Oblivious- A Tanner Buchanan Story

As If It Wasn't Already Complicated

I know I said that I was doing good and that I'm happy now
I should've known that when things are going good, That's when I get knocked down- Paramore

TRIGGER WARNING: Anxiety/Panic Attack described.

Mia POV

I stood outside staring at my screen for a moment, shaking.

I hesitantly slide the green icon to the side and put the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Where the fuck are you? Where's my daughter? You can't take her out of the state without my permission!" He growled angrily.

I flinched at the hostility, extremely glad he couldn't see me.

"I have full custody, so yes I can as long as I bring her back for visits or let you have video visits sometimes. It's not like you care anyway. You never responded when I told you I was moving and offered you the visits, which I only did because I had to by law." I retorted as best I could.

"I do too care! I never got that text!" He argued defensively.

"Yeah, you did. Phones tell you when people have read your messages now, genius."

"THIS IS BULLSHIT! I'm gonna find you and get my daughter back! You can't do this to me!" He shouted furiously before hanging up on me.

I sighed and leaned against the wall for support, wiping away a few tears from my eyes and trying to breathe normally.

Just then, I heard my name and I glanced over in the direction it came from. Tanner was coming out the door and walking over to me.

Part of me sighed in relief at the sight of his face, but the other part was internally begging him to go back inside. This wasn't his problem and I couldn't put it on him. I cared about Tanner entirely too much to burden him with any of this.

"Hey, is everything okay? You seemed upset when you left," he asked worriedly.

I cleared my throat and shook my head nonchalantly.

"I'm fine, T," I replied. "Just family stuff. Don't worry about it."

Tanner studied my face for a second and I did my best to act like nothing was wrong. He shrugged after a moment. "Okay. I guess we should go back to the party, then."

"You know what? I'm actually getting kind of tired, so I'm just gonna grab my stuff and head out," I told him, stepping toward the doors.

"Oh, uh, okay. Are you sure?" He asked, seeming a little disappointed as he held the door open for me.

I looked down and nodded. "Yeah. I probably should get home to Rosie, anyway. It's late."

Before he could respond to that, I found our table and began gathering my things together. I said good bye and thanked everyone and then Tanner walked me out to the parking lot.

"Uh, text me when you're home safe. These Cali roads are terrible at this time of night and I know you get anxiety when you drive." Tanner said, hugging me before I got in my car.

"Of course. I'll talk to you later," I assured him as I put on my seatbelt and started my engine.

The drive home was a blur, but I somehow made it safely. I managed to make it through the door before collapsing against a wall. I felt like all the oxygen was sucked out of me and a huge weight on my whole torso. My whole body shook violently and I fought for breath through my tears for I don't know how long before Gina found me. She held me and helped me calm down.

After a bit I did my best to explain what happened without having another panic attack.

Gina wanted me to report him but there wasn't much anybody could really do about it. Besides, it's not like he cared about the law. He had already been to prison and he broke his probation constantly.

I got up and went to the girls' room. I curled up next to Rosie and gently pulled her tiny sleeping form into my arms. I breathed in the scent of baby shampoo from her golden ringlets as I kissed her head. I relaxed for a little bit before remembering I needed to text Tanner. I carefully shifted my arms so Rosie was against the crook of my shoulder and I could have that arm wrapped around her while also holding my phone.

Hey sorry I got distracted when I got home but I'm safe and sound so you don't have to worry. -Mia

A few minutes later, he responded.

Thank God! You have no idea how anxious I was. You really didn't look well when you left. I hope everything's okay. -Tanner

I snorted quietly. If only he knew.

I told you I'm fine, silly. Thanks though. I'm going to bed now. Talk tomorrow?-Mia

Of course.😁 Goodnight, Mia. Sleep well.-Tanner

Goodnight. You too.🙂-Mia

I lay there after that, just thinking about everything. I was so scared for my sweet little girl, but also I was pissed at my ex husband. I was finally happy with my life. I had learned to love myself, followed my dreams, made a better life for Rosie and I, and I had found a special new person that I wanted to share it all with. Why did Ben have to pick now to try and mess it all up? Why did he have to call at all? He never seemed to care about either of us. He never did anything but hurt us after the initial happy bubble of a new relationship was over.

There was nothing really I could do now, except put a smile on my face and act like nothing was wrong. We had the press tour and the premiere party happening soon and I couldn't be visibly sad or scared during the interviews or photoshoots or anything. Shouldn't be too hard. I was used to hiding my feelings. I had dealt with every kind of abuse since I was a child and I had become good at putting on a happy face while I was falling apart inside.

Of course, with Tanner by my side through all of that, it would be difficult to not always have a smile on my face. He lit up my world just by being in it. I hoped he wouldn't see through my facade, though. Even if he felt the same about me that I felt about him, which I doubted, I didn't think he needed to deal with my drama. What guy would want to anyway?

I sighed as my ADHD brain derailed from that thought process and I slowly drifted off to sleep.