Breathless (The Breathe Series Book 1) Read online

  “Nora?” His voice compelling me to eclipse my hate for him.

  “Hi, Riley.” I fade out, still melting at the sight of him.

  “H—how are you?” He chokes out.

  “I’m fine.” I lift my head and walk past him to Hardcover Hoard.

  “No, wait.” He touches my arm, forcing the pit of my stomach to fill with butterflies fluttering immensely. That familiar jolt surcharges through my body, my knees buckle but he catches me before I could fall. His arms wrapped around my waist, he pulls me back from him to examine my petite body. “Are you alright?”

  I stand with my feet planted into the concrete, clearing my throat. “I said I’m fine.” I push his arms away from me.

  He lowers his head. “Please don’t be this way towards me.”

  I glare at him, “Like what, Riley?”

  “I just don’t want it to be this way, Nora. I just need you to still treat me as a person—a friend.” He lugs out, his eyes studying mine for forgiveness—none that I could give.

  “Tuh, really? You can’t be serious.” I back away from him, walking over to the building.

  “I still love you.” I stop mid-step. “You know, it’s different… loving someone. It feels inexplicable, almost as if this love doesn’t even exist. It feels like I want to hug you so hard that I mesh clean into you, making us become one. It’s—it’s overwhelming and exciting all at once.” I hear the smile in his voice, tears almost ready to fall from him. “It’s the X’s and O’s. It’s our ups and downs, these in-betweens, our woes—I know we are still interwoven and—and—and I’m constantly falling for you. It’s—uh, a song I wrote for you.” The mascara runs down my cheeks with the tears. I reminisce on his harmonious voice, the way it made me yearn for more of him. “Please? Don’t walk away just yet.” He begs. I turn my head slightly to my right shoulder to get a glimpse of him from my peripheral.

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “Just please say you still love me too. Please?”

  I lower my head. “What good will that do?”

  “It will get me through today. Please?”

  I wipe the excess tears from my face, “I’m sorry, Riley but I don’t love you.” And I walk away.

  13 the elites

  PRESENT

  “No one is more perfect. No one can be more perfect than them.” I say, taking out one earring, following the other, looking at Mairi through the mirror. She lowers her head from me without speaking. “Mairi, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean for us to fail training and login.” I sit on the edge of her bed, hoping she would forgive my irresponsible actions but she doesn’t budge, she just sits there with pursed lips and a hung head. I reach out to touch her shoulder and she lets me touch her even brown skin. “I am sorry.” I say again.

  Her eyes dash up to mine and we stare into one another, waiting for the other to speak. Tears compliment the edges of her brown irises. I couldn’t look anymore; I lower my eyes from her. She starting to cry because of what I had selfishly done to her. “There is no place left for me to go,” her voice cracks in fear of abandonment, “if I fail, Nora. My mom won’t accept me back. I would be a disgrace to my family and my tribe. You have to understand that.” Her eyes reflect despair.

  “But I do understand. I am sorry. I mean it. I didn’t mean to let you down.” I shift closer to her, consoling her.

  “Today, we witness the divine and then tomorrow, we must perform for them. How will we be able to do that if we failed our log-ins?” She clutches her shoulders.

  “We will be okay. I promise.” I draw her in closer to me, apprehending that she’s shivering.

  “I’m sorry about what happened to you—and Riley.” She breaks.

  I pull away and look into her soft eyes. “It’s okay. Let’s just go and learn some new things today. We’re that much closer to graduation.” I smile at her. She relentlessly smiles back and pulls herself up from bed.

  We slip into our attire for today. All black, no jewelry, no makeup. Just us in an attire that I felt suited me well. I tie my hair back into a bun and Mairi does the same. We both stand there gazing into the mirror at ourselves with piercing eyes, nervous for what was next to come. She grabs my hand out of fear and turn to look at me. “We can do this.” She says.

  She almost seems convincing, “Yes. We can,” but fear seizes me.

  *****

  The crowd roars with cheers like a ferocious sea of waves crashing against boulders. They twist and turn while watching the group soar throw the sky as if nothing else was holding them. They boast and rage, ripping the other divines to shreds. Everyone wanted to be like them—apart of their crew. Even I wanted to be in the midst. Mairi and I watch The Elites take over the auditorium as if it was their own. We don’t take a seat with the rest of the people screaming; we just peep around the corner, fearing that if we failed, this would be the last of us.

  Her long, blond hair flows as the wind caresses her. Her eyes reminded me of Grant’s—how blue they were. Her pink lips pursed as she shows off her moves to the crowd. I glimpse at her beauty in between elusive movements. Her Soto-makikomi and Ouchi gari were performed flawlessly. She was definitely it. Mason.

  “I told you they were perfect.” I whisper to Mairi.

  “Hm.”

  “But Mason is the best.” I continue. Mason looks over and smirks. She was unquestionably cocky. “I have to be one.”

  “Thank you! We are The Elites! Be sure to join us once you have passed your training. We are looking for more recruits but we are only looking for the best…” Mason speaks into the mic as her hair still sways against the small of her back.

  *****

  “Uh!” I grunt as my back plummets into the floor.

  “Get up, Nora!” Master Sudan yelps. I struggle to stand to my feet, panting with my hair drenched with sweat. “You have been slacking! We cannot afford to keep a slacker.” His bald head gleams as the light touches it. His grey eyes flicker lower to the floor displaying his disappointment in me but I couldn’t blame him for being upset either. “You were my best cadet—Judoka.” He drops his head in shame to even call me that: Judoka. “What happened to you?” He glances at me, afraid to even discredit me fully.

  “I’m so–”

  “Mairi! Get over here. Go sit down, Nora.” He scowls. Mairi jumps up and runs over to him. She flashes a remorseful smile at me as we are passing. I slouch down in the chair, watching the two of them practice. Mairi’s Ogoshi Hip Throw remains harmonious as he glorifies her for them. Good! I keep hearing him say as he expresses his proudness. After all, it wasn’t her fault that she was failing, I was the one to blame. I hang my head to distract myself from her success.

  Devin kept his promise. He had his father talk to Master Sudan as he said he would, now here we are, after academy hours, practicing. “Sit up straight!” He yells over without looking into my direction. I straighten up my posture, trying not to cry.

  “Good! Nora, you’re up.” He and Mairi take a bow and depart ways. He practices with her for less than three minutes and still sees the utmost potential in keeping her. I stand up.

  “See you later.” She says jogging past me, her hair shriveled up from the sweat. I nod at her, my eyes begging her to stay. I sigh, realizing she couldn’t. It was just he and I now.

  I walk back over to him with my head dangling. “Walk taller!” He yells out at me. I stiffen up, continuing over to him.

  “Sit.” I take a seat onto the floor as he joins me. He sighs. “I know you think I’m too tough on you but it’s for a reason. There are things that you need to know, Nora. Things that you probably won’t believe.” He pauses.

  “What do you mean?” I interject.

  “Nora, you are–”

  “Master Sudan?” Mason steps into the auditorium, bowing at him.

  He rolls his eyes, “Yes, Mason?”

  “I would like a moment alone with her, please?”

  “If you insist.” He clears his
throat. “We will finish this lesson tomorrow evening, Nora. Do not be late. Same time as today.” I stand with him, bowing as he does.

  “Yes, Master.”

  He glares at Mason as he’s walking out and whispers something to her. She nods in return. What in the hell was going on? So many secrets.

  “Hello, Nora.” The door slamming shut behind the Master. Mason stands there, gawking at me.

  “Hey.” I say uncomfortably.

  “Sit with me.” She walks over to me, pointing to the painful, pale blue floor. Everything about her is subtle, humble and perfect in all ways necessary. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.” She continues. Her eyes cut to the corner of the floor. I take the small time given to scrutinize her. She was slender, poise and polite. Her triangular shaped face pointed downward, sprinkled with light brown spots. Her skin sallow, glowing with a hint of pink. Her lips thin. She opens her mouth to speak again and I witness the dimples piercing into her cheeks. “I would like for you to join us.” She smirks, hoping for a pleasant answer from me.

  “Wh—What?” I stammer, unsure if I had heard her.

  She laughs. “Nora, I want you to be an Elite.”

  “Really!?” I smile with tears filling my eyes.

  “Yes, Nora. I’ve seen what you can do. You are amazing and we need someone as good as you to roam our halls and fight with us.”

  Flinging my long flowing hair behind me, I reach out to hug her. “Ooh, sorry.” I pull away from her.

  “It’s alright. I just have something more I need to explain to you, as a person, that is.” She lowers her voice.

  “Okay?”

  She looks down at my shaking hands, “Just—um, be on time. Come to your training. You have another year left and you will be the greatest your tribe and any other tribe has ever seen.” She squints. “I need you to try.”

  “I will, Mason. I promise.” I smile.

  “I know, Nora. You will be great.” Her words incise their way into my brain.

  14 ominous

  The brown liquid burns the back of my throat as I down the shot Mason gives to me. I feel my body totter, wasted with intent of never recovering from this addiction. This feign addiction to happiness. “Another one!” She exclaims, wooing after each shot I take. “Let’s get wasted!” She shouts.

  I cock my head backwards allowing the last shot to take me away. I cough as the burning sensation gets caught in the middle of my esophagus. “Wooo!” I exclaim with my hand lifted in the air once my breath returns to my body.

  “Yea!” Everyone exclaims in Atubus, throwing their hands up. We lounge around in the party bus as it drives us to our destination. The 3 small tables seat 4 people around each one so there were 12 of us on the bus. The Elites invited me out in celebration of my soon-to-be admittance to them.

  The bus stops, “Destination, reached.” Atubus presages out. We step off the bus, standing next to one another in the same stance I once admired from afar but now, here I am joining them. The guys accompanying the girls as we stand in front of them with a fierce look. It was almost like one of those movies where a group of heroes just got done kicking ass, standing side by side, portraying that they are the best. Hence, Elites. We walk into Veritas, finding our designated booth, and sitting down in it, awaiting more drinks.

  No fair. You really know how to make me cry. Billie Eilish Astronomyy remix screams through Veritas. I stand, holding onto the railing implanted into the top of the white booth seat behind me, swaying my head from side to side, allowing my hair to accompany me in the trance. I hold one arm up, grinding my hips against the air. When you gimme those ocean eyes. I'm scared. I've never fallen from quite this high. Falling into your ocean eyes. Those ocean eyes. My hips tick to the beat, rolling them. Mason stands to join me. Her hair tied into a bun at the nape of her neck, her gold dangling earrings dance with her instead. Her smooth red lips purse with cockiness as she cuts her eyes to the boy in the corner, drooling over her. With his glass placed to the tip of his bottom lip, he watches her in amazement, with such graciousness.

  I've been walking through. A world gone blind. Can't stop thinking of your diamond mind. She makes her way over to him, sitting on his lap grinding against his groin. He pulls her in close as she leans her head back onto his shoulder allowing his fingers to trail down her neck, in between her breasts, right down to her gut impelling her to jolt to the beat. Careful creature. Made friends with time. He left her lonely with a diamond mind. And those ocean eyes.

  Devin tugs at my waist, yanking me closer into his pelvis. No fair. You really know how to make me cry. I twitch as I had before, grinding my hips around onto him. I lean my head back into his chest, feeling his muscles protrude into me. My breathing deepens as I rest my head on him, allowing my face to brush up against his, feeling the small fuzz on his face. His hands caress my thighs as I let the song and liquor take me. No fair. You really know how to make me cry. When you gimme those ocean eyes. I'm scared. I've never fallen from quite this high. He runs his fingers up my hips, my arms, my neck and through my long black hair, permitting me to relish in this moment.

  RILEY

  “What’s up, man?” I walk into Veritas, dapping up my friends who met up with me here.

  “How you doing?” Jake says.

  “Good, man.” I respond. “Been a while since I’ve been out but now that I’m better, I can enjoy myself. I’ll be enrolling into Apalachicola tomorrow. Something to celebrate.” I shrug.

  “That’s what’s up man!” Jake daps me up again. “Where’s Lyla?”

  “Uh, she should be on her way.” I say, pointing my thumb outward toward the door.

  “Well, let’s go get drinks and maybe a couple of dances in before your girl gets here, huh?” He raises his eyebrows at me as if to say, “you know what I mean.” I laugh at him and walk over to the bar.

  “ID’s?” The bartender asks. I nod, displaying my ID onto the palm of my head from my wrist gadget.

  “Shoot, I forgot my wrist gadget.” Jake winces, feeling in his pockets of his khaki pants for his the plastic version of his ID.

  “Are you at least 18?”

  “Hell yeah!” He exclaims laughingly, gently nudging me in the chest. I smile, looking around the club.

  “Well, go pour up then.” The bartender shouts, handing us shot glasses. We walk over to the machine and punch in our order. I scan my wrist gadget, paying for both of our drinks and we place our glasses under the dispenser, filling them with pulverizing liquor. Jake cringes at the smell of it but cocks his head back to intake it, anyway. I do the same, feeling that burn seep into my body. We take three more shots then head to the dance floor but I stop dead in my tracks at the beauty flagellating. I gulp in fear that she would see me but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Nora. No fair. You really know how to make me cry. Her long, black hair tousling with every hair flip she does. I examine her immensely, noting her smaller waist, her pursed burgundy lips, and closed eyes. She grips her hair, pulling it all to one side. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen—known. Her silk white shirt stopping right above her navel, her pants tattered and torn but in the highest fashion. Her heels are open-toed, showing her mint green painted toenails. He tugs at her waist, yanking her closer into his pelvis. She bites her lips at his transgressions, savoring the feeling of his tug. No fair. You really know how to make me cry. She twitches on him as she had before, grinding her hips around into him. I observe as her smooth lips open slightly allowing her breathing to deepen. She rests her head back onto him, allowing her face to brush up against his. I witness his hands caress her flat stomach slowly as she lets the song and liquor take her. No fair. You really know how to make me cry. When you gimme those ocean eyes. I'm scared. I've never fallen from quite this high. He runs his fingers through her hair, permitting her to relish at the moment. I cringe ominously.

  “Hey baby!” Lyla stands slightly behind Nora. I smile, pretending to be gazing into her as she rushes over to me, gripping me by the back
of my neck, attacking me with her soft lips. Her eyes closed but mine rested on her—my Nora.

  No fair. You really know how to make me cry. When you gimme those ocean eyes. I'm scared. I've never fallen from quite this high. Falling into your ocean eyes. Those ocean eyes.

  *****

  “You’re readmitted. Congratulations, Riley!” Sudan bows before me and I return the bow.

  “Thank you, Master.”

  “Make me proud, son.”

  “I will, sir.” I bow again, grasping the papers to my chest.

  I walk outside, pulling in all the fresh air with my eyes closed. It felt good to be alive and well. My heart was functioning—even without the transplant. “Hey man.” Jake speaks as he’s walking past me.

  I open my eyes, waving at him. “What’s up, Jake?”

  “Good to see you here but I’ll catch up with you later, though. Sudan would kick my butt if I was late to login.” He says, taking off jogging away from me.

  “Okay, man!” I yell out as he continuously runs in the opposite direction of me. I look back at Apalachicola, studying the structure of the academy. The length of the building stretching towards the six planets floating in the skyline. I turn away from the building, shifting my bag that’s hanging off one shoulder. It’s packed with my clothes and other belongings for the move in today. I step down each step with haste, heading toward the boarding rooms.

  “STOPPP!” She screeches with laughter causing me to look up from the stairs. I search the people crowded in different areas around the academy. The familiar laughter sinks into my hearing. “Stop, Devin!” I look to my left, seeing a grassy plain with a couple sitting there, looking up at the sky, admiring the darkness almost captivating it. He tickles her, impelling her to toss her head back in gut-clutching laughter. I know that laugh. Her head shifts to one side as her hair follows to the back of her head, hanging off one shoulder. My heart stops when I notice the familiar outline of her face. How her nose protrudes only slightly, her lips spread as she smiles, her teeth aligned beside one another but her eyes were the best part of her—deep brown, with long lashes complimenting them. I lost myself countless times in those beautiful, big, brown eyes. Her eyebrows thick and etched over her eyelids. I watch her mouth curl to one side as she concentrates on him, leaning closer into him to nudge him, saying something funny to him. She laughs again at her own corny jokes—she had always been a cornball.