Teach Me Something New

Chapter 12

Walking into school, was nerve-wracking. I did notice that a few people were looking at me and whispering to their friends, but Joy kept reminding me to keep cool and relaxed.

As we got our lockers we quickly get everything we needed for our first lessons. I looked at my timetable, I noticed that my first class was with Mr White, so I didn't stress about going to his office first, he would understand, hopefully.

"Ready?" I asked Joy, taking my bag from her, slinging it onto my back before shutting and locking my locker.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that." She said, smiling, "Let's go this."

Shutting and locking her locker, we made our way through the thinning crowd to our English class.

Sitting down in our usual chairs, the majority of the class was already there sitting on tables, in groups gossiping, I did notice people looking at me whispers, like people in the hallway.

I looked at Joy to find she was already looking at me, concerned. I give her a small thumbs up and smile showing that I'm okay, and pulled out my earphones and plugged them into my phone before putting them into my ears, playing some Falling in Reverse, zoning out from reality.

But not before long, Mr White and the rest of the class came in, walking past, Mr White tapped my table, signalling me to turn off my music and listen up. Doing so, I looked up at his desk, to find him looking at me, worried. I gave him a slight nod to show I'm fine, which he returned with a smile before turning to the class, calling attention and doing the roll call.

All through class, I was distracted, busy thinking about being back, having to see Mr White and the likelihood of running into Natasha. It was a lot to think about, and I could feel myself spiralling.

I started hyperventilating, breathing became more and more difficult. Then it kicked in, I was having a panic attack.

I couldn't breathe, I stood up, clutching onto my crutches getting out as fast as I can, forgetting my bag and books.

Once out of the room, I got a little way down the hall before collapsing, gasping for air. I felt like I was drowning.

I didn't hear Joy leave the class when she rested a hand on my shoulder, scaring me until I noticed it was her.

"Breathe, it's okay Shadow, breathe with me. In. Out..." Everything that she said sounded muffled, but I followed her breathing like she said. It helped a little bit, enough for me to stand up.

"Thank...you," I say, breathing deeply, a cold sweat covering me.

"Here's your bag, Mr White let us go for the rest of the less. Would you be able to go to your next class?" She asked, handing me my bag.

"I think I can handle it, Janette will be there so I have someone if anything goes wrong," I add, giving her a small soft smile, trying to show that I'm okay, if she believed it I wouldn't know.

"Okay, well text me if anything happens. Do you want Joe to know what happened?" She asked.

"Will do, and no thanks, he will only worry and that isn't good," I explain, knowing how Joe would be, he tends to overreact, but it's because he cares.

"Come on, let's start heading towards your class, no rush we have time," Joy said as we started walking.

"Let's head to our lockers first, since they're along the way," I advise, Joy nodded, agreeing since we did have a lot of time.

* * * * *

In Photography Janette sat next to me, talking about her weekend since I banded school topics, mainly the times when I wasn't here, like last week. After this morning, the panic attack and how my anxiety has been, I don't want another relapse.