17 And I Am Here With You.

Everything was going well these past two weeks. Mia was attending her sessions with Ms. Kelly and Rachel & others were very supportive towards her.

But something was going to happen today!

As Mia's condition was not disclosed to everyone, she was bound to encounter physical gestures from her other friends. Such an encounter happened today!

It was one of her classmates birthday today and they were celebrating it in the cafeteria. Rachel & Mark was not yet there.

The birthday girl suddenly after giving her cake hugged Mia and a few other girls joined too turning it into a group hug.

Mia tried her best to control herself but she was suffocating. As soon as they released her she excused herself and rushed out of cafeteria. Fortunately she bumped into Rachel on her way out.

Seeing her pale face Rachel panicked. Finding what happened she brought Mia to Ms. Kelly's office.

"Hey, where are you guys?" Not seeing Rachel & Mia, Mark who was waiting for them in the cafeteria called Rachel.

"We're in Ms. Kelly's office, Mia is having an attack. I don't know what to do Mark she's having a hard time."

It had been past 10 minutes since Mia was brought in the office and Ms. Kelly & Rachel were doing everything possible to calm her down but everything was in vain.

"What! I'll be there soon." Mark said and ran out.

Lucas who was with him wasn't able to hear what Rachel said but seeing his buddy's reaction he somehow understood that something's the matter. Hence, he too followed behind.

In the office Mia was having trouble breathing and her heartbeats were fast. Seeing all their efforts not helping to better her condition, Ms. Kelly and the school nurse decided to call the hospital.

They were about to make the call when Mark barged into the office with Lucas following behind.

Mia was sitting on the bed clutching a pillow tightly in her arms with her eyes closed. She was trying to take deep breaths as per Ms. Kelly's instruction.

When she heard the bang of the door she opened her eyes. Mark was standing infront of her along with Rachel and they were saying something to her but she couldn't make it what.

Her eyes shifted to everyone around her and then it stopped in one. When they saw she was looking at a certain direction intently everyone followed her gaze.

Lucas who was still standing near the door was looking at Mia and she was looking at him.

Realising everyone's eyes were on him Lucas flinched a little but Mark called out, "Lucas, come here and try to talk to her."

As soon as he saw her Lucas wanted to rush to her side and hold her. And seeing Mia was looking at him his urge became even stronger. But seeing everyone and on second thought he stopped himself.

Now after listening to Mark's words he no longer cared about anyone and walked straight towards Mia and stood infront of her. All this time Mia kept her eyes on him.

Seeing him right there infront of her don't know why but she wanted to cry, to say something anything, to hold him but she couldn't.

It was as if her body was refusing to listen to whatever she was saying. In the end she kept staring at him.

Lucas stood there calmly and after a few seconds he reached out his hand and took the pillow she was holding.

Then he took both her hands in his and stroked softly with his thumb on the back of her hands, all the while keeping their eye-contact steady.

Everyone present were stunned! Knowing her condition everyone tried their best to help her without any physical contact. At one point Rachel tried to hug her but she refused.

Now she was dumbfounded along with everyone present when in the next minute they saw Lucas hug Mia.

When he saw Mia wasn't rejecting his touch, Lucas slowly took her in his arms and hugged her lightly. Her breathing was still ragged and he could feel her fast heartbeat against his chest.

When Mia felt his arms holding her body and his warmth against her cold skin she relaxed immediately.

Her hands as if they had a mind of their own tightly held his waist. Lucas stepped closer to her and tightened his hold on her.

Mia's face was buried in his chest. After a few minutes her breathing returned to normal and her heartbeat was gradually slowing down too.

Ms. Kelly, Mark, Rachel and the school nurse were standing silently in a side watching the both of them. They breathed a sigh of relief seeing Mia calm down.

Tears streamed down her eyes on its own. She felt safe in Lucas's embrace and her heart felt warm.

Lucas felt her crying. He loosened his arms a bit and held her chin in his fingers. He lifted her face a little to look into her eyes.

Her eyes were misty looking straight at him.

Lucas wiped her tears, his voice so soft like a whisper as he said,

"Please don't cry, Mia. See, everyone's here."

Mia leaned into his hand which was now holding her face. Stroking her cheek gently, he continued,

"And I am here with you. Don't cry. OK?"

A last drop rolled out on her cheek as Mia nodded looking into his eyes before burying her face again in his chest.

Lucas held her back tightly in his embrace wanting to protect her from all of her fears and bad things in the world.