Outerbanks Imagine

Asthma attack - Drew Starkey

The night was buzzing with excitement at Drew's place. You and some of the Outer Banks cast—Madelyn, Chase, Rudy, Madison, and, of course, Drew—had decided on a cozy game night. Laughter filled the room as you all sat around the coffee table, snacks scattered everywhere, and an intense game of *Charades* in full swing.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Chase groaned as you and Drew performed an over-the-top reenactment of a dramatic movie scene. Drew was on one knee, pretending to cry, while you dramatically clutched your chest.

"Romeo and Juliet!" Madison guessed, giggling at your performance.

You and Drew burst out laughing, giving each other a high-five. "Nailed it!" Drew said, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pressing a kiss to your temple.

"I can't believe we guessed that," you chuckled, leaning into his side, your face flushed with joy. The night was perfect—surrounded by friends and the guy you loved. It felt like nothing could go wrong.

---

You were in the middle of your turn, attempting to mime out *Titanic* when you felt a familiar tightness in your chest. At first, you tried to ignore it, forcing a smile as you clutched your hands together and pretended to be Jack and Rose at the edge of the ship. But the pressure increased, and soon, it felt like someone had tied a rope around your lungs, squeezing tight.

Drew noticed the sudden shift in your expression, his brows furrowing in concern. "Babe, you okay?" he asked, leaning closer to you.

You tried to answer, but your voice was barely a whisper. The room started to spin, and you could hear the muffled sounds of your friends laughing and shouting guesses. You took a shaky breath, but it felt like your lungs were filling with cement instead of air.

"Drew..." you gasped out, clutching at your chest as your knees buckled. You staggered backward, your hand reaching out for support.

Drew's face paled as he caught you in his arms. "Y/N? Hey, what's wrong?" He gently held your face, noticing how you were struggling to breathe. His eyes widened in panic. "Are you having an asthma attack?"

You nodded weakly, tears springing to your eyes. You tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. The only sound you could make was a desperate wheeze. Drew's heart raced as he realized what was happening.

"Her inhaler!" he shouted, looking around frantically. "Where's her inhaler?"

Madelyn's eyes went wide with fear, and she scrambled to her feet, searching through your bag. "I don't see it in here!" she yelled, dumping out the contents in a panic. "Y/N, where is it?"

You tried to answer, but you could barely breathe. Your vision blurred, dark spots dancing in your eyes as you clutched at Drew's shirt, the tightness in your chest becoming unbearable.

"Hey, hey, stay with me," Drew whispered, his voice shaking as he gently cupped your face. "Just breathe, baby. Try to breathe."

Chase ran to the kitchen, opening cabinets and drawers in a desperate search. "Does anyone have an inhaler? Anything?"

Rudy looked like he was about to cry, his hands shaking as he dialed 911. "We need an ambulance!" he shouted into the phone, his voice filled with panic. "My friend's having an asthma attack, and we can't find her inhaler!"

---

Drew's eyes locked onto yours, and he felt helpless, terrified. He hated seeing you in pain, struggling like this. He pressed his forehead to yours, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm right here, okay? I'm not leaving you. Just keep looking at me. We're going to get you through this."

You tried to focus on his voice, tried to cling to his words as he spoke softly, his thumbs brushing away the tears streaming down your cheeks. "I love you," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Just hold on, Y/N. Please."

Madelyn suddenly gasped, pulling out an inhaler from beneath the couch. "I found it!" she screamed, running over to you. She fumbled with it, her hands shaking as she handed it to Drew.

Drew quickly took the inhaler, positioning it against your lips. "Here, baby, take a deep breath," he said gently, pressing down on the canister. You inhaled shakily, the medicine hitting your lungs, but it wasn't enough. He pressed it again, his eyes never leaving yours.

Slowly, your breathing started to even out, the tightness in your chest easing up. You took a deep, ragged breath, collapsing against Drew's chest as he held you tightly, his entire body trembling with relief.

"Oh my God," you whispered, your voice hoarse as you buried your face in his neck. "I thought... I thought I was going to..."

"Shh, don't say that," Drew murmured, pressing a kiss to your hair. "You're okay now. I've got you. You're safe."

The room was eerily quiet as everyone watched the two of you, relief written across their faces. Madison had tears in her eyes, and Chase had his hands clasped together as if he'd just witnessed a miracle.

"Is she okay?" Rudy asked, his voice still shaking as he hung up the phone.

Drew nodded, still holding you close. "Yeah," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "She's okay."

Madelyn knelt beside you, her hand resting gently on your back. "Y/N, you scared us half to death," she said with a watery smile. "Are you sure you're okay?"

You nodded weakly, pulling back slightly to look at everyone. "Yeah," you croaked out, your voice barely above a whisper. "I'm okay. Thank you."

Drew pressed his lips to your forehead, holding you like he was afraid you might slip away again. "Let's get you to bed," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from your face. "You need to rest."

You nodded, exhausted from the ordeal. He helped you to your feet, his arm wrapped protectively around your waist as he guided you to his room. The others watched with soft, understanding smiles, relief still lingering in their eyes.

Once you were settled under the covers, Drew climbed in beside you, pulling you into his arms. You could feel his heart still racing, the fear of almost losing you lingering in the air.

"I'm so sorry," you whispered, your voice cracking. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Drew shook his head, pressing a kiss to your temple. "Don't apologize," he murmured, his hand running soothingly up and down your back. "I'm just glad you're okay. That's all that matters."

You snuggled closer to him, your head resting against his chest as you listened to the steady beat of his heart. "I love you," you whispered, your eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion washed over you.

Drew kissed the top of your head, his arms tightening around you. "I love you too, Y/N," he said softly. "More than anything."

As you drifted off to sleep, safe in his embrace, you knew that no matter what happened, Drew would always be there to hold you close and keep you safe—even in your most breathless moments.