Flower ((A Dan Howell Fanfiction))

Chapter Twelve:

Emily was concerned when I came rushing into the house, accidentally slamming the door behind me.

"Chrys? Are you okay?"

Her question was answered when she saw me sitting in front of the door, tears rolling down my face.

Adam was behind her, and Xander was coming down the stairs when she hurried to kneel in front of me.

"Please don't tell my mom," was all I said before I let out a sob, taking in gasping breaths.

Emily was confused, constantly asking me what was wrong.

Xander pushed past her and took my hands in his, and I tried to pull away.

"Chrys," he said.

I looked at him, staring at him through blurry eyes.

"Chrys, listen to me. I am here. It's going to be fine. Just, relax. Breathe with me. In and out. In and out. In and out." He started to take calm, calculated breathes, urging me to mimic him. After a shaky minute, I followed his lead, and started to breathe in and out like him. My heart was starting to slow.

Involuntarily, my hands clenched, and I ended up clawing crescents into Xander's palms. He didn't so much as flinch.

Emily and Adam watched us, watched as their son helped calm down the stranger from America who had come to live with them. They watched in awe.

X and I stayed there on the floor for what felt like forever until he stood, dragging me up gently with him. Quietly, he gathered me in a hug. He held me until I stopped shaking.

"Adam," Emily whispered, "what is happening?"

Nobody says anything. When we pull apart, I'm relaxed.

"Thank you, X," I said to him.

Xander smiled. "I'm here whenever you need me."

My heart swelled and I tried to hold in all the sentimental tears because I'm a fucking bawl-baby, and nodded. Then, I walked past Emily and Adam and went upstairs to my room where I grabbed my pajamas and went into the bathroom. Just before I shut the door to the bathroom, I could hear Xander downstairs saying "Something gave her a panic attack. When I find out what, I'm going to destroy it. She is too pure and precious for this."

I was tearing up again, so I closed the door, closed off their lilting voices and sunk myself into a warm bath. Where I dissolved.

+++++++++++++++

I was terribly tired by the time I climbed into bed, wrapping myself into my comforter. My phone jangled as I finally relaxed and I grabbed it off my nightstand.

I turned on the screen and was startled by the jumbles of messages.

Six were from Tana; she also left two missed calls. I had one message from Phil, which seemed weird to me, and the rest of the messages were from Dan. Apprehensively, I check them all.

Tana: Hey, boo.

Tana: Chrys?

Tana: Chrys, please answer me.

Then Tana's two phone calls.

I made a mental note to call her after I checked the rest of my messages.

I checked Phil's message first.

Phil: Flower, please. Come back

I closed my eyes, and when I opened the, again, I had swept the message to the side, deleting it. No, Phil. I'm sorry.