Breathe

Part 4

Unfortunately, the week went by terribly slow. It was so boring I wanted to scratch my eyes out. I've barely gotten any sleep and I'm extremely tired. I should really nap, but later. As soon as I reach for the remote, my phone vibrates. It's Jim. Ugh, what does he want?

"Hello." I say to start the conversation

"Wassup?"

"You called me..."

"Can we do something tomorrow night?"

"I told you I'm going out tomorrow night with my friends."

"I still don't think you should go, you don't like parties."

"Don't tell me what I like!" I reply in a defensive tone even though I know it's true

"Look, I don't want you to go."

"I don't have to listen to you..."

"Just tell me which club you're going to!" He raises his voice into the phone

"No, you're not my dad you don't tell me what to do and you don't control me so stop acting like it!" And with that I hung up.

I forgot how controlling he can be sometimes. It's really annoying. He treats me like I'm his piece of property and I just have to obey. He got mad at me earlier this week because I wouldn't tell him where I was going, but I could care less. Like I had planned to do before I was rudely interrupted, I  grabbed the remote and turned the tv on. I flipped through the channels for what seemed like hours until I gave up and shut the tv back off. Then there was a knock at my door

"Come in." I yelled

"Hey honey. How was school?" My mom asked. Last time we spoke we were arguing about my so called attitude.

"It was fine, I guess." I respond

"That's good. I'm about to run to the store to pick up a few things. Raymond is gonna be here, but if you need anything you can call me."

I inwardly groan. I don't like the idea of being left here alone with him. I barely even know him. He could be some creepy pedophile for all I know. "Can't he go with you?" I ask

"I'm just running to the store. He won't bother you."

"Mmm ok." I say, still very uneasy

Once my mom leaves, I decide to listen to my music since there's nothing else better to do. I check my phone to see if anyone cares about me, but I already know they don't before I even look at the screen. I don't really care that nobody has contacted me. I barely like people anyway.

I wake up drenched in sweat. I'm shaking. Bad. I hate it when this happens. I have a bad dream, but by the time I wake up, I don't remember it. My chest feels tight though. Water. I should go get some water. I push myself up to get out of the bed. My body feels so exhausted. Once I'm in the kitchen I get a bottle of water and head back upstairs. I get back in bed and look at the clock. It reads 3:19. I listen to music to help me fall back asleep aand sure enough it works.

My morning flies by. Next thing I know, It's Saturday night and I'm in the car with Bianca and Kris on our way to 4square, the teen club. Kris is really excited because she loves to party. Bianca and I silently pray she doesn't get too wild. Once we arrive, there's alot of people we see waiting in line. After making it in, we just stand there and look around in awe. It's not what I expected it to be. The black walls with the neon colored designs catch my eye. It's very pretty. Everyone seems chill for right now. Most people  are just standing around or sitting and mingling.

"We need to find us some dudes tonight!" Kris says way too enthusiastically

"Not I." I say

"I just wanna have some fun." Says Bianca as she stands up and pulls me up. "YOU my friend need to let loose tonight!"

"You sure do!" Kris agrees

They both then pull me on the dance floor and they start dancing while I just stand there. After a while, I'm dancing to the music. It's really fun. I feel so carefree at the moment. Not as carefree as Kris or Bianca who seem to be attracting all of the guys which is not shocking. I'd rather just keep to myself. After what seems like hours, I convince myself that after this one last song I'm done for the night. All of sudden I feel hands around my waist. I look up and  it's this nice looking guy. He doesn't really seem like my type though. Anyways I decide to keep dancing and things with this stranger seem to get more and more intense. Next thing you know, we're kissing. I haven't had one of these in such a long time. I like it. I can't seem to stop myself even though I know it's wrong. After we finally decide to break the kiss, He whispers into my ear

"My name is Darius."

"I'm Ashley." I say

"I have to go but can I get your number."

"Sure.." He hands me his phone and I punch my number in and save it.

"I'm gonna text you." He says before walking away.

In the car on my way home, all Kris and Bianca can talk about is me and Darius and how they couldn't believe I had kissed a total stranger. I can't believe it either. I just couldn't help it, I felt so... good. I felt alive. It was still stupid of me though. I made out with a total stranger.