It wasn't till I was in a car seat and I had a seat belt wrapped around me that I didn't feel like I was drowning. Sometimes it is funny that being constricted can make you feel safer.

"In and out. Slowly. Yes, just like that. You're going to be okay."

I tried to match my breathing with the person who was holding my hands. After my breath came out slowly with them and then back in without shaking, they let go. I could not tell how long it had taken.

Then a person was beside me again, and tissue was shoved into my crunched up palm. I gratefully accepted it, and I patted my eyes, trying to breathe slowly. My body felt like it was humming, but I could feel my toes again, and gradually the rest of my body came to life. I blinked, and my eyes were clear again.

"Yes, good. You're okay," The man beside me said. I could hear again, and the noise of the car started to come alive. The vehicle was in motion. I could feel its power beneath me.

I looked out the window as we pulled out of the school parking lot.

"Eli?" I said softly. My voice cracked. My throat felt raw.

"Mm-hmm," he replied. I looked at him, but he kept his eyes on the road.

I looked out the window too, and my breathing felt normal. I did not ask where we were going because every second I was away from school, away from Jackson, I felt better.

It did not take long to get our destination. We were at the same diner that my dad and I had gone to just four days earlier.

Eli turned off the car, and he leaned towards me, my heart picked up the pace, but the excitement was short-lived. He unbuckled my seat belt. I tried to keep myself from blushing. Even after a panic attack, I had my hopes up of this boy taking as much of an interest in me than I had in him.

Unfortunately, he noticed my red cheeks and looked at me with concern. I looked down, embarrassed, kicking my backpack that was sitting at my feet.

I did not move until Eli did. When he opened his car door, I followed suit with my own. Slowly, as I still felt slightly lightheaded, even if I was feeling much better.

Eli was at my car door by the time it was fully opened. "Oh, I was going to.."

I cut him off. "It's okay, thank you, though," I said softly, deliberately, making sure my voice was steady.

He still looked concerned, and he stayed beside me as I exited the car, taking my backpack with me. He closed the door for me, and I smiled, thanks. It was kind of him to care.

Before I could protest, he placed his hand on the small of my back and led me towards the diner. I know he was doing it because he was worried I was falling; he was just cautious, but the touch was feather-light, and it gave me butterflies deep in my stomach.

I gulped. In my many years of crushing on Mike, he had never given me this feeling.

I smiled when he opened the diner door. He didn't seem like the same fiery boy who beat up Jackson in front of my locker just a few days ago.

We sat down at a booth near the back of the diner. I sat down first, and Eli sat down across from me.

A waiter was with us immediately. She had white curly hair with a fun hat placed on top. She looked like she belonged in the movie Grease. "What can I get you two?" She asked.

"I'll get a strawberry milkshake," said Eli, and he looked pointedly at me.

I cleared my throat, "I'll get the same."

The older woman took the menus, that we had not looked at, and left us.

Eli still looked troubled as he watched me from across the small table. I smiled, trying to ease his fears. I was okay now if just a little embarrassed. There was no point in having a silly crush on a boy who had now seen me in two ridiculous situations, but I couldn't help but like him even more.

"Thank you; I haven't had a panic attack in years. I don't know what happened."

He smiled, "That is okay, Betty, you don't need to explain yourself. It happens."

My heart skipped a beat when he said my name.

"Have you had a panic attack before?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He laughed out loud, "Oh, god, no." I blushed and put my head down.

He stopped chuckling immediately, "but my brother used to have them... a lot. So it's nothing to be ashamed of."

I nodded. "Is that how you knew what to do?" I asked in a soft voice. He laughed, but he did everything perfectly.

He crossed his hands in front of him on the table. His eyes were shining sadly. His eyelashes were so long. "Yeah, my brother got a lot of panic attacks after my mom died. My dad couldn't handle it, so I had to step in."

I paused. "Oh, I'm sorry."

He smiled wistfully, "It's okay, no need to apologize."

I nodded, biting my tongue to keep from apologizing again.

"Why do you apologize so much?"

I tilted my head to the side, "Do I?" I knew I did.

"I mean yeah, from what I have seen. Also, I am sorry about Monday. I was a bit hungover... another stupid senior tradition. That's not usually like me."

From what I had heard, that was exactly like him.

"It's okay; you weren't the one that threw a slushie on me on my first day at a new school."

He laughed, "but still not a good first impression on my part."

"I saw you once before, actually! When I first moved here with your two friends."

He grinned, "Oh, you saw me before? Do I have a stalker I should worry about?" He was being cheeky, but that did not stop my embarrassment.

I put my head in my hands, "oh my god." I said quietly. Why did I say that?

The lady from before brought us our milkshakes, and she looked at me strangely and then Eli accusingly. When she walked away, we both started to giggle. My face was hot, and I am sure it was beet red.

But any tension that we had built up broke down with that interaction, and we fell into a comfortable conversation.

I was delightfully surprised to learn that he was easy to talk to and had a pleasant attitude. Sure, he might be aggressive and a bit of a player, but if he was one, I was falling right into his trap. He seemed so genuine, though that it was hard to imagine that this was all some bigger plan. He was kind, and it was nice to find out we had some things in common, and he seemed interested in what I had to say.

Eli asked me about Arizona and my friends. I told him about the drive-in and the lake and my old group of friends. I mean, I am not sure if he was actually interested or just good at distractions, but he could have fooled me.

Either way, I had almost completely forgotten about what Jackson had done, and I was glad that Eli kept me distracted. And I was glad he had not asked me why my panic attack had happened - even though I am sure he was curious.

When we finished our milkshakes, he got out his wallet. But I stopped him, grabbing mine from my backpack.

"No, please, let me pay for both of us, just as a thank you. It would make me feel a little bit better." He looked like he was about to argue, but then he smiled.

"Sure, thank you."

I grinned and got up to pay. Making sure my dress was smoothed in the back before wandering to the front. I didn't need any more pictures of my butt. Though I highly doubt Eli would do that to me, unlike Jackson.

I paid, and he was standing next to me.

"Let's get back to school. Lunch is almost over." I sighed, looking at the time on my phone. I had missed Maths, but I would just explain to my parents what happened and they would understand. This had been a hard week, and it wasn't even completely over. I would make up in Maths, and I am sure that I could get my parents to write me a note. Hopefully, the teacher would understand too.

As we were getting in the car, something occurred to me. "Oh no! You missed a class because of me."

I must have looked horrified because Eli started to laugh. "A goodie two shoes... I should have known. Even if you do seem a little bit distracted in Bio."

My heart stopped, and I blushed. Eli had noticed. I wanted to apologize, say I didn't mean to, but that would put more attention on the fact I was spending all of my time in Bio staring at him.

I sunk in the seat as he pulled away from the diner.

"Well, I am sorry if you missed something because of me. Could I give you some money? Or something? For your troubles. Gas money?" I wanted to make this right.

He looked over at me, a slightly horrified look coming over his face. "I don't need your money," he said calmly.

I paused. Oh crap. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that." I was going to continue but the way he looked at me, cut me off.

We didn't talk on the way back, but he spoke up as I was about to get out of the car when we pulled up at school.

"Just so you know, I had a free block. But I would have been happy to miss something for you. It's not a big deal, don't worry so much."

I smiled slightly reading too much into that single sentence than I should have. 

"Oh and Betty, I think these are yours," he said grabbing a pair of shoes from the back of his car. Oh, my shoes from the start of the week! "They were sitting in front of my locker on Tuesday so I grabbed them, but I forgot about them until today, I was actually looking for you to give them back today when I found you... uhh." 

I grabbed the shoes from Eli, blushing. "Thanks, Eli."

I smiled to myself as I got out of the car. 

---

1723

"Feels like I knew you in a past life
The way we vibin', you and I just seem so natural" - Delaney Jane

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