/Anxiety's p.o.v./

I woke up the next morning in my own bed blinking away the drowsiness. I rolled over from my side to in my back looking at the white dull ceiling. I yawned rubbing one of my eyes. I remembered yesterday. Prince's warm fingers wrapped around my hand. His soft lips locked in mine. The thoughts brought heat to my cheeks.

I grabbed my pillow slamming it into my face and uttering small embarrassed grumbles into it. After a bit of that I threw it and my blankets to the side and rolled out of bed, pulling myself up onto my feet.

"Morning." A voice sounded almost making me jump.

"Depression." I looked over to him not really sure if I said his name as a greeting or just a generalized statement.

He was leaning lazily against the wall by my closet, arms crossed and looking to the floor. He then looked up that same obviously fake smirk like smile on his face. Something in his eyes looked a bit angry... wicked even, but he kept his cool demeanor. "Where have you been?"

"What do you mean?" I asked playing innocent.

"I mean all yesterday, the night before you weren't here." His smile twitched. "Where were you?"

"None of your business..." I muttered.

His smile then completely dropped a scary expression taking over his face. He pushed himself off the wall and began to walk toward me. "What?"

I flinched backing away from him. "N-nothing." I stuttered feeling my heart beat faster with fear. "I-I mean nowhere... I was n-nowhere."

"Uh-huh..." Depression nodded like he didn't believe. "Really because I hadn't been able to find you. Which means you were in an area of Thomas' mind that I can't access. Which means you were with someone else. Dear old Princey perhaps?"

"What? No. Why would you think that?" I lied.

"Well you must have been with someone, and I doubt it would be Logan or Patton because they couldn't give a damn about you." He replied. "The only one who tolerates you out of pity is Roman."

I felt my fist clench the nails digging slightly into my skin. He has no right to even call them by their real names... even if he is right and they don't care. "H-he doesn't just pity me..."

"He does, you'll learn the truth." He reached out for me. "One way or another."

I backed up all the way against the wall freezing. Please no I don't want him to make me do anything again!

"Anxiety?" There was a knock at his door. "It's Logan. I have a need to perorate with you."

Depression growled looking over at the door. He then glared back at Me. "We'll talk more later." He said before disappearing back into the darkness.

There was another knock. "Anxiety?"

"Y-yes! Coming." I called stumbling over to the door. I swung it open quickly causing Logan to have a slightly surprised expression. "What do you want?"

"Well..." he cleared his throat pushing his glasses up more, as if to compose himself. "I came to inquire about your wellbeing."

"My wellbeing..?" I asked in genuine surprise.

"Yes. Patton informed me that you were acting in a way... out of sorts as of late." He explained. "So are you well?"

"Um..." I replied stepping out from my room causing him to have to move back as I closed my door behind me. "Yeah... I'm fine." This is weird why is he asking all of a sudden?

"Well don't look so bewildered." He gave a small chuckle. "I know I may purvey myself as being distasteful to emotions, but that doesn't mean I'm completely devoid of them. When Patton told me about you it made me feel... an unease, minorly fearful... oh what would you call it..?" He pondered.

"Worried?" I questioned.

"They don't give a damn about you." Depressions voice ran through my head again.

I shook my head trying to throw the thought away, but it remained in the back of my mind.

"Yes that's it." He snapped his fingers. "I was indeed worried."

That made me feel a little better. "Well like I said I'm fine, but thank you Logan."

"You are very welcome. But you really don't have to thank me. It is traditional for a friend to worry for another in times of dismay or unusualness, correct?" He asked with a smile.

"Yeah I guess." I replied.

"Well I do have other engagements to get to, so we will have to continue this at a later date. Farewell." He waved his hand and started to walk away.

"Yeah sure see you later." I waved back watching him go.

That was weird... he was... worried about me. I guess there's a first time for everything.

-&-

"Hey hey if it isn't Anxiety!" Patton chirped as he practically skipped into the kitchen as I was making my lunch.

"Hey Patton." I muttered quietly in greeting.

He then suddenly came right next to me staring deeply at my face. "Are you okay buddy?"

Him too?! Well I suppose he was the one who told Logan.

"Yup just dandy." I replied with a slight eye roll. "Why the sudden worry?"

"Well I don't know... you've seemed... weird lately. More off than usual." Morality replied.

"Oh? How so?" I asked finally facing him and raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know." Patton let out a breath leaning back on the counter. "Yesterday I was woken up by you and Roman talking quite loudly in the kitchen. I decided to pop in and check. You just looked really upset... plus you were letting Roman hug you which is a sure sign something is off." He let out a cheerful chuckle. "You two are always bickering."

"Thanks for the concern, but I'm alright now." I tried to assure him. Saying that over and over again and not meaning it gets harder every time. Sure I'm happy about Princey... and even Patton and Logan, but I still felt down. I knew it was depressions fault. It was scary, his power over me is getting stronger everyday... and if he finds out that I'm being threatened out of his control by my friends, and potential boyfriend, he'll hurt them too in order to stop it... I can't let that happen...

"Well good I'm glad!" He perked up even more, if that was possible. "Oh and before I go." He suddenly threw his arms around me hugging me tight. "There's no way I don't get a hug from you when he does!" After a few seconds he pulled away. "Bye bye Anxiety!" He said before skipping back out of the kitchen.

-&-

"Hey I haven't seen you all day." Prince stopped me as I was walking past his room to mine for the night. "Sorry I was busy helping Thomas all day. Otherwise I would have spent time with you."

"That's okay." I said simply. I couldn't help but look around us, and prayed he didn't see my paranoia. It's not my fault that I think he could literally be watching at all times...

"You weren't... lonely or anything..." he trailed off gently taking my hand. He then looked up to meet my eyes. "Were you?"

"No." I relied quietly. "I mean not really. I talked a little to Patton and Logan."

He nodded slowly and there was a short silence.

"B-but." I started. "If what you were really asking is if I missed you, then the answer would be... yes."

He smiled at that squeezing my hand and stepping a little closer. "I missed you too. Tomorrow I promise we'll spend some time together alright?"

"Mhm." I nodded. I can't bring myself to say no, and I don't want to! But..This could be dangerous... depression already figures there's something that is going on.

"Princey seemed to be pretty comfortable with you last night."

"You were with someone else. Dear old Princey perhaps?"

"You don't seriously think he likes you do you?"

"Maybe he's a good influence in you... which means he'll be in the way."

"They aren't even your friends when will you learn that? They all hate you and you're alone."

"Don't tell me... you've started to like Prince. Honestly you don't even need me around, you're going to cause your own emotional turmoil. He will never feel the same way for you."

"You're setting yourself up for heartbreak. You're so delusional Anxiety. He doesn't care about you. He may say and act like he does but that is all it is, an act."

"The only reason he says he cares, the only reason he calls you his friend, is because when he found out how badly you suffer with yourself, he pitied you. He felt bad, guilty even, he saw that you were hurting, saw he didn't do anything, thought maybe he even made it worse, and so to calm his own guilt he decided to help you. He wants to fix you."

"They couldn't give a damn about you." He replied. "The only one who tolerates you out of pity is Roman."

I tried to shake depressions voice and previous comments out of my mind, but it didn't work.

"Remember Anxiety, I wouldn't get too close if I were you... if I feel Princey's in my way I'll be forced to take action..."

"Succumb to me Anxiety... give up... and all this pain, will go away..."

"You did it to yourself."

"You'll learn the truth. One way or another."

"Are you okay?" Prince asked furrowing his brow.

"Yeah..." I replied swallowing a lump in my throat, and trying desperately trying hold back showing any emotion. "You look tired though, you should go to bed." I pointed out in genuine concern.

"Yeah... it was a long day." He admitted. "But I'll see you in the morning." He leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek. A peck that lingered just a little longer. "Goodnight Anxiety. He then pulled away. "Sweet dreams..." he whispered. His hand started to slip away from mine, seemingly as slowly as possible, before he went into his room and closed the door.

I felt a heat rise to my face and was frozen there for a second. I then snapped out of it and made my way to my room. I can't believe what depression says... and I don't want to... but... How? How is he doing this to me? He's making me doubt everything I've ever even slightly believed in. I mean Logan and Patton wouldn't have come to me if they didn't care right? I mean why would they?

Pity...

I shook my head trying to dismiss the word. No. I can't believe that... can I? And Prince... he wouldn't play with me... not like this... with such strong emotions. People just don't do that... they don't pretend to care that strongly out of pity... well I guess some movies have shown situations where people have. But then the two people end up falling in love anyway...

But this isn't a movie...

That's true life isn't a movie... there might not even be any happy endings... I widened my eyes at the thought. WHAT AM I THINKING! Of course there are, right? Right..? Maybe just not for me... Oh God no! I sucked in a breath feeling fear take me over. He's affecting me, and isn't even around? And for what reason exactly? Just how powerful is he? Too powerful...

I finally reached my room, by my hand froze on the knob. I really don't want to be alone right now... But I can't keep running to Prince every time I'm scared... I can't exactly run to Patton or Logan either. If Depression found out... it's too dangerous.

Another quote of his popped back into my mind.

"He doesn't understand you. None of them do, not even Thomas."

Thomas... I thought. He's probably asleep by now it is nearly three in the morning, but I could at least sit there with him... Depression would never come to find me outside of Thomas' mind... I removed my hand from the door and closed my eyes.

When I opened them again I was in Thomas' bedroom. He was sleeping peacefully, like he couldn't have a care in the world.

I sat down on the edge of his bed carefully not to wake him. He may not be awake... but even just knowing he's there makes me feel less alone. I took a deep breath although it didn't help much. Depression was still on my mind... maybe eventually I'll fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion... hopefully...

I suddenly felt Thomas shift in his bed. I looked over.

He reached around and flicked on his bedside lamp, blinking drowsily in the new light. His expression was extremely confused. "Anxiety..?"

"Hey..." my voice was smaller and quieter than I intended. "Sorry did I wake you?"

"No..." he replied rubbing his eye. "I had a weird dream and woke up. Then I saw you sitting there." He explained. "Why are you here?"

"I just..." I looked away from him my voice falling practically to a whisper. "Didn't want to be alone."

He seemed surprised at that and sat up scooting closer to me. "What's wrong?"

I've been around Thomas at night before... I always liked him this way. He was always so sweet and caring... even more so than usual, if that's possible.

I didn't answer for a bit I was trying to compose myself, but was failing. I felt myself start to shake slightly, my eyes filling with tears. My voice trembled as I held in a small sob. "I'm s-so scared..."

He gently placed a hand on my shoulder in comfort. He seemed very surprised, and I could swear I saw him holding in a few tears as well at the sight of me. "Of what?"

Losing everyone... losing myself... losing him... "I can't say... sorry." I felt the tears finally become too much and spill over my eyelids.

He pulled me into a hug as I started to now full on cry, quite messily might I add. "That's okay..." he replied in a comforting voice. "I'm just glad you came to me."

"I shouldn't have come here and worried you. Worried everyone..." I said and then continued to cry, lightly returning his hug.

"I don't mind." He said with a genuine tone of voice. "It's gonna be okay... I know it's hard to believe, but it will be. I'm sure of it."

Hey guys, wow this chapter ended up longer than expected XD. Oh well this makes up for my lack of updates in a while. Sorry things have been hectic this summer. Emotionally and not. Yes I know there's a lot of angst in this chapter sorry XD. Vote and comment, bye!
         ~Hannah😋