Mutual

Chapter Four

Hannah's POV:

A car horn beeps outside my house. Brooklyn's here. I spent all morning getting ready on call to Andy, and I mostly am ready, but I need to do my hair. I was going to braid it but to save time I decide to pull a brush through it and shove it up into a ponytail. It looks fine I guess. I grab my bag and peg it down the stairs.
"See you in a bit, Tom!" I yell.
"Text me when you're ready to regroup!"
"Will do!"

I yank on my boots and walk out of the door. It's quite cold today, as it's the end of autumn, but it's not raining so I leave my coat behind. I'm wearing ankle boots, blacky ripped skinny jeans and a camel woolly jumper, tucked in. I spot Brooklyn's car and walk towards it, before jumping in beside him. He gives me a quick hug.
"Hey, Hannah. How are you?"
"I'm good thanks, maybe a little anxious I must warn you, but nothing new there. And you?"
"Yes I'm good.  I'm sorry about that, is there anything I can do? I'm going to order ahead on the costa app, so it can be ready when we get there. What would you like?"
"Hmm, I may have to be extra with a salted caramel crunch, please? And no, it's okay. It's normal for me."
"That sucks. I'm going to make it my life goal to ease you of that as much as possible. I hope that soon you become comfortable with me."
We arrive at Costa and pick up our drinks. Brook leads me over to a table and we sit down. "Speaking of comfort, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable the other day."
"No no, it's fine. It was me. So, I guess I should probably tell you."
"Tell me what? Are you okay?" A sincere, worried look passes over his eyes.
"I am mostly, yes. So, umm. I suffer with really bad anxiety. I can't believe I'm saying this. I like you, and I didn't think I'd ever be in a position to cuddle up to you, and when you did, I got a bit overwhelmed and had a panic attack."
"I'm sorry. You don't deserve this. Thank you for telling me." he reaches for my hand over the table.
"You deserved to know."
"Wait, hold on a minute, did you say you liked me?"
"Well... I know we just met and all, but the vibe with you is just so different. I don't know how to-"
"I like you too."
I nearly choke on my drink at this remark."You what?" I splutter.
"I said that I like you too."

"I can't believe you won! I call bullshit!" Rye cries out.
"You always win." Andy laughs.
"So? Would've been nice to win again."
"You only won, Andy, because I let you."
"Yeah yeah, whatever. How about we all go back to ours and order pizza and watch a movie. My treat."
"Only fair because you won." Sonny says.
"Can I pick the movie because I came second?"
"Of course you can, Tom."
"Oh so all I get for winning is to pay for something?"
"Yep." Jack notes. "I'm always the one paying."
"Get out of it! You don't pay for yourself let alone anybody else."
Andy and Jack all the way back to the car park. There are seven of us and two cars. Rye gets in his car with Andy and Thomas. I get in Brook's car with Jack and Sonny. I lay my head on the window, and before I know it, I'm asleep.

I wake up and I'm still in the car. Only, the car is driving itself. I look around and realise I'm in a forest. Shit. I need to get out before I crash. I try and open the door. Locked. I scream for help.  Undoing my seatbelt, I start looking around the car for something to break the window with. There's nothing. I unbuckle my belt and use the metal part to break the window and glass flies everywhere. There's a sharp stinging sensation in my left hand where I have glass in my hand. I know time is running out as the car speeds up. Fuck! I'm headed straight towards a tree. I scrunch myself up in a ball and brace for impact. A voice in the distance calls out my name.
"I'm gonna die! Help me!"
"Hannah! wake up!"

I open my eyes to see Brooklyn shaking me.
"Are you okay? You were thrashing around and screaming. You somehow managed to cut your hand. Lord knows what on."
"Thank god it was just a dream. I'm sorry. I'll be okay." I grab a tissue from my bag and wipe my hand. The cut isn't too deep. Brook takes my hand.
"We're here now anyway."
I get out and Jack hugs me.
"You really scared me in there. What were you dreaming about?"
"I'm sorry. I was in a car that was driving itself through a forest and I couldn't get out."
"I wonder what that means? Maybe it feels like you're life is going too fast and you're trapped?"
"To be honest, I do a little. A lot has happened recently. I went through a messy breakup two months ago and my anxiety levels have been really high. I've got no job opportunities coming up and everything's on my mind. I feel so run down."
"I know you feel like shit, and it will probably continue to get worse, but once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up. Just know that we all love you so much - even if we did only just meet. We apparently got quite attached! But for real though, we're always here for you. I've always got a shoulder for you to cry on and an ear to listen to you. Don't ever feel like you're alone, because you're not. It will get better."
"Thanks, Jack. I love you."
"I love you too."
Jack hugs me one last time and then Brooklyn takes my hand and we go inside to join the others.

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