Everything at the moment is louder than ever yet nothing seems to register. I can hear talking, machines beeping, feet scuffing while the smell of cleaner is making me light headed. I feel a hand on my shoulder and with a blink everything seems to be in slow motion.

"Hey," When I open my eyes I see Taylor crouched in front of me with her arms on my knees "We've come to take you home."

"I can't go home."

My voice is husky, throat raw from how much I've cried. I'm exhausted because I haven't left the emergency room unless it's  to see dad during visiting hours. He's currently being prepped for a second surgery and I was kicked out because I was freaking out.

It was either that or I would be sedated.

"You need to get some sleep it's been nearly twelve hours," I glance to Blair who's rubbing my back and a pang of hurt stabs itself in my chest. "At least come have a shower, change your clothes, get some food then we'll come back."

"I can't leave him."

"Kira he's-"

"All I have left," I whisper, dropping my head back down to my hands that are still tinted red with his blood. "If I lose him I won't have any more family, I'm not eighteen yet which means I'll be shoved into some foster care system."

"That won't happen-"

"Yes it will!" I raise my voice, brushing Blair's hands from me. "You don't know what's going to happen. He almost bled out in front of me, I watched another parent-"

My lungs start to collapse on me, air coming in at a pace that hitches my breathe. They burn just as much as my throat does. I hunch over struggling for breathe as I hold my stomach, Taylor moves to her feet to haul me up with Blair.

"It's going to be okay."

One of them whispers the mantra as if it'll make a difference. I barely get into the corridor before my knees buckle. My palms press to the floor, grounding me as I let my nails press dig into my skin. I heave, struggling for breathe when I notice the standard shoes a nurse wears infront of me.

My ears ring at a high pitched frequency, blocking out the dialogue exchanged. Breathe. It burns everywhere to the point of hyperventilation and my vision being blurred by tears. A sob rips from my throat as I curl inwards like a ball to get away from the hands touching me.

Each touch feels like a needle jabbing me or a searing pain, I can't be touched during a panic attack. I let out a scream, swinging my arms before I fall back flat against a wall. My fingers thread through my hair and I can faintly see shoes moving past, some slowing to watch my meltdown.

"She's hasn't had a panic attack in eight months." I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head at the sound of Rhys' voice.

Why did he have to be here?

"Actually that's not true," Taylor whispers and I open my eyes, looking at the people surrounding me. "She's been struggling with it for the past two weeks. The last one she had was three days ago."

The look on Rhys' face contorts to one of confusion but mostly hurt. It was around the time we started dating. He probably thinks it's because of him. I close my eyes when they finally land on me and I try not to cry anymore than I am.

Why did he have to witness this?

"Shocking that she didn't tell you," Blair snaps and she hisses after it. "Ow. What was that for?"

"Build a bridge and get over it. Your boyfriend probably deserved to be beaten to a pulp," Taylor grumbles. "It's not helping the current situation unless you haven't noticed our best friend is struggling for breathe."

I rub my hands on my jeans, using them to anchor myself. Blinking away the tears I mentally do a check list of my surroundings. Glass, shoes, nurses, people, white. I drop my hand to the ground feeling the smooth surface before reaching up for the brick behind me.

Holding my breathe for three counts I feel my head and lungs burn at the pressure but exhaling for the same amount allows me to calm down further. My breathing is heavy now and I notice Taylor move to crouch down infront of me.

"What are you doing?"

Taylor glances to Rhys and starts squeezing my legs. "In a panic your body freezes up and if you move it hurts, like a limb being torn off. But when you come down its important to feel - textures, noises, visuals."

I move to fiddle with my ring, the rate of my pulse slowing down to the point I'm no longer struggling for breathe. Everything aches and I feel exhausted from the panic attack. I guess it's a good thing I told Taylor what to do when I'm having an attack.

"Welcome back Kira," Blair breathes, running a hand through her hair while looking around. "We may want to move before the nurse comes back with the sedative."

I nod, pushing myself up on shaky legs. My eyes avoid looking at Rhys out of fear and embarrassment over the whole situation. I allow Taylor to guide me outside feeling relieved by the cold chill of the wind.

"Why don't you go and get the car?" Rhys finally speaks, my grip tightens on Taylor's arm. "I need to speak with Kira."

"Because leaving you with her is such a fantastic idea."

"Please stop," I whisper to Blair who rolls her eyes. "I'll wait here because I'm feeling a little light headed."

Reluctantly they leave with Taylor pulling Blair by the collar of her jacket. I move to sit down on the bench in the drop off and pick up section. My hands continue to rub against my jeans, removing the slight sweat formed on the palms.

"How's Nate?" I whisper, clearing my throat after. "Did he find his phone?"

"He has no idea how James got his phone. The only thing he can think of was him getting his hands on it when he was in the shower after Jordan left," Rhys moves to sit beside me and I lick my lips. "He spoke to Jordan, he swore he locked the door when he left and apparently he bought you flowers as an apology, he felt responsible."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Wait. Jordan knows about-"

"He was friends with Derek, kind of admired him until he found out his uncle was the one who had his father in debt. Since then he was terrified of the whole thing."

Nodding I can feel a light heat burning up my body. Damn side effects. "Poor Jordan. He doesn't need to feel bad, it's James Bennet who needs to apologize."

"Why didn't you tell me you were having attacks?" I ignore the question, shrugging off my jacket in a need to feel cooler. "It would have been good to know that my girlfriend was struggling-"

"Because you already see me as a weakling."

I glance at Rhys who's eyes are raw with hurt. "You are the furthest thing from weak, Kira."

"I constantly need saving and protecting because those around me choose to target me," My voice breaks midway and I try not to burst into tears again. "They know that I can't protect myself and no matter how hard I try to, I'll never be able to. "

"I'm teaching you-"

"Not fast enough," I grind my teeth knowing that he isn't the reason I'm angry. "You still treat me like a delicate flower, like I'm breakable during training sessions and hold back to avoid doing so. Releastically, I wouldn't last in a fight against-"

"So what?" Rhys snaps, clearly frustrated as he shrugs. "What can I do to help? I don't want to hurt you and I can't let go of my control without becoming a complete monster."

"You aren't your father." He drops his exterior to the point I know I hit the main cause. "If you hurt me in that situation it wouldn't be your fault-"

"I'm not risking it. You're too important to me to give up," Shortly Blair's car pulls up in the emergency bay and he stands up, hand raking through his hair before tugging. "Hate me. Resent me. Whatever. I'm not taking that risk with you."

"Rhys-"

"No, Kira!" He finally snaps, within an instant the drivers door opens and Blair narrows her eyes at him while Taylor does the same except opening the back door. "Make sure she takes care of herself."

I stand up, anger getting the better off me as he starts to walk away rather quickly. "If you won't teach me then I'll find somebody else."

For a moment he stops, looking at me with a shake of his head before continuing. My teeth grind together and I feel tears of frustration leak. I wipe them away and climb into the backseat where the smell of lavender hits my nostrils instantly.

Blair and her damn air fresheners.

"Alright so what do you want to eat?" Blair asks, pulling away once the passenger door shuts. "Your pick. I'll even try that raw fish stuff you like so much."

A faint smile slips on my lips and I shake my head to remove it. "McDonald's, I'm feeling like comfort food."

"Okay so we'll go get some food then head to your place," Taylor pre-organizes in her head while I try not to flinch at the words. However she must have caught it as she glances back. "We could always go to mine if you'd like but you may have to deal with my parents."

"In that case the guest bedroom is available at my place," Blair intervenes with a deep breathe, turning down the music for a moment. "My mom loves you more than me, I swear so she wouldn't mind. The only warning is my brother who has a pesky weed habit but you should be fine if you steer clear of his room."

"Have you got a phone charger?" I lean forward and take the cord that extends to the gap between the seats.

As I plug it in I notice something that catches the moving lights from outside. I glance to Blair before grabbing it from the inside of the drivers seat. My phone starts to load and I use that light to see the device.

It's small and black, perfectly camouflaged with the car seat. Running my thumb over the circular part on top of the square I feel the texture of a criss cross pattern. It kind of reminds me of a microphone.

Why would she have- Derek.

I rest the small thing on my lap and start up a text message to Rhys. "What do you want?"

From Rhys😘
Would it be possible for Derek to plant a small microphone in Blair's car? Small, black, square with a circle on top???

"Large Fillet o' Fish," I exhale, waiting for a response before getting a look from Taylor. "Oh. Breakfast, right? Sausage and Egg meal."

From Rhys 😘
Rip the circle from the square then crush the square incase there's an SD card.

Doing it, I drop the square down before using my foot to crush it. Blair focuses on pulling into the driveway of the fast food chain and instantly I feel bad for her. Derek planted this in her car, I have no doubt whatsoever and she has no clue.

One things for sure; anyone with the last name Bennett is a jerk and they can all go to hell.

⬇⬇PLEASE READ⬇⬇

New cover to go with the chapter. I know this chapter wasn't really detailed as in what's going on with Kira's father but that was the point, she isn't really functional but at least I'm double updating this week.

Here; I'll be adding a comment page (aka reader feedback) when I've finished this story. Leave a comment or send a PM with your thoughts, feeling of the story so far to be featured in it.

Thoughts? Feelings? Predictions?

-inspiredrlh 💕