When it hit nine AM, the bedroom door finally opened again. Rachel stumbled in and was wearing sweatpants and her flannel again, except this time, it was wrinkled and buttoned in completely wrong. Her hair was messy and she seemed lost.

"Good morning, Rachel," I greeted her, "Did you sleep?"

I wished I did sleep at all. I was lying down on the couch with the blanket up to my chest and my phone inches away from my face.

"I did, but listen, Max," Rachel leaned on the dining room table, "I just experienced something out of this universe. Oh, my god, I won't talk about it for real, but I'm never leaving."

"Maybe you should dress in expensive clothes more often."

"Oh yeah," she drawled, "Anyway, did you sleep good?"

"I couldn't," I sat up, letting my blanket fall to my lap, "I was up all night."

"Are you okay?" She was limping a lot, but she eventually sat down.

"I should be asking you that."

"I'm fine!" She insisted. She waited for me to explain why I didn't sleep at all.

"I don't know why, but there was this persistent feeling and it just wouldn't let me sleep. I feel like shit right now."

"You should sleep now then," Rachel put her hands on my cheeks, "Is it gone?"

"No, it's still there. I don't know what it is!" I was gradually getting pissed off at the feelings; it was just there and I had no idea what it was. It started in my head and it felt it spread through my whole body. It made my heart race and my hands tingle. It was way worse than anything I've ever felt before.

Rachel hummed, looking at me from side to side, checking my forehead for temperature, feeling my hands to see if they were shaking or felt cold. In fact, my hands were shaking a lot more than usual.

"You said all night, right?" She spoke again.

I nodded.

"It just seems like you feel unsafe," Rachel grabbed my hands, "You're a little shaky and your pulse is very fast. Come here."

She guided me to rest my head onto her lap. I faced away from her as she brushed her fingers through my hair and it was instantly relaxing. Breathing was way more difficult, heavily panting and uneven.

"Did something happen last night?" She interrogated.

"No," I replied as I fixed my blanket under me, "When you and Chloe went into the room, I decided to sleep instead. I lied down and that's when it started happening."

I switched to lying on my back, crossing my arms and bending my knees up, watching as Rachel looked at the wall in confusion. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Your body knows something. Something or someone is nearby," Rachel suddenly said, "It's making you anxious."

Yet, her voice was low. It was becoming a whisper. I felt myself become drowsy; I couldn't respond to her. I eventually closed my eyes, knocking me out into deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, Rachel wasn't there anymore and the blanket was somehow over me again. I could hear her and Chloe's voices coming from the kitchen. I barely made out what they were saying.

"Does her anxiety look worse?"

"She seems the same to me. I don't know, why?"

"She was acting scared earlier and her hands were trembling more. I just wanted to ask."

"Oh," Chloe paused for a minute, "She should go somewhere about it."

I lifted my head up as I looked at them. I caught Rachel's attention right away.

"You're up," she walked up to me, then squatted down to face me, "It's only three o'clock right now. Are you feeling better?"

I didn't feel it as much as earlier. It was a relief, but I wasn't fully there.

I weakly smiled, "I'm a little better. I appreciate you for thinking about my mental health, but it hasn't changed much."

I went to a school where socializing and networking was important and I have gone to every crazy party and club these two have ever taken me. However, that didn't mean I was okay with them. I've been dealing with social anxiety since I was thirteen. Moving away from Chloe stressed me out and made the mistake of never contacting her.

She smiled back, "Eavesdropping much? It was just a thought."

Both Rachel and Chloe were dressed for the day today. It was only Sunday. I had class on Tuesday and needed some sleep.

"CarMax," Chloe came over and messed with my hair again, "we're gonna go and do laundry today. Are you staying or coming?"

It would be like dragging around a dead person if they took me along. Then again, feeling like this while totally alone could become a very bad idea.

"I want to go out, but I don't want to be a burden." I admitted.

"Okay," Chloe took a deep breath in, "Fuck off with that. You're not a burden on us."

Rachel stood up again, "She's dealing with something right now, be gentle."

Chloe clicked her tongue, "Don't say that ever again."

It was kind of rephrased better, but the aggression in her tone was still there. To be honest, it was more threatening without the curse word.

"Okay, I'll go along," I sat up, my back was stiff and my arm was still asleep, "How much are we washing anywhere?"

"It's been weeks since we went." Chloe looked at the bedroom, "Plus, the sheets need to be washed anyway."

I shrugged my shoulders. That was a fair enough reason.

"Well, I'm going to shower." I stood up. They moved out of my way.

"We'll wait here." Rachel patted my back.

I was stuck in an old hoodie, covered in bleach stains and some paint that wouldn't come off and blue jeans that Rachel hated so much. We went to a Coin Laundromat. There was one in our apartment, but when we went in there for the first time, there was a weird musty smell and some of the lights flickered. We politely fucked off and found this place.

I sat on the side as I watched Chloe and Rachel loaded up laundry. It was busy and nearly all of the washers and dryers were in use. Luckily, they found a few.

Somehow, the feeling got worse. I was rocking in my seat at this point and I could see those two watching me as I did. I only watched them put their clothes and sheets into the washing machine, avoiding their worrying stares. I didn't understand; I had no reason to be as nervous as I was. My body knew something was wrong. I wished I knew, because I was becoming irritable and about to lose my shit.

I heard Rachel and Chloe coming towards me. It was Rachel talking, "I've never been to one of these before. I like it, actually."

"Max in the Hat, what's happening?" Chloe asked me, placing her hand on my shoulder to stop my rocking.

"I-I don't know. There's something going on and it got worse being here." I replied to the best of my ability. They looked at each other, concerned that I was acting so strange, and looked at me again.

"Max, there's a store over there," Chloe pointed out the window, "I'm gonna walk you around, take your mind off it, and help you relax a bit. You're okay with staying here, right?"

"Yeah, you guys go ahead. You haven't been hanging recently, so please take your time."

"Come on," Chloe lifted me up until I stood and put her arm around my shoulders, "Maybe I can get you coffee or something."

The walk was quick and we didn't speak much.

"How long has it been since you had your fix?" Chloe made it sound like a drug addiction. It was caffeine after all, though. Holy shit, was I actually having withdrawal symptoms?

"I don't even remember."

"Damn, okay, we need to go out and get you coffee again."

We walked around the store and, not gonna lie, I was laughing and smiling again. Chloe made snarky jokes and jeers about people around us and making fun of food titles, making me high-five her after every one. I was getting better, though. Eventually, we were in the frozen food aisle, surrounded by TV dinners and pot pies. Chloe and I never bought them, I think maybe once we did and then never bought it again.

"Hey, I'm gonna check out the fresh food again, you wouldn't mind being alone for a few minutes?"

"What do you need over there?"

"Rachel wanted grapes and I missed it, so you cool or what?" Chloe was slowly walking backwards.

"Uh, y-yeah, you go. I'll stay in this aisle." I nodded, but I was uncertain. I watched as Chloe swaggered away. At this point, I was convinced that I was fine. I was in a colder area, maybe I was just too hot. Or maybe my diet was definitely messed up now. It couldn't be the coffee. It could be all the bar foods I shoved down my throat. I stared up and down at red Banquet boxes, mumbling what the foods were under my breath and making my own lame jokes about them. I was at the point of snickering at my own jokes about soaking wet chicken, when I heard a voice behind. Having said that, it wasn't Chloe and it couldn't be Rachel.

"Max?" It was man's voice. My heart and the tingle in my hands and feet shot up to a hundred. This was it; this was the reason why I felt this way.

I turned around slowly, as if it'll somehow change the person, but no, it was still the same person.

"Warren!" I acted happy to see him. He looked the same as I remembered. He was still rocking a helmet haircut, dorky science-themed shirts, and a very awkward stance.

"Oh, my god, it's been forever!" He went in for a hug. I avoided looking at him and took a couple steps back.

"It's been... too long!" I made direct eye contact during the second half of my sentence.

"Yeah, how have you been? I've been trying to text you recently."

"Oh really? Um, my phone hasn't been working and uh... I've been busy too."

"That's too bad." He was holding nothing and didn't have a cart with him. Was he just walking around and just happen to see me?

The both of us kicked our feet around and looked around as the awkward silence started.

"Actually, I'm here in the city because I got a job in IT. You know, I get to program databases and cool stuff like that." He explained. I felt so awful; I could hear myself breathing loud and fast from whatever this is.

"You're not in Blackwell anymore?" I questioned. He was two years younger than me; he really shouldn't be out of Arcadia Bay at all.

"I advanced in school, remember? I graduated and bounced around Oregon and now I'm here!" He was still thrilled by everything. I remembered that he was smart, gifted even, but nevertheless he still did some stupid shit, like fight the rich guy at school. Twice for my dumb ass.

Behind him, I saw Chloe walk in and then become taken aback. She took slow and stealthy steps as she walked up behind him, she looked angry and, even though I was missing everything he was saying, she mocked him by making weird faces and moving her mouth to his words.

"Warren fucking Graham," Chloe startled him, punching him in the shoulder, "What brings you here?"

"Chloe Price, nice to see you again," He was shocked at first, but went back to how he was, "New job, no biggie."

"Oh yeah? You aren't making enough with a shitty shirt like that." She pushed him, hard enough for him to move.

"I just started, so I have no money to splurge just yet."

"You know what, Warren?" I interrupted them, "Chloe and I are busy and we're here because our clothes are washing at the laundry place. So, we gotta go."

"Oh, well, sorry to get in the way, I'll call you sometime?" Warren was persistent on this communication thing.

"She doesn't want to talk to you." Chloe growled.

"Chloe, stop," I slapped her arm, "See you around, Warren."

I grabbed Chloe's arm and dragged her along towards the cash registers. I looked down and realized she wasn't holding anything in her hands.

"I thought you were getting something for Rachel."

"Not anymore, I'm pissed off."

It was good that the anxious feeling was gone, but the reason why was the worst-case scenario. Chloe stomped out as I held onto her; I was scared she was going to do something completely illegal.

Back in the laundromat, Rachel was loading the wet clothes into the dryer. She waved at us, but her smile was gone when Chloe sat down at the bench, eyebrows furrowed and arms folded. I went up to Rachel as she threw a few shirts in.

"What happened over there?" She asked first.

"One, we found the reason why I felt that way. Warren is here," I held on finger up, then changed it to two, "Two, she's mad because he just makes her mad?"

Rachel let out a huff, "Shit. I told you your body knew something. Oh god, that means we'll see him around and whatever?"

"Maybe," I shrugged, "And I thought my life here was getting better."