"Ben!!"

I quickly turned my attention towards Lua, who sat in front of me with a concerned expression growing on her face, "Wha-what? Did you say something?" I blurted before I could think.

Lua grew more concerned. "I just wanted to know what it was you were thinking about. You were in very deep thought by the looks of it, too."

I felt my face heat up and waved my hand in dismissal, "No, it's nothing important. Instead, why don't you tell me what you have been up to since we last met?" I insisted, and Lua began her tale with one last look of concern, which I attempted my hardest to listen to, but no matter how hard I concentrated, I simply couldn't stop thinking about my stupidity. I had shown Phobus my life, my mistakes, my sadness, my career.

I had shown him all of me.

I didn't expect him to cry, but he did. It was an honest reaction to all of my pain. An honest reaction to all I had been put through.

An honest reaction to me.

My head was clouded with confusion, remorse, self-hatred, and other emotions I couldn't describe. 

That was why I had left after...whatever we had shared and sent Lua a message to meet me at the diner where we had first met. She had unexpectedly agreed, and now I sat in my seat at a loss for words as Lua continued her barrage of life moments that I was not paying the least bit of attention to.

"-ut first I had to ask you if you were available, in a non-intrusive or creepy manner, but you had ignored my texts, so I was unable to-"

My ears perked at that moment and out of the blue asked, "Available? For what?"

If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under, "For my party? Have you not read my messages?" She answered exasperatedly. I hung my head and shook my head slowly.

Lua groaned and began to explain to me that she was going to have a party in her parents' condo in 2 days and that she wanted me to come. And to invite others if I could. As she put it, "The more, the merrier".

We parted ways soon after. Lua had to get to her other job while I had to head home. My car was parked right outside the diner, but I hesitated as I reached towards the door handle of the driver's seat. The confusion and harsh thoughts I had going in my head at the moment were becoming overwhelming.

I didn't want to hurt someone while having these distracting thoughts and driving. Instead, I decided a walk towards the clearing where I had been dragged by Lua wouldn't hurt. It'd help me clear my thoughts, and hopefully calm me down.

I quickly made my way there as my thought process finished, my legs going from a trudge to a desperate stride. Cool, stinging air entered my lungs, focusing my attention on my breath instead of my surroundings. 

I ran right into someone's hard chest before tumbling to the ground, scratches decorating my hands where they hit the sidewalk.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I should've been looking where I was goin-"

"Ben?", spoke a familiar voice in confusion.

I froze before sharply raising my head to stare directly into the golden, ember eyes of Phobus. My heart began to palpitate at an astounding pace, the sound of it deafening and no doubt audible to Phobus.

However, he did not react. If Phobus had heard my heartbeat, he sure didn't think anything of it, the thought instantly causing my neck to feel hot with embarrassment. He was no doubt accustomed to my theatrics by now. 

It didn't help thinking this, my eyes watering at the harsh thoughts parading in my head. 'He probably thinks you're being dramatic', 'No doubt he thinks you're a weirdo', 'You don't deserve having people like him in your life'...

I couldn't understand what was going on with me. My thoughts were crazy and awful towards me. I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit. This wasn't like me. Not like me at all!

"Ben!" Phobus yelled, grasping onto my hands, no doubt firmly holding onto them but no sensation was distributed to my brain. I couldn't feel anything. I was completely numb.

I hated that I felt this way. I couldn't help but blame all of this on myself. 

Phobus didn't deserve to be taken care of by a lunatic. I had to stop this. I was not cut out for this position anymore. I was going to quit! I would leave first thing tomorrow! I would-

My head suddenly violently lurched to the side as I felt my cheek stinging painfully. I stayed in that position as I brought my hand to my cheek, feeling the warmth contrasted by the icy feel of my hand. 

Phobus instantly placed his hands on my shoulders and pulled me towards him, placing me against his chest.  I thought I could feel myself shaking, but I soon realized it wasn't me, but instead it was Phobus. He shook and I could hear him muttering under his breath.

"Please don't say those things. Relax, Don't say those things. Breathe. Please relax. I'm here for you. It's going to be alright. Breathe.", He continued to repeat these words on and on until I felt myself relax against him. Phobus placed one of his warm hands on my head and began to weave his fingers in my hair, desperately attempting to distract me. 

I should have felt embarrassed. He had heard me apparently saying those awful things in my head and still he hugged me. He was trying so hard for me. I should have left, but I couldn't. I wouldn't.

"I'm here for you." Phobus said, and my chest began to feel warm. A cool wind began to circle us and it was then that I finally understood what this was. Why he always occupied my head and why he was the only one to make me feel this way. 

Even though I had met him just recently, It felt like I'd known him for a long time.

Around us, the cool wind immediately began to glow in a sliver of light. I watched as the light maintained a constant glow before I closed my eyes and hugged Phobus back, hearing him gasp softly before he placed his head on top of mine. 

I smiled and uttered a simple response. 

"Ouch."