Mar-Vell College (Valkarol)

Panic attack

Carol was overwhelmed with stress. She was starting to worry her portfolio had gotten lost. Oh God if I have to start it again... no. That's out of the question.

She was trying to drown out all the thoughts by reading but she couldn't focus on the words infront of her.

Valkyrie lay on her bed with her earphones in but caught onto Carol's distress.

"You OK?" She asked as she took her earphones out.

"Yeah." Carol lied.

"You're a terrible liar." Valkyrie said narrowing her eyes.

"I know." Carol sighed as she sat up.

"Seriously, whats up?"

"I'm just kinda stressed about my portfolio. It still hasn't arrived. What if something happened to it? I would loose all my work and we're half way into the year so that would be the worst possible thing that could happen and-"

"I'm sure it will show." Valkyrie tried but tears were starting to form in Carol's eyes.

"What if it doesn't though?" She said, a tear running down her cheek.

"It's alright you just need to take a breather." Valkyrie said softly.

"Breathing is kinda hard right now." She said feeling the lack of oxygen to her head. Carol put a hand to her heart. "And my heart beat's out of control and I feel really dizzy." Carol said as she rested a hand on her bed to support herself. "I think I'm having a panic attack." She said shakily.

Valkyrie rushed to her side threw her arms around Carol's shoulders. She burried her head into Valkyrie's neck and clung to her t-shirt as she started to cry. Valkyrie rested her head on Carol's as they sat on her bed without a word exchanged. Valkyrie didn't need to say anything, instead she started stroking Carol's long hair comfortingly. Her being there was enough for Carol. It was all the support she needed.

Eventually her breathing steadied and she stopped crying. To Carol's gratefulness Valkyrie continued to hold her in her arms and stroke her hair gently.

"Sorry." Carol sniffed.

"Don't ever apologise for something like this, OK? Especially not to me." Valkyrie said firmly. "Deal?"

"Deal." Carol smiled softly. "Thanks, this helps."

"It's alright. I know panic attacks are the absolute worst."

"You've had one before?"

"Before my first game, in the changing room toilets. I sat there, a crying mess, and there was no one to help me. I'll always remember how horrible that was and I'd hate for that to happen to you." Carol didn't reply and instead gripped her shirt tighter. Valkyrie noticed. "I'm not going anywhere." She said reassuringly.

"Can we just stay like this for a while?" Carol asked hopefully.

"Of course. Whatever you need."

A few minutes later, Valkyrie felt Carol drift off to sleep in her arms, despite it only being nine o'clock. She must be exhauated. She seemed so peaceful Valkyrie didn't want to wake her.

Gently, Valkyrie lay her down on her bed. She had hated seeing Carol so distressed. She deserved to be as calm as she was in that moment. Laying there like nothing could ever bother her.

As Valkyrie got up from Carol's bed she felt a hand cling onto her shirt. Carol mumbled something inaudibly and Valkyrie took the hint. She slowly lay down next to Carol and moved her blonde hair out of her face, careful not to wake her. She put her arm around Carol and soon found herself falling asleep.

***

Carol woke up and instantly felt an arm around her waist. She froze before realising it was Valkyrie. She soon relaxed into the bed more with a smile on her face. Memories of the night before came back to her and Carol smiled even more. She didn't really take Valkyrie for a hugger but the smaller girl hadn't hesitated to comfort her when Carol needed it.

Valkyrie was right. Panic attacks were the absolute worst but she had made it bearable.

Carol felt Valkyrie wake up and instincivly pretended to be asleep.

"You OK?" She asked. Damm. Carol thought, hoping they could stay as they were for a while longer.

"Yeah, I don't remember falling asleep." Carol said.

"Crying is tiering." Valkyrie replied simply. She subtly removed her arm from Carol's waist, much to her disappointment.

"It's only seven? I'm gonna take a shower." Valkyrie said as she sauntered to her bed and picked up some clothes.

Or you could stay here. Carol thought as she moved onto her back but Valkyrie was already opening the door. She smiled at Carol as she closed the door behind her.

Carol sighed and placed her hand on the pillow where Valkyrie's head had been resting. She wished she could of woken up sooner so she could treasure the moment with Valkyrie longer.