{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 108

August 28th

Asher's POV

"Em," I whisper seeing that she was the only one I could find at the moment. "Hey, Asher? Are you okay..." her voice grows quiet as she finds me standing in the kitchen doorway. "I- I don't know" I stutter my whole body shaking.

"What can I do! Let me help you!" She shouts running over to me. "My chest hurts" I cringe holding my heart. She comes over pulling me into a hug. "Are you sick?" She whispers pulling me out of the kitchen and over to the couch.

"I didn't think so" I mutter the feeling of just crying becoming overwhelming. "I need some sort of help... I don't know what to do" she panics feeling my head.

The tightness in my chest gets worse and I grab onto her shirt placing my head on her shoulder. "Anxiety attack" I answer finally realizing what's going on. She nods and pulls me into a hug.

"What's got you anxious?" She asks looking ahead. "I just woke up and- I don't know" I answer wiping my eyes. I just felt so tense and I was trembling. I couldn't stop. My heart was racing and I moved to grip the end of the couch for dear life.

"Okay just breathe, breathe for me" she tried to calm me. "Focus on something" she mumbles and I open my eyes frantically looking for anything. It didn't work and I just hugged my stomach taking a huge breath. "I don't really know how to properly help this... would it help if I got you something to drink?" She suggest. I just nod once again.

Emerald stood and ran to the dining room, coming out a few minutes with a mug of water. I shakily grabbed it bringing it to my lips to take a small sip. "Should I eat something? I don't know... they usually aren't like this" I whisper setting the cup down.

"Oh- uh, yes sure! Have you had breakfast- wait that was stupid you just woke up, and I was in the kitchen!" She groans before standing to run back.

I curled up to myself on the edge of the couch and closed my eyes just trying to steady my breathing. I didn't even know what I was getting anxious about anymore. The mean birds that keep pestering my thoughts or school... probably both.

"I brought oatmeal!" Em shouts waddling over trying not to spill the bowl of food everywhere. I laugh letting out another sigh before taking another drink. She sets the bowl in front of me and almost hits me with the spoon immediately apologizing.

Inhaling through my nose, exhaling from my mouth attempting to steady my grip on the spoon. "I rushed... and I'm obviously no-cook" she mumbles, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Thank you Em, it means a lot, it's perfect" I reassure him and she nods rubbing my shoulder as I take a bite.

I was trying to do anything to calm my nerves at this point. Switching between taking a bite of my food to taking a drink of water. I felt a bit calmer but my hands were just shaky, I couldn't take it anymore.

Putting my back to the couch I closed my eyes. Laying there I couldn't, I felt like I was so close to crying. I wasn't hungry anymore. "Let me go get Atlas... he'll do better than me" she sighs standing.

I quickly wrap my arms around her in a hug. "Thank you for everything, you are definitely the best cousin" I giggle knowing that would make her feel better. She smiles patting my shirt. "Trust me I know" she shoots back before running off.

"Wait! Don't get Atlas..." I stopped my protesting and relaxed. She was long gone. Instead, I just stared at the food in front of me shaking my head. "Just eat it," I told myself but I couldn't... I just want to feel normal again. It's such an uncomfortable feeling.

I just woke up and the immediate feeling of dread was controlling me, I was terrified in my own room. "He's on the couch?" Atlas's voice rings in my ears but I refuse to turn back to look at him. "Yeah... I tried my best, he's calmer than he was" Emerald whispers getting a hug in return. "You did amazing, don't stress about it" he mumbles before she leaves and he comes over to me.

I stare forward but it doesn't last long as he pulls me into his arms. "And what's got my Angel's nerves all messed up?" Atlas pries, kissing my head. His hand traced random things on my back and I shook my head. "I don't know... I'm scared though" I answer truthfully. This makes him freeze for a split second.

"Ash, did you see someone, is that what it is?" His voice was serious and he moved his other hand to my chin making me face him. "No, I'm scared of school and my mind is just playing tricks on me" I answer, trying to look away.

"You're going to have the twins, Em, and hell Seren would probably murder someone for you, not to mention the professors" he whispers easing a bit of my fear. "Maybe once you realize school isn't that bad without me, your brain will calm down and you'll stop seeing things?" He suggests not believing himself.

I shrug my shoulders and he lets go of my chin leaning down to kiss my jaw. "Sorry, but I needed to know you weren't lying" he whispers, kissing the other side as well. "It's okay, it's just embarrassing" I mumble. I can see him staring intensely at my face and it's just... I don't want him to have time to look at all my flaws.

"It shouldn't be embarrassing, I just enjoy checking you out," he chuckles, kissing my cheek last. I suck in a deep breath and Atlas quickly grabs my hand lifting me from the couch. "Are you okay to walk?" He asks, pulling me towards the door.

"Yeah, I feel a lot better than before. My chest is just tight," I explain, getting a nod in return while he leads me to the door. Herb beat us there of course bouncing excitedly. "You have a friend this time!" He shouts bursting with energy. I give him wide eyes as Atlas squeezes my hand. "This time?" He asks and I just smile at the elf who quickly opens the door and bolts. "Have a nice day, I'll close the door after you leave!" He shouts long gone.

I giggle and Atlas pulls me out the door laughing to himself. "He definitely knows how to make bad days better" He sighs happily as the door closes behind us. "He's also very quick" I added, kind of surprised.

"Mmmhmm" he nods in response leading me off of the porch and towards the side of the manor. "Let's just take a walk, we haven't in a while and the weather is nice" finally he tells me what we're doing.

I enjoyed being outside, something I didn't get to do a lot. Lately, I've been sneaking out through one of my cousins' windows or Atlas's. I had a bruise on one of my ankles from landing so hard at certain points but it didn't bug me.

I had to cut my missions short, the overwhelming feeling becoming too much. Each time Herb stuck up for me. He was too kind, does this mean I'm taking advantage of him? Maybe I should find a way to get back in without the door.

"What ya thinking about?" Atlas teases shaking me out of my thoughts. We stopped in an open area, the trees parting for the sun to lay nicely on us. "Just things" I answer and he gives me a knowing look, poking my side.

I swat his hand away jokingly and he once again lunges forward me to poke me. I jolt forward and fumble out of his reach with a laugh. "Nope come back here!" He shouts as I run the other way. "Not too fast" he warned me while still laughing so it didn't completely ruin the mood.

"Well, I guess you have to catch me then" I suggest turning to face him. He raises an eyebrow and I slowly start stepping backward. "Is that a challenge?" He questions me and I nod jokingly enjoying the freedom. At the moment anxiety was the last thing on my mind. I just felt so free.

Suddenly my boyfriend comes running forward to get me and I let out a yelp trying to run away. I distracted myself! I didn't even get 10 feet before he tackled me to the ground. Well, it was a soft tackle. He kind of wrapped his arms around my back and lowered me.

I laid out on my back spreading my arms out on both sides quickly trying to catch my breath. "Caught you" he chuckles looking down at me. I smile raising my arms for him to grab me. He does and pulls me into a hug.

"Now I'm never letting you go"