Danny Clark is a Nobody

Chapter Eight

Will
bro
help me pls
DANNYYY
my dad's making me help him rn
i hate this sm
i'm so bored
u asleep?
dannyyy
D
A
N
N
Y
danny
pls
i'm so bored
this is torturous
not to mention my massive headache
stop ignoring me
also wtf did u sleep at 6 am?-
u need to fix ur sleep schedule
DANNY
y u ignoring me?
i'm dying over here man
i'm not gonna stop until u answer me
D
A
N
N
Y
dannyyyy
dannyyyyyy
dannyyyyyy
fine, b like that :((

Me
Sorry, couldn't use my phone for a bit

Will
it's fine
bruised my ego a bit
y'know, thought this was a bianca situation again
</3

Me
I would never betray you like that

Will
u a real one

Just then, I heard a knock on my door.

Me
Sorry, Will. I have to go now

Will
np, ttyl

"Come in." I said, turning my phone off. Michael walked in. He stood around awkwardly before sitting at my desk. "I need to talk to you." He said. I nodded, anxiously fidgeting with my fingers. "I'm worried about you. I know you didn't sleep last night." He said, and before I could interject, he continued, "I know you've had a hard life and I'm sorry. Please, talk to me." He said pleadingly. "I'm sorry." I said, feeling the sudden urge to cry.

"Don't be sorry, Danny." He sighed, looking as if he were in pain. "I just... I know you haven't been honest with how you feel and that's okay. But can you tell me how to... help? How to make this easier on you?"

I didn't know what to say. I probably wouldn't have broke down if I wasn't sleep-deprived, in pain, and really nervous. "I'm just not used to whatever this is. I-I know that you're well aware of my experience with previous foster families. So you also must know that- that I can't trust you. Not yet. I don't know how you can help me. Or if you can at all. Just- just please, give me some time. Y-you can't expect me to just b-be okay with this." I said, starting to panic. I could feel my pulse quickening, my limbs shaking, my chest constricting. I was going to have a panic attack.

I sat myself back on my bed unsteadily. I could see Michael's mouth moving, but his voice was muffled. I couldn't hear anything over the howling of my thoughts and the blood rushing in my ears. My vision was blurred. I couldn't breathe.

I pulled my legs to my chest, and curled into myself. I could feel the sobs fighting to leave my throat. "Danny?! Danny?! What's wrong?!" I could faintly hear Michael yelling at me. He was going to hurt me.

•••

James's P.O.V

I was on the phone with Jenny when I heard someone screaming Danny's name. "I'll have to call you back, baby." I mumbled quickly into my phone. I hurried out into the hall, and found Danny's door open. I ran in, and found dad pacing around nervously, tears starting to form in his eyes. Dad hardly ever cries, so I knew this was serious.

I looked over to see Danny's curled up form on the bed. I realised immediately what was going on. I've seen panic attacks countless times before, and I've helped Freddie with them since I was 13 years old. Freddie came running in a few minutes later. "Should I call Blake?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Um, can you two leave the room? I don't want to overstimulate him." I told them. Freddie nodded, and Michael and him silently exited the room, closing the door behind them. I ran a hand through my damp hair. "Danny, can you hear my voice?" I spoke softly. Without waiting for confirmation, I continued. "Danny, I need you to look up for me." Danny's head tilted upwards, and his green eyes met mine briefly. "Okay, you're doing really well, Danny. Now, can you name 5 things you can see?"