A bit different

Twenty two

Even though Peyton had said he wanted everything to go back to how it was he couldn't help it. Erica was stuck in his mind, and not just Erica as Erica. It was sort of just her name, it was like it had glued itself inside of Peyton's brain and all he could think about was the name, 'Erica.'

It was frustrating because every word he wanted to say he nearly said Erica instead, it was just a loop of constantly reapting the name. It was like a chant that he couldn't stop, on going until the word would consume him.

His therapist from a while back had helped him before with this, she said how autistic people sometimes can hear a phrase or a word and it gets stuck in their mind. It doesn't leave and they constantly think about it, reapting it over and over until it gets too much.

He looked up from the table when he heard laughter, and of course there she was. With her group of friends. Luckily Cole wasn't with her, he wasn't at college today as he didn't have any lessons. But come to think of it Cole never hung around with Erica before, so maybe they weren't still friends.

Maybe that was it with them.

His fingers stretch in and out of his hand, like he's making a fist and then uncurling his fingers. Then he starts tapping on the table with each individual finger slowly as his stare is still on the blonde haired girl.

Erica

Erica

He closed his eyes for a second, trying to rid the name from his head.

Erica

But it was out of his control.

Erica

Erica

Erica

He couldn't help saying the name over and over again, even when he tried to stop his brain he couldn't. It was like his mind was acting on it's own, just not shutting up.

It almost gave him a head ache.

Erica

Erica

He can remember when he was younger and he heard his dad shout to Kai, "he's an idiot!" They were sat in the living room, Peyton on the floor with his hands against his ears. He heard lightning a moment before and it had startled the boy, he started to panic as it wouldn't stop. He was screaming at the sky through the window to be quiet, he wanted silence but the sky wouldn't listen.

Erica. Erica. Erica. Erica. Erica.

He could hear Kai comforting him besides him as he rubbed his back in a soothing way, trying to stop the ongoing meltdown.

But he's the only one who tried helping. His dad on the other hand was yelling at him, calling him many horrible names and how he was being dramatic or overreacting.

So, when Peyton heard his dad shout "He's an idiot!" Directed at Peyton, the phrase repeated in his mind for days after.

He accidently blurted it out in class once and all the kids started laughing at him, how he didn't have control over his own mind or what he said.

But that's just because it was stuck in his brain and he had to get it out.

So now, with 'Erica' stuck in his brain he had to get it out somehow. "Erica!" His eyes widen at that, he didn't mean actually get it out but I guess that works. His voice was loud enough to turn a couple heads, Erica's included.

He can feel his cheeks start to warm as the embarrassment settles in, Erica starts to walk to him and his eyes widen more. Well he didn't want that! Stay back!