In and out. Calm, not rapid. Easy.

I felt a hand on my back and forced my eyes from my feet to gaze up at Quince who looked panicked. "Faye, c-calm down. You're okay.."

I swallowed a lump in my throat, but it returned. It was making it hard to breath, blocking my airway. I felt my heart pounding quickly in my chest.

"Doctor," she muttered, frustrated that she hadn't gotten a response from me. "We need a doctor!" she cried, leaving my side and bolting to the door and looking out into the hallways. "A nurse! Anyone!"

Footsteps pounded the halls, sounding as if someone were running. Soon I heard a woman say, "What's wrong? Is the patient-"

"Jordan's fine," Quince said, her tone cracking with worry. "It's her sister, she's .. She's pregnant and there's something wrong with her. I don't know what-"

The I felt someone beside me and a calm but firm voice say, "Can you breath?"

I opened my mouth, wishing for words to give her my reply but I didn't have a voice. I saw Quince move her phone's flashlight up to us to give me light. I nodded slightly then shakily gulped. My breathing was hard, but I wasn't completely unable to breath.

The nurse started checking my throat and eyes, then my ears. She listened to my heart and quickly sat across from me on the end of Jordan's bed. "Have you ever had a panic attack?"

I furrowed my eyebrows and nodded my head, but she wasn't really helping me out here. My skin was starting to feel clammy.

"Have they ever felt like this?" she asked me, instructing me on breathing techniques.

"No," I managed to get out in a shaky whisper. "They've been bad but this is new to me."

The nurse frowned and took my hand, squeezing it to reassure me while Quince rubbed my right shoulder to comfort me.

"You're having a really advanced one, then," she concluded, a frown still evident on her features. "I want you to keep taking deep breaths until you're calmed down. I'll go get you some water."

Quince took the nurse's place on the end of the bed and tried her best to comfort me as I continued my breathing as instructed.

"You're okay," she told me, but sounded like she was trying to reassure herself more than me. "You're fine."

The nurse returned with a cup of water, and I took it. I took tiny sips, finally able to calm down after about ten more minutes of breathing and comfort.

Just then, the lights flickered on. My eyes shut and I forced them open again so they could adjust to the brightness. Relief spilled through me and I let out a soft breath, watching Quince's face wash with the same emotion I was feeling at this moment.

"Do you want me to check on the baby just in case?" The nurse asked, walking over to Jordan and checking her vitals before turning to me. "That attack you had was pretty strong. I want to make sure you and the baby are both okay."

I glanced at Quince and nodded my head hesitantly, then looked at my sister. "She'll be fine if I leave her alone?"

The nurse smiled softly, nodding. "I promise. If you want, you can come back and check on her after the check up."

I nodded and glanced at Quince this time, who was biting her lip and rubbing her arms as she watched me with concern in her green eyes.

"Quince do you want to come?" I asked, standing and clasping my hands together. "You don't have to .. But if you want .. "

My friend nodded her head and ran a hand through her slightly messy hair. "Yeah, I'll come along."

"If you'll follow me," the nurse said kindly, waving us forward and then walking out. We followed her.

--

"At least you're both okay," Quince told me, referring to the baby and I as we walked towards the elevator. "I sort of freaked out. I .. Well, it felt like I was useless while you were having that attack and-"

"Stop," I told her softly, shaking my head and putting my hand on her shoulder then releasing it. "You've done nothing wrong and you did great in getting the nurse."

Quince's face scrunched up and I noticed a hint of guilt in her eyes. "Still. What if I hadn't?" she asked, looking down at the white tiled floor. "Faye I nearly froze up back there. I almost got the 'deer in headlights' moment, but I barely managed to snap myself out of it before I did."

"It happens," I said firmly, watching the elevator doors open. We stepped inside and pushed the first floor button. "You didn't freeze up, and even if you had, it wouldn't have been your fault."

"Bullshit," she whimpered, covering her face. "I wouldn't have been able to get you help. You might have lost the baby-"

"Quince," I said roughly, stopping her before she could continue. Why was she feeling so terrible about this? She didn't do anything wrong at all! "Would you stop thinking those things, please? I don't care about the what ifs because they're in the past, a past that didn't even happen."

Quince was silent for a long moment before sighing and nodding her head, slumping against the wall. "I know, I know," she breathed, hands still covering her face. "I'm sorry for that mental breakdown."

"I wouldn't really consider that a mental breakdown," I commented, shrugging my shoulders as I folded my arms under my tiny, barely showing stomach. "I'd know. I've had a couple in my life."

Successfully, she uncovered her face and looked at me. I cracked a smile at her and stuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans. "Nah. You're too strong for those," she told me, shaking her head with a smile of her own.

I snorted and replied, "I seem strong but I've had a breakdown, Q. I just don't have them a lot." I blew a strand of hair from my face.

"Well do us all a favor and try not to have another, will you?" she said sarcastically, seeming to cheer up a little.

"I'll consider it."

"Damn well better consider it. I can't have my best friend having mental breakdowns left and right."

I smirked, raking my fingers through my blonde hair and chuckling softly. "You're weird."

"I get it from you and Lucy," she said dryly, raising her eyebrow. "You two are bad influences."

"And yet you're dating one of us and continue to be friends with the other," I mused, smirking playfully once more. "So therefor you're a bad influence on yourself."

Quince opened her mouth to respond, but closed it and tapped her lips with furrowed eyebrows. "Dammit."

"What?" I innocently asked her, batting my eyelashes. "Something wrong?"

"I hate you."

"Then why do you still hang out with me?"

"Honestly? I have no idea. It's like you're glued to me or some wicked shit."

"That's a possibility."

We both were laughing as we walked out of the elevator and towards the car, having had our moods lifted slightly. I got into the passengers side and took out my phone, biting my lip at the amount of missed calls from people I had.

"Well we're screwed," I mentioned to Quince as we drove along back home.

"Crap. How many missed calls?" she asked dreadfully, grimacing at the windshield, eyes not leaving the road.

"Forty."

"Yup, we're pretty screwed."

When we got home, I was immediately met with arms around me protectively the moment I walked through the door. "Thank God!" Jackson breathed, holding me.

"Jackson," I mumbled, hugging him back and frowning to myself at his hold. "I'm fine. Please let me go, you're holding me tight."

"Where were you two?" Jackson demanded Quince and I, eyes switching from her to me with a worried and demanding tone and gaze. "We have been calling you-"

"Let us explain," I cut off, stepping back and sighing. "It's a long story."

"I'll call your parents," he told me, all of us walking to the living room.

--

Chapter up! You're welcome, Guys! You've been asking for an update ever since I updated last so here's one to calm your nerves for the meantime. :)

Thoughts?

Until next time!

- Grace xx