In the stars. | A collection of short stories: B.E

Shutdown.

A/n: Just a really cute picture btw, and this chapter is about ADHD again, but this is less discussed: Sensory shutdown. As suggested by bilsblohsh0, here you go angel! <3

But I promise you this

I'll always look out for you

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

~sparks by Coldplay [Fits this chapter well]

Billie sat on the comfortable couch in Finneas and Claudia's welcoming living room, chatting and laughing with their friends. Usually, these gatherings were a source of joy for Billie and Octavia, but today was different. Octavia, Billie's girlfriend, was struggling with a sensory shutdown.

Octavia felt like every sound in the room was cranked up to deafening levels. The overlapping conversations sounded like a cacophony, and even the softest laughter felt like a thunderclap in her ears. Her heart raced, and she could feel the frustration building within her.

Biting her fingernails was a nervous habit Octavia had developed over the years, and tonight, her nails bore the brunt of her anxiety. She felt a sharp pain as she accidentally bit one of them too hard, causing it to bleed. She quickly withdrew her hand and clenched it into a fist.

Billie noticed Octavia's discomfort and leaned closer, concern in her eyes. "Octavia, are you okay?" she asked gently.

Octavia tried to reply, but her voice came out sharper than she intended. "I'm fine, Billie!" she snapped, her frustration boiling over. She immediately regretted her tone, but the sensory overload made it difficult to control her emotions.

The atmosphere in Finneas and Claudia's living room grew tense as Octavia's sensory shutdown escalated into a full-blown meltdown. Octavia was seething with anger, her body trembling with frustration as every sound assaulted her senses.

Billie, deeply concerned, leaned in close, trying to offer support. "Octavia, maybe we should step outside for a bit, just to—"

Octavia cut her off, her voice a searing blade of anger. "No, Billie! I don't want to go outside! I don't want to move!"

Billie recoiled, taken aback by the sheer intensity of Octavia's rage. She could see the hurt and frustration in Octavia's eyes, but the overwhelming anger seemed to have a life of its own. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Octavia's outburst reverberated.

Finneas, who had overheard the heated exchange, approached cautiously, his voice filled with concern. "Hey, is everything okay here?"

Octavia's reaction was even more explosive this time. She snapped at him, her words dripping with venom. "No, everything's not okay, Finneas! Can't you hear how loud it is? Everything's too damn loud!" She grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled with all her might, as if trying to rip the noise from her mind.

Billie was torn between trying to console Octavia and explaining to Finneas and Claudia what was happening. She tried to speak to Octavia, her own voice shaking, "Octavia, it's going to be okay. We'll figure this out."

Finneas and Claudia exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to handle the situation. Claudia whispered urgently to Finneas, "We need to do something, but I'm not sure what."

Finneas nodded, his brow furrowed with worry, and he approached Octavia again, speaking in a gentle, soothing tone, "Octavia, we can make the room quieter. We'll turn down the music, ask everyone to keep their voices down, and—"

Octavia's response was a guttural scream of anger, her face contorted in a way that sent shivers down Billie's spine. She continued to pull at her hair, the pain serving as a desperate distraction from the sensory overload that felt like it was suffocating her.