The Dance

Reasurrance and Flight

   I felt another arm snake around my waist, and face nuzzle into my neck. I tried to remember how to breathe, my chest was tight and it felt like I was drowning. Chris had leaned back, grabbing my hand and stroking the back of it. Breathe in, one, two, three, I told myself.
    "Shhh, it's okay." His voice was deep as he whispered, I could feel the vibrations of his chest through my back.
    "Look at me." Chris spoke softly, I lifted my eyes to meet his, each draw of air into my lungs burned. I could feel that my body was shaking.
    "Breathe with me." Sebastian murmured into my ear, he took a deep breath, feeling his chest raise beneath me and I followed suit, staring at Chris. I felt him slowly exhale, and I did the same. I could feel my heart rate begin to slow down. I breathed in again with him, as he held me securely against him. Chris never took his gaze off of me, a small smile met me.
    "See your okay, it's just an anxiety attack." He whispered, as if I didn't know already. "You have breathe your way through it."
     "I'm okay now." I finally got out, my voice cracking lightly.
     "What set it off?" Sebastian asked softly, still holding onto me.
     "Nothing, its fine." I replied, trying to collect my thoughts.
     "No, I want to know what triggers it for next time." His voice calm but there was a determination in it.
     "I'm.." I took a deep breath as I felt my heart skip again. "Im not use to this, that's all."
     "What this?" Chris asked, leaning back in his spot, stroking the top of my foot.
     "The closeness, the being around both you. I'm not used to it." I leaned my head back on Sebastian's shoulder, continuing to breathe deep as my my shaking slowly subsided.
    "What do mean?" Chris looked at me concerned. I could feel the tightening in chest again, my heart started to speed up again.
     "It's okay, rooftop, I got you." Sebastian whispered in my ear, tightening his hold on me.
     "I just... I... I don't spend time with people. I don't have any friends. This is the most human contact I've had in years. It's overwhelming." I shut my eyes tight, face up to the ceiling. Confessing my pathetic mess out loud for the first time.
    "Well, get use to it sunrise, cause I'm not going anywhere and neither is Seb." Chris announced squeezing my ankle, slowly I brought my gaze back down to the muscular man in front of me.
   "Why?" I asked, I could feel tears trying to well up and pool on my eye lids.
    "Cause, you seem like someone who needs some one." Chris smirked.
     "Plus you have killer dance moves." His laugh reverberated through his chest into mine. I closed my eyes, these two barely knew me. Slowly I pulled myself away from Sebastian, I stood and looked down at him. His blue eyes full of warmth, he grabbed my hand pulling the back of it to his lips.
    "You two are sweet." I stated, more to myself then to them. "Trust me though, I'm no good for anyone."
    I turned, and walked to the door leaving both men dumbfounded. I kept walking down hall to the elevator, the doors rolled closed and I hit the button to take me to the ground floor.
   I stepped out into the cold night air, I felt the first drop hit my cheek as it began to rain. I crossed the street, arms wrapped tight around me. Trying to ward off everything I was feeling, I couldn't do this to them, I was damaged.

   It took both men a couple minutes to comprehend what just happened. Sebastian was the first to move, he sprang from the couch, and rushed to the door throwing it open. Chris on his tail as they hit elevator.
    Sebastian smashed the button, hoping they weren't to later. It seemed like hours, as he watched the number roll back up to his floor. Come on, come on. He thought to himself as the doors lazily rolled open. Sebastian hit the button for the ground floor.
    "What are you doing? I thought she only lived one leave beneath us." Chris's face was knotted up.
      "The elevator came up from the ground floor." Sebastian spat, hating to have to explain the obvious.
     "Oh, how are we going to find her?" Chris asked as the rickety car made its descent.
    "I don't know." Sebastian responded, worry creeping up his spine.
    "I mean, she could be anywhere."
    "I know that, Chris." Annoyance settling into his voice, this is ridiculous he barely knew this girl. However, there was something about her, something that drew him in wanting to know her more.
    "So what do we do?"

     I walked the back alley, slowly making my way back home. I spent hours, walking the city streets, again. A snap of trash behind me alerted me to someone that was following me. I picked up my pace instinctively, my heart following suit.
     I was closing in on the end of the alley when I was suddenly slammed into the side of the large metal trash container. The cold metal felt slimy against my face, I was spun hard and slam again against it. He smelled of cheap cologne, a familiar scent that drove me to a near panic.
     Pain sprang across my face, and I lurched to the side as the impact hit me. I grasped at the hand pinning me to the trash bin.
    "Thought you hide from me?" Richard's voice dripped of hate and anger. I closed my eyes tight, counting to three, wishing this was a dream. Hoping I would be woken up by the sound of someone knocking on my door.
      The pain that rocked through my midsection informed me this was real. That he had found me, another blow greeted my face again. I clawed at his grasp, and tried to pull free.
     "Please." I begged, I felt him grasp the front of my shirt and rip it down sharply, I could hear the fabric rip. "Don't."
      "Took me a while, but I found what was mine." I could smell the vodka on his breath and it made my stomach turn. A rustle behind him caught his attention and he loosened his grip. I took the moment to bring my knee up into his groin.