"T-thank you," she whispers, and now she's really crying, kind of a lot, but her body language suggests that this isn't really a bad thing - she's clinging less intensely, and her heartrate is moving back towards something more normal. Like she feels like it's okay to cry in Vera's arms. 

She holds Cara through it. Doesn't try to stop her crying this time, doesn't tell her to be quiet. Just keeps rubbing those slow circles on her back, keeps her face pressed against Cara's hair.

It's strange. Being trusted like this. Being the person someone feels safe enough to fall apart with.

But Cara is warm against her, and for once her head is quiet enough that she can just be here, in this moment. Without the spiral pulling her somewhere worse.

"I've got you," she says. The words come out awkward, unpracticed. Like she's not sure she's saying them right. "It's okay. I've got you."

This calms the Cara; her heartrate drops back to 'relaxed', the tears slow and then stop, and she sighs. 

"Thank you." I'm sorry, she doesn't say, because - just because she feels like she needs to apologize for taking up space doesn't mean it's true, actually.

They stay like that for a while. She doesn't know how long. Time has gone soft at the edges, measured only in breaths and heartbeats.

Eventually she shifts, just slightly. Not pulling away, just settling into something more sustainable.

"We're a mess," she says. It comes out almost fond. "Both of us."

Her hand has stopped moving on Cara's back, just resting there now.

I've had worse first dates, she doesn't say, because this feels a bit fraught. And because she's not sure it's true. 

She nuzzles Vera gently. 

Oh, right. "should drink some water," she murmurs. "n'salts." 

She makes a noise that might be agreement, but doesn't move. Doesn't want to break whatever this is.

But Cara's right. They've both been crying. Dehydration is a thing.

"Stay here." She untangles herself reluctantly, already missing the warmth. "I'll get it."

She grabs a water bottle from her desk, then hesitates. Salts. She doesn't have electrolyte packets or whatever. But she has-

"Pretzels work?" She holds up a half-eaten bag along with the water. They look stale.

She climbs back onto the bed, pressing her leg against Cara's before she even thinks about it. Contact :)

...She's pretty sure that was an accident, but it's still kinda distressing. 

"I'll take pretzels!" And... ugh. How to phrase this...

"...mind if I grab a salt chew from my backpack? And do you want one?" 

"Yeah, go ahead." She smiles, trying not to make it weird. "And... yeah, I'll take one."

She hands Cara the water bottle first, then the pretzels. Watches her move toward the backpack, tracking the way Cara's shoulders have gone just slightly stiff.

She's not saying anything about that, so. She likes it? Maybe another?

Okay, neat. She grabs a pair of electrolyte tablets, then returns for more ✨ physical contact ✨ (now with guiding!!) 

She hands Vera one of the tabs, takes a loooong swig of water, then passes over the bottle too. 

The pretzels are kinda stale!