Eve

I can't do it; I have to get out of here.

My mind wants to split in two, I'm breaking out in a sweat as if I've ran the entire field after one of Mr Garrington's punishments, and my stomach feels as if it has been hammered in by an onslaught of basketballs. Biting the lid of my pen in class had soothed the ache in my teeth, but my lungs had been desperate for fresh air. All I could smell was body odour, various brands of antiperspirant and perfumes, and the thick tuna and mayonnaise sandwich on the teacher's desk had been a killer. Poor Mrs Mathias, her face had scrunched up in horror at the sight of me, making sure to keep arm's length like I had the plague. She still remained sweet and dismissed me with a 'get well soon' in my hasty attempt to cram my sketchbook inside my backpack along with my half-closed pencil case.

I feel like I'm drowning in myself and I can't escape, and the building is a furnace. Hunching over with deep breaths through my nose, I choke on bile, forcing it down, but each shove has it surging forth with a vengeance. Staggering down the hall, I slam through the closest bathroom door and drop to my knees inside the nearest cubicle. The scent of vomit and tangy disinfectant resurrects another surge, hurling my breakfast into the toilet with a wretched sob. My stomach shrinks, and nothing but dry heaves fill the room as I whimper around the stench and the burn in my throat. Relishing the coolness of the tiles soaking into my knees, I wait for a second spell and sob out a relieved sigh when it doesn't come. Climbing on shaky legs, I stumble out of the cubicle to the sink, bracing myself as I rinse my mouth and splash my face.

A light caress to my shoulder hurls me into the air, and I bare my teeth on instinct, releasing a low noise I didn't know I was capable of making. The second sky blue eyes meet mine; I slam my mouth shut and take a step back. "R-Ronny, you scared me."

Unlike our previous encounters, his features are void of pleasantries and judging by the duffle slung over his shoulder, the damp hair, and the flush to his cheeks, he's finished practice. Which means he must've seen Kai.

Damn it, he's never going to speak to me again.

With an unnerving inhale, his eyes snap to mine. "You're transitioning?"

The question throws me off, but the shimmering glow corrupting his irises knock the air out of my lungs. As if sensing my train of thought, Ronny blinks rapidly and takes a step toward me. Hopping back with my bag outstretched between us, knocking into a sink in the process, I yell, "Y-you're one of them?" feeling the familiar effects of fear twisting my gut.

With another step, I stumble away out of reflex. "Stay away, don't come any closer!"

The room feels like it's grown smaller since he entered, and right now, being trapped is the last thing I want to be. I need to escape, although after last time, I know in a blocked off room such as this isn't going to leave me alive. The air is thinner, my lungs can't pull enough oxygen to keep my breathing level, and I'm choking again as terror claws at me from the inside out.

I'm going to die. It's going to get me. I'm—

"Eve, you're going to have to breathe for me, OK?" Ronny instructs, snapping me close to the surface of normality. Remaining in his original spot, he holds his hands up in surrender. "In through your nose, out through your mouth."

Doing as I'm told, the spinning subsides, and Ronny's blurry figure solidifies followed by a proud smile. "That's it, do that a few more times until you're grounded, then we'll talk, OK? I'm not going to hurt you."

Inhaling through my nose, I cringe at the bitter twang of the cheap hand sanitiser, changing my focus to him. Taking in his scent, I release a shaky breath past my lips and repeat until the need to lean against the wall dissipates. The room expands, and it doesn't feel as if I'm being stuffed in a tiny box anymore, and the urgency to escape is less consuming.

Eyeing him with scepticism, I whisper, not trusting my voice, "Y-you're not going to eat me, are you?"

Ronny laughs, shaking his head, causing his short, damp blonde hair to hop. "No, I'm not."

Seconds turn to minutes, then tears spring to my eyes as the discomfort snakes its way around my body. Wiping my eyes furiously with the back of my hand, I shake my head. "R-Ronny, I don't know what's happening to me," I sniffle. "I'm scared."

When he inches forward, I mirror it backward until he pauses again with a sad quirk of the lips. "It's going to be OK; I promise. . ." Trailing off, his gaze drops to the floor where my bag slouches. "Please don't be afraid of me, I'm still the same Ronny from Art class, the same one who you showed around campus." He scratches the nape of his neck, and there's a light flush to his cheeks. "I'm still the same guy who let you take photos of to morph with a frog for our Metamorphosis project."

The waterworks break again, and I'm quick to swipe them away, but it worsens when the scent of his citrusy body wash closes in followed by his arms wrapping around my shoulders. At first the action is hesitant, but when I clutch the material of his navy-blue shirt in tight fists, his hold strengthens.

"I've got you," he hushes, rubbing soothing circles into my lower back. "Tell me what happened."

Choking back a sob, I bury my face into his chest. I know I shouldn't be feeling like this, but I'm overcome with an unbelievable amount of gratitude that someone is willing to listen to me. I can tell by his voice he isn't going to see me as someone other than myself, he won't judge, and he won't think I'm losing my mind.

With a shaky breath, I retell the story for the second time today. "I-I was at Grayson's party the other night with Kai, a-and I was attacked on the w-way home." Recalling how it had hunted me down and tore through my skin with no remorse with those claws, I try to push the memory away. "It was a-a—hell, it sounds crazy even to me, but it was all real."

His hand continues to stroke up and down the length of my spine, his slow breaths relaxing me enough to do the same. "I'm sorry that happened to you, I truly am." He pulls away until I'm arm's length, but he makes sure to keep his hands on my elbows, then offers me a reassuring smile. "I know someone who can help you; I'll take you there now."

Nodding weakly as another round of pain floods my mouth, I salivate, feeling the urge to spit it out. Rinsing, I groan and clutch my stomach. "I wish it would stop."

Focusing on his hand on my shoulder, I stare up with teary eyes. His voice takes on a regretful note. "I wish I could say something to comfort you, but being born into this, I didn't go through the same process. All I can say is that it should pass, and Alpha should be able to guide you through it."

I'm not able to dwell on this 'Alpha' term long enough when my gut twists, knocking the breath out of me. Doubling over, I brace myself and try to hold back the whimper wanting out. Coming here was a terrible idea, and I wish I never stepped foot outside my door.

But if I hadn't, Ronny wouldn't be helping me or taking me to someone who's been through this before.

Swiping my bag off the floor, Ronny keeps an arm around me, and the second we approach the bathroom door, anxiety and dread surfaces at the notion of facing the hallways and the students due to pass for their next classes.

Kai should be heading to music now—

The thought is shovedto the back of my mind as fresh tears threaten to spill. I'm not sure what I'mgoing to do about that, but I know one day soon I'll find a way to fix it.