phone.

Eloise opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Irene rushing into the room.

"Mr. Patel's here!", she whisper-yelled.

Not even five seconds later, Aahan walked into the room, stopping abruptly when he saw Irene.

"You're late."

"She was here before you", said Zee.

"Yes, and I'm a few minutes late", he replied, his snarky tone taking Zee by surprise.

"Is everything ok?", asked Rowan.

"No, everything is not ok, Rowan", he snapped.
"The local council hired painters to finish the paint job in the community centre.
I missed my chance to get the credit for it."

"You started the job", said Irene.
"That's got to count for something."

Aahan exhaled sharply and shook his head.
"It doesn't count for anything."

If Aahan acted like this a few days ago, the students wouldn't have been bothered, but since finding out about what it's like for Aahan outside of school walls, they couldn't help but feel sorry for the man.

"Come on, Sir", said Eloise.
"Cheer up."

"Look, just... get out your books, alright?"

The students did as they were told, but Eloise glanced at Aahan every few seconds.
His expression was emotionless, but his eyes were full of sadness.

A lightbulb went off in Eloise's head, and she slammed her hands against the table, before standing up.

"I've got it!"

Rowan and some of the others jumped, and everyone looked at Eloise.

"Our annual football tournament is coming up!", she revealed.
"A bunch of us advertise it, but you could lead us."

A curious Aahan furrowed his brow.

"What would I have to do?"

"Make posters, interview the team, sell tickets for the tournament—that kind of thing."

"That sounds like a lot."

"Well, it is, but it would really help your image!
Football touraments are beloved to the students here, and the staff."

"She's right", said Elliott.
"Everyone gets excited."

"School spirit is at an all-time high", said Rowan.

"It's the perfect project, Sir", said Eloise.

The students looked at Aahan, expectantly.
Aahan locked eyes with Eloise, and saw the hopeful expression on her face.
He didn't know why she was campaigning so hard for this, but he would be lying if he said her enthusiasm wasn't contagious.

Aahan smiled.
"Put those books away, guys... we've got planning to do."

◆◆◆

Eloise smiled as she entered the reception area.
She waved at a grinning Nalini.

"Hello, Miss Kumar!", she said.

"Hiya, Eloise!
What can I do for you?"

"I've got a dentist appointment now", she said, before handing her the permission slip.

Nalini quickly scanned it, nodding when she saw Michael's signature.
"Yep, that's all good, sweetheart", she said, gesturing to the door.

"Thanks, Miss", she said.

She headed towards the door and pressed the button on the wall, which allowed her to open the door.
Before she closed the door again, she turned to look at Nalini.

"Have a good day!"

"You too, Eloise.
Good luck at your appointment!"

Eloise walked along the path, taking a brief moment to look at the trees around her.
The gentle rustling of the leaves brought her a sense of comfort she couldn't explain.
Appointments during school time were always the best to her, because they didn't last long, and it meant she could return to her classmates.

She didn't like going to appointments after school, because she always returned to an empty house.

Even when her foster parents were there, they weren't really there...you know?

But, that's a story for another time.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a leg sticking out from behind a teacher's red car.
Curious, she stepped closer to the car. Her eyes widened when she recognised the person.

"Oh my–Spencer!", she exclaimed, before hurrying over to him.

His left leg was straight, and his right leg was up, with his chin resting on the kneecap.
His pupils darted back and forth quickly, no matter how hard he tried to focus on one specific object.
His hands were tingling, so he gripped his knee in an attempt to feel anything but the tingling.
He struggled to control his breathing, so his breaths came out as elongated, with long pauses in between.

"Spencer?
Hey, it's El", said Eloise.
"You're alright, I've got you."

She placed a hand on his back and used her free hand to reach for his head.
She gently ran her fingers through his hair, and rubbed his back with her other hand.
She let her hand trail up his back, and traced swirls on the back of his neck.

"Just take your time, ok?
You're safe, you're ok... just focus on my voice.
Don't focus on the tingling feeling.
Just... just focus on me.
I'm right here."

Spencer nodded and closed his eyes. Eloise continued to run her fingers through his hair.
After a couple of minutes, Spencer leaned his head against Eloise, before clasping his hands together and squeezing them.
They stayed like that for a few more minutes.

Spencer pulled away and ran his hands through his hair to get the strands out of his eyes.

"Are you ok?", she asked.

"Yeah... b-better.
Thanks to you."

Eloise shook her head.
"I didn't do anything.
But... do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"Spencer, it's not nothing."

Spencer exhaled sharply, before gently shaking his head and ending with a shrug.

"It's... it's probably nothing, but my Mum might be pregnant."

Eloise's eyes widened.
"Spencer, that's great new–wait... it's not great news, is it?"

"I-I don't know!
I like my family now.
It took me years to adjust to Zeke, and now there might be a baby on the way? I just... I don't know if I'm ready for that change."

"Well, I don't know what to say to help.
I mean, I've had to adjust to changes all my life."

Spencer's face softened.
"Oh, cr*p.
I'm sorry, El."

"Wait, no–"

"Here I am being dramatic about my problems when you–"

"Oi!
What happened to you was not you being dramatic, ok?
Besides... I think it's a good thing that change doesn't bother me as much.
I mean, we all go through it, don't we?"

"I wish we didn't have to."

"Some change is good, Spencer.
Like... our friendship.
We went from being strangers to classmates, then friends, and we're in the same club too."

Spencer smiled.
"Just think, if you had never seen me have that panic attack a few years ago, we wouldn't be as close as we are now."

TWO YEARS AGO.

Eloise ran through the halls.
Mr. More's history lesson went on for longer than usual, and she needed to get to the shop before it closed, to pick up her little brother's favourite ice cream.

She heard a crash coming from the unisex toilet block.
Instinctively, she headed towards it, after no one responded to her calling out to them.

She pushed the door open, a gasp escaping her lips when she saw a boy on the floor.
She recognised him as one of her classmates—Spencer O'Connor.

"Oh gosh, wh-what's happening?
Are you ok?
Do you need help?"

She crouched down beside him and touched his arms but he pulled away and shook his head, his eyes widening with fear.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!", she exclaimed, moving her hands away.

Spencer rested his forehead against his knees, and started shaking his hands, like you do when you're trying to get excess water off of them.

"I-I'll go get help!"

"No!", he shouted, the noise loud and piercing.
He started choking on his coughs and splutters.
"P-Please, d-don't leave me..."

Eloise's face softened, and she felt pain in her chest.
She felt so helpless.
But she couldn't even begin to imagine how Spencer felt.

"Uh, h-hey, do remember all of Henry VIII's wives?", she asked.

Spencer furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her like she was crazy.

"Y-Yeah, they go uh... Catherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves–"

"It's Ann B-Boleyn after C-Catherine", he corrected.

"Is it?", she questioned, pretending not to know.

Spencer nodded.
"Y-Yeah... C-Catherine, then Ann Boleyn, the Jane S-Seymour..."

"The best wife, let's be honest", said Eloise.

Spencer chuckled, before coughing as he tried to steady his breathing.

"Uh, hey come on, what about the rest? Wh-who was next?"

"Um... Ann of C-Cleves."

"The one he said looked like a horse?"

Spencer nodded.
"The ch-cheeky b*stard."

Eloise laughed, and Spencer finally looked up at her.
A small smile appeared on his face, and he was able to control his breathing.

"There you go... that's perfect", she whispered.
"You're alright, don't worry."

"I-I think I'm ok.
I just need a couple more minutes."

"Ok, well I'll stay with you."

Spencer shook his head.
"It's fine... I'm fine."

"I know, but I'd rather stay.
Just for a couple minutes."

______________

Hi.

The group are fully onboard with the missions now! Now that they know why Aahan feels so much pressure, they're prepared to stick by him. But does that mean they'll tolerate forever?

VERY IMPORTANT: Everyone who suffers from panic attacks is different. Some don't like to be touched, whilst others find that it helps soothe them. Physical touch helps Spencer, but it's something he has grown to find comforting. I wanted to show that through the flashback, as he didn't want to be touched then. It's important to remember that everyone is different, and to respect that.

Here is some information about panic attacks from a health website:

During a panic attack you get a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms. It can come on very quickly and for no apparent reason.

A panic attack can be very frightening and distressing.

Symptoms include:

— a racing heartbeat

— feeling faint

—

sweating

— nausea

— chest pain

— shortness of breath

— trembling

— hot flushes

— chills

— shaky limbs

— a choking sensation

— dizziness

— numbness or pins and needles

— dry mouth

— a need to go to the toilet

— ringing in your ears

— a feeling of dread or a fear of dying

— a churning stomach

— a tingling in your fingers

— feeling like you're not connected to your body

Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes. Some have been reported to last up to an hour.

Also, when you feel an intense sense of anxiety, or fear, talking to someone to distract you can be very helpful.

When you are actually struggling to breath, focusing on just your breathing is really important. Distracting someone is good, but when they are struggling to breath, this can make them more worried, so help them to focus on their breathing.

Remember: panic attacks are common and you CAN manage them. Please don't think that you can't live your live to the fullest, because of them.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

starryeyedturtle

DoodleYeet

LeMystical-Puffle

1-800-SHAWNHUNTER-

Tornado-Jockey