right time to cut ties with him.
Lost in the sea of bodies, a beacon appeared through the sparked up haze of the room. A familiar face from school, Melanie Crisspike was leaning on a few of Tod’s teammates, Brad especially. This was great. People I knew. They were huddled halfway between me and Tod. At least I would be with familiar people and away from Mr. Creeper. Pushing through the waves, I sensed Michael’s presence right behind me.
I waved and yelled, “Hey, what’s up?”
Mel saw me and returned the gesture. A cool, thick breeze came from out of nowhere, the chill of it felt like a warning. Something grabbed onto me and was slowing down my progress across the dance floor when one of the guys saw I was in trouble and extended his arm—becoming a lifeline. When his beefy fingers entwined in mine, a sigh of relief puffed out, and he pulled me to safety.
The lack of nicotine worked on frayed nerves. I needed to get out of there. Raising my voice as loud as possible over the band, I said, “What’s everyone doing? I think I’m ready for some air.” An anxiety attack threatened to happen as I tried to get Tod’s attention from across the room.
He was surfing the waves of people from the other side of the room. Tod was double pointing to the front of the house in an overly dramatic move. He sang with the band causing me to smile. Then I saw someone hand over his letterman jacket. Oh, Damn. After the Mr. Creeper incident, I didn’t even think twice about it. Crap.
“Where have you been? So much for hanging out.” Smiling, Tod pulled me in close and brushed my lips with a soft kiss before he continued, “There’s a group of us going up to Red Rock for a bonfire. Krista’s brother is buying the beer before heading up there, it was his idea. How about it?”
I pouted. He knew what I thought before I had a chance to say anything. Cupping my face to lock our gaze, he bent down to whisper, “No, Lex-Cee, she’s not coming.” His words were soft. “I heard about what happened in the kitchen and know for a fact Krista’s passed out. She’s still the same and will never change. I know I don’t want that kind of one-sided life anymore.”
Glancing at his letterman jacket, I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving it. When I stared deeply into his eyes, I tried to use the guilt to stir up some kind of emotion. He held up the jacket with questioning eyes. With a coy smile, I took it from him and slipped it back on. Then I found myself rambling. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having it. I took it off after dancing. It was so hot, ya know? I didn’t mean to leave it.” My incoherent button was jammed, pathetic. Damn, if anything, loose lips meant I was trying too hard. Moving past I like you should have come naturally… the way breathing happens. Why couldn’t love be the same way for me?
We headed for the door when a familiar feeling of frost stirred the air in front of me. An overwhelming sense of fear sparked my flight reflexes and continued to push my group to walk faster. Melanie tripped and laughed over her encumbered motor skills, obviously drunker than the rest of us. Could the night get any worse?
Once we pushed our way outside, I heard the guys talking about who was going with whom when I felt the coolness again. It could only mean one thing. Michael was somewhere nearby. A sob caught between panicked emotions. Why was I so afraid of him?
Tod and one of his friends, someone I didn’t know very well, were climbing into the truck. How did I get stuck with Sally-Drinks-A-Lot? She was draped over half of me while trying to stay upright. I wanted to make it to the truck and get the hell out of Dodge, not caring where we ended up. Even the idea of going home sounded better than staying for another second. We were almost to the monster truck beast when I thought I heard a low growl. I turned to find Michael coming out of the house, making a beeline in our direction. I picked up the pace and hollered
Lost in the sea of bodies, a beacon appeared through the sparked up haze of the room. A familiar face from school, Melanie Crisspike was leaning on a few of Tod’s teammates, Brad especially. This was great. People I knew. They were huddled halfway between me and Tod. At least I would be with familiar people and away from Mr. Creeper. Pushing through the waves, I sensed Michael’s presence right behind me.
I waved and yelled, “Hey, what’s up?”
Mel saw me and returned the gesture. A cool, thick breeze came from out of nowhere, the chill of it felt like a warning. Something grabbed onto me and was slowing down my progress across the dance floor when one of the guys saw I was in trouble and extended his arm—becoming a lifeline. When his beefy fingers entwined in mine, a sigh of relief puffed out, and he pulled me to safety.
The lack of nicotine worked on frayed nerves. I needed to get out of there. Raising my voice as loud as possible over the band, I said, “What’s everyone doing? I think I’m ready for some air.” An anxiety attack threatened to happen as I tried to get Tod’s attention from across the room.
He was surfing the waves of people from the other side of the room. Tod was double pointing to the front of the house in an overly dramatic move. He sang with the band causing me to smile. Then I saw someone hand over his letterman jacket. Oh, Damn. After the Mr. Creeper incident, I didn’t even think twice about it. Crap.
“Where have you been? So much for hanging out.” Smiling, Tod pulled me in close and brushed my lips with a soft kiss before he continued, “There’s a group of us going up to Red Rock for a bonfire. Krista’s brother is buying the beer before heading up there, it was his idea. How about it?”
I pouted. He knew what I thought before I had a chance to say anything. Cupping my face to lock our gaze, he bent down to whisper, “No, Lex-Cee, she’s not coming.” His words were soft. “I heard about what happened in the kitchen and know for a fact Krista’s passed out. She’s still the same and will never change. I know I don’t want that kind of one-sided life anymore.”
Glancing at his letterman jacket, I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving it. When I stared deeply into his eyes, I tried to use the guilt to stir up some kind of emotion. He held up the jacket with questioning eyes. With a coy smile, I took it from him and slipped it back on. Then I found myself rambling. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having it. I took it off after dancing. It was so hot, ya know? I didn’t mean to leave it.” My incoherent button was jammed, pathetic. Damn, if anything, loose lips meant I was trying too hard. Moving past I like you should have come naturally… the way breathing happens. Why couldn’t love be the same way for me?
We headed for the door when a familiar feeling of frost stirred the air in front of me. An overwhelming sense of fear sparked my flight reflexes and continued to push my group to walk faster. Melanie tripped and laughed over her encumbered motor skills, obviously drunker than the rest of us. Could the night get any worse?
Once we pushed our way outside, I heard the guys talking about who was going with whom when I felt the coolness again. It could only mean one thing. Michael was somewhere nearby. A sob caught between panicked emotions. Why was I so afraid of him?
Tod and one of his friends, someone I didn’t know very well, were climbing into the truck. How did I get stuck with Sally-Drinks-A-Lot? She was draped over half of me while trying to stay upright. I wanted to make it to the truck and get the hell out of Dodge, not caring where we ended up. Even the idea of going home sounded better than staying for another second. We were almost to the monster truck beast when I thought I heard a low growl. I turned to find Michael coming out of the house, making a beeline in our direction. I picked up the pace and hollered
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