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'No, Alex, I don't think you understand. I was already running late-' Carrie let out a shaky breath, suddenly feeling suffocated. '-and now I've left my-' She had to let out another one. She didn't remember breathing in, but clearly she had to have done. She continued, much quieter than previously, her control on her speaking volume quickly failing on her, 'It's the dress rehearsal. I've got a lead part. If I'm not there they can't properly rehearse, like, a half an hour of dance!'
'You left your shoes inside, I know. That's why you called me, Care, remember?' Alex responded through the phone, much calmer than Carrie thought was typical or appropriate, the vague rumbling of his car taking up the auditory space in the background.
'You don't seem to be taking this very seriously! Both pairs! I left both pairs! And my keys, Alex!' Her tone rose surprisingly high. 'I can't even get back inside!' She paused, now suddenly frightened. 'Oh my god, what am I gonna do? Miss Carol's gonna kill me. Oh my god.'
'What? Why?' Alex sounded genuinely concerned for her, at least.
'She's such a hardass for tardiness. Oh my god, oh my god, I'm gonna lose my part, she'll-' Carrie gasped. '-oh god, she'll give it to my understudy. Alex, no, I needed this part.'
'Carrie? Breathe.'
'What? I am. Alex, I don't have time to-'
'You have as much time as it takes for me to get there, and I'm at a red light.' Alex paused abruptly. 'That wasn't reassuring. Anyway, breathe. Properly.'
Reluctantly obliging him, Carrie attempted to take an actual deep breath. 'Fuck, that hurts,' she said while exhaling, grabbing for her ribs. 'Why does it hurt?'
''Cause you weren't breathing properly?' Alex replied, as though the answer were obvious. 'Feel better?'
Carrie tried to feel around in her head. The weird tingling that had begun when she closed the door behind her still remained, but the pressure that was there was subsiding. 'Yeah? A little.'
'Great job, Care.' Alex let out a sigh of his own, betraying the heart deep within all of that sass. 'Now, there's fuck-all you can do until I get there-' Carrie attempted to make a retort, but all that came out was a vaguely strangled sound '-No, there isn't. You know there isn't. So, what I want you to do is sit tight-'
'Alex, that's-'
'Shit advice? Sure, but also come up with something better then, hmm?'
Carrie let out an offended scoff-like noise.
'Yeah, exactly. Sit tight, close your eyes, and breathe.'
'... Fine,' Carrie conceded.