Think Of Me ~ JJ Maybank ~ Outerbanks

3

She was almost gasping for air, "John B? I can't- it's- I can't- it's happening again- John B? I need- John?"
Alexis shut the door, and dropped onto the sofa bed, not able to catch her breath. She could hardly see through the tears. Placing her knees on her forehead, she pressed her palms into the sides of her head, almost willing the pain to go away.
"John B please- help- please- I can't- help me-"
"John B are you home-" JJ paused in shock, not quite sure what he was seeing.
"Lex? What-"
"Where's- where's john- I need- um- I can't- I need John- please JJ- I can't-"
She made feeble attempts at getting air into her lungs, and started pulling at her shirt trying to loosen it around her neck.
He reached out to grab her hand so she didn't accidentally hurt herself, but she flinched away.
"Lex? Lex listen to me, what's wrong?"
"John B- I need- I need John B."
"How often does this happen Alex?"
She shook her head, before making a gasping noise,  "two three times- two or three times a week."
The boy couldn't hide the shock in his face.
"And John B- John B helps you? Everytime?"
She nodded not able to stop the tears.
"I can't- I can't- please- John B?"
JJ sat down opposite her and slowly put his arm out.
"Can I? Can I touch you? I won't hurt you- I promise."
She choked back a sob and nodded.
Gently, he pulled her into his chest.
"You'll be okay. Just- it's late- you need to rest okay?"
Alex's tears shook the both of them.
"And Lex? I'm proud of you, just you know, I don't hear it a lot, and maybe you don't, I don't know, but I'm, all of us are proud of you." He trailed off, not really knowing why he sensed he needed to say that.
Within ten minutes, she was breathing heavily, asleep in JJ's arms. Not long after that, a soaking John B walked through the door, being met by a furious looking JJ who mouthed 'what the fuck' to him.
"Shit shit shit," the brunette dropped his stuff and gently shut the door, before running towards Alexis, "ah shit, shit, did she have another one?"
"Another one?" JJ hissed, "what the fuck is going on John B?"
The boy gently slid out from underneath the girl, and dragged John B into his room, shutting the door as to not wake Alex up.
"Explain." Anger was laced across his face.
"I, um, I don't actually know?"
JJ pushed him against a wall, "she just had a fucking panic attack- she told me you help her through all of them, and you don't know?"
"You didn't bother to ask? Or, or maybe you didn't care."
The brunette groaned, "JJ, she made me promise not to ask, and not to tell anyone-"
" And you fucking listen to her? Is this because she went home?"
"I don't know man, maybe she just has anxiety?"
"Or maybe it's none of your fucking business Maybank," Alexis had a cold look across her face.
"Lex I-"
"Just mind your own business okay? John B manages to."
JJ looked away guiltily.
"Alex, are you okay? I was surfing-"
"It's fine I was just over reacting- you know me, always needing attention."
The boys frowned, hearing the strain in her voice.
"Lex-"
"I'm just gonna," she paused, carefully thinking through what she was going to say, "I just want to go to sleep, okay? If we go out tomorrow, just, just wake me up."
They nodded.

Peace sign