Finding a Twin

Chapter 8 : School stress

Chapter 8

Later...

Jeff POV

I was feeling so anxious for school tomorrow, and by the end of my shower, I felt a panic attack coming on. I quickly pulled on my underwear and my pajama bottoms. It was starting to feel like I couldn't breathe. And that was the scary part.

I opened the bathroom door.

"R-Riker!?"

Riker came out of his room. As soon as he saw me, he came running towards me. He shut the bathroom door, and made me sit down.

"What's wrong!? Is it a panic attack!?"

I nodded.

"Ok, ok... Um... I still don't really know what to do..."

"I c-can't b-breathe, R-Riker!"

"Ok, ok uh... maybe lay down? Here. Lay down in my lap. Just try to take some slower breaths."

I laid down in Riker's lap. And I grabbed both of his hands tight.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's ok. There's nothing to be afraid of. Just try to take deep breaths, ok?"

I was squeezing his hands so tight in mine, trying my hardest to calm down. But I was hyperventilating, and it just felt like I was suffocating.

I rolled off of Riker's lap, and curled into a ball, trying to get air in my lungs.

"Come on, Jeff. You have to breathe slower. I feel like you're going to pass out or something."

It honestly felt like I was about to pass out. I felt so light headed.

I looked back up at Riker, and he looked extremely worried. He was scrolling through his phone really fast.

"Come on, Jeff. Please calm down. I don't know what to do!"

I made myself get up, and I crawled onto Riker's lap again, and wrapped my arms and legs around him, holding on tight. He wrapped his arms around me too.

"Ok, come on. Come on. Come on. You're ok. I promise."

My body finally started calming down. My breathing slowed down enough that I started to cry. I literally hate panic attacks so much.

"Hey. You're ok," Riker said quietly, rubbing my back.

I stayed in his arms until I was completely calm again.

"You ok?" Riker asked, breaking the silence.

"I think so..." I whispered.

"Ok, good. You keep scaring me so bad!" Riker said, sighing.

"How do you think I feel?"

"Yeah, probably a lot worse..."

Riker handed me my pajama shirt, and I put it on. He walked me back to our room. After I put my clothes away, I sat on the end of his bed. I still felt sort of anxious inside. My stomach was in knots, and I felt sick.

"So um... If you don't mind me asking... Why'd you have a panic attack?"

"School."

"School? Are you worried for tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"Jeff, we have a bunch of classes together. You'll be fine. I'll keep you safe, ok? I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Riker, I'm going to throw up!"

"Oh gosh..."

Riker got me the garbage can, and I started throwing up. Riker sat next to me, rubbing my back until I was finished.