Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 33 - Overdue

A/N: I promised you wholesome, and here it is! Dunno if this song works ^^^ but it really gave me some feels and helped write this so I gueeeeess??? Anyway, enjoy!

< Arin's POV >

Danny: I just came out to my mum

Arin: Whoa well done! :D

Danny: no no not well done I didn't mean to and im totally freaking out help I don't know what to do Arin what do you do when you think your gonna have a panic attack because im pretty much there dude

Arin: Oh okay, just breathe slowly. Don't let yourself hyperventilate and just try to focus on your breathing

Danny: okay okay no please its not working Arin please I don't know what to do can I call you I need to hear your voice please Arin I need your help I can't do this alone well not at all really oh fuck help please

Arin: Of course, go ahead

Arin could tell by his rambled texts that he was seriously panicking. She'd never seen Danny this bad, and she felt her own anxiety start to surface in response. She took a deep breath as the call popped up; he needed her to be calm for him.

Whether by accident or on purpose it was a video call. Arin accepted and instantly Danny's face appeared, a little close to the camera as he seemed to be curled in a sort of ball, his phone at the centre. The first thing Arin heard was his breathing, erratic despite his best efforts.

"Danny, hey," she said firmly to get his attention.

"Arin? Oh god oh man this is horrible."

"I-I know, but I'll help you through it. I'm here. Look at me, Danny."

Danny raised his head, blinking quickly as he looked at his phone screen. His eyes looked a bit glazed, probably courtesy of his hyperventilating, Arin thought. She needed to make sure he didn't pass out before she could truly calm him down.

"Hey, just listen to my voice and do as I say. I'm going to breathe with you, in and out, okay?"

Danny nodded.

Arin continued, "Okay. Breathe in with me, for 5 counts... Now hold for 3... And out again for 5, okay? In again for 5... Hold for 3."

She watched as Danny followed her, even closing his eyes at some point to focus fully on it. Eventually his hold on the phone stopped shaking so much and she could look at him closer. He looked less dazed, but still far from calm.

"Where are you right now?" Arin asked.

"In my room against the door so Debbie can't get in."

"O-Oh, sorry that was meant to distract you, I didn't mean, um-"

"No, no it's fine. Thanks for helping me though. Totally would have had a panic attack if it wasn't for you..."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Um... I dunno."

"Well, what happened? I barely just got home, how did it happen so quickly?"

"I don't know Arin, she was just asking a bunch of questions about yesterday, and then she wouldn't stop using the wrong name. Then I snapped, ugh... It just all came out in the moment!"

He ruffled his hair so that it covered his face somewhat as he sighed and Arin felt her heart hurting. Danny was a kind, funny person, he didn't deserve all this.

"Are you going to talk to her about it?"

"And say what, Arin? She'll just ask more questions, and I'll just get mad at her again! You're lucky, you've got everything figured out with who you are... 17 years and I'm still trying to figure all that crap out."