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“No, Wilder. You can’t—”
“Watch me.”
The door splintered in on itself, crashing against the wall.
“Birdie, shit.” He rushed to my side, crouching over me. “What—”
“I’m okay,” I sniffled, dragging a deep breath into my tight, aching lungs. “I…”
“Come on, up we go.” He slid his arm under my legs and one around my back and lifted me up with ease.
“Harleigh, oh my God.” Celeste appeared. Miles and Nate too.
“Is she okay?” someone asked.
“I don’t know. Can I take her somewhere?”
“Yeah, my room. Up the stairs, first door on the—”
“Somewhere else,” Nix said, his grip on me tightening.
“The games room. Come on.”
I clung to his shoulders as he carried me down the hall, following Nate. The oppressive black cloud slowly began to dissipate until I could breathe again. But another wave crashed over me, this time one of shame and embarrassment. I buried my face into Nix’s hoodie, letting his familiar scent calm me.
He’d always felt like home to me, still did.
But he wasn’t my home, not anymore.
A tremor ripped through me, and another. Aftershocks of the panic attack that had paralyzed me.
“I got you,” he whispered into my hair. “I got you, B.”
The air rushed past me as he lowered me down onto the couch, and someone tucked a pillow under my head.
“Hey, you’re okay.” Celeste’s face appeared. “You’re okay, Harleigh.” She brushed the stray hairs out of my face. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“I… I—”
“What is this?” Nix appeared with my cell phone in his hand. “What the fuck is this?”
“Whoa, man. Calm down.” Nate held up his hands, slowly approaching Phoenix.
“Celeste,” I cried, grabbing her hand. I didn’t want anyone to fight, not over me. But I couldn’t find the words or energy… completely wrung dry.
“Stop. Both of you. You’re scaring her.”
“Did you send this?” Nix ground out, thrusting the cell phone at Nate.
“Send what?” The color drained from Nate’s face as he read the screen. “No. I have no idea— fuck. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t…”
“Harleigh.” Nate approached, crouching beside me. “When did you get this?”
“E-earlier, when we were talking.”
“This is why you locked yourself in the bathroom? Why you freaked out?”
“She didn’t freak out, idiot.” Celeste said. “She had a panic attack. You all need to go. Get out and give her some space.”
