You know how everyone always says that your thoughts can either be your best friend or your worst enemy? Well, for Oliver, it was the latter. He hated his thoughts; they always brought out his worst fears. As he sat at his "specially made intern desk" he couldn't help but think back to when Elaine had called him earlier that day and how he had felt a panic start in his stomach.
Gut wrenching fear of what she would tell him when they met. He knew the way her family was. He knew she had a short fuse, and he knew everything angered her lately. His thoughts laughed at him as he drifted to the idea of her running away and just leaving the world behind. Leaving him behind. He couldn't stand the idea of being alone again. He needed Elaine more than she could even imagine.
He felt his breath quicken and his vision go blurry. He tried to steady his shaking body by holding onto the counter beside him. His chest felt heavy, as if he just came back from running a marathon.
A panic attack. He felt his head spinning and he knew he would start crying any second. He did what his mother had taught him years prior; deep breath in, slow breath out. Focus on your breathing instead of the unstoppable thoughts.
After finally regaining his posture, he took a last deep breath and stood to his feet. He picked up the papers on his desk and brought them to his manager as his last trip for the day. Gathering his things, he dismissed himself and started making his way towards Elaine's house. "Calm down, Oliver.. She wouldn't leave without you. You're best friends."
He stopped walking as he saw said girl walking towards him. Staring down at her phone, her music loud enough that she couldn't hear what was happening around her. Oliver found it endearing as he chuckled softly, placing a hand on her shoulder as she walked up to him. She jumped slightly with a bit of fear in her eyes then sighed of relief and slid her earbuds off, pausing her music. "Shit, Oliver! You scared me." She sighed, not able to look up into his eyes.
His smile fell immediately, knowing that something wasn't right. "What's wrong?"
"I want to leave." She paused, looking frustrated as she thought of the right words to say. "Come with me."
