I'm Here || Scarlett Johansson

chapter 2

WARNINGS; Mentions of not eating, panic attack, suicide and slight abuse

3rd persons POV:

Scarlett walked Novalie to the snack bar in silence. The younger girl was blushing as red as a tomato. 'does she do that to every person she meets?' The small girl wondered. "Nova!" Scarlett raised her voice slightly which startled the smaller girl. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you sweetheart but you were spaced out." Scarlett smiled apologetically. "It's okay, were- wait. What did you call me?" Novalie asked nervously. "I called you Nova, is that okay?" Novalie froze at the name. "Honey, if you don't like it just say." Scarlett soothed, seeing the younger woman freeze. "I-I do like it, It's just that my brother used to call me that." Novalie frowned. "Was?" Scarlett asked curiously. "You don't need to say, I didn't mean to pry." She quickly added, seeing it was not right to ask that type of question. "No, I-It's okay. He um died 2 years ago. He couldn't take it anymore. And I was the one that found him." The young girls lip trembled, tears gathering in her eyes as she remembered the horrific sight of her dead brother. "Awh sweetheart... Can I come and hug you?" She cooed while asking the question, not wanting Novalie to be more uncomfortable. "Please." 

With that, Scarlett stepped forward and brung her into her arms. "It's alright, I'm sorry. Shh Novalie." The smaller girl calmed down a little as she gave out a small whisper. "You can call me Nova." Scarlett smiled lightly and kissed the top of the girls head. They pulled apart and Nova sniffled. "I-I'm sorry, god, I'm so pathetic." She muttered. "Hey, none of that. It's okay to cry sometimes." Nova smiled, it felt nice for someone to say that to her. Everyone she has ever met would probably or has called her a cry baby. It also felt nice to be held. She felt safe in Scarlett's arms. Is it possible to already feel safe with someone you just met? 

"Hey Novalie!" A chirpy voice from behind the pair called over. "Oh hey Rosie." Nova smiled at her new friend. "So, how about a McDonalds?" Nova's face formed a fake smile and nodded. "mhm." Rosie grinned. "Meet me at the front doors in 10." Nova nodded and watched her friend leave. "You don't seem very happy with that option." Scarlett piped in after watching the interaction. "I'm not very hungry." The girl mumbled. But as soon as she said that, her stomach betrayed her by letting out a low growl. "Mhm, not hungry you say?" Scarlett pokes her side teasingly making you giggle. "Fine, maybe a little." The older woman raised and eyebrow slightly, hearing the slight fear in the smaller girls tone. She left it be and they both bid goodbye to each other.

"Took you long enough." Rosie smirked. Nova laughed a little. "Sorry." Rosie shook her head a bit. "So, I invited my friend. He is chill though so is that okay with you?" The young girl smiled though on the inside she could feel the nerves bubbling up again. "It's okay, I'm sue I will like him." She lied.

"Hey dude!" Rosie squealed, clearly excited to see her friend. "Hey!" Nova froze. She recognised that voice. Her Ex. "Novalie, you okay?" Rose asked which made the boys head perk up. "Nova." He whispered. "You two know each other?" Their friend asked. "Uh n-" "Yes, Nova here is my Ex. But, don't worry. We ended on good terms didn't we Novalie?" He smirked. "Mhm yep." She whispered. She didn't want him to hit her again. 

They two best friends laughed as they caught up, Nova occasionally joining in the laughing to make it look like she was listening. But she wasn't. She was on the brink of a panic attack. She can feel it. Her leg was bouncing up and down, her fingernails digging deep into her palm probably leaving crescent moon shapes, she kept biting her chapped lips and the room started to get very hot. "I-I'm gonna go to t-the bathroom." She rushed out, slightly gasping for air. 

As soon as she made it to the bathroom she collapsed into a stall. She gasped out, clawing at her throat and hit at her chest. Tears streamed down her face. She couldn't breathe. She attempted to think of calming things or something  that could calm her down. Nothing was working. "Hey hey hey. It's okay. Breathe with me love." She could hear a woman with a British accent talk to her. "Okay, okay. Can you name 5 things you can see darling?" Novalie gasped. "t-t-the t-toilet, y-y-you, the d-door, th-the t-toilet p-paper a-and the w-wall." She cried. This hurt so much. "Okay good job love. Now cam you name 4 things that you can touch?" Novalie whimpered and shook her head. "Hey, you are doing great, you can do it." The other woman soothed. "M-my jeans, y-y-your hands, t-the fl-floor and t-the wall." The panicky girl started to calm down gradually as the woman kept on asking her the questions. "Thank you." Nova smiled. "Your welcome darling." Nova looked up and gasped in shock. "Y-You're Florence Pugh!"