As I Breathe (One Breath at a Time: Book 2) (20 page)

“Why would you say that?” I asked, peeling away from his embrace.

“
Because I’ve asked you to go to the prom with me and you still haven’t answered—forget it—if you don’t want to go, Sugar—someone else might want to take your place.” He squared his face with mine. His eyes pulled tightly together, and then he smiled teasingly.

Storm was right Jordan was kind of a jerk, but crap, he had every right to be, he was hot, so hot!

“I told you he’s an——ass—hard nut, arrgh!”
Storm moaned, trying to control his tongue and temper
.
He was definitely going to lose this battle.

Gazing into Jordan’s eyes I answered, “I’m sorry. Yes, I would love to go to the prom with you.” My voice hinged, interrupted by the lump in my throat. I felt slightly embarrassed that I had delayed answering the first time he asked. “If the invitation is still open, that is—is it?” A tone of desperation roiled in my vocal cords. And, of course Storm pointed this out.

“You sound so needy...I don’t like this side of you.”

Who asked you,
I inwardly lashed back.

Jordan’s voice caught my attention. “Of course gorgeous, it’s a date then.”

Thank God, I didn’t miss a beat considering that Storm was doing his best to make me look like Sybil, the well-known girl who had seven personalities.

“
Awesome. It’s a date then...we’re going to have so much fun. Crazy fun,” I coolly said, trying to recover my dignity, all the while shaking inside like a leaf. I wanted to sound hip and cool.

“
Crazy fun...”
Storm mocked me, personating my voice.

Stop mocking me, Storm! Wait...how do you kill a mockingbird?
I asked inwardly with a sinister tone.

“
Funny Brielle, but it would be crazy—but not fun. He’s not for you, please just trust me,”
Storm sincerely begged me
.
I wasn’t hearing him.

I mocked Storm back.
He’s not for you Brielle, please just trust me
. I paused then giggled between my thoughts.
Hey Tweety Bird, can’t you say something other than that?

Storm deserved all that I was giving him. He needed to learn a lesson or two, or three—or ten—no, a hundred. I would make him pay for his rude behavior later. He had to learn his place in my head and it wasn’t dictating my every move. I had my own gallzion brain cells for that. The left side of my brain controls the right and my right side controls the left. I did not need Storm controlling either one. You would think that he would’ve realized that he couldn’t control me after all of these years.

-16-

The Truth Hurts!

Jordan walked me home from school later that same afternoon. Butterflies fluttered against my heart. I felt like doing a cartwheel, but didn’t dare. I blushed when Jordan told me silly jokes.

He was such a gentleman, and his jerk attitude disappeared once we left the school grounds. I supposed we all had a reputation to uphold. I was certain this was the case with Jordan, especially because he was the most popular guy in school. He really was a doll.

The entire walk home, Storm moaned and said the shittiest things about Jordan. He went as far as calling him, nothing but a slab of bacon, a sow; one that took advantage of young women sexually. That comment was more than I could take.

When I got home it was payback time. I was sure Storm felt that I was plucking his wing feathers out one by one. Nasty bird! I raved on and on about Jordan, and how dreamy he was. That would teach him to not mess with me.

My parents were so excited to hear that I had been asked to the prom.

“Mom, can you believe Jordan Ramsey asked me out?

“
Of course, sweetie.”

“
Dad...what do you think? He’s the biggest jock in school.”

“
As long as he treats you right and behaves himself, I am cool with it.” My dad sounded like a geek to me.

“
Mom, can we start looking for my dress?”

“
Yes, that would be fun. We can go this weekend.”

“
Can Nuilley go with us?”

“
Sure.” My mom shot me a slight grin. She was preoccupied setting the table for dinner.

“
Can I go too? I think you should buy one of those guinea sack dresses that are so popular these days,”
Storm said, teasing me.

I inwardly battled it out with Storm
. Shut up, I’m going to buy a dress that’s form fitting. Something that shows every curve,
I scoffed back
. Hey I might enjoy that you are now able to hear my thoughts. Now, I won’t look like a freak anymore to everyone that catches me talking to myself. There goes that strange girl—crazy girl—psycho nut case! And, you’re going to go insane when you hear my deepest, darkest secrets.

After unloading on Storm, I felt a little victorious. I pulled out my laptop and Googled prom dresses. I was in heaven. As for Storm I am sure he went straight to—

“
Hello, Mom.” She was peering over my shoulder. I turned to her. A concerned expression was written all over her face. “Is something wrong?” I asked.

“
Are you talking to someone, Brielle?”

“
No, just to myself.” She flashed me a peculiar glance.

“
Ooh, okay.” She sighed with a hint of relief and asked, “Will you help me set the table for dinner?”

“
Sure. No problem.” I got up and twirled to the cabinets to get the dishes.

“
I am glad to see you so happy. I know things have been tough on you lately.” Mom smiled sincerely. I knew she was relieved to see that some of my despair had lifted since the passing of my grandmother.

At least my parents were reasonable. They seemed happy that I was getting involved with the most popular guy in school.

When Brett entered the room and heard the news about my prom date, of course, he teased me relentlessly during dinner. This was one time I didn’t let Brett annoy me, and I couldn’t deny that I loved all of the attention.

Later that evening when the ten o’clock news began, I made my exit. My dad never missed the news; watching the news was not my idea of entertainment, so I stood up and kissed my mother goodnight.

“I’m going to bed. Love you, Mom.”

“
I love you too, Brie.” She kissed me on the cheek.

Dad glanced over his shoulder, making it obvious that he was looking for some love too. “Love you, darling. Glad you have a date for prom,” he called out.

“Thanks, Dad. If you want, you can meet him next time he walks me home.”

“
I plan on it,” he mumbled under his breath.

I threw a soft accent pillow at him as if it were a football. “Catch, Dad.” He did. “Good one—you’ll have to play with Jordan sometime.”

“Your old man still has it,” he boasted.

“
We’ll see when it’s a real football, Dad.”

“
Cute, Brie.” My Dad chuckled. So did I, giggling, as I padded out of the room.

“
Love you too, Daddy,” I called out behind me.

***

The weeks passed by slowly.

Jordan walked me home from school every night. Things were moving fast between us. One afternoon we snuck off to his house, since his parents were out of town. Jordan had a lot of freedom and no supervision. In some ways, he was very mature for his age because of it.

“C’mon let’s go to my room, Brie.” He took my hand. My heart pound wickedly.

His room wasn’t decorated like that of typical teenagers. It had sleek, black furniture with high gloss finishes. Simple white linens dressed the platform bed. It looked cold and bare, like a modern hotel room...sharp edged, and nothing homey or personal adorned the walls. It was a far cry from the room I’d grown up in.

Before I stepped inside Jordan kissed me softly...I melted all over. I was surprised Storm wasn’t lurking around. I kind of wished he was, I was scared to death when Jordon’s hands slinked up my blouse. I squirmed beneath his touch.

“
Jordan, I’m not ready for this yet.” My cheeks filled with heat.

“
Fine, I told you I’d wait.”

I exhaled with relief. “Thanks, for understanding.”

“Let’s make prom night the night, okay?” he said with glistening eyes gazing into mine.

That felt too contrived for my taste, besides I didn’t want it to be my legacy to lose my virginity on prom night. I stuttered, “We’ll see,” I choked out with a giggle.

“Yeah, we will or I will have to take you like no other before has.” He growled deeply, and grabbed two handful of my rounded ass.

“
Jordan!” I slapped his arm. “No one has ever—”

“
Yeah, I’ll be the first...” Jordan hands massaged the fullest part of my ass.
Why not the last?
I moped inwardly. “God, Brie, I can’t wait.”

In a flash, Jordan grabbed me by the wrist then pinned my arms behind my back, a wicked glint of amusement rose in his eyes. I squirmed to resist his hold and then surrendered my power. He pushed his pelvis up against me, rocking and deep throated his tongue into my mouth. Harder, rougher than I’d expected. My body reacted in ways that were foreign to me. A rush of fear, excitement and desire soared through me. I felt heat race to my limbs, my heart swelled, and a throbbing void dwelled at the apex of my thighs as he tempted my body to give in. Before I could breathe, “Stop,” Jordan’s fingers pressed against my jeans, between my legs, fondling me in the most intimate way. It was hard to withstand the culminating feeling of “release” that I’d never known before, which was aching to explode from deep within...until...the pounding of Storm’s voice kiboshed any passion I could partake of...

***

Hours later, after dinner, studies and a long bath, daydreaming of Jordan, I couldn’t deny the new feelings he’d introduced to my flesh. All evening my mother had looked at me as if she suspected I’d gone all the way with Jordan. Guilty I was not, but I was certain the new glow that flushed across my cheeks was evidence enough for her to believe I’d done something naughty. I wanted to tell her nothing happened, but didn’t know how to say it, because that would have been only partially true. If my mother had her way she’d have wanted me to stay pure until my wedding night, I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her with my new experience.

I had said goodnight to my parents as usual. Making my way up the stairs, I heard my mother’s piercing shriek echo around the corner. I raced back down the stairs and into the living room.

“
What’s going on?” I asked, panting. My parents’ eyes were glued to the television screen.

“
Brielle...leave the room,” Mom snapped harshly at me. Her eyes darted from the television, to me, and then to my father.

“
What, why? Gosh, I’m almost eighteen...now,” I argued. “What’s going on, Mom?” My voice trailed off, scanning the room.

“
Mitchell, tell her to go,” Mom called out.

Sensory overload. Mom’s upset again. She hadn’t raised her pitch with me to that degree since I was four years old when she discovered that I’d been talking to the voices. The television blared on, mingling with the chaos of my parents trying to remove me from the room.

“We are continuing with our coverage of the top story...breaking news.”
I heard the news anchor say
.
Mom’s eyes shot to the television, so did my dad’s. Their stares were a dead giveaway.

“
Brielle, get up stairs, now,” my father bellowed, frantically looking for the television remote in the cushion beneath him. I spotted it on the floor under his chair, I leapt, snatching it up and hit the Tevo rewind button. We didn’t have DVR back then.

“
Dad, why? No,” I said, refusing defiantly with my eyes glued to the television screen. The room fell silent. My parents were both paralyzed like deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. It was too late for them to react.

“
A local football star has just been arrested on three counts of date rape.” The female newscaster’s voice rang in my ears.

“
We are not releasing the name of this young man but the three young girls that have come forward have been thoroughly questioned and the DA is claiming the case is solid. They are certain there are more girls involved. The young women have clearly identified him as the hero of Forrest Hill’s high school football team. So much for heroes these days, it’s just awful. Back to you, Chuck...”

“
Thanks Lindsey,”
said Chuck.

The news anchorman’s voice became a blur in my head. I was immobilized as I broke out into sobs. My mother immediately tried to chime in to smooth things over. Dad leapt out of his chair and manually shut off the television.