when we collided [e.s.]

Six

Audrey's POV

No one comes in to the shop for the rest of the day. It's kind of nice, Ed has a few board games stashed away in various hiding places, which of course makes me wonder how much shit he has hidden here. I don't know why everyone always bashes board games, they're so much fun.

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Two weeks pass with the same basic procedure. Wake up, scramble to campus, go home, eat a granola bar, change clothes, go to work, come home, finish work, then sleep. Me and Ed have daily conversations about the news, music, (with the reoccuring topic of Ed's notebook, which to my dismay, is still locked away in the safe), and sometimes we even talk about Cassie. It's really great having another friend here besides Cassie, because we all know she has her moments.

And then something happened.

On my way home I notice that the flower shop has finally been shut down. What a shame. It would have been nice to go in there every once and a while after work. I'm about to walk across the street when my phone buzzes. It's an unknown caller. No. I press ignore and shove my phone deep into my coat pocket and hug my arms around my waist. It's only 9:00, but there really aren't that many people out tonight. What is it, wendesday? I tug my knit hat closer over my ears and try to concentrate on crossing the street. My phone buzzes again. I quickly shove around in my pocket and hit ignore, then cram it back in. It feels like it's getting darker by the minute. A shiver runs through my body as I realize how ghostly it is around here. I look behind me and spot Ed, locking the doors to the shop and sticking them in his back pocket. Would it be weird to...

"Ed?" I say, my voice echoing off of the vacant buildings. He turns to see me, probably a little ball of afraid walking towards him in the cold October air. "Audrey?" He answers, nervously walking towards me. My cell phone rings again and I feel hot tears sting my cheeks as I pull it out once more and hit ignore. Oh god, I think this is a nervous breakdown. Oh my god. I struggle to speak as we are now face to face and my light jacket is pressing against me with wind force. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asks, putting his hands on each of my shoulders. "It feels like my scarf is suffocating me," are the only words that come to my lips. He quickly unwraps the scarf and sits me down on a nearby bench. "Audrey, relax," he says, watching me start to hyperventilate. I recognize this face, it's the same face my therapist used to make when she had to come over to my house to calm me down as a kid. My mom would freak out and my dad would sit outside with a beer until they managed to sort me out. It would take hours sometimes. This must be terribly taxing for Ed. I'm an awful person for dragging him into this. He rubs my back and I grab his hand tightly as I gasp for a breath of air. "Oh my god Audrey, should I call a medic?" He asks nervously, brushing the strands of hair in my face behind my ears so they're out of the way. I take that as more of a friendly gesture than anything and I'm thankful he was here when this happened. "I'll be... Fine in a minute," I say through long breathes of air finally flowing through my lungs. My phone buzzes again, and the tears streak down my hot cheeks again. Just the thought of him makes me want to scream. I release Ed's hand and just crush my body into his, my arms clutching his back almost for dear life. He does the same to comfort me and continues to rub my back. "Audrey I really think you need to see a doctor," Ed whispers. "Just walk me home," I whimper, standing up with support from Ed. I'm clutching his shoulder as we hobble down the path together. It's funny how the dark doesn't seem so dark anymore with someone to comfort you.

AN: Sorry guys, short one. Hope you enjoyed. :)