Selena
I've always seen masquerade parties in the movies. The enchanting, fairytale mansions, filled with women in puffy dresses and excessive jewelry. A certain kind of grace floating in the air, as sophisticated instruments play romantic tunes.
So I went all out for tonight.
My pink dress reminds me of Rapunzel, but the wild and slightly provocative version. It has cutouts on the waist and a criss-cross open back, with a low-cut, sweetheart neckline. It's innocent. But it isn't. And I really identify with that.
"You ready for tonight?" He breaks the silence behind the rented car's wheel.
"Yeah." I give a half-hearted shrug. "I'm curious to find out what Roxie wants to talk about."
To be honest, I wasn't expecting her to personally invite me. It made me feel kind of special. People usually don't do stuff like that with me. I'm always an outsider.
It gives me friendship butterflies and I have to do a little shimmy to let it out.
Adam huffs. "Let's see."
"You're crankier than usual." I study his stoic profile, the way that perfectly imperfect string of hair falls over his forehead.
"I don't want to go."
"Huh? Then why are we going?"
He releases a throaty sigh, gripping the leather wheel harder. "We have to, now can you stop with the questions?"
Whoa. He's really cranky.
I give him the silence he so desperately needs until we reach the white two-story house. Painful music pounds behind the walls, getting louder and louder with each step we take. With every dreadful second, my heart detaches itself and snakes up my throat, clogging all access to air.
"H-hold on." I grab onto Adam's arm, tripping on my flimsy heel.
"What's wrong?"
Panic attack. That's what I want to say, but my tongue won't move. My lungs are no longer functioning. The world is going to end and fuck, this is so fucking embarrassing.
As I inhale too much air too fast, my vision starts turning black. My eyes are closing. Without hesitation, Adam cups his warm hand over my mouth and wraps his other hand around the back of my neck, making it impossible to pull away.
"Breathe. Take a deep breath. Breathe, Selena. Come on." His voice is smooth and raspy, and it tingles me all over. I helplessly comply. "There you go. Again, sweetheart. Deep breath. Come on. Good girl. Keep going."
I go from my lungs ripping out of my skin to filling them with much needed air, clutching Adam's hand like it's my only life-support. Gratitude washes over me, with intense relief, and I whimper a muffled 'thank you.'
That was the most terrifying minute of my life. What a terrorizing nightmare.
Once I come to my senses, I realize I've made Adam's hand wet and drop it from my face.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me." I lower my head in shame.
"No need to apologize at all." He looks over his shoulder at the front door, then back at me. "Look, it's going to be intense in there. But I promise you, you're safe. Alright? Just trust me."
YOU ARE READING
Falling Forbidden (Unfinished)
Romance"Breathe, sweetheart. That's it. You're not going anywhere." She's anxious and sensitive. He's quiet and protective. A story in which she's arranged to marry, but falls in love with her bodyguard. Secretly struggling on the spectrum, Selena is furi...
