Read Online Don't Forget to Breathe by Cathrina Constantine - Free Book Online
Authors: Cathrina Constantine
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Tomorrow ?”
“Yes, tomorrow.” Hah…he assumed I’d be all over it. A trifle victory. “I have second period lunch. Can you meet me in front of the cafeteria around 11:30? I might have cheerleading practice.”
His eyes narrowed, mulling it over. “Sure. That can happen.” Moving his lean legs to the floor, he stood and slipped his arms into the sleeves of his jacket. “The rain is letting up. I’d better get out of here so you can get some sleep.” He wedged on his sneakers.
I joined him by the window, but kept a fair space between us. Before I had a chance to grip the sill, he beat me to it. He veered toward me and tilted close, his breath touched my cheek.
“Sorry for this impromptu visit. But to tell you the truth, I kind of liked it.”
Mesmerized by his eyes, my body quivered from head to toe, I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. Instead, he swerved to the window and was gone in a heartbeat.
Chapter 10
I had to call Nona, Becket Kane was juicy news.
“Damn.” I didn’t have a cell phone. Checking the digital clock, my body waned in tiredness. As a substitute to reaping a tête-à-tête with Nona, I decided to slip into bed. My juicy news would have to hold until tomorrow.
I rolled from one side of the mattress to the other claiming my comfort zone. From a fetal position to my back, side, stomach, the room felt oppressive. Dragging myself to the window I thrust it open a few inches and watched my reflection smearing in the dark glass from the onslaught of water. I leveled the blinds to the sill, and thanks to Becket, doubled checked for any peep holes and hopped into bed. I conked out instantly…
Lucien Court. Across the street, the scorched cavity of the old Perkins house. My eyes drift past the Lucien Estate.
Standing at my front porch. Sunshine sparkles on dollops of red.
In the kitchen. Carrot shavings. A pot on the stove furling steam.
“Mom?” Nothing.
In the living room. A trail of red on the staircase.
Apprehensive toe steps. A storm of panic.
At their bedroom door. It glides open.
A body—fanning hair— blood—puddles and puddles of blood !
Arms band me. Thrashing. My nails claw flesh, screaming. A sweaty palm filters my cries. Oh my God— I know who it is…
“Leo.” Dad rocked my flaying body. “Leo. You’re alright. It was a dream.”
Winded, my eyes widened to a bleak room. Feeling like a ball of sweat, I pronged fingers over my temples sweeping layers of hair. “Dad,” I squeezed his name past the lump in my throat, “I’m okay.”
“You haven’t had one of these in months.” He held me by the shoulders and examined my face.
“I know.” My senses reeled still smelling blood. “I walked by the house yesterday.”
“Why?” His glum eyes were on the verge of watering. “I told you never to go there.” Dimness shadowed his face, looking old. Skin sagged beneath each eye, his cheeks sunken from lack of nourishment.
“I didn’t go inside. But the side door was open.”
“Open? It should’ve been locked.” His hands dropped from my shoulders and crammed them into his hair. “Maybe the realtor had been there. I’ll have to call and find out.” Jittery fingers then scraped at his neck looking agitated. “I better get ready for work. Are you sure you’re alright?”
I nodded then twisted to read the clock, and groaned. Time to get up.
***
We arrived at school with minutes to spare. “Want to do some Halloween planning after school?” Henry inquired.
How should I break the news— just blurt it out . “Henry, I’m going for coffee with a friend after school. So don’t wait for me.”
Removing his glasses, he squinted like what I’d said didn’t register. “You going with Nona?”
Why did I feel this was complicated? “Er…no. A different friend.” We trudged into school with the rest of the herd, he frowned.
“Who? Those cheer girl airheads? Marcy, Stephanie?”
I knew why it was complicated, mainly
“Yes, tomorrow.” Hah…he assumed I’d be all over it. A trifle victory. “I have second period lunch. Can you meet me in front of the cafeteria around 11:30? I might have cheerleading practice.”
His eyes narrowed, mulling it over. “Sure. That can happen.” Moving his lean legs to the floor, he stood and slipped his arms into the sleeves of his jacket. “The rain is letting up. I’d better get out of here so you can get some sleep.” He wedged on his sneakers.
I joined him by the window, but kept a fair space between us. Before I had a chance to grip the sill, he beat me to it. He veered toward me and tilted close, his breath touched my cheek.
“Sorry for this impromptu visit. But to tell you the truth, I kind of liked it.”
Mesmerized by his eyes, my body quivered from head to toe, I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. Instead, he swerved to the window and was gone in a heartbeat.
Chapter 10
I had to call Nona, Becket Kane was juicy news.
“Damn.” I didn’t have a cell phone. Checking the digital clock, my body waned in tiredness. As a substitute to reaping a tête-à-tête with Nona, I decided to slip into bed. My juicy news would have to hold until tomorrow.
I rolled from one side of the mattress to the other claiming my comfort zone. From a fetal position to my back, side, stomach, the room felt oppressive. Dragging myself to the window I thrust it open a few inches and watched my reflection smearing in the dark glass from the onslaught of water. I leveled the blinds to the sill, and thanks to Becket, doubled checked for any peep holes and hopped into bed. I conked out instantly…
Lucien Court. Across the street, the scorched cavity of the old Perkins house. My eyes drift past the Lucien Estate.
Standing at my front porch. Sunshine sparkles on dollops of red.
In the kitchen. Carrot shavings. A pot on the stove furling steam.
“Mom?” Nothing.
In the living room. A trail of red on the staircase.
Apprehensive toe steps. A storm of panic.
At their bedroom door. It glides open.
A body—fanning hair— blood—puddles and puddles of blood !
Arms band me. Thrashing. My nails claw flesh, screaming. A sweaty palm filters my cries. Oh my God— I know who it is…
“Leo.” Dad rocked my flaying body. “Leo. You’re alright. It was a dream.”
Winded, my eyes widened to a bleak room. Feeling like a ball of sweat, I pronged fingers over my temples sweeping layers of hair. “Dad,” I squeezed his name past the lump in my throat, “I’m okay.”
“You haven’t had one of these in months.” He held me by the shoulders and examined my face.
“I know.” My senses reeled still smelling blood. “I walked by the house yesterday.”
“Why?” His glum eyes were on the verge of watering. “I told you never to go there.” Dimness shadowed his face, looking old. Skin sagged beneath each eye, his cheeks sunken from lack of nourishment.
“I didn’t go inside. But the side door was open.”
“Open? It should’ve been locked.” His hands dropped from my shoulders and crammed them into his hair. “Maybe the realtor had been there. I’ll have to call and find out.” Jittery fingers then scraped at his neck looking agitated. “I better get ready for work. Are you sure you’re alright?”
I nodded then twisted to read the clock, and groaned. Time to get up.
***
We arrived at school with minutes to spare. “Want to do some Halloween planning after school?” Henry inquired.
How should I break the news— just blurt it out . “Henry, I’m going for coffee with a friend after school. So don’t wait for me.”
Removing his glasses, he squinted like what I’d said didn’t register. “You going with Nona?”
Why did I feel this was complicated? “Er…no. A different friend.” We trudged into school with the rest of the herd, he frowned.
“Who? Those cheer girl airheads? Marcy, Stephanie?”
I knew why it was complicated, mainly
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