Laps Around The Sun

Chapter Two

Her head lay heavy on her hands as she listened to the teacher drill on about how the nitrogen cycle circulates around ecosystems. The teacher drew what looked like blobs on the pristine whiteboard. It was all eyes drooping and slow breaths until she heard the one thing she hated murmur from her teachers' lips.

 "Group work". 

For a normal person, it would be shrugged off with a groan of annoyance and they would get it over and done with. Billie was another story. Heart pounding quickened breaths. Today was not her day. Trying to slow her breaths she had a mental battle with herself.

  Don't do this. It's okay, no it's not. I can't do this. Nope Nah, no way. NOT happening. I've got to get out of here.

She rushed out of her seat and picked up her school books. Handing the small pass to the teacher. She went through the door as it slammed behind her. The hallway seemed to be a complete blur has she somehow made it to her locker. Feeling extreme dizziness she slid down the locker and sloppily put her books beside her. Head in hands she desperately tried to control her breathing. 

Breath in, wait. Breath out. breath in, wait. Breathe out.

 She felt a hand on her shoulder as her vision widened, she noticed it was a familiar dark brown-headed teen. 

"Hey, I'm here, it's alright. Try and focus on me okay." He said with a soft voice. 

She brought her head out of her knees and glanced up. Her eyes inched over his face and his expression of concern. Staring into his green eyes her breathing became slower.

 " I, I" she tried to come up with something to say but nothing came to her mind.

 " how about we go out and get some fresh air" he suggested.

 Standing up he put her books on top of the locker with other mismatched objects and held his hand out. Grabbing a hold of it, he pulled her up. She tripped into his chest, as he pulled her a bit too hard. 

" Sorry," she said blushing and hid behind her long blonde hair. 

He shrugged and gestured for them to start walking. Sitting underneath the tree the two sat there silently in each other company. 

" thank you, no one has done what you did before.". she said shyly.

 " I know what an anxiety attack is like. I couldn't leave you there". He said with empathy behind his words.

" you know, I've never met someone like me. In that way at least"

" I don't think I have either. I recognise you from somewhere. Oh, I know. You work at the Bridgeton café!"

Awkwardly chuckling she nodded. She laid her head down on the grass and looked up at the tree leaves that had beams of sunlight shining through. Fiddling with the grass in her hands she sighed.

" got something on your mind," he asked her looking down at her crinkled forehead.

" I just wish my body wouldn't explode with panic. I suppose there are worse things that I could have but if I could choose not to have it I wouldn't"

" I guess that's hard to answer. As we don't get to pick what life gives us. Since we are discussing deep life questions It wouldn't hurt to ask what your name is?". He said with a smile.

"Callista Billie Rose Constantinides but call me Billie" she grimaced as she said her entire name thinking that she should have just said, Billie.

" well Callista Billie Rose Constantinides, my name is Carter Jones"

" Nice to meet you carter" jokingly she put her hand towards him and they shook hands.

In the distance, they could hear the bell for the next class to start. Standing up she offered her hand and pulled carter up.

"thank you, really, I appreciate you being with me".

" I would do it again and again"

As she walked towards her locker to pick up her books she said " bye carter"

"Bye Calli!"

" Hey, I thought I said to call me Billie."

" everyone else calls you that, I thought I could have my own nickname for you"

" still don't like it!" she shouted down the hall.

Chuckling he smiled at the shy girl walking down the hallway.

She jumped onto the couched with her dog Daisy. Scratching daisy head the tension in her body relaxed as the school day was over and she didn't have to deal with it in a while. She stretched over her little desk and turned her record player on. She opened her textbook and started on the assigned questions.

Billies mum Mia had just gotten off the phone with her science teacher and poured a drink of tea. She walked to Billies room and gently knocked on her door frame trying not to startle the girl. As she was engrossed in her homework. " Callista, the teacher called me saying that you had used a pass today" Billies mother looked at her with wrinkles creasing her forehead. " uh yeah about that"

" Do you need to see Pattie again?"

" No, it was just an off day. It won't happen again" she said bringing her attention back to her homework. Mia sighed at her daughter "alright".

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