(After everyone leaves, Dylan eventually leaves too. Nat rushes to work and makes it there by 4:28. He quickly puts on his work shirt and badge, then hops out and runs inside. He quickly clocks in, right on time. He exhales, then scans his badge to get access into the shark exhibit. He finds one of his supervisors in there, writing down things.)

…?: Hey, Nat. *kind smile*

Nat: Hey, Cory. *slightly nervous*

Cory: Did you just get here? You're usually here earlier. *looks at his watch*

Nat: Yeah, I was running a little behind today. I kind of rushed here. I didn't wanna be late.

Cory: Even if you were a little late, it's fine.

Nat: I just don't want you think I'm slacking or anything.

Cory: *chuckles* You, Nat? Trust me. You are one of the least slacking kids I know. *pats his back and puts his pen away* They're all yours. And the penguins are good to go for their medicine.

Nat: Ok.

Cory: See you at lunch, buddy. *chuckles and leaves*

Nat: *exhales and gets to work*

(Later on in the day, Nat gets off work and goes home. Meanwhile, Tara and Kristina decided to go out for drinks with Danny, since the other guys had too much homework to do. They meet up outside of Applebee's, then go in and sit at the bar.)

Danny: What's up, girls.

Tara and Kristina: Hey, Danny.

Kristina: Listen, we really wanna apologize about Allie. Not for her, obviously. But, yeah. She was way out of line, earlier.

Tara: Out of her fucking mind, is more like it. I love the girl dearly, but she really pisses me off sometimes.

Danny: Yeah. I feel the same way about David, sometimes. *chuckles a bit*

Kristina: We had no idea he had anxiety.

Danny: Yeah. It's actually the thing he hates most about himself.

Tara: What got him like that?

Danny: Girls. When he was in 4th grade, he got picked on a lot by this group of girls that, I guess had a crush on him. And, he was already shy, so, he didn't really pay much attention to them. They took it personal. Started harassing him pretty much everyday. One day, they went too far. It caused him to have a complete breakdown, he ran out of class, hid in a janitors closet full of spilled chemicals and locked himself in. Almost died from toxic inhalation. His parents had to come to the school and talk him out. He hasn't been the same with girls, since.

Kristina: Poor baby.

Tara: Wow. We never would've thought. He's so cute.

Danny: *chuckles* Yeah. But, he doesn't know that. Doesn't believe it, either. He's kind of insecure. Only because he can't be as good with girls as he wants.. He did have a girlfriend, once, though.

Kristina: Really?

Danny: Yeah. Her name was Anika. She was probably the coolest girl ever. She was one of us. She met him in 7th grade. Asked him out in 9th. They had been together ever since. Dated for 4 years.

Tara: What happened?

Danny: We don't know. *looks down* She..kind of disappeared. Thanks to her old man.

Kristina: What do you mean?

Danny: Anika came from a kind of fucked up environment. Her parents were assholes. Major assholes. Married for years and constantly fucking each other over. Cheating on each other, domestic violence, the whole 9. Made Anika run away a lot. And, you can imagine who she ran to. *chuckles a bit*

Kristina: Nat. *smiles a bit*

Danny: Yeah. Nat was..a guardian for her. She loved him more than anything or anyone, really. She was a really troubled girl. Often depressed. Even suicidal. Nat was there for her whenever she needed him. He was her safe haven. Her happy place. If it wasn't for him..there's no telling what might've been with her. He practically saved that girl's life. Anika wasn't the most stable person, before she met him.

Tara: That's beautiful.

Danny: *chuckles* So were they. Cutest couple you'd see, in high school. It was like something out of a fairytale. Those two were really in love. Madly in love. There was nothing Nat wouldn't have done for her. And Anika? *chuckles a bit* She was ride or die for him. We all were in love with her, in a way. She was one of the realest girls out there.

Kristina: So, why'd her dad take her away?

Danny: Her dad didn't like, nor did he trust Nat. Or any of us, really. Anika was always with us. She hardly hung out with girls. Her dad didn't like that. He thought we were all screwing her or something. He's never trusted his daughter. One day, he threatened to hurt her and Nat, if she didn't stop seeing him. Anika told him no. The next morning, she was gone. Along with him. That asshole took her in the middle of the night, left her mom with nothing, and vanished. Nat never saw her again. Neither did we. Even her own mom hasn't seen her since.

Kristina: That is so fucked up.

Tara: Right.

Danny: Yeah. It killed all of us. And it broke Nat's heart. That was the only girl that ever understood him. That loved him for who he was. He was torn apart for a while.

Kristina: Poor baby.

Danny: Yeah. He's been through a lot. But, he's a fighter. He keeps pushing through.

Tara: Allie should really feel like a jackass, now.

Kristina: No kidding.

Tara: So, how does he treat his anxiety?

Danny: He takes beta blockers. He's cool for the most part. He only takes them when he starts to have an attack, which only happens when he's being attacked, or when he's put in a big social situation. That's why he kind of hides around school, he doesn't talk to anyone but us, and he doesn't really go out to clubs and parties, and shit like that. He also has an inhaler. When these attacks start to flare up, he gets so anxious that he stops breathing and he forgets how.

Tara: That's why you had to breathe with him.

Danny: Yeah. His attacks are unpredictable, really. I mean, we never know what could happen. Especially considering whatever environment he's in.

Tara: So, why'd he come down here?

Danny: He's a genius kid. And, I mean, like, fucking Stephen Hawking genius. He's an engineer student and he's like Tony fucking Stark. He's top of his class at MIT and I guess the engineering center at FIU wanted him down here for some big project. Not to mention, some assistance. And, the board at his school chose him. So, here he is.

Kristina: Wow. He's that smart?

Danny: Indeed he is. You guys rarely see him at school, though, because he only has 3 classes. Barely even that.

Tara: I wish I had it like that. I'm gifted, but I'm no robot.

Danny: *chuckles a bit* Right.

Kristina: It seems like there's a lot to him.

Danny: There is. He may be silent, but there's more to him than meets the eye. Shit you wouldn't even believe. He's an awesome guy, really. And a true ass friend. *smiles*

Kristina: That's so sweet.

Tara: He seems like my type of person. Not to date, I mean, but, as a friend. I feel like we had an unspoken bond. Is he a smart ass?

Danny: Major smart ass. And it makes him an asshole. *chuckles* Just undercover.

Tara: Yep! I was right! We had an unspoken bond!

Kristina: *laughs a little* That's how Tara is.

Danny: Then, you and Nat would be best fucking friends. Too bad you girls intimidate him, though.

Kristina: What do you mean? Did we do something wrong?

Danny: *chuckles* No, not directly. Remember, it's girls that make him anxious. So, you can only imagine how much worse hot girls would make him.

Tara: *chuckles* Oh. Boy, please. We are nobody. He has nothing to be intimated about.

Danny: Tell him yourselves. *chuckles*

Kristina: So, you'd be cool with us talking to him?

Danny: Yeah. Allie, though? Hell no. I think it's best that she stay away.

Tara: We had a feeling you were gonna say that.

Danny: I'm sorry, but I'm looking out for him. And she is trouble.

Tara: We've said that so many times.

Danny: Yeah. With the way she plays mind games, and likes to fuck around with guys' feelings, and manipulate people? No. I just don't trust her. Everything always has to go her way. Nat's not about that.

Kristina: Yeah.

Danny: She's a heartbreaker. Nat doesn't need that shit.

Tara: I couldn't agree more.

Kristina: Too bad she doesn't take well to accepting no.

Danny: Poor us, right?

Tara and Kristina: Yup.

(After they have some food and a few more drinks, they go home.)

(The next day, Nat isn't at school, since it was Wednesday. He's at work all day. Classes had eventually gone by and everyone headed out, except Danny and The Guys got stopped outside by Allie and her friends. Kristina and Tara were glaring at Allie, as if they were admonishing her.)

Danny: What's up, girls?

Kristina: Allie has something to say to you guys.

Allie: I'm sorry for what I did, yesterday. *looks down* You guys were right. I was a total bitch and he didn't deserve that. Neither did you guys. I didn't mean to bully him.. I wanted to say this to him also, but he didn't show up today.

Danny: Yeah. He's at work. Doesn't have classes on Wednesdays.

Allie: Oh. *looking down with embarrassment*

Danny: Apology accepted. We'll pass the message on to him.

Allie: Thanks.

Danny: We gotta jet. Thanks, Kris. Thanks, Tara.

Kristina and Tara: *wink at him*

(The Guys leave, but then a group of girls come up to Allie and her friends. They're from a different sorority.)

Kristina: The fuck do you want, Alexis?

Alexis: I heard your queen bitch almost got herself raped, last week. *chuckles* Way to go Allie. That had to be fun for you, right?

Kristina: *jumps at her*

Tara: Kris, no! We are not repeating last month!

Alexis: Can't be mad at me. I'm just following the story. *chuckles* I also heard that a very sexy giant saved your ass. I wouldn't count on you getting with him, though. I doubt he's into evil sluts.

Allie: Slut?!

Alexis: Oh, please. Don't try to pretend you're not. You've been with, like, 30 guys, since freshmen year. And everyone knows that. Don't try to be innocent. You know, I actually felt you deserved that bad ass karma you caught in the ally. You fuck around with guys heads long enough, eventually they snap, and try to take your ass by force. Guess you didn't hear about Aron and Luke. You fucked them up so bad, they've been on an emotional rampage. Better watch out for them, too. *chuckles*

Allie: Why don't you go fuck yourself? You don't know shit about me! And while you're talking, you slept with every one of my exes, just to get back at me! So, you think you're any fucking better? You're full of my sloppy seconds, you stupid bitch!

Alexis: Fuck you, Allie! This is exactly why I can't stand you! You just go around like you can fuck any and everybody! I wanna actually see you pull off this new guy! 'Cause I know he's just gonna blow right past you! You might as well drop it!

Allie: Is that what you think?! Ok, bitch! We'll see!

Alexis: Yeah! Whatever! You'll see me fuck him before you! Drop dead! *storms off with her friends*

Allie: Hate that bitch!

Tara: Yeah, we all do. Just relax and let it go. You're only giving the bitch the reaction she wants.

Allie: Fine. Whatever. Let's just go to work.

(Allie and the girls go to work. Meanwhile, all Allie could think about was Nat and the way he looked in his dorm. Allie didn't really see Nat for the next couple weeks, until, one day, she went to the campus library, to study. She went up to the top area, looking around for books. She finds one, takes it off the shelf, opens it, and starts walking a bit, and looking through it. After a minute, she looks up from it and sees someone sitting at a table, surrounded by a few books, and an open notebook. It's a super cute guy, with dark brown, short, flippy, curly, silky hair. He has pierced ears, but also a pierced lip. He has a snakebite piercing, with black horseshoe lip rings. He's big, thick, and buff, wearing a white hooded Henley, khaki shorts, and white Jordan 4 retros. It takes her a minute to actually see his face, and when she does, she sees it's Nat. He's listening to music, nodding his head, and tapping pencils to a beat. She goes over to the table slowly. Nat looks up, gapes a bit, instantly blushes, takes out his ear phones, and starts packing up his stuff.)

Allie: Wait wait wait wait! *touches his arm* Wait. I'm not gonna bite you. I just wanted to say hi. *chuckles a bit*

Nat: *blushing* Um… H- - hi.

Allie: *chuckles* Hi. Nat, right?

Nat: *just nods shyly*

Allie: Man, you really don't like girls, huh?

Nat: *blushes and looks down* Uh..

Allie: *realizes how that sounded and quickly says* I mean, I didn't mean, like, you were gay! I didn't mean it like that! Sorry!

Nat: It- - it's ok.

Allie: I'm sorry. I just.. I just realized, you're talking.

Nat: *blushes a bit more and looks down again*

Allie: No no! I like it! I'm- - I'm glad you're talking. I was just- - I mean, because last time, you wouldn't- -

Nat: Yeah. *shy voice* You, uh- - You weren't really nice.

Allie: *blushes a bit* Um… Yeah. About that… I'm sorry. I didn't..really mean to come on strong.

Nat: Yeah..you did. *looking down shyly*

Allie: *looks at him and gapes a bit*

Nat: Um… Look if you wanna just say thank you and we'll go our separate ways... Or, I don't- - I don't really know what you..wanna say to me.

Allie: I do wanna say thank you, personally, for helping me. And I really wanna thank you for finding my necklace, fixing it, and returning it. It means a lot to me.

Nat: I figured. You're welcome. *finishes packing up his stuff and starts to get up*

Allie: *grabs his shoulder* I also don't wanna just go separate ways.

Nat: *slowly sits back down, while she's holding his shoulder* W- - why?

Allie: Well, because, I really wanna get to know you. You- - You seem nice.

Nat: I don't think that's a good idea. There's not really much to know about me. I'm nobody. Especially to you. *looking down, shy voice*

Allie: You're not nobody to me.

Nat: Yeah, I am. *looking down* And.. I have a feeling that if it hadn't been me who helped you..You wouldn't even look in my direction.

Allie: Actually, I would have. I was looking in your direction, before you even helped me.

Nat: Look, I'm not what you think I am. *shy voice* I'm not your type of person.. I'm just a silent loser. *gets up and starts walking off*

Allie: Wait!

Nat: *stops walking, but doesn't turn around*

Allie: Can- - can we just talk? I just wanna know some things about you. I really do.

Nat: Why? *shy voice*

Allie: Maybe I like you.

Nat: Trust me.. There's nothing to like. I gotta go. Take care of yourself. *walks off and leaves*

Allie: *watches him disappear and sighs*

(Allie's P.O.V. Ok, how do I respond to that? Jesus, he didn't even wanna look at me. But he sure as hell caught me off guard with that comment. Maybe I did mean to come on strong. Anyway, what is his deal? Why is he so low on confidence? And shy? What's with that whole act? Is it an act? Tara did say he had anxiety disorder. Is that what it does to you? How can a guy that sexy, be so shy..? He's so gorgeous. I can't help but be attracted to him. I gotta get him. But how? Man, this is gonna be a lot of fucking work. Is it worth it? Is he? I can't just let him slip away, untouched by me. I gotta have him. I want him. And I'm gonna make him want me. If Alexis gets anywhere with him first, I may just die. I can't let that shit happen. I gotta get him first. She challenged me. I have to. But how can I get close to him? First, I need to understand this anxiety disorder thing. End of P.O.V.)

Allie: *sits down at the table and pulls out her phone* Siri, explain anxiety disorder.

Siri: There are several types of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.

Allie: Several? Jesus, which one does he have? I need a brain freak. *goes to a number in her phone and calls it* Lydia, I need your help with something. You're a psych major, right?

Lydia: Yeah.

Allie: Ok, someone I met has an anxiety disorder. And apparently there's several different forms.

Lydia: Yeah. Generalized anxiety disorder, phobic disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety, situational anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder- - I mean, yeah. This person could have any one of those.

Allie: I need to know which one.

Lydia: That depends on his symptoms. What's he afraid of? How does he act?

Allie: He's afraid of girls. They stress him out, I guess. But, he's not gay. At least, I don't think he is.

Lydia: What else? Give me a specific symptom. A major one.

Allie: Shyness? He's terribly shy. He's low on confidence, self-esteem, and uh, he's insecure. He socializes with guys, but mostly his group of friends. He talks to one girl. But, I don't know what they are to each other.

Lydia: What girl?

Allie: Malia Wolff.

Lydia: Shyness with girls..

Allie: Yeah. He gets all sweaty and scared, and nervous. Like he's panicking. His friend said he was pathologically and painfully shy and girls were the reason for it.

Lydia: That means something happened to him, involving girls or a girl, that got him like that. Pathologic and painful shyness is associated with social phobia. Or social anxiety disorder, as it's called. That's the one he has. I've never heard of a case, dealing with just girls, though. It's usually all people.

Allie: Social anxiety disorder. Thanks, Lydia.

Lydia: Yep. *hangs up*

Allie: Siri, define social anxiety disorder.

Siri: Social anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety. Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is an anxiety disoder in which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. Anxiety and self-consciousness arise from a fear of being closely watched, judged, rejected, and criticized by others.

(Allie looks up more about shyness and social anxiety disorder for a while, until she finally works on her school work. After a few hours, she goes home, but doesn't tell any of her friends that she spoke to Nat. She lays in her room thinking about him, until she suddenly sits up, gets out a large sketchpad and starts drawing something. She ends up drawing until she falls asleep.)