Choices (Book Four)

Chapter 13

Lyla

The bar is packed as per usual by midnight on Christmas day. It seems to have become a tradition for more than just my family. So far the night has been great. Paige and Rachel met us here and I couldn't have been more excited to see them again. We wasted no time heading to the dance floor together. Will is sitting in a booth with a few of my cousins and seems to be fitting in great. I got a few questionable glances from some of them when Will first showed up for dinner at my parents place tonight. I'm sure they were all expecting Shawn to be here again this year. But nonetheless they welcomed Will into the group and have all been doing shots together most of the night.

    "I gotta pee!" Rachel yells over the music and Paige and I laugh at her lack of modesty.

    "Me too, I'll come with," Paige replies.

    "I'm good, I'll head to the bar, meet you ladies up there when you come back out," I tell them and we all nod in agreement to the plan before we break off.

    I wiggle my way up to a spot at the bar and glance around again. It is shoulder to should with people here and some guy bumps into my right side sending me into another guy on my other side who doesn't even look down and just shoves me back the other way. I can feel myself getting claustrophobic and I know that won't lead to a good situation. I push myself off the bar and back into the crowd and I wind my way through trying to find an opening with some space where I can take some breaths. Eventually I break free of all the people and actually have some room to walk without hitting a human body. I take a few deep breaths and place my hand on my chest. I can feel my heart racing as I try to calm myself down.

    That's when it hits me. I look around and realize I'm in the same hallway where the attack happened. I'm about ten feet from the spot Connor slammed me against the wall. I can feel myself start to panic, my chest constricting and I can't get a deep breath of air as I start to feel dizzy and lean against one of the walls. Tears are prickling my eyes and I gasp loudly as I try to catch my breath. I can see his face again, his evil grin as he towered over me, his hands roughly dragging along my skin.  I feel a hand on my shoulder and let out a yelp as I whirl around in fear to find a very confused looking Will. When he takes in my appearance he quickly grows worried.

    "Lyla, what's going on?" He asks me, his voice breaking.

    I can't even try to get any words out right now as I am on the verge of hyperventilating. Not that I could try to explain this to him right now. He has no idea about Connor still and I don't feel like going down that path right now. I lean against the wall and stare up at the ceiling trying to take longer breaths. I can still feel Will beside me as I try to get myself together.

    "Lyla?" I hear another voice and look down the hall to see Paige and Rachel coming out of the girls washroom and heading towards us.

    A sense of relief washes over me when I see them. They know everything so I don't have to say a word. One look shared with both of them and I see the recognition come over their faces as they approach me.

    "I just found her out here like this, I don't know what happened," Will offers helplessly as they both look at him and I can see the bit of pity in their eyes for him.

    "It's alright Will, we will take her home, we got this," Rachel tells Will.

    "Well I'll come with you guys," Will interjects and I want to tell him I need space but again I'm having trouble getting my breathing regulated.

    "No that's alright, we've got her for tonight," Paige tells him and I try to muster a smile her way in thanks and she just nods in response.

    "Okay," Will gives in with hesitation, but I think he knows he won't win this battle against three girls.