Breathless

Chapter Three

"Chris, wait!" I called, running to catch up.

"You're so slow, come on!" He said, motioning for me to follow him. I followed him into the line for a roller coaster.

"I am not getting on that." I stated. He dragged me to a carnival and we've only been getting on the small rides because I didn't like the big rides. But now it was his turn to choose the next five rides. And I had promised.

"Why, you scared?" He teased.

"No!" I snapped, crossing my arms. To be honest,I was scared out of my mind. I hated roller coasters.

"There's nothing to be afraid of." He said jokingly, a smirk on his face. I just stuck my tongue out at him childishly.

***

After waiting in the line for a really long time, it was finally our turn to get on the ride. Chris had to take my hand and drag me to a seat on one of the cars. I shuddered as one of the employees strapped me in next to Chris. I gripped his hand tightly, but he didn't seem to mind.

As the roller coaster took off, I was screaming at the top of my lungs as Chris laughed hysterically. At least I wasn't the only one screaming, I could hear other people around me screaming too.

When the ride was over, I was still in my seat, squeezing the life out of Chris' arm. He chuckled.

"Chanelle, you can let go now. It's over." He said. When I didn't respond, he slowly pried my fingers off him and helped me out of my seat. I swayed dangerously and he caught me. My heart fluttered in my chest as I felt his arms around my waist, supporting me.

"I'm never going on a roller coaster ever again." I said breathlessly. He led me over to a bench and sat down with me.

"Okay, okay. Seeing your face on that ride was priceless, it made up for missing the other rides." He said with a smile. I hit him playfully.

"That was mean." I pouted. He just continued smiling at me like an idiot.

"Can we go home now?" I asked. He sighed and nodded. He helped me stand and then we walked back to the parking lot. When we got in his car, I looked over at him.

"Thank you for taking me, it helped me forget about... Stuff." I said gratefully.

"You don't have to thank me. It was fun." He said reassuringly. I nodded and smiled. He started up the car and then drove us home. When we pulled up in the driveway, he cut the engine and looked over at me. I was caught in his gaze, and when he didn't look away I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. His lips were soft, but before I could kiss him any longer I felt his hands gently pushing me away.

"Chanelle, what are you doing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. I blushed furiously.

"I-I don't know, I j-just-"

"We can't." He said firmly. I nodded and got out of the car, running into the house and sprinting up to my room. Maurice was already sitting on my bed, so I shut the door and climbed in the bed next to him. I pulled up the covers and felt the tears rolling down my face. I was so stupid! I had just met him, and I had already ruined his first impression of me. I squeezed my eyes shut and felt Maurice licking my cheek. I pushed him away gently. Why did I have to ruin everything?

***

I stayed in my room for a while longer, and soon I heard a car outside. I looked out the window and saw Brooke getting out of her car and heading into the house. I sighed and slowly opened my door, going downstairs.

"Hi, sweetie, how was your day?" She asked politely as I descended the stairs.

"Um, it was fun. C-Chris took me to the carnival." I said, stuttering on his name.

"Oh, that was nice of him." She said with a smile. I nodded. Brooke began making dinner as I sat at the table and watched her, and when she was done she went to the bottom of the stairs.

"Chris! Dinner!" She shouted.

"I'm not hungry!" Came his faint reply.

"It doesn't matter! Come downstairs!" She shouted back. I heard a door open, and seconds later Chris came down the stairs. When his eyes met mine he quickly looked away before I could see the emotion on his face. Well, this was going to be an awkward dinner.

I tried my best to not look at Chris while we sat at the table. To be honest, I wasn't hungry either and I was just playing around with my food.

"Chanelle, are you not hungry?" Brooke said.

"No, not really, I'm sorry. I just don't have an appetite." I responded.

"And why aren't you hungry, Chris?" She turned her gaze to him. I saw him just shrug his shoulders out the corner of my eye.

"Well then, I guess we can just put you guys plate up." She took my plate and then his.

"Um, excuse me." I said, getting up out my chair. I ran out the kitchen as fast as I could, I still couldn't believe I had did that. Why would I do such a stupid thing?!

Later on, I took a shower and borrowed one of Brooke's sleep gowns. Her older clothes fit me because she was the same size as me when she was younger. But she said we could go shopping for me some clothes later.

I went downstairs to get some water when I heard a knock on the front door. So I walk over and open it, staring at the girl in front of me. She was very pretty and I wonder what she was doing here.

"Hello." She said.

"Uh, hey." I replied uneasily.

"Is Chris here?" She asked me. Oh, she was here to see Chris.

"Uh, yeah, hold on." I walked over to the stairs. "Chris! Get down here, someone is here to see you!" I called.

"If you don't mind me asking, who are you?" She questioned, raising one eyebrow.

"I'm Chanelle, Chris's cousin. I just moved here." I answered.

"And how long will you be staying here?" Does she ask a lot of questions or what?

"Until I'm 18. Then I can get my own place."

"Oh. Why are you here?"

"I'd rather not answer that."

"How old are you?"

"Do you always drill people like this? Why don't I drill you, what's your name?"

"Monica, I'm 16." She flashed a smile at me then looked up, her face lighting up like someone had just gave her candy.

"Chris!" She ran past me up the stairs to Chris, giving him a kiss on the lips. Was she his girlfriend?! Why didn't I think that he had a girlfriend?! Chanelle, you're so freaking stupid! I wanted to bang my head against the wall.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Chris asked with a smile as he held her in his arms.

"I wanted to come see you!" She said as she kissed him again. I felt the tears on their way, so I quickly ran into the bathroom since they were blocking the stairs. I heard their footsteps descend down the stairs, and then I heard her laugh.

"Who was that girl?" She asked.

"Oh, she's just my cousin." I heard him say absentmindedly.

"She looked jealous." Monica said in a somewhat possessive tone.

"Nah, she just didn't know who you were." He said. Yeah right. I was more jealous than I had ever been in my life. And he knew it.

"I thought you said I could come over tonight." She said in a seductive voice. I covered my ears in disgust.

"Some plans changed." He said apologetically.

"But you always say-"

"Monica, I promise. Soon." He said, and then there was silence. I slowly opened the door to sneak past them and I saw their tongues shoved down each others throats. My heart thumped painfully, but they didn't see me as I ran past them and darted up the stairs. I went in my room and flopped on the bed. This had been the worst birthday ever.