THANKS TO @SpringGem FOR THE PLOT!!!!! Also sorry for not updating in forever whoops. But I️ hope you enjoy this overdue story! (The characters were supposed to be shy and introverted whoops)

A little different. Not too happy but much fluff. So maybe triggering? It's not bad. (Anxiety attacks ish)

My face was tilted downwards as I rushed through the halls of my school. I slipped through unnoticed. As usual.

I wasn't the first in the classroom, which was odd. It was a guy.

His back was turned to me, talking to the teacher so I didn't really pay much attention. I sat down in my normal seat, arranging the books and materials I needed for that class and opened my book.

I had read about a page or so before I was interrupted by someone lightly tapping me on the shoulder.

"Sorry to bother you, can I sit here?"

It was the guy. He was looking down with a kind face which was framed by dark hair.

I smiled lightly, feeling my face heat up as I usually did when I had any interaction with other beings.

"Yeah, of course."

I hadn't really questioned the action, he was new and needed a seat. But there was a whole empty class of seats. I was too involved in my book to really notice or care.

Class started and I put my book away.

"Ok, class, as you can see, we have a new student." She was pointing to the boy next to me. "Grayson, would you please stand and give a small introduction."

He stood, hand fidgeting, eyes towards the floor.

"Hi everyone, my name is Grayson. Um, I'm not really interesting so..." He was awkward. Endearing.

I smiled at him and he smiled back.

The teacher continued talking, but my interest was for once, divided, staring at Grayson. He felt my eyes and looked over and saw me. He smiled brightly at me and heart clenched. Not again. This situation is too familiar. It's gonna end up the same way as last time. Screams. Tears. Broken heart.

My mind drifted to the past as a desperately tried to keep my hold on the present. Not again.

I wasn't in class anymore. I was there, in my room, crying as he screamed at me. The tears were never ending.

I felt something on my shoulder. I blinked.

"Hey, you okay?"

Greyson's grey eyes (Ha that was on accident) were full of concern and his voice was soft. I would understand, as whenever I drifted off, I would sit in a daze, a terrified look on my face. Sometimes silent tears would run down my face, but I'm lucky thats not the case today.

"Yeah, sorry. I don't know what happened." Lie. "It's never happened to me before." Another lie.

He looked like he wanted to say more, but decided against it. Greyson looked away but his hand drifted from my arm to my hand. Not in a romantic way, but a reassuring way as if he wanted to say, "I'm here. Don't worry."

~

"GREYSON YOU LITTLE-"

I reached over and took a napkin from my backpack to wipe his spit off my arm

"You have taken a concerning liking to wiping your spit on my arm to annoy me." I glared at him accusingly.

His hands went up defensively. "Okay, okay, I'll stop."

"You always say that."

It's been about a year since Greyson started attending this school. We've become close friends after that incident and I haven't drifted off since. I told him why after he brought it up over summer break. Since then, if I looked as if I was on the edge, he would hold my hand and smile encouragingly. And every time,  would look over and think, "He's nothing like him. He's there for me." I'm a boat in a large expanse of water, but Greyson is my anchor, keeping me from drifting too far.

"Anyway, there's a new girl. Her name's Piper. She's an old friend from elementary school," he told me as he sat down."

I went on the defensive. I get easily jealous as I don't have many friends and my past relationships had not turned out very well.

He must've seen my expression because he laughed, reassuring that I was still his best friend.

He looked over at the gate and he called out.

"Hey Piper! Over here!"

I looked over in the direction he was looking and my heart dropped.

Her hair was choppy and she was wearing cheap, worn out clothes, but it didn't matter. She was gorgeous with dark brown hair and gleaming multicolored eyes. There was no way Grayson could be friends with her and have no feelings for her. She jogged over, waving and smiling.

"Grayson! It's been a while. I haven't seen you since summer."

Grayson always said he couldn't hang out over the summer because of trips with his family or something, and yet, why had she seen him over the summer. Had they gone together?

"Ha, yah, but you know, can't really skip school to go visit."

They kept talking until Piper finally noticed me. I saw her eyes flicker to me and widen, then smirked.

"Hey, Grayson, who's this?" She winked, laughing at Grayson's flushed face. He pointed at me.

"Piper, this is Violet. Violet, this is Piper, my elementary school friend."

Piper's face flashed with surprise but only for a split second before being washed away by a smile.

"Violet! I knew it." She exclaimed, still smiling.

"You knew?" I asked, curious.

"Yeah! Grayson talks nons-" As quick as I've ever seen him, Grayson tackled Piper, his hand clutching over her mouth and smiling and laughing nervously at me.

"I've told her about you before since you're practically my only friend."

Instead of being shaken by the sudden attack, Piper seemed amused, eyes glinting.

"Ah ok fine." She raised her hands in surrender. "No need to freak out. Your pace."

Greyson glared at her before turning to me, cracking a smile when he saw my confused look.

"Everything's fine, don't worry about it."

He grabbed my hand and we all headed into class.

~

"I'll go grab us some food and drinks." Greyson called as he exited his room, leaving me and Piper alone.

Once the door closed, Piper turned to me, her smile diminishing into a serious expression.

"What happened with you?"

I️ freaked. "Wha-what?"

She repeated herself. "What happened with you? Something happened, I️ can tell."

"Did Greyson tell you?" I️ asked, ready to pummel him.

"No, no. Something happened though, am I️ correct? I️ can usually tell with these things."

Her self-declared title of therapist almost made me laugh. If the situation wasn't so tense.

"Um, yah. It was in the past; nothing to worry about now."

"But that's not true is it?" She asked.

I️ took a minute to really study her. Pipers expression was persistent, filled with determination. She would not buy a lie.

I️ sighed. "No it's not."

I️ explained my story to her, the second time ever speaking the whole story.

She didn't accuse me of lying or exaggeration. Piper listened carefully and nodded, occasionally reaching out and placing a hand on my arm when I️ would hesitate.

"And I️ assume Greyson know this?"

I️ nodded

She mumbled to herself something I️ could not make out.

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do to help because it all based off of your own solution. But I'll be here as support, and so will Greyson. If you ever need to talk or just pour everything out, I'm here."

I️ studied her again. Her knowledge of feelings was not a bluff.

"Thanks."

And so right in that moment, Greyson returned with sandwiches, lemonade, and water. He seemed noticed the tense atmosphere in the room and smiled nervously.

"Okay then, let's eat." He tried.

~

Piper's been at our school for 3 months now. And in three months, she, Greyson, and I️ have managed to bloom an amazing friendship.

Whilst Greyson was always the one to cheer me up with stupid jokes and puns, Piper was always there to listen to me.

Slowly, the effects of my past relationships began to low its grip on me. Of course I️ had days where I️ just wanted to lay in a bed, away from civilization, but recently, it's becoming less and less. And I️ had Piper to thank for all of that. It was nice having someone that will listen instead of sprouting meaningless advice before they knew the whole story. I️ thought I️ had gotten over it.

We decided to go for ice cream, as it was a hot day where everyone was free. After ordering, we sat on chairs outside the shop, licking the ice cream, talking about whatever came up. And as Greyson started talking about his major dislike for Ms. McKinley, something caught my eye.

Dark hair. Green eyes. The eyes that you could drown in. And the smile that could capture anyone's heart. Dean. My mind blanked. And when his face turned to stare straight at me, memories crashed down on me, leaving me helpless and crying as Greyson and Piper desperately tried to calm me down.

My thoughts were racing. My breathing got shallow. My chest ached. My vision was going black. Tears were streaming down my face. Then I️ felt someone take my hand. The darkness around my vision receded as I️ looked to Greyson, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. Then he pulled me into a hug and held me.

"Hey, Violet. Violet. Focus on me."

I️ followed his directions, focusing on his voice as he sung softly into my ear and rubbing soothing circles softly into my back. Slowly, I️ began to relax into him, allowing myself to be held. I️ felt my breathing calm and my eyesight completely returned. The tears were now dry, making me feel a bit icky

We stayed that way for about 10 minutes, until I️ realized that Piper was still here. Greyson must have felt me stiffen because he gently released me.

"Where's Piper?" I️ asked.

"Right here."

I️ turned to see her behind me.

"Sorry I️ was going to help, but it seemed like Greyson has it under control. But I️ did kindly ask 'what's his face' to leave," she explained.

I️ smiled. "Thanks Piper."

I️ leaned into Greyson and he held me once more as we resumed what we had stopped, our ice creams forgotten and in the trash.

But soon Piper said she had to leave and meet up with her boyfriend.

"You have a boyfriend?!" I️ exclaimed. "How come you've never told me?"

"Oh Sorry I️ guess it never came up." Piper shrugged. "Anyways, I️ gotta go, Jason's waiting for me."

And so she disappeared, leaving Greyson and me alone, sitting on chairs of an ice cream shop.

We stayed like that for a while, him holding me. Then I️ decided after a long time of debate, to peck him on the cheek. I️ felt his face warm on my lips and hugged him.

"Thank you for always being there for me."

He spoke softly. "No problem. But I️ should be thanking you to be allowed to be there with you."

And the he kissed me.

"You realize Pipers hiding behind a bush right?" I️ spoke in his lips.

"Yeah, but it's ok. She doesn't entirely act like a 'Love-type' of person most of the time, but she really is. Just let her be."

I️ laughed.

"You wanna go to my place and play video games?" He whispered when we drew away.

I️ smiled. "You know me so well."

Lol ok well it's been what. Three months since I️ last ACTUALLY updated? Wow ok I'm sorry but I've been really busy with school work and I've been having a hard time. Thanks for putting up with me AND FOR THE 100K VIEWS WOW OK. I️ hoped you enjoyed!

Date published: March 16, 2018

Word count: 2005