Beach Days

Chapter 8 - Promise?

Max's POV

*TRIGGER WARNING - if you are triggered by anxiety/panic attacks, please skip this chapter*

I felt as if I was slowly suffocating, like I had been plunged in cold dark water, pulled out, then plunged in again at rapid speed. Like I had swallowed water, the water quickly filling my lungs. I couldn't breathe, and tears prickled my eyes as I gasped, clutching my chest.

My head spun, I couldn't feel my legs, I felt as though the water had already closed over my head and the world around me was slow, eerie, I couldn't hear anything other than the sound of myself gasping for breath as I struggled to breathe in. 

It didn't help that his cold laughter kept ringing in my mind either.

The most frustrating thing? I didn't even remember who the guy was.

Then, faintly, through the intense buzzing in my ear, I heard Shannon's voice.

Up until then I had almost forgotten that she was there, but now she spoke calmly and firmly.

"Max, can I touch you?" She said, and I managed a jerky nod.

She gently took hold of my hand and guided it so it was over her chest.

"You can feel me breathing, right? Breathe with me, Max. In, and out. In, and out."

She took deep, deliberate breaths. Some small part of me that was clinging on to life obeyed her.

I still couldn't control the dizziness, or my difficulty to breathe, but I focused on that and that only. But I was struggling, and I was about to give up in frustration I felt her thumb brushing my hand still laying gently on her chest in soothing circles. 

I focused on that, and tried again. This time, I was making some progress.

"Okay, good. Keep breathing Max, everything is going to be okay." She said again, and finally, finally, the feeling passed.

I slumped down in my seat in the ferris wheel, closing my eyes and breathing heavily, when I felt a tug on my arm.

"I hate to do this to you just after you recovered but we have to get off in two seconds." Shannon said, not letting go of my hand. I nodded and slowly rose. My legs still didn't feel their best but I was able to get myself out of the little passenger car, and as soon as we got off that thing I found a bench to sit on, not bothering about explaining to the others what was wrong. They were all looking at the pair of us with questioning looks, as they hadn't been there when my panic attack happened.

I felt a bottle of water pushed into my hands and I drank it down gratefully.

"Hey Shannon, can we forget about this?" I asked, and she looked a little surprised before nodding.

"We can forget about it for now, but I'd like to talk to you later Max when we have some privacy." She said. I shook my head, frowning a little, but I knew that was the best thing I was going to get from Shannon.

Shannon's POV

The car ride home passed much quieter than the one to the amusement park. Abby, Samantha, Lily, and Jake were all passed out in the back and Max was quiet in the seat beside me. I had refused to let him drive.

None of the others knew what had happened but they were all smart enough to keep their mouths shut, although I could tell Abby was dying to get me alone and get the truth out of me.

God, it had been difficult seeing Max like that. I mean, we'd known each other for only a few weeks, and he was a royal pain in my ass but I would rather him bug me 24/7 than see that terrified look on his face again.