I'm With Her (girlxgirl)

Family Values

I stood there frozen, momentarily shocked at the gooey substance dripping down my face.

It's okay. You're okay. Just breathe in, breathe out. If you freak out, it'll make it worse.

My eyes remained closed as I stuck out my hand in what I hoped was Lauren's direction, "Napkin."

I felt the paper being frantically put in my hand and I wiped off the glob, silently thankful not a lot had gotten in my hair because that would have been a total nightmare. I was handed a couple more napkins and was able to get all of the pudding off my face but unfortunately, my clothes were still covered.

I felt a hand grab mine and drag me somewhere but I didn't dare open my eyes, embarrassment, and humiliation flooding my senses.

Oh my God. Everyone saw that. Who even did that?

Veronica. This would be something she would do and I now recognize one of the voices laughing was her.

My anxiety had returned full force and I was shaking violently when the person pulling me abruptly stopped and dragged me into a room. I slowly pried one eye open and saw that we were in the empty girl's bathroom. Lauren dragged me to the sink and sat me down on the counter and I was shaking so bad that I couldn't even appreciate the fact her touch sent lightning into my veins.

I heard the sink turn on and a wet paper towel was pressed against my head. Lauren's amber eyes looked at me, worried and angry, "Ally baby, you've got to stop shaking," I shivered again, "Baby, it's okay. I'm here. You're okay. Breathe with me. In,"

I sucked in the air as panic threatened to cut it off.

"Good, good. Now breathe out."

I exhaled forcefully trying to envision the anxiety going out with it. We did that a couple more times until I had stopped shaking and I realized from my wet cheeks that I had been crying too. I sniffled and wiped at my nose. Then the fact that I had just a full panic attack in front of someone I just met dawned on me.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen. I just felt it coming on and it came too quickly and-" Lauren cut me off with her embracing me, crushing me to her body.

"Stop apologizing," she said sternly, "I know a panic attack when I see one. I have a friend who gets them all the time. There's nothing to be sorry for,"

She stepped back slightly and I looked up and internally gasped. Her eyes were clear of their earlier worry and in its place was anger, "The only person who is going to be sorry is that smug bitch who threw it at you."

Lauren started to head for the door but I quickly scrambled to get in front of her, "Wait, wait. You are not about to start another fight because of me."

She seethed, "Watch me,"

I put my hands up and didn't move as she tried to go past me, "Lauren, I am fine. Seriously. I am not having you get in trouble because of me."

She stared at me, silence the only thing being spoken between us until finally she sighed and backed up. Rubbing at her face, she flashed a sheepish face, "Sorry about that. I just don't like it when people mess with my friends."

I chuckled and looked down realizing that my outfit was ruined. I pouted a little, my lip sticking out slightly, at having to walk around with pudding stains on my shirt for the rest of the day.

Lauren caught my attention by pointing at me, "No. Don't do that. You will bring empires down with that lip," she surveyed the damage done to my shirt and winced, "I have an extra uniform in my locker that you can borrow but it'll probably be way too big,"