"Rose I'm coming in." I groan in protest sticking my head under the covers and curl up into the fetal position. Today I had planned to sleep all day and ignore the world. I'm pretty sure that plan is about to be ruined. "Come on, get up, you need to tell me about the letter. I brought you breakfast." I peak my head out over the blankets.

            "Is that hot cocoa?" He nods yes. I sit up in bed like a bolt of lightning. Hot cocoa is my kryptonite. "What's in the bags?" I grab my hot cocoa and take a sip which makes me moan.

            "A breakfast sandwich and a morning bun. These are also for you." He pulls threes roses from behind his back and places them on my lap taking notice to my hands being full.

            "This is so sweet of you Angel, thank you. Roses are one of my favorites. Not because my name is Rose either. Sit." I tell him patting my bed scooting over a bit to give him more room. He kicks off his shoes then gets under the covers with his legs crossed. With my drink in one hand, I eat my sandwich with the other.

            "No problem. I figured you would need a pick me up after reading the letter from your mom. Speaking of the letter, what was in it?"

            "Her explaining why she left. Apparently, the death of his mother changed my father. He had an affair that he continued to have even after my mother found out and told him to stop." 

            "Wow, your dad sounds like a total asshole. I mean it's unfortunate his mother died but then to have an affair and continue it after your wife finds out. That's a dick move."

            "Yup." I couldn't say it better myself." I say flatly. Sticking the last bite of sandwich in my mouth I  point to the picture she drew of us. "She drew that for me. It came with the letter. She was always such an amazing artist. I'm glad she continued drawing."

            "That's really good. You were an adorable baby Rose." He chuckles and smiles at me. "Do you know if she is an artist for a living?"

            "Before she left she was trying to build her own studio and art shop. I'm not sure if she actually did it or if she gave up to pursue something else." I lean my back against my dark mahogany headboard. "She gave me her number and wants me to call her."

            "Are you going to call her?"

            "I'm not sure yet." I bring a rose up to my nose and take in its sweet scent. "When you were little did girls use flowers to play the, he loves me, he loves me not, game?"

            "The game where you pick the flower petals off and say he loves me he loves me not?"

            "Exactly, I was thinking I could leave my fate to this rose by playing should I call her or should I not." I look over at Angel who is smiling at me sweetly. "Should I call her," I pick off a rose petal, "Or should I not..." Petal after petal falls into my lap as I ask the questions over and over again. I hold the last petal in my hand. "I should call her," I whisper looking up at Angel who is already grabbing my phone off my nightstand. My heart races as I take the phone from his hand. I put my hot cocoa on the bedside table next to me and dial the number. One ring, I can barely breathe. Two rings, my heart is pounding. Three rings, I can't feel anything. Four rings, I can't breathe.

            "Hello?" My heart stops. I can't seem to get any words out of my mouth. My whole body is shaking like a leaf.

            "Rose just breathe. Calm down and say something. It's going to be okay." He whispers.

            "Hello?" She repeats. The voice sounds muffled like its coming from a million miles away. The phone falls from my ear into my lap. I'm paralyzed.

            "Rose, slow down your breathing. You're hyperventilating. You need to slow down your breathing. Look at me." I feel like I'm going to vomit. Something wet is dripping on my chest and running down my face. Am I crying? Something warm is on my shoulders. Then it moves to my face. What's happening to me? What's going on? Please make it go away. Make it stop. Suddenly, all I see is darkness.

            *                                                                  *                                                             *

           My eyelids feel as heavy as bricks. I groan struggling to open them and from the aching pain running through my body. Once I finally manage to open my eyes I notice I'm not in my bedroom or even at my house.

             "What happened?" I ask Angel who's sitting in a chair next to my bed. My voice croaks as if I haven't had water in days. Angel reads my mind and hands me a cup filled with water. "Thanks," I whisper.

            "The doctor said you had a really bad panic attack. You were hyperventilating which caused you to faint. I called 911. They had to give you a sedative because you woke up when they were taking you to the ambulance. You started screaming bloody murder and tried to run away." His eyes are filled with worry and bloodshot as if he were crying.

           "What hospital are we at?" I look around the room and get a feeling of déjà vu. That's when it hits me. I've been in this room multiple times before. I leap out of the bed and grab my clothes. Why did they have to change me? They knew I wouldn't be here for long. He doesn't answer my question thrown off by my rush to leave.  "Don't worry I can go. I'll be fine. This isn't the first time this has happened to me."

             "Shouldn't you check in with your doctor before you leave? He was very worried about you when he came in and saw you in the bed."

            "Nope, it's fine. I'm sure he'll call. He's a very good doctor. Always checks in with me after a few days." I go into the bathroom and quickly change. "Let's go." I reach for the doorknob but before I can grab it the door opens. Shit, it's my doctor.

            "Rose, I'm so glad to see you're awake. How are you feeling?" He asks his voice full of concern.

            "I'm fine dad. I was just about to head home." After reading that letter I can't even look at him in the eye. I look down at my hands and start fiddling with my nails. I glance at Angel who is gaping at my father. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid. Him knowing who my father is an especially him meeting my father.

            "Are you sure you're fine? From what your friend explained this attack was one of the worse ones you've had. Have you been taking your medication?"

            "Yes, I'm sure I'm fine dad. I only take the meds when I need to. That's what you told me to do. I haven't needed them for almost three months."

            "Well I want you to start taking them regularly now, okay? Only for a little while. Take them every other day starting tomorrow."

            "Okay, dad. I'll see you-" Then I stop. I don't know when I'll see him. This is the first time I've seen him in weeks and it took me having to be a patient. My dad gives me a sad smile and turns to face Angel.

            "Thanks again for helping my daughter." My dad extends his hand out to Angel and they shake.

            "It was no problem and nice to meet you, Mr. Casares. I wish it had been under different circumstances."

            "Bye, dad," I say softly heading out the door to the exit.

            "Bye Rose. Bye Angel." My dad says quickly walking fast to keep up with me. I don't look back. Not even when I exit the hospital or even out the back window of the taxi. Angel and I sit silently. I'm not much in the mood for talking. Today was not a good day and it's not even that late.

            "Do you want anything? Food or maybe something to drink?" Angel asks once we've been sitting on the bed in silence for a while. Now that I think about it, I'm starving.

            "Food sounds really good. I'm starving."

            "What would you like to eat?" I think for a second.

            "Nachos." I grin and he grins back at me. "I know the perfect place. They make the best Mexican food. I need to change first and call Marcus real quick. He'll flip if I don't tell him about what happened until tomorrow."

            "Sounds like a plan." He says getting off my bed and heading to the door.

             "Wait one second." He turns around looking at me curiously. "I wanted to say thank you. For everything, you've done today. I greatly appreciate it." He could have left right after he called nine-one-one. Why would he want to stay with some crazy chick, who obviously has issues, and who he barely knows?

            "No problem Rose. I'm glad I was here." He gives me a quick worried smile and heads out the door. I throw on a pair of black skinny jeans an oversized sweater and a pair of tan boots that stop four inches under my knee. I grab my phone from where I dropped it on my bed.

            "Hey Rose, what up?" He asks cheerfully.

            "Just got back from the hospital. I had a really bad anxiety attack but luckily Angel was here."

            "I'll be over in five minutes." He says seriously all trace of cheerfulness gone.

            "No, I'm fine Marcus. Angel is with me and we are going out to lunch right now. I just wanted to let you know what happened. You would have been pissed if I waited until tomorrow to tell you." I say with a small laugh.

            "You know me well Rose." I can sense his smile. "You sure you don't want me to come over?"

            "Yeah, it's fine. Don't worry. Will you come over tonight so I can fill you in on the drama?"

            "You know me. I love a good dramatic story and you Rose, by far, have the best dramatic stories."

            "I don't know whether I should take that as a compliment or not. I'll see you around six and we can have dinner."

            "See ya then." I hang up and speed walk downstairs.

            "Ready to go?"

            "Definitely. I'm pretty hungry myself."

            "Here." I toss him the keys. He has really good reflexes. "I can't drive for a little bit because the meds they gave me at the hospital."

            "Right, good thinking."

           "Be gentle with her," I say as he puts the key into the ignition. He rubs the dashboard gently.

            "Of course. I could never hurt a beauty like this." I give him directions to the restaurant and as he parks the car my stomach starts growling. Perfect timing, I say to myself. We are seated immediately and order without even looking at the menus. I take a sip of my horchata and build up the courage to say what is on my mind.

             "Please, don't let what happened today freak you out. I know you're worried but there's really nothing to worry about. With my medication, I'll be fine. I really don't want you thinking I'm crazy or some helpless lady in need of help either. It's just that I really don't want what happened to change anything between us even though I would completely understand." Angel stops the waterfall of words coming out of my mouth by covering it with his hand. He gives me a warm understanding smile.

             "You don't have to worry about anything Rose. Nothing is going to change between us but I can't promise you I won't be worried. As your friend I should worry and because I am your friend I would like to propose we hold off on calling your mother." He smiles and removes his hand from my mouth. His smile is contagious and I can't help but smile back at him full of relief.

            "I agree. It may be a while before I call her but I have her number so I can do it when I feel ready." Seconds later our waitress places our food in front of us.

            "Can I get you anything else?" She asks looking at Angel with a flirtatious smile and a, I want you look.

           "No, I think we're good. Thanks." Angel says smiling back at her. I hadn't noticed how gorgeous his smile was. Perfect white teeth, a slightly crooked mouth, and it gives off the perfect amount of cockiness.

            "Well if you need anything my name is Carly. Don't hesitate to ask me." Carly smiles politely at me then turns on her heel to help another table trying to get her attention. We both immediately start shoving food in our mouths. I close my eyes savoring the taste of flavors.

            "One last thing," I pause before putting the perfectly built nacho in my mouth, "just because my dad is Mr. Casares, the world famous doctor, please don't start acting weird around me." He stops mid-bite into his burrito.

             "I would never dream of it." He gives me a crooked closed smile. "Now I understand why you were in such a rush to leave the hospital." I nod finishing the chip in my mouth.

            "That and I am also not a fan of hospitals. In fact, I hate them" We eat and make small talk. It's like nothing bad ever happened this morning. Carly places the bill in front of Angel but I snatch it off the table before he grabs it. "You paid for the cab. I got this." I smile. "I believe this is for you." I hand him the customer copy receipt that has the waitress' number on it. He glances at the receipt then crumples it up. "I take it you aren't reciprocating the same feelings toward her." 

            "Not in the slightest. For all she knew we could have been on a date. What's it say about a girl who hits on you in front of his girlfriend?"

             "That she has a huge pair of balls and just doesn't care or she thinks you'd never date someone like me," I mumble the second half. When I look up he's staring at me. His usual light grey eyes are a dark grey filled with sadness and I think pain. But why pain?

            "I'd rather date someone like you than someone like her." I finish counting the cash ignoring his comment and leave a lousy tip.

            "I should be okay to drive now that I've had some food. Can I have my keys?" He pulls them out of the pocket of his hoody and places them gently in my hand. "Thanks. Is there anything you want to do now?"

            "I should head home." The car ride is silent. Full of unsaid things. I don't feel like trying to come up with something to say. I'm too drained emotionally and physically. That always happens a few hours after I have a panic attack. I pull up in front of his house. "I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night."

            "You too. See you in class. If you need anything don't hesitate to call me." He gives me a small smile and I give him one in return.

            "Thanks again, for everything." He gives me a nod then leaves the car. I wait until he's inside the house before I drive home. When I get home I wait on the couch for Marcus to get there. It'll be a few hours but I don't feel like doing anything else. I sit and mope. Pace back and forth thinking, do some laundry, and clean the kitchen. The doorbell rings and I go to answer it. When I open it there's Marcus, my rock, the guy who's always there for me and who I can always count on. He walks in and I close the door behind him.

          "Is everything okay? Are you su-?" I throw my arms around him and start crying my eyes out. "Breathe Rose. Tell me what's going on. What's bothering you?" His arms around me feel safe and strong. My head is nuzzled in his chest and his chin is resting on the top of my head. He rubs my back slowly letting me cry. We stand there for what feels like forever until he says something. "Want me to take you upstairs to your room? We can talk up there." I nod yes into his chest.  He carries me to my room and lays me down on my bed. First, he pulls off my boots then takes off his own shoes and lays down facing me. He wipes away my tears and waits for me to start talking. After I get my breathing under control I tell him about the letter and about Angel. How I feel confused and conflicted around him sometimes. About how he called nine-one-one, stayed with me at the hospital, and stayed with me after. I talk and talk and talk and Marcus just lays there holding me and listening until he makes me take my pills. Shortly after, I drift off into a deep dark sleep.