Finding Myself Again (Adopted by Markiplier)

~ten~

~slow down. 

"Bye, Mark and Ethan!" I yelled out to the pair that was in the car as I shut the red door and headed up the parking lot to my school. I got there well before the bell rang because they were ready to leave as soon as I was ready. Mark and Ethan are filming all day for Unus Annus, and one of their videos included going to goat yoga, whatever that is, so they just dropped me off at school before they left. Ethan is a really chill dude, and honestly funnier than Mark. Apparently, he had a cousin my age that was transferring to Lake View next school year, which I find odd because his family is in Maine, but whatever. 

When I walked up to my locker, Luke was waiting for me, but my best friends were nowhere in sight. "Hey," I said to him, he put his phone in his pocket and leaned down to kiss me. Just a peck, I hate PDA and he knows and respects it.

 "Where's Em and Mads? I could've brought them down to meet Mark." He chuckled at me, "Their cycles synced up and they didn't wanna be bugged by the crowds of freshman that somehow find some way to annoy them so they went to class early." 

"Ah, they're moods honestly," Interrupting our conversation, my math teacher came up to us.

"Karli, you're needed in the office, you left your phone in the car," I cringed, that meant one of the very famous people that dropped me off had to have walked into the school. During one of the most crowded times of the day. Shit. Nonetheless, I thanked my teacher for telling me, gave a quick 'see you later' to Luke, and trodded down the halls. 

With each step I took, my heart raced faster against my chest. I really could've gone without my phone, it's not like I was gonna be on it at all, I don't see why they felt the need to. As I approached the office, the halls were slightly louder than they normally would. I spotted a lean brunette talking to the receptionist, and judging by the look on her face, she was a fan. 

"Hey Ethan," I squeaked out, interrupting their conversation, which the attention turned to me. In fact, all of the attention around turned to me. I guess people were wondering why I so nonchalantly walked up to him. 

"Hey, Karls! Here's your phone, we didn't notice it until a spam number called. Mark also wanted me to tell you that we're picking you up when they regularly release you guys. You get out early already, right?" I nodded, feeling a blush creep up on my cheeks. It's like everyone started staring directly at me because I literally felt their eyes burning into my skull.

"Perfect, because I think the goat yoga video might take a while. Anyways, I'll see you later!" He gave me a quick hug before leaving. Automatically people kept coming up to me, badgering with questions that I didn't know how to answer. I stepped out of the office and into the hallway. "Okay shush!" They all got quiet, "My parents are in the hospital right now, word spreads, so I'm pretty sure you already knew that. Mark, who you all know as Markiplier, is a friend of my dad's, so I'm staying at his place until my parents are out. That's it. I'm not answering questions, because all I wanna do is take my test and get out of here. So, if you'll excuse me, I'll be doing just that." I pushed through the crowd, anxiously fixing my hair as I finally got back to my class. 

I unlocked my phone and texted Mark. 

Me: Ethan caused quite an uproar, wish me luck smh 

I didn't wait for his response before I turned off my phone and put it with the other phones that sat in a black container on my teacher's desk, the test started soon anyways. 

"Pst!" Emily's voice rang through the slightly loud classroom. I turned to my left and looked at my best friend who sat a few rows over from me. 

"What?" I whispered loud enough for her to hear because the noise was starting to die down a bit. "What was that all about?" 

"I'll tell you later, I'm staying longer today." I sighed, getting tired of all the questions. She nodded right as the testing session started. 

I stared at the screen trying to read the passages. I clicked the best answers as I possibly can. I'm a terrible test taker in every subject except English, but I can't seem to concentrate. There's a nagging feeling on my fingertips and I can't exactly figure out what it is. I sighed as I clicked the final answer, and then swiftly shut the lid to my Chromebook. Nervously, I fixed the bottom of the dress I was wearing, tracing the pattern over and over again. I wasn't the first one finished, but I wasn't the last, either. Which is surprising, it's been two and a half hours since we started the test.

The classroom phone rang, which made me flinch slightly, scaring me out of my thoughts. I watched as my teacher quietly picked up the phone that was attached to the wall with a black cord. I adverted my eyes to the window I sat next to. It was starting to get cloudy, which doesn't happen often, I'm sure the clouds will pass soon. The wind picked up, pushing the white fluff towards another area of town, and the sun shined into the classroom once again. I was brought out of my thoughts once more when my teacher approached me. 

"You're leaving again sweetie, normally we don't let students out while testing is in session, but it's urgent." She whispered into my ear so that only I could hear. I nodded, and quietly got up, grabbed my phone out of the container, and left the room. 

For the second time today, my heart was racing out of my chest. What was so urgent that Mark needed to pull me out earlier than what was normally allowed? 

I turned the corner once again, and I saw Mark standing by the school doors, tapping his foot rapidly against the floor, anxiously waiting for me. 

"Hey," he spoke in a hushed tone, "I already signed you out, something happened at the hospital. I'll explain on the way." He gently grabbed my arm and led me out of the school. Tears started to prick my eyes as I tried to keep up with him. When we got to his car, Ethan was in the passenger seat like he was this morning, so I climbed in the backseat. I guess their filming got cut short. 

My hands shook wildly as I tried to clip my seatbelt in. I heard the familiar click before I spoke. 

"What happened? Are they okay?" I saw Ethan give me worried eyes through the right side mirror. Mark pulled out of the parking lot and got on the highway towards the hospital. 

"Your mom had a mild seizure, the doctors eventually got it under control, but they aren't sure she'll wake up at this point. Shortly after, the stress of seeing your mom caused your dad a heart attack, which put him back to where he was before." I stayed silent, tears poured down my face, completely ruining my makeup. My entire body started shaking, regret filling my senses. 

"It should've been me. I shouldn't have let them gone." I muttered to myself, it barely came out as a whisper. "Shit, why couldn't it have been me?" 

"Mark, pull over for a second," Ethan instructed Mark, in which he didn't question. When the car stopped, Ethan quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed into the back with me. When he sat down, Mark got back on the highway again. He wrapped his arms around my body, and at that moment I completely broke down. I was no longer silently crying, sobs rained out of me. Ethan tried to calm me down but nothing was working. 

"Sh, you're hyperventilating, stop breathing so fast." 

"I- I can't, I can't get control," He hugged me tighter against his chest, his silver bracelet" slightly jingling with the force of my body shaking. 

"Do you normally shake like this, Karli?" I nodded, "Shit, she's having an anxiety attack, her therapist warned me about the shaking." Mark interrupted. He dug through the glove compartment and grabbed the extra Prozac, I'm allowed to take it when I'm having attacks along with my regular daily dose. Mark handed Ethan the orange bottle, and Ethan gave me a pill and an extra water bottle they had. I gratefully took both and swallowed the pill swiftly with a gulp of water. 

"Thanks, Ethan," He stroked my back as a response. It took the entire ride to the hospital for me to calm down. 

We approached the building for the billionth time.