endgame ~ brock purdy

ten

SONG: MY TEARS RICOCHET; TAYLOR SWIFT

Bethany feels a gentle touch on her left shoulder.

"I'm here."

Bethany just keeps her head down. She had always been good at keeping her anxiety pretty private. Not many people knew about her struggles.

Bethany just kept sobbing and hyperventilating, still feeling alone and cold.
Except for her left shoulder. Her left shoulder felt safe and warm.
Then, her whole body felt safe and warm.

Bethany tried to calm herself down a little bit before looking up only for her eyes to lock with a pair of concerned hazel brown eyes.

Brock.
It was Brock.

Normally, if someone Bethany didn't know very well tried to console her when she was having a panic attack she would push them away and lock herself in the first room she could find which usually ended with Bethany's throat burning and multiple broken objects.

But she trusted Brock.
Bethany had never even met him.
But right now she felt as if she could trust him with her whole life.

Bethany rested her head on Brock's shoulder and hid her face in his neck.
His scent took over her insides... it was suffocating.
But in a good way.

Brock continued to hold Bethany securely (not tightly) slowly rubbing her back and hair whispering sweet things in her ear.

"You're gonna be ok."

"It's gonna be ok"

"I've got you"

Normally, when people talked to her during a panic attack their words worsened her attack.

"You're ok."

"It's ok."

"You're not dying."

When people would say these things to Bethany the effort was there but it felt as if they were trying to force those statements on her. Make her believe them. She wasn't ok. It wasn't ok. It felt like she was dying. But when Brock spoke to her it felt so effortless. He was reassuring her not trying to convince her something that wasn't true was. He didn't have to make her believe him. She already did. She was going to be ok. It was going to be ok. He had her.

After a while Bethany's breathing got to a normal pace and her tears and shaking had stopped. She had never felt this good after having a panic attack and she knew why. Normally, when "help" her they rush her and almost force her out of the panic attack almost always causing a relapse later. Brock waited for Bethany. He let her take as long as she needed.
Bethany didn't know it but Brock would've stayed there with her all night or longer if she needed.

Bethany slowly sat up still staying close enough to Brock so that they were still having physical contact.

Brock just looked at Bethany.
No. Not looked.
Admired.

"How're you doing?", Brock asked Bethany in a whisper gently tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Better... a lot better actually."

"Good... that's good."
"Thank you... Brock."

"Of course... Bethany."

Ok Brock calm down. My heart just slowed down stop making it flutter.

"Do you need anything?"

"Um... I think I'm ok. I just want to sit here for a little bit."

"Alright, take as long as you need. I'm not going anywhere.", Brock says while lightly placing his hand over Bethany's.

After about fifteen minutes Bethany feels as if nothing ever happened.

Weird.

"Ok... I think I'm ready to go."

"Here, let me help you up."

Brock stands up first and then gives Bethany both of his hands. Bethany takes them but when she stands up she doesn't let go.

"Head rush?"

"Yeah... I'm fine though. It's just from standing up too fast."

"I get it... I get them a lot after getting up from being tackled."

My God Bethany... you're talking to an athlete. Of course he knows what a head rush is.

"Sorry... I'm stupid. Of course you know what a head rush is. Gosh, I'm annoying.", Bethany says looking at their still intertwined hands.

Brock intertwines one of their hands only to gently hold Benthany's chin so she is looking right at him.

"You're not annoying Behtany... or stupid."

"Thanks... I'm gonna grab my stuff."

"Yea, take your time."

Bethany nods and goes into her office to put her things in her bag and head out.

Bethany walks out with her things thankful to see Brock still standing there.

"Um... would you mind walking me to my car?"

"Of course."

Brock and Bethany get to her car and they just stand there for a little bit.

"Thank you again, Brock. I really appreciate it.", Bethany says, breaking the silence.

"Yea, of course Beth... I heard what was going on with Bosa."

"You heard?"

"Yeah... I'm so sorry."

"It's fine... and you don't have to apologize. It's not your fault Brock."

"I know... but I know about Bosa's reputation and I could've warned you or introduce myself at the club or-"

Before Brock can continue with his rambling you cut him off with a hug. You guys stay like that for what felt like ever... but neither of you wanted to let go. Bethany slowly broke off the hug.

"Brock... you just sat there with me for like over an hour... and you were so patient and soothing... normally people just tell me I'm being dramatic and leave me. That's all I could ever ask for. And all of that stuff with the club and everything is in the past... we can't change it now. And yes, at the club and at Bosa's house I felt alone... but now I know that I have you."