One Deep Breath

Chapter Eight

Monday's classes seemed to fly by for Jolie, and before she knew it she was back in her room for the night, over analyzing all of her outfit choices for the following morning.

She settled on her black pencil skirt with a pretty white button up embellished with sleek black lace trim. It was pretty yet professional, and perfect for combining a work day with a mini coffee-date rendezvous.

She hadn't mentioned her early morning plans to anyone, partially because she knew talking about it would make her more nervous than she already was and partially because she wasn't sure if she should feel guilty about it or not.

Landon hadn't called or texted once since hanging up on her, and Jolie had no desire to speak to him either. She sensed they were falling right back into one of their off phases, where they wouldn't actually speak for a week or two until someone (usually Jolie) would cave and apologize.

But this go around something felt different, and while she couldn't quite put her finger on it, she felt stronger somehow in putting her own feelings in front of Landon's for a change.

Feeling apprehensive, Jolie willed herself to sleep.

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At exactly 3:17am, Jolie jolted awake, her heart pounding, pulse racing and hair damp with sweat. Whatever nightmare had caused it all was already long gone and forgotten, while confusion and fear overtook her as she was launched into one of her mid-night panic attacks.

Desperate for one deep breath Jolie sat upright in her bed, clutching her chest with her left hand and grabbing for her phone with her right. Looking over at her sound asleep roommate, she debated waking her before quickly disregarding the idea.

The weight of the world felt settled onto her chest, as it always does whenever she's in the middle of one of her episodes. Once again she found herself absolutely petrified, wondering if this was it or if it really was just another panic attack.

Talking herself down, she started in on her breathing techniques, reminding herself that she had been in this situation before; that she had lived through this many times before now. This time would be no different than all the rest.

Even thirty minutes later, when the storm had passed and she had calmed herself down, sleep wasn't an option.

Her mind raced and worried, considering a million different things she shouldn't be concerned about but somehow was. And the more she thought about not getting any sleep before having to get up for the day, the more awake she became.

At 5:36am, she surrendered to her sleepless night and got up to shower, putting her defeat on the shelf and focusing on a new day.

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Jolie headed up to the coffee shop early, hoping that if she could get some caffeine in her system maybe she'd look a little bit more awake. She did her best with her makeup but she still looked tired, with faint under eye circles still slightly visible.

Parking her car in the lot a half hour ahead of schedule, she walked steadily in her sleek black pumps, waltzing through the doors in her carefully planned outfit.

What she wasn't expecting was to see Jesse there already, seated at a table in the corner, talking quietly on his cellphone.

Jolie froze by the entrance, her plan to collect herself before seeing him out the window. She remembered immediately why she was so affected by him; he looked like he had just walked off a shoot for GQ in his perfectly tailored grey suit.