Carramel's POV
I stare is shock at the large stain of applesauce on James's shirt. Oh crap. Just when he began to be nice to me and make me feel like apart of the pack I had to go and mess it up.
I feel myself starting to panic, especially with not being able to step away and run. James keeps his arms around me before he pulls back a little to look at my face. I frown in confusion because I could've sworn he looked ready to kill a minute or so ago. I shrug it off mentally before I feel his long muscled arms pull me out of the crowded Cafeteria and into the hallway.
I can't help but think he's going to kill me. Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer yesterday. Ugh, why did I have to have my applesauce out at that exact moment. But to my surprise, I'm dragged into the Nurses office.
James pushes me down onto the table, helping me prop my legs up before he go about the room searching. He finally comes back with a wet cloth, a pill bottle and a blanket. Oh God. He's really going to kill me. I close my eyes and wait for the blow but jump harshly on the uncomfortable bed when I feel a warm cloth in my forehead.
I open my eyes and James is staring down at me in amusement. There something else in his eyes but it's probably annoyance at my clumsiness so I ignore it.
"Are you alright?" He asks, his voice soft. I nod in confusion at the question. He must see the expression in my eyes because he elaborates. "You looked like you thought I was going to kill you over some applesauce." My cheeks burn red in shame. His laughing stops as he looks at me in clear disbelief. His eyes soon turn sad though. "You really think I'd do that?" He asks, as if hurt.
I shake my head rapidly, hating myself for insulting my Alpha. My bleeping Alpha, the man that had the power to literally make my life a living hell if he wanted to.
"Sorry." I mutter quietly, ducking my head so I wouldn't have to meet his eyes. "My anxiety gets the best of me sometimes." He hums in response, pulling the wet cloth from my head and grabbing the blanket to rest against my body.
He takes the pill bottle and shakes two blue pills into his hand before offering them to me along with a ice cold water bottle I didn't even know he had. "Here, little one. This is aspirin, you'll probably get a headache soon and it's better to beat the punch. Anxiety attacks can be exhausting." He says. The bell for lunch being over rings and he walks out the room with a backwards smile but there's only one thought in my head.
The Alpha of my pack has anxiety attacks too.
****
After leaving the Nurses office after a much needed nap, I had continued out my day as normal though for some reason, the Alpha stayed in my mind. My guilty conscience unable to let me let it go. I bumped into him, ruined his shirt and added to his seemingly already bad day, and he was the one that ended up taking care of me instead.
It's after last bell and I'm rushing to my locker as fast as I can with my eyes trained in the ground. I finally make it, and snatch my books out of my locker and shove them into my book bag to take home for the day.
I feel Taylor approach me, but continue to throw my belongings into my bag messily before I shut the locker and lock it for the day.
"Hey, Carrs, what's the rush?" He asks and I can hear the amusement in his voice as he follow my quick little steps towards where I think James's locker is.
"I have to make it up to Alpha James." I answer over my shoulder as I weave through the crowds. I find the courage to lift my eyes to everyone's knees instead of the floor making it much easier to maneuver throughout the hallways without bumping into people.
"Where are we headed?" I hear the sweet voice of Enza joining us as we round the last corner that leads to locker that holds James and his friends Alex and a light skin goddess that I am almost sure is a Faerie. I immediately stop in my tracks, only now realizing that he probably wouldn't be alone. I turn to run away but Enza and Taylor stop me quickly. I scowl are Enza but she only chuckles and pats my head.
"Apparently he wants to thank James for earlier, what happened I'm not sure. He seemed pretty confident about it until just now when he adopted the bravery of a chicken nugget." Taylor explains earning a growl from me. Before any of us can get another word out however I hear a soft deep voice from behind me.
"Who has the bravery of a chicken nugget?" My face flushed red as I turn my head and recognize James and his friends standing behind me. Though they all have smiles on their faces, I can't help but take a smell step back. All dominance in the air is about to send me straight into another anxiety attack, though this time is might not be so mild, and there's no promises that James will take care of me again.
Enza points at me, and the small group of people around me all chuckle. I begin to feel claustrophobic as they unknowingly surround me. I know their bodies do it automatically, always caging in the weakness link to protect them, but today has my nerves so frayed I'm ready to scream. But before I can get any worse, James is quick to come to my rescue again.
"Hey guys we'll catch up with you later." He announced to the group and Alex and the Faerie immediately bid their goodbyes and walk off, both sending me a smile and look I don't quite understand.
Enza steps up to me, ruffling my hair before smiling at me kindly, obviously the mother friend. "Call us if you need us. We're still down to hang tonight if you want." She says kindly with Taylor nodding along before reaching out to fix my mop of curls that Enza messed up. They walk away hand in hand, heels clicking against the floor as their love flows freely.
"What's up Carramel?" James asks as he leans against the locker lazily. I lean against one as well, though more out of ADHD than in the cool manner, he manages it.
"Um." I so eloquently start. "I just wanted to repay you for today. I'm sorry for your shirt and the anxiety attack and thank you for taking care of me. Twice." My words are spoken fast but I think the message gets across clear enough because he leans his head back against the locker but turns his head to look down on me, his eyes gleaming in a way that should have me running for the hills.
"You really want to make it up to me?" I nod, a bit weary at this point. He studies me for a while before he continues. " Okay. Let me take you out tonight."
My mind. Is blank.