Broken

Troubled

I watched as Annie struggled to breathe. I was confused, since ask I said was Sienna.

"Are you okay?" I asked. Oh, stupid question. I ran over to the kitchen and got her a cup of water. I rubbed her back, humming a song to calm her.

"Breathe, Annie." I whispered. In her fit of mumbling, I heard 'inhaler'. She pointed which room it would be in and I went searching for it, easily finding it on her dresser. I handed Annie her inhaler and she took a puff. Maybe five minutes later, she started talking.

"Don't talk about her, Alexander!" she screamed, trying to catch her breath. And that's when she began to hysterically cry. I've never witnessed something like this. It was extremely weird. She began to choke up again, shaking. I grew closer to her and wrapped my arms around her, letting her rest her head on my shoulder.

"She's going to find me." she kept repeating. I assumed 'she' was Sienna, and Annie is scared to death of Sienna. What would Sienna even do to her?

"She won't, Annie. I'll protect you from her." I said softly, rubbing her back. "Just breathe, Annie. Calm down. You're fine, it'll be okay." I told her, hoping this would calm her down. Maybe twenty minutes later, she calmed down. Only then did I realize that Annie was having a panic attack.

"Are you okay?" I asked her once she lifted her head from my shoulder. She laid back, taking deep breaths to calm herself. After a while, she merely nodded her head in response.

"I'm sorry you had to see the, Alexander." she apologized.

"Its completely fine. If anything, it's my fault." I said, taking blame for her attack.

"But you didn't know."

"I should have, from the way she was acting so suspicious when I met you. Is she... What happened between you two, Annie?" I asked. I didn't expect an answer. So when she said she'd tell me another time, I took that as 'its a secret you'll never know'.

"Can you.. Alexander, can you take me to my room?" She asked me. I nodded, picking her up and carrying her bridal style to her room without her asking. She's tired. The panic attack probably took a good amount of energy from her. Entering her room, I placed her on her bed and tucked her in. She looked peaceful, just as innocent as the night I met her. I bit my lip. Was I falling for Annie Everlark? I shook my head. No, I couldn't. I had to take care of myself before loving someone else. But the feeling in my heart whenever I lay my eyes on her.. How can a human ignore that?

"I'm gonna go. Sleep well, Annie." I said. Right as I was about to leave, I heard her call for me.

"Alexander, could you stay for a while? I-l don't want to be alone. At least not for a few hours." She said softly. I sighed, sitting down at the chair next to her dresser. I heard her giggle.

"You don't have to sit so far away." I moved and sat at the edge of her bed. For a moment, she didn't talk. Then I was pulled down right next to Annie. I sighed once more, letting her move me around to the position she wanted me in. Once she was done, I found myself spooning her, like I was protecting her from all evil. That feeling came back again. The feeling of me flying and falling even harder for Annie. I shook the feeling off again, taking the situation as a friend protecting his vulnerable friend. shutting my eyes, I began to drift off.