Breathe

Chapter 3

I look away, and shuffle to my seat, afraid that the boy will berate me for staring at him. I don't want to get in any sort of drama, I know I wouldn't be able to handle it.

In the end I find a seat on the other side of the classroom, giving a small, weak smile to the girl who is sitting at the desk next to the empty one. She returns the smile, just a little more broad, and nods encouragingly at me.

"Hey!" She stated loudly, scaring me a little, "I'm Jemima! You can call me Jem if you want, your new here right? What's your name?" A little shocked by all the questions and attention, I place my bag down and sit in the chair before replying.

"Hey..." I breathe out slowly, picking up my courage, I have never been good at talking to people, it's not a strong point for me, "I'm Katie, yeah, I'm new..." I saw her face freeze for a second and again new what was coming, just like the reception lady, just like every person I have spoken too so far in the U.S.,

"OMG!!!" She squeals, drawing the attention of any student nearby, which just so happened to be half the class, "You're British! That is so adorable!" I bury my head into my arms and rest on the table, attempting to cover my face. This was so embarrassing.

My breathing picks up subtly, oh come on, not now, and I take in more oxygen. My heart rate quickens , sweat forms. Not now. Not now. Not now. I can not have an attack in my first lesson at my new school, that would be he worst thing I could think of.

Daniels POV.

My eyes are still following this mystery girl who I somehow managed to scare off, but it doesn't look like I'm the only one scaring her.

As she takes her seat across the class from me, much to my confused dismay, I can see, well hear, Jemima screaming her usual hello's.

Jemima is sweet and all, in fact she is going out with one of my closest friends, Peter, but she can be loud as fück. One time I actually duck taped her mouth shut on a camping trip because she would just not shut up!

The girl, I still don't know her name, takes out all her hastily packed up supplies before responding to the bombardment of questions.

Her voice is far too quiet for me to hear, much in contrast to Jemima, who almost immediately starts screaming once I see mystery girl stop talking.

"OMG! You're British! That's so adorable!" Jem squeals. Even I have to cover my ears from her high pitch voice, and I'm on the other side of the room, so when I look up and see mystery girl with her head in her arms on the desk, I'm not surprised.

I continue to stare at her while Jem babbles her nonsense from next to her. And it's not until a good few seconds later that I realize something.

Her breathing is rapid, the little bit of flesh showing is pale, and her hand are shaking on the table top.

She's panicking.

I know it all to well despite my so called bad boy fasçade. I also knew how to deal with them, so partially out of curiosity, partially out of wanting to help, and a little out of selfishness, I make my way out of my chair, through the thick throng of students, over bags and loose chairs, and to my mystery girl.

Katie's P.O.V.

I feel a familiar breath on my neck as I attempt to breathe once again. I feel hot, far too hot. I need to get out of this classroom, but where can I go?

I'm in a totally new environment with total strangers, one of which, the Jem girl, has already managed to cause me to panic. Not that I blame her, it's an easy thing to do, make me panic that is.

A hand gently squeezing my shoulder brings me out of my unresponsive haze. I want to lift my head, see who has either: noticed my panic symptoms and wants to help; or just want to ask the new girl out. Most likely the latter. I feel the hand lift of my shoulder, and shuffling round the small desk I'm stationed at.

The hand is quickly placed over my own, which is covering my head in an almost protective manner at this point.

"I need you to breathe for me ok? I'll get you outta here as soon as I can, I just need you to take a few deep breaths and focus on my voice, you got it?" An eerily familiar voice asks, I nod through my cocoon of protection, too deep in my panic to care who it is, just knowing I need to get out of here.