"Yes, ma'am"

#2 - Touching

Vivian's POV

Carter was acting abnormally. He was always quiet and tended to space out, but it was happening more often than usual. He would blank out in the middle of conversations, and he was talking to other people less and less. I even noticed that when he was around his friends he wasn't exactly present, just kind of staring there giving a nod if something was directed to him.

Was it creepy that I was watching him? Yes, one-hundred percent. Was I going to stop? Nope. Carter and I have never been that close, but he wasn't someone I would just ignore if he needed help. I didn't know much about him. I knew his name, birthday, and stuff like that, but we have never really talked. So starting today, it would be my goal to become friends with him.

At the moment, Carter and I were sitting in my car, in stiff silence, on the way to his house.

"Why did you choose mushrooms?" I figured I could try to pull us out of the awkwardness.

"I'm not sure actually. The first two things that came to mind were tortoises or mushrooms," he shrugged. "When did you get your license?"

"Last year I think."

"Oh cool. Is this your car?"

"No, it's my mom's. She let me borrow it today."

"Take a left here and my complex will be to the right," he directed me towards his apartment.

"This is different than where you lived before. Did you and your dad move?" His dad and him used to live in a small house a couple of streets down from my house.

"Something like that, yeah," he responded tersely.

"Is he home?" I wondered out loud.

Carter responded stiffly, "No."

"Oh, ok. He's alright with us working on the project here then, right?"

When he didn't respond I glanced at him to find him looking out the window. It looked like he was spacing out again.

"Carter, are you ok?"

"Hm? Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. It's fine to work on the project at home."

He got out of the car after I parked it and waited for me to get out as well.

————

After a few hours of Carter and I brainstorming what we think would be needed for the assignment, I started getting tired. I noticed Carter yawning which made me yawn was well.

"I think we should go ahead and wrap this up it's getting kind of late," I told Carter as I shifted our papers around. "Would you rather I left everything here or I took it home with me?"

Carter looked up at me. "Um... that's up to you, it doesn't make a difference to me."

Smiling at him, "Alright, I'll bring it home with me then."

He gave me a slight smile back and nodded.

While Carter gathered his papers together, I reach across the table to grab my pencil that he borrowed. I didn't realize he was also going to grab it to give it back to me. We both reached it at the same time and the moment our hands met I heard Carter take a sharp intake of breath as he quickly moved his hand to his chest.

"Sorry. I was just trying to grab the pencil," I told him. I looked over him. He had stood straight up and his hands were pulled into his chest, his breathing was strained, and his eyes showed me he wasn't present. "Carter?" I ask him standing up myself. "Are you you alright?" I took a step towards him - he took two steps back. "Carter?"

It didn't seem like he could hear me. Did a single touch make him space out this bad?

I called his name out a few more times and eventually he looked back at me. He still seemed a little distant but not as far as before. There were tears in his eyes that were bound to start falling at anytime.

I took another step back just for caution and to help give him comfort. "Carter, can you hear me?" He nodded. "Ok good. Can you breathe for me? In through your nose, out through your mouth. Nice, long, deep breathes." He did his best to follow the instructions. His breathing evened out, not as much as I would like it to, but at least it was a little.

"Would you like to sit down?" He have a small nod. "Ok. In this chair or in your bedroom?" He looked at the chair in front of of and then he tried his best to look towards his room while keeping me in his sight. Eventually, he gave a slight gesture towards his room. I smiled at him. "Lead the way," and I made a hand motion to try and push him forward.

He shook his head, his curls moving with him. "Why not?"

"Stay in front," he whispered to me, pointing to me.

I nodded at him. "Alright, come on."

————

After what I thought to be nearly an hour, Carter's breathing was completely even.

"..sorry.." He whispered so quietly I barely heard it.

"What for?" I was genuinely confused. He hadn't done anything wrong.

"For causing a scene," he still spoke softly.

"Carter, you can't cause a scene in your own house," I slightly laughed trying to ease the tension.

"Yeah, but I could have waited for you to leave," he told me dejectedly.

I sighed. "That's not something you could have stopped." I debated on whether asking him what happened would be a good idea or not. "Do you you want something to drink? Water? Or if you have any, tea? Tea will help you relax more."

He shifted uncomfortably from his spot on his bed. He was sitting with his legs crossed, leaning his elbows onto his thighs. I was sitting across from him in a chair I pulled from the kitchen table.

"Uhm, I can get it," he argued, slipping off the bed.

"Nope," I smiled at him, "I want to you lay down, sit down, whatever, on the bed, and I'm going to get you a drink. I'm going to finish taking care of you, and make sure you're relaxed and comfortable before I leave."

He made a whining noise. "But I can do it. You shouldn't have to do that for me. And don't you need to get home?"

"I sent a text my parents saying I would be home late," I assured

Chapter completed: 09/04/2022
Chapter edited: 10/31/2022