Breathless (The Breathe Series Book 1)

by Christy Johnson

  Nora. Her mere name could make me reconsider ever living life without her. Her beauty enchanting, always catching me off guard. “Nora.” I whisper, unintentionally. The wind blows, making her hair whip around to her other shoulder. I snap out of my trance of her before she could cut her head around to see me gawking at her. I take the next few steps down, walking in the opposite direction of them both.

  15 inquisition

  NORA

  The wind blows, making my hair whip around to my other shoulder. I reach around to pull all the black, silky hair to that one shoulder.

  “Nora.” The wind blows in a familiar whisper, one I had heard before. I turn my head back to look toward the way it could have come from, realizing that he wasn’t there.

  “You okay?” Devin asks, his eyes burning into the side of my face.

  “Yea. I’m fine.” I say, not taking my eyes off the stairs some odd feet behind us. Devin looks in the direction I am looking, trying to witness anything he could but the fact was, nothing was there to witness upon. I snap my head back around, “Do you believe in butterflies?” I ask, lying back on the picnic blanket looking up at the sun setting. The sky filled with a few stars shining their way through to the zone of Jeshyria before the night could come, the other planets outlining the skyline.

  “You mean like the ones that fly? Of course, I do. We see them every day.” He laughs. His brown eyes sadistic in the most gorgeous way. He comfortably pierces my soul.

  I clear my throat, “Tuh, no! Like the ones you feel when, you know, you like someone.” I nervously glance at him then back up at the stars.

  He looks down, “I’ve felt them before.” He clears his throat. “Have you ever?”

  “Ever what?” My thoughts severed by just one look from him.

  “Felt them?” I look at him as if to say, you already know I have. “Oh yeah, right, sorry.” He says nervously.

  I sit up, “It’s okay, we all have those moments,” teasing him.

  “Shut up.” He says, playingly, nudging me.

  “Hey!” I shout and hold my hand in front of his face to distract him.

  “Hey, let me see that?” He says squinting at my wrist. Shit, my wrist band! I forgot to put it on. My eyes widen and I pull my arm away from him, gripping my wrist to hide the markings.

  “Uh—there’s nothing there.”

  “Yes there is. Come on! Let me see.”

  “See what?”

  “Your tattoo. What is that?”

  “Well, if I told you, I would have to kill you.” I smirk. Mom was always adamant about keeping my tattoo a secret. I was different, I knew that I was but how much different was always the question. Mother could never explain how and why I was so different. “Nora, you’re special. There is no one else like you but you can’t tell anyone else that and baby, whatever you do, never show your tattoo to anyone! People will take advantage of you. You will understand one day, Princess.” Her words flash into my mind. My infertility tattoo was definitely something to keep secret but the tattoo I bear on my arm was something to take pride in—I imagined. Mason was the second person to tell me how special I was, why not take heed? I gently rub my abdomen where the tattoo had been etched into my flesh, grimacing at the reminisced pain.

  “Are you okay?” He asks concerned.

  “Uh, yes. I’m fine. It’s just that—I can’t show you my tattoo. I was always told that there was something sacred about it and that I could show no one. You know? I mean, I just hope you understand?”

  “I do. I really do. Besides, I have one also that I am told to never show, so, I get it.” I look at him, imagining where his tattoo could be.

  “Thank you for understanding, Devin.”

  He looks over so intimately, I fall prey to him. “How long have we been doing this?” I whisper, still gazing into him.

  “Doing what?” He whispers back.

  “This. I mean we’ve been hanging out for about a month now. What are we doing?”

  “Nora, I have to give you time to get over Riley, you know?”

  “Yea, I get it. I really do.” The fact is, Riley still owned a huge chunk of my heart and I was okay with him doing that but I needed someone else. My insides launched out for Devin being that owner.

  “I really like you. I’m just waiting for you.” He admits lowering his face, taking my hands into his.

  “I didn’t know you. I didn’t want to know you but I know you. I didn’t want to fall for you. I didn’t want to search the stars for answers on us being meant to be or whatever you call it. I always thought Riley was it for me—I mean, he knows things about me, the things that made me sad, those things that made me smile, and I thought he understood but when I needed him most, he abandoned me and hurt me the worst. I wish I were dead without him—and I might as well have been but then there was you. Someone to ease the pain. You show up so damn perfect and I just–” I look to him, awaiting his remorse. My eyes fill with tears ready to unleash. “I just need to feel something, anything and you, you make me feel… everything. I don’t feel empty with you. I don’t feel helpless and lost with you. You give me strength. Strength that I never knew I had. How can I ever want anything more?” Tears stain their way down the sides of my face. He doesn’t speak, he just studies me. “Say something.” I whisper.

  “So how about those butterflies? Are they making you feel queasy yet?” His mouth twists to one side into a crooked smile. I bite my lip and smile. He grabs the back of my head and pulls me closer into his personal bubble. The closer I get to his face, the heavier I breathe. His bottom lip grazes mine and I could no longer control myself. I press my lips harder against his, relinquishing myself to him, coercing him to leave my body breathless.

  *****

  “Baby.” I don’t budge. “Psst, baby face.” I grunt this time. “Wake up, honey.” I peek one eye open to see Devin trying to wake me.

  “What is it?” I moan.

  “Let’s go somewhere.” I glance at the clock. It’s 6:25 ante meridiem.

  “Are you nuts!?”

  “Just a tad but it’s all for you.” He winks.

  “Devin—I…”

  “Shh, just get up and get dressed. I need this for us.” He slaps my thigh gently and scurries off to the kitchen. I lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. A wave of frustration rushes over me. I kick and fling pillows all over the bed, dreading the day ahead. All I wanted to do was rest today.

  “Let’s go, sleepy head!” He peeps around the corner midway through my tantrum.

  Coming. “Coming!” I straighten up, embarrassed that he had to witness something as foolish as my sulk. I pull myself up from the bed and head to the bathroom. Devin had his own house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. In fact, his home reminded me of the place we used to live before my father died. It is set up the same way as our old home.

  His master suite occupied half of his home, enormous in size. Each bedroom had its own bathroom but only his master bathroom comprised a hot tub, a separate bathtub, a double vanity marbled sink, and a shower with a double shower head. I didn’t see the need in him having all of this luxury with it just being him alone but what could I say? He was rich. He came from the opposite side of the tracks than I, so, who can blame him for wanting more for himself?

  I walk over to the shower to turn it on when I realize that his shower wasn’t exactly designed like mine back in Abenaki. It's powered by a remote that I could not work. I touch the top green button and the hot tub bubbles out of control and when I try to shut it off, it goes bonkers! Water sloshes and spews everywhere, soaking the sink vanity, floor and toilet stool.

  “DEVIN!” I call out before I could really destroy his entire bathroom.

  He slings himself around the corner, clutching the edge of the door, afraid something terrible had happened to either me or his bathroom. Here, it was definitely something wrong with his bathroom. The floor soaking wet with jacuzzi boiling water. I stand by the door, clutching it with dear life
.

  “What’s wrong!?”

  “Is this supposed to happen—I mean, how do you work this stupid thing!?” I shout, prodding the remote into his hands. He giggles and puts in a code to stop the ferocious hot tub from attacking the bathroom then, he presses the red button and the shower head sprays steamy, hot water. “There.” He hands it back to me. “Just press the blue button if you want cold water and to turn it off, just press the black button.”

  I mean, seriously! The red button is for the shower. I roll my eyes at him and smirk. “Thanks.” He grabs a towel and sops up the extra water on the floor until it’s dry.

  “Fifteen minutes, Nora then we need to go.”

  “Hm.” He kisses my forehead then runs back into the kitchen, halfway chewing the rest of his food in his mouth.

  *****

  The water soaks my entire entity leaving my mind to wander into deep, dark places –

  “Nora!” Devin storms into the bathroom, interposing on my transcendence.

  “What!?” I snap.

  “Was just checking on you, that’s all.” He exclaims.

  “I’m sorry, you just scared me.” I cover my body parts as best I could in case he peeked in through the glass shower door at me.

  “It’s been 15 minutes. Get out of the shower already.” He laughs.

  I squint, wondering where the lost time had gone. “Okay, I’m coming. Could I have five more minutes please?” I peek my head through the door of the shower to show off my “puppy dog” eyes.

  “Okay.” He nods and smiles vivaciously.

  I hadn’t actually washed any body parts yet. I was just standing here—for fifteen minutes? I close my eyes, trying to relive the past fifteen minutes but couldn’t recall anything in that bit of time. I glide my hand through my wet, tangled hair, shutting the water off by pressing the black button and brushing my confusion to the side. There was no extra time to wash, but I got the parts that mattered most. The shower door glides open alone and I step out onto the plush, circular rug, grabbing the towel from the towel bar. I wrap the towel around me and walk out onto the bare, slick floor. I walk slower over to the vanity, looking down at my towel, when my feet slip from under me and I spiral down to the floor, coercing my head to meet it.

  “What the…” Astonished, I sit up, clutching my throbbing noggin. There were small, wet footsteps on the floor leading over to the vanity. I stand up and walk over to the sink to see the entire countertop drenched as if someone had gotten on top of it with wet knees. “Dev–” I stop myself from calling his name when I look into the mirror to see a small, wet handprint. I spread my fingers wide and place my hand on top of the print. A perfect match. I snatch my hand back and whip around, looking onto the floor at the wet footprints again.

  “Nora?” Devin’s standing at the door, his face riddled with uneasiness. “What’s wrong?”

  I look into his eyes, trying to brush away the misperception. “I’m okay. I just slipped and fell. I—I’m okay though.”

  He rushes over to me. “Are you sure? Did you hurt yourself?”

  “Just my head but I’m fine.” He rubs my head and brings me in closer to him. He smells of burnt toast and eggs.

  “Mm, you ready for breakfast?” He says, changing the subject.

  “Uh, sure. I just need to–” I point down to my towel wrapped body. I wasn’t looking forward to eating black toast and mushy eggs.

  “Oh yea, sure. Go ahead.” He backs out of the bathroom.

  “Thanks.” I grin. He closes the door and I turn back to face the mirror.

  “So where have I been for the last fifteen minutes?” I ask the mirror.

  16 take my heart away

  “Let’s get on that one.” He runs over to the rollercoaster with exhilaration. I stand there, watching him prance around like a child but my mind’s still inside of the bathroom, staring into the mystical mirror. “Nora?” He jogs back over to me. I can’t move. I was still under hypnosis by the paranormal. “Hey, you ok?” He asks, touching my shoulder.

  I jump. “Oh yea! Sure.” I try to sound convincing enough so he wouldn’t ask any more questions about my fall or his creepy bathroom. I was sure that I would spill the beans if he asked if I were okay one more time.

  “Want to ride that rollercoaster?” His voice instable. He's hesitant to learn if I were telling the truth or not.

  “Not that one! It’s too high.” I clear my throat.

  “Oh come on, that rollercoaster is not that high!”

  “Devin, yes, it is! Look at that. Who’s getting on that thing?”

  “You are!” He wrenches me up and flings me over his shoulder and I scream out in bogus laughter.

  He lets me down gently in front of the entranceway to the tall ride. Fear sweeps over me. “Devin, I really don’t want to do this.” I didn’t understand what would happen if I passed out. Would I have another “outer body” experience, if I was even outside of my body earlier today?

  “It’s not that bad, Nora. Let’s just have fun. Okay?” His eyes soften my stiff legs and I feel myself march closer to the ingress. We climb the stairs to get into our seats, buckling ourselves in and waiting for the rest of the people to climb in. My heart climbs into my esophagus and tucks itself away from fear. I feel it throb. “Just breathe.” He says.

  I rest my head on the back of the seat. Breathe, Nora. Just breathe. A horrific sound pierces my ears as the rollercoaster moves forward. Here goes. Devin laughs, flashing his teeth at me. I grin uncongenially. One side of my mouth remains twisted as the ride swooshes downward; one step closer to my death. As we get closer to the ground, I clasp my eyes shut and time decelerates. I open my eyes to see Devin laughing in slow motion. I study every part of him. His mouth widespread. His eyes open and close slowly—screaming around me fades in and out. My hair whips around my face in pieces and I see the fine strands more as time continues to diminish. What’s happening? I see Devin mouth my name at the same rate as time. Arrrreee yoooouuu ooookaaaayyy? I can’t hear him but I can decipher what he’s asking me. I nod my head involuntarily—wanting for this ride to be over.

  Swoosh!

  Time catches itself. “Nora? Nora?” He’s shaking my shoulder. His expression perforated with concern.

  “Yes!” I snap.

  “The ride is over. Are you okay?” I say nothing, I look around, noticing that I am the only one still sitting on the ride. I close my mouth, allowing the saliva to moisten it from the dryness, smoothing my hair back and leveling out my shirt.

  “Nora?”

  “I’m good, Devin. I’m good.” He reaches out his hand to me. I take it and he pulls me up from the ride. I couldn’t make out exactly what had happened, but I understood that it wasn’t normal. I had experienced nothing such as that before.

  We walk in silence for a while and I continue to get ahold of myself, wanting so desperately to disappear. “Fun huh?” He lets out trying to intervene on silence and I.

  “Yea, sure.” I pant. I couldn’t let him perceive that I'm terrified of being so high up without certainty that I would make it back down.

  He stops me. “Hey, you okay? You seemed a little weird back there? You’ve been off all day today.”

  “Oh no! I’m perfectly fine.” I clench my teeth together. Things were getting strange since I’ve been hanging out with Devin and I didn’t understand it. I walk without him but he catches up to me.

  “Okay? So, what is it that you want to do next?” He asks with spark in his eyes. He had to be kidding though, right?

  “Devin, I–” I clutch my forehead. “Whoa.” I say, stumbling backwards.

  “What’s wrong?” He reaches out to touch me.

  “Oh nothing. It’s just one of those headaches again.” I say nonchalantly but I knew this wasn’t a recurring sensation. This one was different.

  “Do you need something? Meds? Water?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Come on.” He guides me to a concession stand filled with an abunda
nce of candy and snacks. “Excuse me? Do you have any acetaminophen?” The man hands him the meds. “Thanks.” Devin hands over the medicine and I take it.

  I drop the pills into my mouth gulping them down with water. “Thank you.” Devin nods, then turns to talk with the man behind the counter a while longer. I turn away from the stand to face the crowd.

  My heart stops. My migraine festers as I face the revulsion striding towards me.

  “Hey Nora!” She’s a lot perkier today than normal.

  “H – Hey.”

  He sojourns into the crossway, puncturing my personal bubble. I didn’t feel so sick anymore. “Hey, Nora.” My name glides off his tongue with pure serenity. I nearly buckle at the thought of seeing him. I feel my heart almost jump outside of my chest right into his hands. Take my heart away. He steps in closer to me cumbersomely, almost as if he wasn’t sure if he wanted to hug me or leave me feeble without his touch.

  Devin turns around. “Nora?” He interpolates into the conversation. “Oh hello?” He says, gaping at her beauty. “I didn’t see you there. And you are?”

  “Lyla Morgan and this is my boyfriend Riley Pemberton.” She reaches out to shake Devin’s hand. Riley glances down and then back up at Devin. His eyes flicker with difference. He didn’t seem the same as my Riley. He had an almost sinister look about him, something so scary, it chilled my soul.