The Lines Between Us | ✔

|.05.|

September 7th, 7:00 am,

Bella                                         

After a night from hell trying to get to sleep, my eyes flutter open to the sound of my alarm clock. It isn't a very pleasant noise, more like a screeching cat in my opinion, but it's open to interpretation. Burrowing myself further into my warm, white sheets, I dig my face into the softness of my pillow, restraining from getting up. Giving myself 5 more minutes to rest, I rub the last of the sleep from my eyes, revealing a clearer; brighter room. My eyes sting as the sun shines directly to them through the curtains I forgot to close. A few minutes later, I throw off my blanket, turning 90 degrees to the left and perching myself on the side of my bed. My mouth releases a piercing scream as I see a boy sat opposite me. Ash.

Jolting awake and rushing over to me, he grabs onto me to make sure that I am okay. Slapping him off, I shout, ''What in God's name are you doing in my room, you scared the hell out of me?''

I can see him fighting for an answer in his head, trying to figure out what to say. Dodging the question, he blurts, ''Why the fuck did you scream?''

''Well usually, I don't wake up to scary men sleeping in the corner of my room!'' I can't breathe. My chest is heaving up and down, fighting for me to take a breath. My face is flooded with tension as my mouth opens and closes pointlessly, my breathing increasing in speed. No air is coming in though, like I have forgotten how to breathe.

My heart is racing and my hand flies through my hair, grabbing pieces hardly, trying to bring myself back to reality. It's like I'm in a nightmare- my worst nightmare. All feeling has flooded from my body, and I can no longer feel Ash's strong hand holding me up. I'm falling. Falling into darkness. I think I am on the floor now. Tears are leaking from my eyes and I am catching them in my sleeves.

My body is shaking like a washing machine, my head whirling with thoughts I can't control. I try to scream Ash's name so he can help, but I can't see him. It's too dark.

No, it's not Bella. I tell myself. The room is bright and the sun is shining through the windows. It's not dark. You're okay. I hear my voice say. Only it's not my voice. It's Ash's. I am slowly coming back to reality, I can feel the pressure of Ash's hand on my face, wiping away the tears. I can see the light cascading across the floor.

The invisible hand that was once stopping me from breathing has gone. I can breathe again. My body feels numb, like I am back in the hospital all over again. The tears have stopped coming out now, and I can feel Ash's arms pressed tight around my body. He is sat half behind me, half next to me, and is on his knees, head pressed tightly on top of mine. At this moment, I feel safe. I know I am okay.

I can feel my hands again. I can feel them clasped onto Ash's black t-shirt, not yet willing to let go- his lips pressed against my head, muttering words of sorrow.

After a few seconds, I mumble ''I've never had a panic attack before,'' Still confused about what happened. Placing one hand underneath my legs, and one on my back, he lifts me onto my bed, resting me on the white sheets. I can feel his body shaking against mine like he was the one having the panic attack.

Realizing that I noticed, he smiles slightly. ''I'm so sorry Bella, I really didn't mean to scare you like that.''  The tone of the room is serious now, but I don't want to make it worse. I just return the smile and snuggle into his warm body, showing that I have forgiven him.

My body is aching to know why he was in my room, but I don't want to ruin the moment. Jolting upwards, I remember that I have school today, I can't be late. Sprinting around my room like a headless chicken, I grab my laptop, books, and pens, then throw them into my bag. ''Ash, I have to get to class, I can't be late on my first day!'' I exclaim as I see him still sat in the same spot, though now laid back against the wall- his eyes watching me run frantically around my room. I can see a smile plastered across his face as I grab the key from my door and attempt to open it.