Alex

The storm drove you not just to anxiety but to primal terror. It wasn't just fear, but a full-blown panic attack. Each clap of thunder brought more and more fear and pain. And the flashes of lightning brought on an imminent catastrophe. Your breathing became a gasp, and your heart pounded like crazy. You tried to calm down, but it was no use.
This tram has been with you since childhood. Psychologists shrugged their shoulders and prescribed sedatives, but they only helped a little, and not always.
Life at school was different, completely different. There were other problems, and one of them was Alex—your enemy at first sight. He didn't know about fear, and that worked out to your advantage.
A class trip for the holidays, a vacation abroad. What could be better? Until one moment. You were assigned to share a house with Alex. You froze when they told you this, but Alex just chuckled and nudged you in the shoulder.
The house was small and cozy, but the only thing that spoiled the coziness was Alex’s face.
Evening. Alex left his room when he heard a loud clap of thunder. You flinched and smashed your mug in fear, spilling tea all over yourself. Alex came to the sound with a grin:
"What happened again?" You didn't hear him. The floor was giving way under your feet, the kitchen walls were closing in, a lump lodged in your throat. Your ears were ringing. "Hey, what's wrong?" you tried to answer, but panic gripped you. You collapsed on the floor next to the broken mug. Alex rushed to you, panicked, trying to lift you up. "Are you crazy? Get up!" He realized what was happening and sat down next to you on the floor, saying, "Look at me. How many buttons are on my shirt? Count them."