Find the Word Tag
tagged a million years ago by @oh-no-another-idea to find the words fierce, alarm, only, and remark! thank!
these are from That Boy, That Girl
cw: panic attack
fierce tough strong:
[Dodgeball is] not an easy sport to play when you’re so slow. And maybe the other students have it out for you because of that, or because it’s the only safe place to push you around, but. “You’re supposed to hit people in dodgeball!” they’d say. Maybe you’re being paranoid, but it seems like the other team cheers a little louder when you get tagged out. But. And it’s the hugest but ever. Jack is in your class. He hadn’t been there yesterday, but he had said he just started, so maybe he was doing paperwork or something. But he’s fast and he has a strong arm and he’s even on your team! “Kandi, to your right!” he shouts.
alarm:
You’re halfway down the thirty-something long list, and all you need in total is three judges! You have one, so you’re a third of the way there! So close, Kandi! You can do it! You drag your finger down the notebook page to find your spot. Four more. Ten percent of your list. You’ve got this. The next name is Chef Benitez from Sugartrout. Super fancy fine dining you and Gavin could never hope to afford. The chef will probably be too busy for you. You shoot a glance over at the alarm clock on the corner of the desk. 4:03. Maybe the dinner shift hasn’t started yet? You can always leave a message.
only:
“Okay, lovebirds, break it up!” Gavin calls. Jack jerks his hands away from you like you’ve burned him. You lower your own hands and glare over your shoulder. “Mind your own business!” you shout back. “Your business is my business!" He’s mostly joking, but when you look back at Jack’s face, he’s gone pale, like he was horrified that someone might think he likes you. You wilt a little. “Don’t listen to Gavin,” you murmur. You look very carefully at Jack’s left shoulder. “He’s just being dumb. I know nobody would like me like that.” It’s the only thing you can think of to say to let Jack off the hook without calling him out. “Don’t say that.” He looks pained, like someone’s just punched him in the stomach. “I’m sure there are plenty of people who--”
remark comment:
“She has an anxiety disorder,” Gavin says gently. He softly rubs his hand up and down your lower arm as you try to regulate your breathing. He doesn’t elaborate and Jack doesn’t ask him to. Instead, Jack asks, “Would it help or make it worse if I hug you?” He pauses, seems to reconsider. Your brow pulls down. “Do you even want me to hug you?” You glance from Jack to Gavin and back again, as if asking for permission, and Gavin says, “Up to you, Kandi. Your body, your decisions.” You nod, and Jack takes the three steps that separate you and pulls you into a hug. You collapse against him, but by now your breathing has mostly gone back to normal with just one hiccupping breath every now and then. Jack doesn’t comment on your shaking hands curled in the back of his shirt. He doesn’t tell you everything’s okay. He just holds you, gently but surely, like he was always meant to be there.
tagging @winterandwords @revenantlore @loopyhoopywrites @willtheweaver to find the words soft, tree, guess, and yellow!