NO FRIENDSHIP IS AN ACCIDENT || SIXTH MEMBER SICKFICS/HURTFICS

7- Panic Attack

7- Panic Attack

The stadium buzzed with anticipation, the air heavy with the electricity of a sold-out show. Backstage, the boys were in their usual pre-show routines-Niall strumming his guitar, Liam doing vocal warm-ups, Harry pacing, and Zayn quietly meditating. Louis was talking to the stage manager. Right now opening performance was going on by 5SOS boys as crows roared with them.

In a small dressing room tucked away from the chaos, Matilda sat on a plush couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Her chest felt tight, and a creeping sense of dread clawed at her insides.

The noise outside felt like it was closing in on her, suffocating her, even though the door was shut.

She tried to steady herself, focusing on the steady hum of the air conditioner, but her mind raced with thoughts of failure, of letting everyone down. She'd been feeling this pressure building up over the past few days, but she hadn't told anyone. She didn't want to be a burden. After all, she was supposed to be the professional, the sixth member of the world's biggest band.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, and Louis' familiar voice called out, "Matty? You in there, love?"

She didn't respond, unable to find her voice through the tightness in her throat. After a moment, the door creaked open, and Louis stepped in, his expression immediately shifting.

"Matilda," he said softly, crossing the room in quick strides. He knelt in front of her, gently placing a hand on her arm. "Hey, what's going on?"

"L-Louis, I c-can't..." she managed to stammer, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.

Her eyes, wide and filled with tears, met his, and she tried to speak, but all that came out was a strangled sob. He'd seen her overwhelmed before, but this was different-this was a full-blown panic attack.

He looked over his shoulder and called out, "Guys! I need some help here!"

"Shh, it's alright, love," Louis murmured, his voice soothing as he shifted to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I'm right here, yeah? Just breathe with me."

He took a deep breath, exaggerating the rise and fall of his chest, and after a few moments, Matilda began to mimic him, though her breaths were still shaky and uneven. Louis held her close, his other hand rubbing small circles on her back.

"That's it, darlin'. You're doing great," he whispered, his voice low and comforting. "In and out, nice and slow."

As she focused on matching his breathing, Matilda's grip on his arm tightened, as if he were her lifeline. Louis didn't mind; he was just glad she was holding on.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, kneeling in front of Matilda and taking one of her trembling hands in his. All other boys were there within few minutes.

"She's having a panic attack," Louis explained, his voice tight with worry.

Niall, who had always been a bit awkward around Matilda, stepped back immediately, while Liam and Zayn exchanged uncertain glances.

Louis kept his focus on Matilda, his voice soothing as he spoke to her.

"You're safe, Matty. We're all here for you," he continued, his tone steady and reassuring. "Nothing's going to hurt you, I promise. Just look at me. In through your nose, out through your mouth. We'll do it together, alright?"

It took a few minutes, but slowly, the tension in Matilda's body began to ease. Her breaths became more regular, and the tightness in her chest loosened. Louis could feel her calming down, and he continued to hold her, letting her take all the time she needed.

When her breathing had mostly returned to normal, Matilda finally spoke, her voice small and shaky. "I'm sorry, Louis... I don't know what happened."

"Don't be sorry, love," Louis said immediately, pulling back just enough to look at her. "There's nothing to apologize for. Everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes."

She looked at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "I just... I didn't want to mess things up. I know how important this is."

"Hey, listen to me," Louis said, cupping her face gently in his hands. "You're not messing anything up, alright? You've been working so hard, and you're brilliant, Matty. But you're also human. It's okay to feel scared sometimes."

Matilda nodded, though she still looked uncertain. She looked around at the other boys, who were all watching her with concern.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, this time addressing all of them. "I didn't mean to freak out."

Liam crouched down beside Harry, his expression softening. "Don't apologize, Matilda. We're all here for you. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can talk to us, okay?"

Zayn, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, don't keep it bottled up. We've all had our moments. You're not alone in this."

Niall offered a small smile. "We're a team, right? We've got your back."

Louis could see the doubt in her eyes, and it pained him to think she felt this way-like she had to be perfect, like she couldn't show any weakness.

"Remember what I told you when you joined us?" Louis asked, his voice softening even more. "That you're part of this family now, yeah? That means you don't have to carry everything on your own. We've got you."

She sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I just... I didn't want to let you guys down."

"You could never let us down," Louis assured her, his tone firm. "We're all so proud of you, Matty. And I'm proud of you for being strong enough to let me in, yeah?"

Matilda managed a small smile, though it was still tinged with vulnerability. "Thanks, Louis. I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Louis smiled back, brushing a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb. "You don't have to think about that, love, because I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me."

That finally got a little laugh out of her, and Louis felt a surge of relief.

"Come on," he said, standing and holding out his hand to her. "Let's go get some fresh air before the show. A little walk might help, yeah?"

As they walked out of the room and down the quiet hallway, Louis kept her close, his arm draped protectively over her shoulders.

"Remember," he said as they made their way outside, "no matter what happens tonight, we're in this together. You're not alone, Matty. You've got me, and you've got the boys, even if they're a bit rubbish at showing it sometimes."

Matilda nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the summer evening air. "I know. Thanks, Lou."

Louis gave her a gentle squeeze. "Anytime, love. Anytime."

----------------------------------------------

HEY GUYS!

Hope you like it!

How are y'all?

I'm currently working on two one shot books at the moment. One is this one and second one is Sickfics/ Hurtfics of Louis Tomlinson!

If anyone have any requests for any of these books please let me know!

Don't forget to vote, comment on share your views with me!

Take Care

AUTHOR ♡