One Direction One Shots

Zayn Panic Attack (1)

(You may think of this as more of an autism meltdown, by the way, but I don't know.)

Zayn had always struggled with social situations. He found it difficult to understand and communicate with others, and often felt overwhelmed in noisy or crowded environments. But he had found a way to cope - by setting strict rules for himself.

One of those rules was that he always sat in the passenger seat of a car. It was something he had done for as long as he could remember, and it gave him a sense of control and familiarity that helped to calm his anxiety.

The other boys in the band knew about Zayn's system, but they didn't always understand the reasons behind his rules. They knew not to mess with his things or change his routines, but they didn't realize that something as simple as sitting in the wrong seat could cause him to have a meltdown.

One day, Niall wasn't feeling well. He had a stomach bug and felt queasy, so he asked if he could sit in the front seat to avoid feeling sick in the back. The other boys didn't think anything of it and quickly agreed.

Zayn, however, was immediately thrown off balance. He felt his heart rate increase and his breathing become shallow. His thoughts became jumbled, and he struggled to focus on anything except the fact that Niall was sitting in his seat.

The panic attack hit him hard, and he couldn't control the tears that began to flow down his face. But the other boys were too focused on Niall to notice. They were asking him if he needed a bucket or some water, and Zayn felt like he was drowning in a sea of noise and confusion. He tried to speak, but his words came out garbled and unintelligible.

It wasn't until much later, when they had arrived at their destination and Niall had recovered, that the other boys realized what had happened. They saw Zayn sitting in the back, his eyes red and puffy, and they realized that they had unknowingly broken one of his rules.

They felt terrible, and they apologized profusely to Zayn. They promised to be more mindful of his needs in the future and to do everything they could to support him. Zayn felt a sense of relief wash over him as he realized that his friends understood him and were willing to help him cope with his difficulties.

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