Ezra & Frederick

Anxiety

Ezra was a simple person content with the little things in life like small family owned stores, thrift shops or libraries. The even smaller things like knowing everyone in his hometown, knowing where they work what they do for fun where they hang out and even their family. It was comforting to know the people around you wherever you go like one big family. Ezra is an introvert.

Frederick on the other hand was used to the big city and socializing with every person he saw. There would be someone waiting in line at the coffee shop and he could spark up a conversation easily. He was used to the big city to the rush of people around him and hardly ever having a moment of quite was normal. Fredrick is an extrovert.

That rush of people that he knew nothing about scared Ezra. So this is why.

Ezra is an introvert if you don't know what that is look it up because I won't be explaining. Okay well I will be explaining just in very brief detail.

Extroverts draw energy from people.
Introverts draw energy from being alone.
Introvert-Extrovert draw energy from people but need to be alone after to reset and recharge.

Being an introvert is different for everyone for Ezra his introvertedness sparks from over thinking. Like let's say Ezra wants to buy a drink at a convenient store his thought process would go a little like this.

'Okay so I just walk into the store pick the drink I want walk up and pay for it. Easy. So first walk in oh shoot there're are a lot of people here and they're right by the drinks. Okay that's fine I'll just get something where there isn't people. A bag of chips but I didn't want chips I wanted a drink. Oh come on people move away from drinks. Fine I'll just get the chips. Now pay, this line is so long and everyone is closing in on me. Don't talk to me please. You know what it's not worth it. I'm putting it back and I'm leaving.'

That's pretty much what happens every time. It's annoying over thinking things because you think about so many scenarios that aren't ever going to happen that you never do anything ever. So there you go the mind of an introvert also just because Ezra's mind likes to make things particularly difficult he gets anxiety about public or social situations. But Ezra has Frederick and is basically forced to do what he wants. So here we are today.

~~~

"Come on! It'll be fun!" Frederick pleaded from his place on Ezra's couch. He was actually hanging off of it because he couldn't do anything normal.

"No. I'm not going to the city with all your guy friends." Ezra said firmly then continued to munch on a chip. He wasn't letting it show but his anxiety was already starting to spike at even the mention of going into the city full of people with a bunch of people. It was too much input for his mind to conjure.

"Please Ez! I want you to come, you've never seen the, city it'll be great." Frederick knew Ezra was an introvert he just didn't care, the jerk.

"No I already told you no." Frederick made his way over to his bed and laid right in front of him.

"Please, Ez." He pleaded like a dog but Ezra wouldn't give in.

~~~

"Remind me why I agreed to this again?" Ezra asked as they drove out to the city with a car full of obnoxious guys and their girls who may be drunk. It was far too much noise and was already making him anxious.

"Because I asked and you came." Frederick replies from the driver's seat looking over occasionally.

"No you pleaded like a dog and wouldn't leave my house until I said yes."

"Oooh Frederick wants it!" One of the guys cheered from the back and the rest laughed very loudly. It wasn't a secret that Frederick and Ezra were gay Ezra was a very feminine person by choice and Frederick just admits it openly. They had never really talked about dating they had been close friends for years but the idea of dating wasn't something talked about. Even though they both thought about it didn't make it real.

Frederick leaned over closer to him and Ezra moved closer from his place in the front passenger seat. Frederick never took his eyes off the road but talked to him quietly over the noise.

"You want to just drop them off and we can just do this ourselves they're clearly drunk. This is probably a lot of people we don't need. " Ezra found himself smiling and trying to bite it back. Frederick could be really considerate when he wanted to be and it always surprised Ezra.

"Yeah okay, thank you." He stage whispered back. So Frederick yelled at them that they were being dropped off at a bar and they didn't seem to mind so only a few minutes later they were alone and Ezra could relax.

"Thanks, Freddie. I needed that."

"Of course. Now where do you want to go?"

"I don't know you're the expert here."

"Coffee?"

"Okay."

So they got coffee somewhere that wasn't too busy, walked around together, and visited small shops. The city wasn't so bad he just needed a friend there to help him. Maybe they could come back another day.