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Chapter 8

TW: MENTION OF PANIC ATTTACK

"You look fine"

Y/N POV

     Karl pulled me back down onto the couch next to him. His arm still hadn't moved, and it was pretty obvious it wasn't going to for a little while.

     "Well I still need to go grab my bag and stuff from upstairs. So can I at least do that?" I asked, a quiet laugh hidden behind my words.

     "Can I come with you? I'll tell everyone we're leaving while you get your things together" He was being weirdly clingy. Maybe it's just because he missed me.

     "Yeah sure, c'mon big guy" I said, standing up and helping him up after me.

     Together we walked up the steps towards my room. I walked in and he followed after me, looking around the decorated room in awe.

     "What happened to telling people we're leaving?" I asked, gathering my things into a small, faux-leather backpack.

     "Oh, right." Karl laughed and walked off to go tell Lucas and my mom.

     I continued to gather my things into my bag and then slung it over my shoulder. I quickly double checked I had everything in my brain (Because I have a tendency to forget) and walked out of my temporary bedroom with my phone in hand. I met Karl in the hallway after he left Lucas' room.

     "You good to go?" I asked.

     "Ready when you are." He nodded back.

     With that we started heading down the stairs back to they first floor. We walked out of the front door and Karl brought me to his car. He must've drove here separately yesterday, weird. We both got in a buckled up. (A/N: Safety first children)

     Once we were safely in the car, I got a text.

Lucas <3

Hope you and your boyfriend have fun on your little date ❤️

     I hate him. I rolled my eyes at the message and put my phone down, hoping Karl wouldn't see the blush that had now formed on my cheeks.

     We weren't in the car for too long before we pulled up to the mall. It looks different than I remember. Must've got a redesign. We got out of Karl's car and started walking towards the mall together. I felt his pinky graze mine, like he was nervous to make contact. I linked our pinky fingers first before fully grabbing his hand.

     Once we made it into the mall, I let Karl lead the way. He knew where everything was despite it being moved around, probably because he's been here pretty much the whole time since I've moved to New York. But once the arcade was in view, I took the lead fully. I was so excited to be back and play games.

     We got in and Karl lead me to the Change machine, where we got about $5 in quarters to start us off. I knew I was gonna use more than that, but I didn't want my pockets to be completely full of quarters.

     We spent a little bit playing random games and getting a couple tickets every time, but eventually we got to the back of the arcade where they had the Coin Pushers. (A/N: Im only doing Coin Pushers cuz I'm good at them) Finally, something I'll get some tickets from.

     I sat down, put some money in, and started playing. I was making the little tokens fall over the edge of the game with ease. After a little bit Karl came over from the game he was playing to watch me for a little bit.

     "Hey I gotta go do something really quick, I'll be right back" He said, patting me on the shoulder.

     I wasn't really paying attention because I was so focused on my game. "Okay. I'll be here."

     He walked off and I continued playing. Eventually I forgot he was even gone because I was so focused.

     The arcade slowly started to get louder and louder as people got off work and the mall got more crowded. After a while of playing I ran out of money and got up to go get more change.

⚠️TW⚠️

    Where's the machine? I haven't been here in a while. I continued to wander for a while until eventually I started panicking. Everything is so loud. I looked around for any sign of Karl. Nothing.

My head felt like it was spinning on my shoulders. This was all too much for me. I could feel my eyes start to water as I just stood still in pure panic.

     *Flashback*

     "I swear he just a friend Taylor!"

     "Taylor?! No babe or baby?! I swear it's like you're breaking up with me already! Might as well go take care of myself now!"

     Me and Taylor were having another fight over one of my guy friends. And he was threatening again.

      "That's not it and you know it! Why can't I just have guy friends?" I yelled at him, tears stinging my eyes.

     "I don't want them touching whats mine and I don't want a whore for a partner!" He raised his hand towards me and I flinched. That seemed to please him, seeing me in fear.

     *End of Flashback*

     I bent over a little. I felt like I was going to get sick, and it was getting so hard to hold myself up.

     I heard some quick footsteps behind me followed by a pair of arms wrapping around me protectively.

⚠️End of TW⚠️

     "Y/N? Y/N?" Karl. It was only Karl. Taylor isn't here anymore.

     "I- I-" I stuttered. I didn't know what to say or the words to use.

     "Shh, Shh, It's alright." Karl turned me around so I was facing him and hugged me. "You don't have to say anything right now..."

     I just nodded into his chest and attempted to calm myself down.

     "I'm so sorry I left you alone. I know you don't know this place very well anymore. I was on the phone really quick and then I turned in my tickets to get you something..." He smiled, pulling out a small stuffed bear.

     I took the bear into my hands and squeezed it softly. "I- Thank you" I had given up on trying to say much.

     "You're welcome Y/N. Now do you want to go back home? We can save your tickets for a different time." Karl asked, rubbing up and down my back.

     I nodded into his chest and we left the mall and went back to his car. Our bodies never fully detached for each other, I continued to hang on to him for comfort and he didn't seem to mind. 

     Once we got back we walked in the house together, hand in hand.

     "Welcome back, lovebirds"

A/N
Hey, sorry for the wait, I haven't been too motivated lately and was trying to update my other story as well. I'll try to stay on track now though.

Write later, Love ya <3