It's been a bad day for the both of you, so when you notice Lottie start to exhibit symptoms of an oncoming crisis when Jackie scrapes her fork against her plastic container too loud, it's not at all surprising. What is surprising however, is how bad she reacts to it. You know better than anyone that the littlest and stupidest things can set you off and cause you to have a meltdown, but mixed with her schizophrenic and autism, you think she experiences and feels it way worse than you do.

Lottie's breath hitches, and she sucks in all the air around her like she's choking. She starts swaying around in a circle and mumbles to herself, hands ghosting over her thighs and clenching and nails digging into her palms. You're careful not to touch her skin as you get up from the table and drag her away from Jackie and the others, pulling her by her shirt. You take her to a quiet and shaded place underneath the awning on campus.

"Lott? Tell me what to do." you speak quietly, feeling your heart twist as she begins to cry heavily. "Can I touch you?" she shakes her head no and curls in on herself, hugging her waist and doubling down like she's in pain. Fear prickles on the back of your neck and you don't know what to do.